Kaito Akaden (Kaito)

Kaito Akaden Chapter 131

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.

…

The morning sun bathed Konoha in a warm, golden glow, casting long, stretching shadows across Training Ground Three. The scene's tranquility was suddenly broken by a young voice shouting, "Wind Release: Breakthrough!" and a powerful gust slammed into a nearby tree. The leaves shuddered violently. The sudden force startled a group of birds resting in the branches, sending them fluttering into the sky with startled cries that echoed above the training ground.

Naruto stood at the center of the clearing, his clothes fluttering from the residual wind. Panting heavily, sweat trickled down his forehead, a grin spreading across his face. "Yahoo! I finally did it!" he exclaimed, leaping into the air with excitement. Landing with a thud, he turned eagerly toward Kaito's clone. "Did you see that? I finally got it down!"

The clone smiled warmly at him. "Well done, Naruto. You did great," he said calmly. "Now, do it again."

Naruto's excitement faltered, his grin fading into a look of disbelief. "What? Why? You saw it, right? I just did it! I've totally mastered the jutsu!"

Kaito's clone shook his head gently. "Learning something is different from mastering it," he replied. "I want you to be able to use this jutsu without needing any hand signs."

Naruto stared at him incredulously. "Without making any hand signs? That's impossible, you know!"

The clone sighed softly. "Watch me." He took a deep breath and exhaled, releasing a "Wind Release: Breakthrough" without forming a single hand sign. The gust of wind was even larger than Naruto's, causing the tree to shake violently and sending a shower of leaves cascading to the ground.

Naruto's eyes widened, awe replacing his skepticism. "That was so cool!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with admiration.

Kaito nodded. "The more you practice, the easier it will become for you to perform the jutsu," he explained. "As you get more skilled in chakra molding, you'll need fewer hand signs. Some jutsu don't require them at all. It's all about having control over your chakra."

Meanwhile, in another part of the clearing, another Kaito clone was sparring with Karin. She lunged forward, throwing a series of punches and kicks, but the clone dodged and weaved effortlessly, evading each attack with fluid grace.

"Hold still, will you?" Karin huffed, frustration creeping into her voice as she narrowly missed him again.

The clone smirked slightly. "Now that would defeat the purpose of the exercise, Karin. ," he advised, sidestepping another punch.

At the edge of the clearing, the real Kaito leaned against a tree, arms crossed and eyes closed. Despite the lively training around him, his thoughts were elsewhere, replaying the events of the previous night.

…

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

Kaito stared at her, momentarily speechless. This was the last thing he expected to hear. After gathering his thoughts, he finally asked, "Why?"

She raised an eyebrow, a hint of confusion crossing her face. "What do you mean, 'why'? You're the one who sought me out and asked me to take up the mantle," she replied, crossing her arms.

"I know," Kaito admitted, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. "But you've been adamant about not wanting the position. You've made it clear that being Hokage isn't something you desire. So why the sudden change of heart? If it's just because of the current situation, don't feel pressured. Itachi and I can manage things for now. You've already been through so much. It's not solely your responsibility to fix all of Konoha's issues."

Tsunade's expression softened as she listened to his concerns. She stood up from her seat and walked over to him, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder before playfully ruffling his hair. "You're a thoughtful kid, you know that?" she said with a small smile. "It's true—I didn't want to become Hokage. Losing Dan and Nawaki... it broke something inside me. They both dreamed of that title and after they were gone, I left the village because the memories were painful."

She gazed out the window, her eyes reflecting a mix of sorrow and resolve. "But you've reminded me that I still have family in Konoha. People who care about me, and whom I care about. I don't want to lose anyone else. Besides," she added with a smirk, "someone has to keep an eye on you brats."

Kaito felt a wave of relief wash over him. A genuine smile spread across his face as he bowed slightly. "Thank you, Lady Tsunade. It means a lot to all of us."

"Don't thank me just yet," Tsunade replied, her tone turning serious. "We have a lot of work ahead. So, what's the plan?"

Kaito straightened up, his demeanor shifting to match her seriousness. "First and foremost, we need to convince the Uchiha clan to support us. Gaining their backing is crucial," He glanced over at Itachi, who had been quietly observing the exchange. "We'll need your help with that, Itachi."

Itachi nodded thoughtfully. "I can arrange a private meeting with my father," he offered. "If we can persuade him, it'll go a long way toward convincing the rest of the clan"

"That would be a significant step forward," Kaito agreed. "We'll also need to reach out to the other clan leaders. If it's alright with you, Lady Tsunade, I'd like to bring my sensei tomorrow morning so we can strategize further."

Tsunade considered this for a moment before nodding. "That's fine. Bring him here around ten. The sooner we start coordinating, the better."

"Understood," Kaito replied. He reached into his pouch and pulled out a tri-pronged kunai, handing it to her. "Could you keep this somewhere safe? Maybe on a table or desk. I'd prefer not to use the marker I placed on you directly."

She accepted the kunai. "Alright. I'll keep it nearby."

