Naruto from Warring states period

Five Years Later

"Five years... and everything's going smoothly," I muttered to myself, a grin spreading across my face. "Strength has reached Shadow Level... at seventeen years old. Hahahaha!"

A lot had changed in the past five years. Our village was now a force to be reckoned with. Besides myself, there were four other Shadow Level ninjas: Daisuke (17), Eichi (19), Tatsuya (20), and Naomi (15). Yes, you read that right – fivteen years old. A freaking fivteen-year-old Shadow Level ninja. "Haha, but it's okay. I'm also seventeen and at Shadow Level, so it's not that shocking..." I tried to convince myself, though a flicker of unease lingered. Naomi was incredibly beautiful but also incredibly cold. She barely acknowledged anyone, except for Grandma Saya, our village elder. Even towards me, she maintained a distant aloofness.

Our village boasted impressive strength:

* Ninjas: 300 Jonin, 100 Elite Jonin, 600 Chunin, and 800 Genin.

* Medical Ninjas: 200 Genin, 100 Chunin, 50 Jonin, and headed by Naomi, a Shadow Level medical ninja akin to Tsunade of later eras.

* Sealing Ninjas: 100 highly skilled specialists.

We had established a presence in the Land of Fire's Daimyo City, a permanent post where we received missions, ensuring our village remained largely unknown to the outside world. Our population had grown to around 8,000, with approximately 3,000 being ninjas.

We also received numerous requests from the Senju, Uchiha, and other prominent clans and nobles.

Tomorrow was Hashirama Senju's wedding to Mito Uzumaki, and I had been invited.

Senju Clan, Next Day

The air crackled with excitement within the lavishly decorated Senju compound. Guests from various clans, adorned in vibrant attire, mingled and exchanged pleasantries.

"Brother, all the guests have arrived except for those from the Hidden Valley Village. Do you think they'll come?" Tobirama, Hashirama's younger brother, inquired, his gaze fixed on the entrance.

Hashirama, radiating an aura of calm confidence, replied, "They will come, don't worry. You can finally have that rematch with Ryuu." A mischievous glint twinkled in his eyes.

Just then, a voice echoed through the hall. "Knock, knock."

"Come in," Hashirama commanded.

"Sir, the delegation from the Hidden Valley Village has arrived."

"Excellent! See, I told you he would come,"

Hashirama declared, a triumphant grin spreading across his face.

The doors swung open, revealing a group of formidable ninjas led by myself. Naomi and Daisuke stood beside me, their faces impassive, while ten elite Jonin and a contingent of Hidden ANBU flanked us.

Hashirama rose to greet us. "Welcome, Ryuu!" he boomed, extending a hand.

"Hello, Hashirama," I replied, shaking his hand firmly.

"And hello to you too, Tobirama," I acknowledged, glancing at his stoic figure.

Tobirama merely nodded in response, his expression as unreadable as ever.

"Forget him, he's always like that,"

Hashirama chuckled. "Come inside!"

We entered the grand hall, where the festivities were already in full swing.

"So, you're finally a married man, Hashirama," I teased, a playful glint in my eyes.

Hashirama laughed heartily. "Well, Ryuu, when are you getting married? Perhaps I should introduce you to a suitable young lady from the Senju clan?" He said this with a twinkle in his eye, even startling Tobirama, who surprisingly nodded in approval. I felt a strange sensation, a premonition of impending doom if I agreed. Was it just an illusion? But then I noticed Naomi's expression – completely unreadable. "No, it's not an illusion," I thought, a shiver running down my spine.

"I'm not planning on marrying anytime soon, Hashirama," I replied, trying to maintain my composure. "But if you do want to get married, I'll gladly introduce you to some wonderful young ladies from the Senju clan."

"Haha... okay," Hashirama chuckled, his attention momentarily diverted by a group of excited children.

Senju Clan Guest Room

After a brief exchange with Hashirama and Tobirama, I retired to the designated guest room. The atmosphere was buzzing with excitement, but I preferred the tranquility of the room. Tomorrow was the wedding, and I didn't need to venture out until the ceremony began. However, unexpected events always seemed to find me. "What's happening, Tobirama?" I wondered, a sense of foreboding creeping into my mind.

Tobirama entered the room, his expression serious. "I want to have a fight with you, just like we did five years ago," he declared, his voice devoid of emotion. "This time, I won't hold back."

A flicker of surprise crossed my face. "Very well," I replied, a hint of excitement bubbling within me. "I won't hold back either."

We headed towards the training grounds, a vast expanse of open land meticulously maintained by the Senju. As we walked, Hashirama joined us, accompanied by a large crowd: the Uzumaki clan leader, leaders of other clans, numerous Senju and Uzumaki clan members, and even the bride herself, Mito Uzumaki, who seemed curious about the impending duel.

When I inquired about the unexpected turnout, I learned that Hashirama had loudly proclaimed the upcoming duel between the Senju clan's second-in-command, Tobirama, and myself, the leader of the Hidden Valley Village. Everyone had come to witness the spectacle. I was speechless, and Hashirama erupted in laughter.

"Alright, let's begin!" Hashirama announced, his voice echoing across the training grounds.

The atmosphere was thick with anticipation.

Everyone watched in silence as Tobirama vanished in a burst of speed, appearing behind me in a flash. I anticipated his move and used the Substitution Technique, leaving a log in my place. Tobirama, also using the Substitution Technique, dodged the exploding tag. He then launched a barrage of shuriken, which I deflected with my kunai. Next, he unleashed a powerful Water Style: Water Dragon Technique, which I countered with an Earth Style: Earth Wall Technique, mirroring our previous encounter.

The battle intensified. I unleashed a Fire Style: Dragon Fire Technique, which he countered with a Water Style: Water Wave Technique. A thick mist enveloped us, obscuring visibility. Tobirama attempted a sneak attack, but I evaded his assault with a swift movement, my senses heightened. I continued with a series of Fire Style techniques, while he maintained his water-based defenses.

Suddenly, a dark cloud gathered overhead. I raised my hand, and a surge of lightning crackled through my body. "This is over, Tobirama!" I declared, my voice resonating with power.

A colossal lightning dragon descended from the heavens, a technique I had mastered based on Sasuke's Lightning Style: Kirin, the S-rank technique he used in his final battle with Naruto. However, my Kirin was far more powerful, infused not only with natural lightning but also with my own chakra, amplifying its destructive force.

The crowd gasped, their eyes widening in disbelief. No one expected me to unleash such a devastating technique against Tobirama, a technique that could potentially kill him. Even Hashirama's face paled slightly, as his Wood Style barrier struggled to contain the onslaught. Tobirama, realizing the gravity of the situation, teleported away just as the Kirin struck, shattering the weakened barrier.

The ground trembled, and the air crackled with residual energy. A heavy silence descended upon the onlookers. No one spoke, their eyes wide with shock and disbelief.

"Ryuu," Hashirama finally spoke, his voice grave. "What do you mean by using such a technique against Tobirama?"

I was taken aback by his question. "You can ask Tobirama," I replied. "He told me not to hold back, to fight with my full strength."

Everyone turned to look at Tobirama, who remained silent, his face grim. Hashirama looked at him incredulously. "You told him to use his full strength?"

Tobirama remained silent, acknowledging his mistake.

Hashirama, though visibly shaken, managed a wry smile. "Alright, alright. Let's put this incident behind us and prepare for the wedding."

The wedding ceremony proceeded as planned. The atmosphere was still charged with a sense of awe and trepidation following the display of my power. I presented Hashirama and Mito with a gift of one hundred Healing Talismans, unsure of what else to offer.

To be continued...