In the ANBU headquarters, Tsunade's shadow clone manipulated a crystal ball, using it to observe various locations within Konoha.
This was a secret technique left behind by Sarutobi Hiruzen.
With this technique, combined with Konoha's vast barrier network, one could lock onto a person's location as long as their chakra signature was known.
Tsunade had only recently mastered it.
"First, let's check on Utatane Koharu."
Tsunade glanced at the crystal ball, where Koharu was leading A and his team through the village streets.
"Kumo's shinobi."
"So, Kyohiko and the others must have returned?"
She placed her hand on the crystal ball, expanding her sensory range. Through the barrier and her perception, she quickly locked onto Kyohiko's chakra signature.
Soon, an image appeared in the crystal ball.
Kyohiko was in the forest—one of him sat cross-legged in meditation, while another repeatedly practiced kicks and hand seals.
"Is that...?"
Superhuman Strength?
Even through the crystal ball, Tsunade could recognize the technique as a variation of her own.
She had used it far too many times.
After observing for a while, she noticed something unusual.
This wasn't just ordinary Monstrous Strength.
With one punch—
A burst of lightning erupted, shattering a boulder instantly.
Lightning Release chakra?
Tsunade was surprised.
Using Lightning Release chakra to enhance Superhuman Strength...
What was the point?
To her, Superhuman Strength's greatest advantage was its instant activation without hand seals. But by incorporating Lightning Release, the power increase was minimal while sacrificing its primary benefit—
Currently, Kyohiko still needed one-handed seals to maintain the Lightning Release chakra's explosive output.
In her eyes, this modification seemed pointless.
However—
The next moment, her eyes widened slightly.
Though the crystal ball's details were limited, Tsunade was one of the Sannin. She had seen more jutsu and chakra states than Kyohiko had ever learned.
She immediately recognized that Kyohiko's full-body Lightning Release chakra coating bore a striking resemblance to Kumo's Lightning Armor.
"Did Kyohiko go to Kumo and... reverse-engineer their Lightning Armor?"
Tsunade was both shocked and excited.
Lightning Armor was Kumo's most guarded secret. Even if he only deduced a fraction of it, the implications were enormous.
But—
From the looks of it, Kyohiko seemed to be developing his own "Lightning Release Mode."
"Lightning Release Chakra Mode."
"Superhuman Strength!"
Lightning chakra surged instantly.
Then—
Boom!
A single punch sent dirt and stones flying, leaving a deep, jagged crater.
Compared to standard Superhuman Strength, the visible destruction seemed smaller. But in reality, the concentrated Lightning Release chakra amplified the strike's force, defense, and piercing power significantly.
This attack consumed less chakra yet delivered greater impact!
Truly worthy of Kumo's legendary secret technique.
He glanced at his system.
Unbeknownst to him, Lightning Release Chakra Mode had progressed from "Beginner" to "Proficient."
Aside from Kyohiko's exceptional chakra control and mastery over Lightning Release and body manipulation, integrating Superhuman Strength techniques was a major factor in this breakthrough.
"A's Lightning Armor likely emphasizes raw power, which is why its defense falls short of the Third Raikage's."
Kyohiko pondered.
The Third Raikage's "Strongest Shield" was his Lightning Armor, but his "Strongest Spear" relied on his Four-Finger Hellstab.
Of course—
This didn't mean the Third Raikage lacked strength.
He simply specialized in defense since his offense was already formidable.
"Again."
A's arrival in Konoha stirred emotions even his subordinates couldn't fully grasp.
Nestled in the heart of the Land of Fire, Konoha was far more prosperous than Kumo.
Its trade and mission volume dwarfed Kumo's.
The only area where Kumo surpassed Konoha was its harsh environment, which bred resilient, physically powerful shinobi.
In taijutsu and Lightning Release, Kumo still reigned supreme!
A thought to himself.
What he didn't know was that upon learning of Kumo's delegation, Tsunade had immediately issued orders—no running in the village for Might Dai and others.
