Naruto: Wooing Tsunade from Day One!

"Hayato, have you compiled the latest intelligence?"

Tsunade sat in the main seat, her face marked by exhaustion. She had gone straight to the operating table upon arriving at the camp, so her fatigue was understandable. Despite this, she had saved the lives of several Konoha ninjas, and there was no hint of complaint in her demeanor.

"Sunagakure has no movements for the time being," Hayato began, his tone professional and concise. "However, it seems they have the full support of that miserly Daimyō of the Land of Wind. Iwagakure is stationed near the border with the Land of Birds, and the Third Tsuchikage is en route."

"We should retreat," Kawakaze proposed without hesitation, his expression hard and resolute. There was no mistaking his seriousness.

"But we've lost so many people..." one of the Konoha ninjas started, but Kawakaze cut him off sharply.

"Do you want to stay here too?" he snapped. His piercing gaze silenced the other ninja instantly.

"I know none of you want to hear this. I don't want to accept it either," Kawakaze continued, his voice firm and unyielding. "But right now, Iwagakure is bearing down on us with overwhelming force. Do we have enough people to fight them? Sunagakure has already regrouped, and they still have the Perfect Jinchūriki. If we're caught in a pincer attack here, how many of us will make it back alive? Use your heads and think about it!"

His eyes swept over the room, daring anyone to argue. Kawakaze clearly didn't care if he overshadowed Tsunade in this moment. The Konoha ninjas knew who carried the most weight in these matters, and besides, everyone was aware of the unspoken bond between Tsunade and Kawakaze.

"There are many wounded to consider as well," Sakumo interjected calmly, aiming to diffuse the tension. His words carried quiet agreement with Kawakaze's assessment. This isn't a battle we can afford to fight recklessly.

Facing the looming threat of Iwagakure, it was clear that even boldness had its limits.

"So we really just retreat?"

The ninja with an afro still looked aggrieved, unable to hold back his frustration.

"Don't worry. Sensei won't just sit back and do nothing," someone reassured. "We're just temporarily retreating—it doesn't mean we've lost."

Tsunade, noticing that the tension had eased, spoke to comfort the group. Though she was reluctant to order a retreat—especially after so many lives had been lost—she couldn't ignore the harsh reality. If they continued fighting, how many of the remaining people would survive?

"If we're going to go, we have to go quickly. Iwagakure won't let us leave easily," she warned.

"We can't move fast with the wounded," Hayato pointed out, already analyzing the situation carefully.

"Hayato is right. Arrange for the wounded to be evacuated immediately," Tsunade instructed without hesitation. "We'll be the rearguard."

Tsunade didn't dwell on it; after all, it was her duty.

"Yes, Lady Tsunade," Shinku responded with respect, rising to carry out her orders.

"Keep an eye on the Iwa Ninjas in the Land of Birds," Kawakaze said to Hayato. "The Third Tsuchikage is no pushover."

Kawakaze was right to highlight the threat. The Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki, was one of the most formidable figures among the Five Kage. A disciple of the First and Second Tsuchikage, he had risen to his position through unparalleled skill. Proficient in Earth Release and the devastating Dust Release—superior to ordinary Kekkei Genkai—Ōnoki was a master of both strategy and technique. Known as "Ōnoki of Both Scales," he was one of the rare few capable of flight, making him an unpredictable and lethal adversary.

"Don't worry. Someone is monitoring them at all times," Hayato assured, acknowledging the gravity of the situation. Intelligence ranked the Third Tsuchikage as one of the highest-level threats.

"That's it. Go down and get ready," Tsunade concluded decisively. "We'll evacuate once the wounded are clear."

The room gradually emptied as the ninjas left to prepare, leaving only a handful of people behind, including Kawakaze.

"Has there been any news from the village?"

Tsunade shook her head slightly, knowing only that the message had been sent, but no reply had arrived yet.

"Not yet."

Hayato Yamanaka remained unsurprised. He understood the village's tendency to hold endless meetings and discussions before making any decision. If news had come back so quickly, it would have seemed unusual.

While others fought on the front lines, their village was busy holding meetings.

If you looked at it from another perspective, Konoha's strength was undeniable. Even in the original story, the village could win the Second and Third Shinobi Wars without the Hokage needing to take the lead.

"Let's go back to the Land of Fire first," he suggested. "If nothing unexpected happens, the Land of Rain will become our next battlefield."

Kawakaze couldn't imagine the Third Hokage personally entering the war. He simply wanted to avoid another hindrance like Danzo. Sometimes, he couldn't help but wonder if the war's outcome would have been different had he not killed Danzo.

"There's nothing we can do."

Sakumo, lacking any better options, had no choice but to retreat to the Land of Fire and await reinforcements from the village. Without additional troops, continuing the battle was impossible.

"I hope Sensei can send reinforcements soon," Tsunade murmured, her voice tinged with concern. She understood the gravity of the situation—if reinforcements were delayed, even the Land of Fire could fall under threat of attack.

Her worries mirrored those of Hiruzen Sarutobi.

At this very moment, a meeting was underway in the operations room of the Konoha Hokage building.

The tired Third Hokage stood on the stage, holding a pipe in his hand, his eyes sharp and focused.

"I believe everyone is aware of the battle reports from the front line," he began.

"Kawakaze Hatake and Tsunade managed to strike down the Third Kazekage, but his deathbed counterattack caused significant losses to our Konoha forces. Now, Iwagakure has also joined the fray, with Ōnoki personally leading troops to the frontlines."

He paused briefly, glancing at the gathered ninja. "Tsunade's team urgently needs reinforcements, but we must also defend the borders of the Land of Fire."

Hiruzen exhaled a long stream of smoke from his pipe before continuing. "After discussions with the advisors and senior management, we have decided to send the Uchiha Clan and elites from each clan to provide support. In this battle, we must not only defend the Land of Fire but also demonstrate Konoha's strength. Do you have any objections?"

As he finished speaking, the room buzzed with quiet discussions among the ninja present.

Fugaku stood silently in the crowd, deep in thought. A high-level meeting? My uncle wasn't even invited, yet they still call it that? It seems the Uchiha are only thought of when Konoha is desperate.

Although he harbored no goodwill toward the Third Hokage, Fugaku understood the importance of protecting the village. He had no objections to the operation itself, but the exclusion of the Uchiha from true power within Konoha left a bitter taste. Why is it that the Uchiha are never allowed a seat at Konoha's core decision-making table?

"Ahem..." Homura Mitokado cleared his throat twice, catching Hiruzen's subtle glance before stepping forward. "Everyone, please be quiet. If you have any opinions, speak now. Otherwise, this matter is settled."

The audience quickly fell silent.

No one dared to raise objections at this juncture. Had Danzo been alive, he might have opposed sending the Uchiha out to fight. He had always been wary of the Uchiha's potential, fearing that their strength would become a threat to Konoha's unity. For Danzo, keeping them in check was more important than expanding their influence.

Hiruzen looked around and, seeing no dissent, concluded, "Since no one objects, let's disperse. Prepare to set off immediately; time is of the essence."

With that, the meeting ended, and Konoha's reinforcements were officially confirmed.

In the aftermath, some couldn't help but note the efficiency of the proceedings—a clear consequence of Danzo's absence. Even Hayato Yamanaka would have found the swift resolution surprising.