As Kaito and Itachi prepared to leave, Shizune stepped forward, holding a small piece of paper. "Hold on a moment, Kaito-kun," she called out.

He turned back to her. "Yes, Shizune-san?"

She handed him the list. "Could you gather these herbs while you're out? We're running low on supplies needed to make the antidote."

"No problem," Kaito assured her. "We'll see you tomorrow."

…

Kaito opened his eyes when he sensed someone landing beside him. Without turning, he said, "You're late, Sensei."

Shikaku Nara stood beside him, hands tucked casually into his pockets as he surveyed the training field. He let out a quiet sigh, muttering, "troublesome... You only informed me about the meeting this morning."

Kaito nodded. "Let's get going."

Shikaku sighed. "Alright."

With a nod, Kaito placed his hand on Shikaku's shoulder, focusing his chakra. In an instant, the two of them vanished, leaving nothing but a wisp of disturbed air behind.

Naruto, catching a glimpse of the sudden disappearance from the corner of his eye, frowned in confusion and called out, "Hey! Where'd big bro go?" His eyes scanned the area, a bit thrown off by Kaito's abrupt departure.

One of the Kaito clones nearby raised a hand, signaling to Naruto. "Eyes here, Naruto! Focus. do it again!"

Naruto groaned, his shoulders slumping as he dragged his gaze back to the clone. "Ugh, how many times do I have to keep doing this? My chakra's gonna run dry at this rate!"

…

Kaito and Shikaku suddenly appeared in the middle of the room where Tsunade and Shizune were staying.

Tsunade sat leaning against the wall, gazing out at through the window. A steaming cup of tea rested in her hand, and she took a slow sip as if savoring the moment. sensing Kaito and Shikaku, she turned to face them, her eyes sharp and unamused. "You're late," she said pointedly, her tone leaving little room for excuses.

Kaito rubbed the back of his head sheepishly, a nervous grin spreading across his face. "Sorry we're late, Lady Tsunade," he apologized. "

Shikaku bowed slightly in greeting. "Lady Tsunade," he acknowledged with a nod. "In all fairness, you didn't really give me a heads-up earlier. I had to take care of some pressing matters before coming."

Tsunade raised an eyebrow but gestured for them to sit opposite her at the low wooden table. "Fine. Let's get on with it," she said, taking another sip of her tea.

The sound of footsteps approached, and Shizune emerged from one of the adjoining rooms, a gentle smile on her face. "Good to see you again, Shikaku-san," she said. Turning her attention to Kaito, she added, "Kaito-kun, did you bring the herbs I asked for?"

Kaito nodded, reaching into his pouch to pull out a sealed scroll. "I have them right here," he said, handing it over to her. "Everything you requested should be inside."

"Excellent," Shizune replied, accepting the scroll gratefully. Just as she was about to turn away, Kaito reached back into his pack.

"There's... one more thing," He retrieved a small container a glass vessel filled with a clear liquid, inside which floated an eyeball. Kaito handed it to her carefully. "It's Shisui's eye," he explained. "Itachi gave it to me to give to you. We thought you might need it."

Shizune accepted it carefully. "Good. I'll start working on the antidote immediately." She gave them a small smile before heading off to her workspace.

Shikaku's gaze followed her, his eyes narrowing when he realized what Kaito had handed over. Turning back to Kaito, he gave him a stern look that clearly said, "Explain. Now."

Kaito raised his hands defensively. "Hey, don't look at me that way. Itachi and I saved Shisui from Danzo. Danzo was trying to take Shisui's eye and poisoned him. We had to bring him here to Tsunade-sama and Shizune for treatment."

Shikaku's eyes widened slightly, a rare display of shock crossing his usually composed features. "Danzo attacked Shisui?" he repeated as if trying to process the information.

"Yes," Kaito confirmed, nodding gravely. "Shisui was trying to stop the Uchiha clan's coup d'état. He had informed the Hokage and the elders about his plan to prevent it peacefully. But Danzo saw him as a threat and decided to eliminate him."

Tsunade slammed her cup down on the table. "That damn Danzo," she muttered angrily. "Always meddling where he shouldn't. He's jeopardizing the entire village."

Shikaku rubbed his chin thoughtfully, his expression growing more serious by the moment. "So the Uchiha clan has decided on a coup, then?" he asked, though it seemed he already suspected as much.

Shikaku closed his eyes and said. "Then we don't have much time to waste." He looked directly at Tsunade.

Tsunade nodded, mirroring his intensity. "Exactly. That's why you're both here—to hammer out a concrete plan. I presume you've been thinking about our next steps?"

Shikaku nodded thoughtfully. "We'll need to start with the Uchiha clan. If they're the ones pushing hardest, they'll also need to be the first to understand our intentions."

Kaito chimed in, eager to add what he'd recently learned. "Speaking of which, Itachi mentioned to me this morning that he's spoken with his father. They've arranged a meeting for tomorrow."