If they wanted to train?
Fine.
The Forest of Death or the mountains were open, but they were strictly forbidden from appearing in Konoha's streets where Kumo's team might see them.
Similar arrangements were made for the academy, though reforms would take time.
Thus—
Tsunade delayed the academy visit until the third day, scheduling negotiations with the Nara and other clans for the second.
Three days later, in the temporary quarters for Kumo's delegation...
"Darui, Samui."
"Yes!"
The two immediately stood at attention.
A spoke solemnly. "You two are quiet, but I know you're sharper than most your age. What do you think of Konoha?"
"Wasteful."
Samui scoffed.
Darui added after a pause, "Konoha is prosperous, but that's precisely why their academy is lax. They focus too much on theory..."
"Is theory bad?"
A smirked.
Darui shook his head. "Not inherently. But if you're dead, none of it matters. Survive first, learn later. Konoha's policy is foolish."
"Hah! Exactly right."
A laughed heartily.
He had set up a barrier to prevent eavesdropping.
A moment later, his expression turned serious.
"That's why I brought you three here—to see Konoha's decay firsthand. Today, you witnessed their so-called 'geniuses.' They're not so impressive."
A knew Kyohiko and Kakashi had shaken his team's confidence.
This trip was meant to show them Konoha's true state.
"Prosperity breeds complacency. Don't fall into their traps of wealth and clan politics. Understood?"
"Yes!"
All three answered in unison.
Finally free from her duties, Tsunade summoned Kyohiko.
In her office, her displeasure was evident.
"Kyohiko, since returning, have you once come to see me voluntarily?"
"Big Sis, you're swamped with work. I didn't want to bother you. Plus, the trip to Kumo drained me. I needed rest."
Kyohiko grinned.
Tsunade rolled her eyes.
Had she not been spying via the crystal ball, she might have believed him. But in reality, he had been secretly practicing Kumo's Lightning Armor.
She sighed in resignation.
"You're too obsessed with jutsu research. Lightning Armor is impressive, but with A still in the village, could you not have waited?"
"I was being discreet, and my sensing range is quite extensive... Huh? Big Sis, how did you know?"
Kyohiko feigned surprise the moment Tsunade exposed him, though he had already deduced the reason.
Tsunade couldn't help but smirk triumphantly.
She then proudly demonstrated her newly mastered technique.
However—
While the Telescope Technique was useful, it relied on Konoha's barrier network. Scouting beyond its range was difficult, making it impractical for regular reconnaissance missions.
Soon, her smile faded.
"You almost derailed the conversation. How did you learn the Lightning Armor?"
"Kakashi and I discussed it, and I had some ideas. I started experimenting on my own—not sure if I got it right, but I followed my instincts. The direction seems correct, though it's nowhere near Kumo's level yet."
Kyohiko answered honestly.
Tsunade opened her mouth, then closed it, her expression complex.
In just four days, Kyohiko had not only grasped the Lightning Armor but also adapted it to his own style.
And he still wasn't satisfied?!
"Kumo has been refining this technique since the Second Raikage's era. Did you really think you'd master it overnight?"
Tsunade sighed.
Then, her tone turned serious.
"You did well this time. With Kumo temporarily stabilized, we can focus our forces on a single front."
A cold glint flashed in her eyes.
Her approach differed from Hiruzen's.
Hiruzen would compromise as long as Konoha's stability wasn't threatened, only acting when the village's safety was at stake.
The previous war and Danzō's exile were prime examples.
But Tsunade's stance was clear—
Sunagakure had not only infiltrated Konoha with spies but also—
"However, we can't be the ones to start the war."
Kyohiko reminded her.
Tsunade nodded, a faint smile playing on her lips.
"I'll give them the opportunity. Don't worry—Orochimaru is an expert in this regard."
True.
Orochimaru was a seasoned angler when it came to baiting enemies.
Kyohiko nodded in agreement.
Tsunade paused, then looked at him intently.
