Kaito Akaden (Kaito)

Kaito Akaden Chapter 130

Tsunade dumped the water into the bucket and took the solution from the other bucket, repeating the process again and again as Shizune kept changing the water with help from Kaito.

She did this a couple of times before ending it.

Tsunade wiped the sweat from her forehead and said, "That should keep him stable until we synthesize an antidote," as she stood up and, looking at Shizune, said, "You know what to do, Shizune."

Shizune nodded happily, seeing her master back again. "Hai, I will get right on it."

Tsunade nodded, then walked back to the small coffee table, sat down, poured herself a cup of sake, and chugged it down before looking at Kaito and saying, "Sit down brat. We have a lot to discuss."

….

Kaito sat down opposite Tsunade, the small coffee table between them. The atmosphere was calm as Tsunade poured sake into her small cup. Placing the sake bottle back on the table, she eyed Kaito as she took a slow sip.

Kaito watched her intently as she sipped as Itachi walked over to where Kaito was seated. Tsunade gave him a nod to sit, and he took a seat next to Kaito.

Meanwhile, Shizune was diligently working on isolating the poison from the water they had used to extract it from his body.

Placing her cup back on the table, Tsunade broke the silence. "First things first: how did you find us? More importantly, how did you appear here without Shizune or me noticing you?" She looked between Kaito and Itachi, awaiting an explanation.

Kaito reached into his pouch and pulled out a tri-pronged kunai, holding it out for Tsunade to see.

Tsunade's eyes widened as realization dawned on her. "You... you managed to learn the Hiraishin no Jutsu?" she asked, more of a statement than a question.

Kaito nodded. "I did.".

Tsunade eyes narrowed as she deduced, "you placed your marker on me when you grabbed my wrist in the izakaya that day. That's how you were able to appear here without Shizune or me sensing you—you teleported to the mark you placed on me."

"Actually," Kaito corrected gently, "I placed my marker when you grabbed my shirt when you got mad."

Tsunade grunted, Placing her cup back on the table, she said. "So that's how you all escaped the Raikage that day."

Kaito confirmed with a nod. Itachi looked at him with curiosity. "You ran into the Raikage? Is that why you're in Kumo's latest bingo book?" he asked, tilting his head.

Tsunade raised an eyebrow upon hearing this. "He placed you in the bingo book because you learnt the Hiraishin?"

Kaito sighed deeply, rubbing his temples. "Yeah, I might have permanently injured him and even threatened to kill him next time," he admitted reluctantly.

Itachi's eyebrow arched in curiosity. Shizune, who had been listening nearby, looked utterly shocked. "You fought the Raikage?" she asked incredulously.

Tsunade's skepticism was evident as she narrowed her eyes. "You actually managed to injure the Raikage?" she questioned.

Kaito nodded slowly. "Hey, in my defense, he was threatening to capture Mom, Hotaru, Naruto, and Karin," he explained, his eyes flashing with anger at the memory. "He wanted to create his own versions of the Hyuga and Uzumaki clans for the Cloud Village. That's why I kind of shoved a Wind Release Rasengan into his right arm and warned him I'd kill him if we met again."

Itachi nodded in understanding. "So that's why he listed you as an S-rank threat," he mused.

Tsunade snorted dismissively. "Sure, kid, you managed to injure the Raikage with a Wind Release Rasengan..." She trailed off as her gaze fell upon Kaito's right hand. A swirling ball of chakra had formed in his palm, emitting a high-pitched screeching sound as he infused it with wind nature. The air around them seemed to ripple from the sheer energy.

Kaito shrugged nonchalantly. "Believe me or not, that's the truth. You can ask Sensei if you want." He let the Rasengan dissipate, the chakra fading into nothingness.

Tsunade studied him for a long moment before shifting her stance. "What's the situation in the village?" she asked seriously. "I need to know what's happening."

Kaito glanced at Itachi. "I think it's better if Itachi fills you in on the current situation."

Itachi agreed, his expression turning grave. "The Uchiha clan is preparing for a coup d'état. They've already started making moves, and the Third Hokage hasn't made any effort to persuade them otherwise. Even though Shisui has been spying for him for quite some time now, nothing has changed."

Tsunade let out another snort, this time laced with bitterness. "That old man wants to wait until the last minute and then claim he couldn't do anything," she said sharply. "It would give him the perfect excuse to massacre the Uchiha and pin the blame on someone else—just like he did with the Senju clan."

Itachi's eyes widened upon hearing Tsunade's words. Noticing his reaction, Tsunade turned to Kaito. "You haven't told him about what happened to the Senju clan, have you?" she asked, seeing his surprise.

Kaito shook his head. "This is the first time we've met in a long while," he explained. "Itachi has been busy, and I didn't really have an opportunity to tell him yet."