A hint of relief softened Shikaku's expression as he stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Good. That should simplify things, at least on that front. Convincing Fugaku is one thing, but getting the rest of the clan on board…" He trailed off.

Tsunade leaned forward, her brows knit in focus. "And what about the rest of the village? Having the Uchiha's support alone isn't going to cut it—not when the stakes are this high."

Shikaku nodded in agreement. "I've been subtly probing around with the heads of the other clans. Most are… let's say, discontented with the village's current state of management. Especially with the rumors swirling around lately." He cast a sidelong glance at Kaito.

Kaito raised his hands in mock innocence, flashing a playful grin. "What? I haven't said anything."

Shikaku rolled his eyes but continued. "Anyway, I'm confident that if you're our candidate, Lady Tsunade, the other clans would rally around you. You have their respect. That said, we won't be reaching out to certain families—specifically, Sarutobi, Shimura, Utatane, and Mitokado clans, and their allies.".

Tsunade pursed her lips, deep in thought. "So that leaves us with the Daimyo and the village's jonin to sway."

"Exactly," Shikaku agreed, his tone serious. "The jonin are already leaning in favor of you stepping up as the Fifth Hokage. Most of them have seen enough conflict and mismanagement under the current leadership and would welcome the change." He hesitated. "But the Daimyo… well, that's a different matter. We should wait to approach him until we have the majority of the village's clans on board. His approval is vital, but he'll only be swayed by solid backing from within."

Tsunade nodded in understanding, a small smile tugging at her lips as a memory surfaced. "We'll need to go and meet with the Daimyo personally, then. He and I have always had a decent rapport. I want both of you with me for that meeting."

Kaito nodded thoughtfully as he remembered something important. "We may need to move forward with our plan as soon as we have the Daimyo's approval. I just remembered that one of the Third Hokage's sons is part of the Twelve Guardian Ninja."

"You're talking about Asuma, right?" Shikaku asked.

Kaito nodded. "Exactly. If he catches wind of our plans, there's a chance he might feel compelled to inform the Hokage."

Shikaku sighed, considering the implications. "That's a valid concern. Asuma is loyal to the village first and foremost. We'll have to be cautious and move discreetly."

Tsunade agreed, her expression firm. "Then we need to act quickly. Once we've secured support from the clans, we'll take our proposal to the Daimyo without delay."

Shikaku leaned back thoughtfully, hands folded as he outlined the next steps. "I can work on convincing the Yamanaka and Akimichi clans," he said. "The Nara clan is close with both of them, so we have an advantage there. But we'll likely need to speak directly with the Aburame, Inuzuka, and Hyuga clans."

Kaito nodded, already considering who could be their allies. "I'm confident the Hyuga clan will be on our side, especially with Hotaru helping us," he said. "She's already said that she would help us talk to her father on this matter."

Shikaku nodded in agreement. "Hiashi Hyuga isnt particularly fond of the current administration," he noted. "Especially after the… incident with Hotaru a few years ago."

Tsunade frowned, her curiosity piqued. "What incident?" she asked, looking between the two. "And isn't Hotaru the Hyuga girl that came with you?"

Shikaku glanced at Kaito before answering. "Yes, that's her," he confirmed. "A few years ago, when they were 8. there was an incident involving the Hyuga clan and the Hidden Cloud Village. The kumo envoy sent to sign a peace treaty attempted to kidnap Hotaru the hyuga clan heiress. Kaito here was the one who saved her and captured the Kumo ambassador red-handed and during the incident, Kaito also discovered that Root was behind the kidnaping.."

Tsunade's eyes widened. "They attempted to kidnap the Hyuga clan's heiress? That's… bold," she remarked.

Shikaku nodded grimly. "It almost escalated to war. The Hidden Cloud demanded Hiashi's life, accusing the Hyuga clan of making false allegations. But Kaito's quick actions saved us from a diplomatic disaster. With the Kumo ambassador captured alive, we had undeniable proof of their intentions."

Kaito added bitterly, "Unfortunately, the Hokage brushed off Danzo's involvement entirely. He denied any role from Root and didn't take action. That didn't go over well with the Hyuga clan, especially with Hiashi sama."

Shikaku nodded. "Given that history, I think we can expect support from the Hyuga clan head," he said.

Tsunade gave a slight nod. "Then we have the Hyuga heir's support for the plan."

Shikaku glanced at Kaito, smirking slightly. "More accurately, he has their support," he corrected, gesturing toward Kaito.

Tsunade raised an eyebrow, eyeing Kaito with mild amusement. "Is that so?" she asked, a playful glint in her eyes.

Kaito rubbed the back of his neck, a bit flustered. "Hotaru and I have been friends for a long time," he said.

Tsunade smirked knowingly. "Friends, huh?" she teased before turning back to business. "What about the Aburame and Inuzuka clan?"

Kaito brightened. "Mom is close friends with their clan head" he explained. "I'm sure she cloud help us get a meeting with her"

"that would leave only the Aburame clan "Shikaku nodded. " Once we have the support of the major clans, the smaller, allied clans should follow."

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