Chapter 52

Tsunade: [Let's regroup back into our main battlefield.] gave her orders.

[Follow me … I will explain everything later] Tsunade said to her fellow clan members.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Main battlefront-

The once bloodthirst battlefield is now silent and filled with tension, 3rd Raikage was ahead of his army while Onoki, Mei Terumi and Tsunade were ahead of their respective forces.

3rd Raikage: [What are you doing here Onoki?] was speechless and apprehensive, He wasn't brainless to think he could fight Konoha, Kirigakure and Iwagakure alone.

Onoki: [Who knows.] snorted at him.

Tsunade: [This is a Kage summit? Why wasn't I, Tsunade Senju, the 4th Hokage invited?] mocking them while showing a fake clueless expression.

Mei Terumi: [Really?! I didn't receive any prior notice about such important meeting too.] looking as if she was in trying to remember. Nagato wasn't present, he had returned to Hidden Rain after a brief talk with Ryuji.

Onoki: [Oh what will the Mighty Konoha do now? Your esteemed professor died and you still look carefree.] trying to ignite anger and hatred between Konoha and Kumo.

Ryuji: [It is good to see that you are as cheerful as ever.] Onoki's face darkened after hearing his voice, he looks around just to confirm the Ryuji was behind Tsunade with a smirk.

A few more mocking and sneering till Ay approaches his father to explained about his encounter and hidden agreement with Ryuji.

"I wasn't certain to fight against Hidden Leaf even less fight against all villages…" Thought third Raikage.

3rd Raikage: [I will agree with your terms … but if you manage to get info about Orochimaru or capture him … I want him to be delivered to Kumo.] said still enraged after hearing about Orochimaru's attack when they were away from their Village.

Tsunade: [As long as Kumo kills him … Konoha will retreat from this war and wait for your arrival to sign our peace treaty.] spoke after struggling a little.

Random Iwa Mercenary: [*Tsk* Konoha don't deserve their reputation … they just want to turn their backs and run like cowards. If I were given chance, I would surely take good care of Konoha …] mocked before ŀɨċkɨnġ his lips, as he eyed bluntly sizing Tsunade and Mei's body. Everyone who heard the brainless idiot stood frozen.

"Let me out … I will rip his heart from his mouth and shove into his ȧss." Kurumi was angry. Saphire was still annoyed about not being summoned to fight.

"If I was out there, I would slowly burn his body and soul with him still alive." it was a rare sight, a giant dragon 'pouting' while she spoke.

Ryuji keep walking away without caring for his comments. Onoki was surprise that he didn't react but soon understood after hearing the sound of something falling in the ground near him. It was his mercenary's head rolling but the strange thing was that the body still stood straight.

Ryuji: [*Oops* Sorry, Tsuchikage-dono! My hand slipped.] He said with an sorry expression, making Tsunade laugh and Mei was trying to suppress her giggles.

Ay: [Hmpf, why don't you attack Hidden Leaf if you are that confident?] 3rd Raikage started laughing out loud at his son's speech, this was a rare moment for Kumo shinobi to hear their strict leader's laughing so carefree.

3rd Raikage: [Hahahaha … They say wisdom come with old age but there is an exception to every rule, right? Onoki.] said making his shinobi laugh.

Onoki: [I want to see you laughing after I destroy your army and raid your pitiful village.] after seeing Leaf and Mist far away he orders his troops to attack.

Their fight waged for 2 days before Hidden Sand entered to reap some benefits, 3rd Raikage was forced to retreat but was intercepted by Rock and Sand forces. Unable to sacrifice his forces, he decided to give a last stand giving his troops a chance to retreat.

The 3rd Raikage faced an opposing force of at least ten thousand shinobi single-handedly for three consecutive days and nights, in order to allow his comrades to escape to safety. He eventually died in this battle and with his death, the position of Raikage was passed onto his son, Ay. He would, however, become renowned for his extraordinary level of durability, endurance, and strength above all else, to the point where his body itself would become reputed as the "strongest shield" (Saikyō no Tate).

The Tsuchikage was stubborn and more reluctant to accept the peace treaty, only accepting it after Ryuji and Tsunade moved towards Iwagakure.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Konohagakure no Sato-

The old monkey's funeral was crowded, his wrong doings and schemes to take back control over hidden leaf wasn't brought out to light or it would create distrust between civilians and shinobi against the remaining Sarutobi clan who were proved innocent.

Koharu and Homura were involved in his 'Kyuubi project', they intended to use Akemi to breed a perfect Jinchuuriki. He could be molded into a perfect shinobi and tame the Kyuubi chakra. Hiruzen old teammates were being restrained inside Anbu prison.

Jiraya apparently was firmly against turning an innocent child into a weapon of mass destruction but he didn't make any move to prevent, maybe because there was still war at that time and now his old teacher is dead. There wasn't any clue about Minato Namikaze clear involvement in their sick project but his surveillance was still active.

Obito talked with Black Zetsu and explained about his successful plan to kill Hiruzen and make Konoha lose their military power. Ryuji laugh all day just trying to imagine Black Zetsu's face when he discovers all their plans.

Ryuji keep track of the situation in Amegakure with Nagato Uzumaki as new leader. Mei Terumi was still stabilizing their money and food problems in Hidden Mist. Tsunade helped their village's fighting against hunger providing food at lower prices.

Mei always come to Hidden Leaf when she can with the excuse of making their alliance solid, Ryuji didn't answer to her excuse, he wasn't dense enough to not see her crush on him.

The new 4th Raikage with Onoki's help pressured the Yondaime Hokage, Tsunade Senju to gain more benefits in their peace negotiation but were quickly denied as Kirigakure, Amegakure and somewhat Sunagakure supported Hidden Leaf. Even if Hidden Sand was allied with Konoha, they could betray Tsunade at any time.

Tired of her work as Hokage, Tsunade accompanied with Ryuji and Sayuri, they had an audience with the Daimyo, asking for a few years outside Konoha to spend as vacation, away from her heavy workload. Some of the Daimyo's advisors tried to deny her request, acclaiming that she was necessary but were quickly silenced by lady Shijimi after she spoke.

[Let her go, she earned it…. She took the position in the start of war and she sacrificed part of her time to take care of her daughter. I am certain that Sakumo Hatake and Mito Uzumaki are trustable enough and can manage at her absent.] They decided to travel after Mikoto give birth and recover from it.

A week passes Mikoto gave birth to a healthy baby boy who was named Itachi, Ryuji was surprised as he had explained about his wives future without his and Sayuri interference. Mikoto still wanted to name him, Itachi Uchiha.

"I can allow Itachi but not Sasuke." Thought Ryuji.

Tsubaki as the first child was elated with the idea of being big sister but was still jealous when her father took Itachi into his arms. Ryuji noticed her hidden jealousy and always took her with the small Itachi when walking outside. Kushina always teased her, saying she was 'Daddy's little princess'.

In the end of the year, Ryuji tried his Rinne Sharingan Ability after marking his compound, he opened a gate and jump into another dimension.

His first place was an endless desert, sea … what surprised him was his last jump that made him return with a guest.

-Flashback-

"Hmm? There isn't any light here?" Thought Ryuji walking around a dark place any normal person would freak out without seeing but Ryuji could see a woman figure siting alone ahead.

She was a pale-skinned woman with delicate facial features. She had extremely long, sweeping white hair, possessed white clear eyes and her eyebrows were cut very short and round — a symbol of nobility, and she wore a red shade of lipstick on her lips.

At the same time Ryuji was checking her, she was startled and keep observing her unexpected visitor.