Tsunade took a deep breath. "Well, long story short, the Senju clan didn't agree with the Third Hokage when he started the war. So he and his advisors had them systematically killed by sending them to the front lines. They even kidnapped and experimented on the children to try and awaken the Mokuton of the First Hokage," she said, her voice dripping with barely contained anger. "Your friend here," she gestured toward Kaito, "found proof in one of the Root bases." The cup in her hand cracked under the pressure of her grip.

Turning back to Kaito, Tsunade asked, "So who is going to be the next Hokage? I assume since I rejected the position, you've selected someone else for the role."

Kaito sighed deeply, his shoulders slumping slightly. "You were the best option for the position," he admitted. "There weren't any other candidates other than you."

Tsunade raised an eyebrow. "So you just gave up on the plan?" she challenged. "Surely there are others who can be Hokage." Itachi, too, looked at Kaito curiously. He hadn't heard anything about a new plan since Tsunade had declined.

Kaito shook his head. "Without someone strong as the Hokage, the other villages won't hesitate to start the next war," he explained. "Making anyone other than you or Fugaku-sama Hokage would only give the image that Konoha is weak with a weak leader. With you declining and Fugaku-sama not an option due to the Uchiha clan's reputation in the village right now..."

He trailed off, and Tsunade's eyes narrowed. "So what are you suggesting?" she asked.

Kaito looked up, determination shining in his eyes. "The only solution is to get rid of the Third Hokage and his advisors," he stated firmly.

Tsunade stared at him incredulously. "You're planning on taking out the old man?" she asked.

Kaito nodded. "Yeah, I was planning to teleport the Third and his advisors out of Konoha and deal with them," he said matter-of-factly. He turned to Itachi. "I was planning on asking you to help me with that. Can you deal with Danzo and the two elders while I deal with the Hokage?"

Itachi thought it over, his eyes closed in contemplation. "Are you sure you can handle the Hokage?" he asked, concern evident in his voice.

Kaito nodded confidently. "Hai. I'm sure I can take on the Third Hokage. Do you think you can handle Danzo and the two others?"

Itachi opened his eyes and nodded slowly. "I can," he affirmed, "but I would need intel on them."

Tsunade looked between the two young men, disbelief written on her face. "Are you two crazy?" she exclaimed. "Do you think that two snot-nosed brats like you can assassinate the Hokage and his advisors? Do you really think the two of you can pull it off? What if you fail? What about your mother? Have you thought about that?"

Kaito met her gaze steadily. "We won't fail," he said firmly. "We can't fail. And what other option do we have?" He gestured emphatically. "If the Uchiha clan launches a coup d'état, the village will devolve into civil war, which could lead the other villages to take advantage and start the next shinobi war. And if the Uchiha clan revolted, it would only make the village refuse to accept one of them as Hokage. If the Third and his old cronies decide to take action, they will kill off one of the founding clans and weaken Konoha considerably, possibly starting a war as well. The other option is to help the Uchiha clan with the coup, but that would just increase tension and allow the loyalists of the Third to plan a coup as well. Making the Third Hokage and his advisors disappear is the best solution with the least casualties."

The room fell silent as his words hung heavily in the air. Tsunade studied Kaito's face, searching for any sign of doubt but found none. Itachi's expression was equally resolute.

Finally, Tsunade sighed. "You two are serious about this," she murmured

Shizune looked at both of them as if they were insane. "You can't be serious," she interjected.

Kaito shrugged, a hint of impatience in his posture. "We can't just wait for the adults to do something when we know they won't do anything," he said pointedly, looking directly at Tsunade.

Tsunade sat back, considering his words. "Then if you manage to pull this off, who is going to be the fifth Hokage?" she asked.

Kaito replied without hesitation. "Fugaku Uchiha is the best candidate. Without the Third or the three idiots, it would be easier getting him elected as Hokage with Sensei's support."

Tsunade looked deep in thought, her gaze fixed on the cracked cup in her hand. She bit her lip, weighing the options.

Silence filled the room, tension thick in the air. Finally, Kaito stood up. "Well, we should get going," he announced. "Mom would be worried sick; I didn't tell her where I was going."

Itachi also stood up, sensing the conversation had reached a stalemate.

Kaito hesitated for a moment. "Is it okay if Shisui..." he began, but was cut off when Tsunade spoke up.

"I will do it," she declared.

Both Kaito paused and looked at Tsunade in surprise.

Shizune, now standing beside Tsunade, looked at her with wide eyes. "Lady Tsunade?" she whispered.

Kaito blinked, confusion evident on his face. "Huh? What?" he asked.

Tsunade looked up at Kaito, her eyes blazing with determination. "I'll accept the position of Fifth Hokage," she stated firmly.

If you wish to support this story and have access to 10 advanced chapters, please join me at patreon.com/Tilct

please contribute some power stone'