Naruto: Wooing Tsunade from Day One!

The Land of Earth, Iwagakure Village.

Encircled by towering mountains and rugged cliffs, the village is a natural fortress, difficult to attack and easy to defend. Its buildings are modest, functional, and devoid of elaborate decoration.

Among these structures, the tallest is the Tsuchikage Building, crowned with a conical roof and marked by the prominent kanji "土" (earth), visible even from a distance.

Inside the Tsuchikage's office, a short, middle-aged man with a red nose sat at his desk, speaking with a ninja standing before him.

"Lord Third, Konoha and the Suna ninja are locked in fierce combat," the ninja reported. "Should we take action?"

The speaker was Iwagakure's intelligence chief.

"The Slug Princess of Konoha has become a Jinchūriki," the Tsuchikage mused. "Then let's lend a hand to the Land of the Wind. Summon Han to see me."

He rubbed his large, slightly comical nose, a habitual gesture that did little to mask his shrewd demeanor.

"Yes, Lord Third."

From the shadows, the voice of a hidden guard acknowledged the order, and a figure swiftly vanished from the office.

Not long after, a tall ninja entered the room. He was clad in red armor, with a straw hat shielding his head and a red mask concealing his mouth. Bowing deeply, he greeted the Tsuchikage.

"Lord Third."

"I've called you here to give you an assignment," the Tsuchikage began. "You are to lead a team to the Land of the Wind and engage with Konoha's ninja. Konoha has overstepped, exploiting its neighbors for too long."

Though his words carried a tone of righteous indignation, the Third Tsuchikage's true motives were far more calculating. He cared little for the Land of Wind's plight; instead, his gaze was fixed on the Land of Fire. Its abundant resources and wealth promised a prize that could sustain the Land of Earth for years. Iwagakure had remained relatively unscathed during the conflicts in the Land of Rain, and now, with its forces intact, the village saw an opportunity to strike.

"Yes, Lord Third," Han responded. His deep voice was muffled, his towering stature only accentuating the diminutive Tsuchikage's frame.

"Go now," the Tsuchikage ordered curtly. Though he recognized Han's strength, the man's imposing height was a constant reminder of his own diminutive size—something the Tsuchikage found stifling.

Han turned to leave, his heavy armor creaking against the wooden floor as he departed.

"Tell everyone to prepare for battle. After we strike Konoha's supply camp, their frontline troops will certainly retreat to provide support."

"I'd like to see what Konoha's new generation is capable of."

The Third Tsuchikage wore a confident smile, his expression calm despite the tension in the air. The news of the Third Kazekage's death had yet to spread.

"The Hatake Brothers have been making quite the stir lately," he remarked.

The intelligence officer, standing nearby, nodded. "Kawakaze Hatake cut down Hanzō of the Salamander in the Land of Rain, and Sakumo Hatake struck down Chiyo in the Land of Wind."

"They were both formidable warriors," the Tsuchikage acknowledged, though his tone carried a faint edge of disdain.

The intelligence officer continued, his words tinged with respect. "Each of those two Ninjas gained their reputation with a single battle. Their strength was unquestionable."

The Third Tsuchikage let out a sneer. "If even one of them falls, do you think Hiruzen Sarutobi will finally step onto the battlefield himself?"

The prospect amused him, but his wariness of Konoha's might was evident. Their strength was an ever-present shadow, robbing him of restful nights.

"Not necessarily," the intelligence officer replied. "Hiruzen Sarutobi still has two disciples who haven't joined the fighting."

The Tsuchikage chuckled dryly. "He's old. His fire has dimmed."

He waved his hand dismissively. "Go, get back to work."

The intelligence officer bowed and left. Iwagakure had officially entered the war.

As Han led the Iwa Ninjas from the Land of Birds into the Land of Wind, Konoha spies discovered the movement.

"Quick, inform Lord Shinku Yūhi and relay this to the front lines immediately!"

"Yes!"

A small team of Konoha spies split up, one of their swiftest messengers racing toward the Konoha supply camp.

Meanwhile, in the camp, Duy had made a full recovery and was chatting with Shinku inside the sand house.