"My plan is to provoke Suna into attacking first. Once we crush them, we'll deal with Iwa and Kiri. Or perhaps, after Suna's defeat, the other two villages might reconsider."
"Big Sis, you're brilliant."
Kyohiko promptly flattered her.
Tsunade waved it off.
"I didn't ask for praise. I'm saying—if you're not exhausted, head west. The conflict there is about to escalate. Your speed and mobility are deadly against puppeteers."
"Defending Konoha is my duty."
Kyohiko declared solemnly.
Yet Tsunade sighed, her gaze softening.
"Gai's taijutsu-only style isn't suited for the Suna front. I plan to keep him in the village for training."
Kyohiko had anticipated this but still feigned surprise.
"Is Kurenai graduating early?"
"If she wants to excel in medical ninjutsu, her current knowledge isn't enough. To improve faster, she needs battlefield experience."
Tsunade explained.
Then, she added quietly,
"Before she starts storing chakra for the Yin Seal, she should witness real combat. It'll reduce casualties on the western front."
Medical-nin were rare.
But against Suna's poison-based tactics, they were indispensable.
Land of Rivers
A shinobi gasped for breath, his mask lost, his face pale.
Though he had taken antidotes, they only delayed the toxins.
He had to deliver this intel—no matter what.
Finally, a boundary marker came into view. Sensing familiar chakra, he collapsed.
As darkness encroached, he saw two figures approaching.
Puppets...
Relief washed over him.
Puppets couldn't be enemy disguises.
With his last strength, the ANBI agent pulled out a scroll—then went still.
A small snake slithered unnoticed into the undergrowth.
"Rasa-sama! It's one of ours!"
They rushed forward, retrieving the scroll.
Moments later, Rasa arrived.
He read the contents—and smiled.
"Such critical intel, obtained by our ANBU..."
He rolled the scroll shut.
"I must report to the Kazekage immediately. Hold this position. If anything happens, fire the signal. I'll send three squads as backup."
"Yes!"
His subordinates sighed inwardly.
The more valuable the intel, the likelier Konoha would pursue.
Without reinforcements, they'd have considered deserting.
Rasa left promptly.
True to his word, he dispatched three teams—including Pakura of the Scorch Release.
Yet when they arrived—
Konoha ninja were already engaged, seizing the corpse before vanishing into the forests.
"What happened?!"
"They demanded the body, accusing Suna of espionage. We were overpowered..."
The puppeteer hung his head in shame.
As a chūnin, he stood no chance against Konoha's elite.
Pakura frowned.
Konoha's aggression suggested they were making the first move.
"What intel could've provoked them so urgently?"
Suna, Kazekage's Office
Rasa presented the scroll.
The Third Kazekage read it—and shot to his feet.
"Confirmed authentic?"
"The ANBU died from poison but held on long enough to reach the border."
"And Orochimaru?"
The Kazekage remained wary.
Rasa shook his head.
"Didn't pursue. But I sensed Konoha ninja nearby. Pakura's team is reinforcing the area."
"Konoha ninja..."
The Kazekage grew convinced.
The scroll detailed two critical points:
Konoha's secret technique had severe side effects, requiring recovery time. Only two individuals could currently use it.
Tsunade had ordered Orochimaru to select elite taijutsu specialists for an undisclosed mission.
"Elite taijutsu specialists..."
"Tsunade is desperate."
The Kazekage tapped the scroll thoughtfully.
In truth, he was the desperate one.
If the intel was accurate, Konoha's advantage was temporary.
But if they trained more users of this technique...
Could Suna ever oppose them again?
Strike now.
The Kazekage made his decision.
He summoned an ANBU.
"Has Orochimaru recalled any jonin?"
"Yes. Elder Chiyo is investigating the purpose—"
"Give this to her."
He handed over the scroll.
The ANBU vanished.
The Kazekage exhaled.
If true, this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
It must be seized.
He turned to Rasa.
"Contact Kiri. Share this intel. Have them verify similar activity in the east."
"Understood!"