"I'm ready to depart tomorrow," Duy said, his tone resolute.

Having gone without proper food or drink during his recovery, Duy was now making up for it, eating heartily. Shinku had ensured that his every request was met, providing the best supplies available.

"With you on the battlefield, victory is certain," Shinku said with a relieved smile.

Unbeknownst to him, the grim state of the front lines had yet to reach the camp. For now, there was hope in his voice.

"Let Sunagakure witness the power of my Konoha Taijutsu," Duy declared, flexing his biceps as his white teeth gleamed in a broad grin.

Before Shinku could respond, a Konoha Ninja burst into the room unannounced, his expression frantic.

"Oh no, Lord Shinku!"

"What is it?" Shinku's face darkened, his eyes narrowing as he recognized the panic in the Ninja's voice.

"A large group of Iwagakure Ninja is headed our way!"

Shinku's expression tightened. There was no need to ask why—they were not coming to exchange pleasantries.

"Duy, it seems you won't be leaving after all," Shinku said grimly. There was no point in cursing Iwagakure for exploiting the situation; war was inherently merciless.

"Do you know who's leading them?" Duy asked, his tone uncharacteristically serious. He feared the Third Tsuchikage himself might be among the approaching forces—an opponent even he might not be able to stop.

"A Ninja in red armor is leading the team," the scout had reported. "We have no additional information on this individual."

The Ninja's report was clear, yet it left Shinku unsettled.

"Did the scout report this from the front line?" Shinku asked, seeking clarity.

"Yes, he left for the front line after relaying the message."

"Good," Shinku said, his voice decisive. "Go and inform the troops to prepare for the enemy's arrival."

"Yes, Lord Shinku." The Konoha Ninja quickly bowed and left to carry out the order.

"Iwagakure really knows how to pick its timing."

Duy took a sip of tea, his expression tight as he struggled to suppress his inner indignation.

"They've been planning this for a long time. There's no point in dwelling on it. You'll have a hard time," Shinku remarked calmly, his tone steady but carrying an undertone of concern. He was well aware that Duy was the undisputed leader in combat effectiveness within the camp.

"It's just part of my job."

Duy finished the last bite of his meal and stood up, his movements decisive. Without another word, he turned to leave.

Shinku followed him out of the room, both men aware of the daunting amount of work still awaiting them.

In the arid desert, Konoha's spies moved with urgency, their faces hardened by fatigue. Their only goal was to deliver the critical intelligence as quickly as possible. They had nearly exhausted their supply of Military Rations Pills, consuming them like candy just to maintain their strength.

Meanwhile, at the Konoha front-line camp, the atmosphere was heavy with sorrow. Tsunade had not rested for days, tirelessly attending to the overwhelming number of injured. She raced against time, yet despite her efforts, many Konoha ninjas succumbed to their wounds right before her eyes.

After finishing treatment on the last patient, Tsunade collapsed to the ground, her dazed expression revealing the toll it had taken on her.

"Tsunade, are you okay?"

Lady Katsuyu's words were filled with concern, her gentle voice breaking through the oppressive silence.

"Tsunade, what's wrong?"

Kawakaze rushed to her side, dropping to one knee and carefully supporting her in his arms. His eyes were full of anguish as two young aides hesitantly approached from a distance, uncertain but deeply worried.

"I'm sorry for them…" Tsunade murmured, her voice trembling as she glanced at Kawakaze. She buried her head in his chest and began to sob quietly, her tears flowing unchecked.

The aftermath of the battle weighed far more heavily on her than the chaos of the battlefield itself. As Konoha's most exceptional Medical-nin and the camp's commander-in-chief, she bore the brunt of the survivors' hopes. Watching the lifeless bodies of her comrades being carried out of the medical tents had pushed her to her emotional limits.

"You've done an extraordinary job," Kawakaze whispered, his voice gentle as he stroked her back. He understood the immense burden she carried—without her tireless efforts, the number of survivors would have been far fewer.

Now, for the first time, he began to grasp why Tsunade's fear of blood had grown so profound. Beneath her unyielding exterior, she carried a heart far more fragile than anyone could have imagined.