Naruto: Tenseigan Eye

"Hahaha, this is hilarious! I've never seen a battle like this before!"

Shinki slapped the table, laughing heartily.

The information was too amusing. Compared to the disciplined operations of the Third Hokage and others on the battlefield in Grass Country, the antics of the Third Raikage and Yagura were on a completely different level. Their approach was daring and unconventional—something no one else could have come up with.

The war had devolved into a competition to destroy the other side's ships. While funny, the strategy made sense. In a sea war, losing ships meant losing the ability to fight. After all, you couldn't expect your ninjas to swim across the sea to battle. And if ninjas could swim to fight, how would they transport supplies—swim them over too?

Tsunade couldn't help but express her admiration. "If this keeps up, the war between the Cloud and Mist Villages might end sooner rather than later."

Shinki shook his head, disagreeing. "No, it's far from over. Not unless one side concedes."

"Far from over? You're saying these two villages don't want to end the war?"

Tsunade gave Shinki a skeptical look. "Don't lie to me; Just because I graduated early and didn't read many books, doesn't mean I'm stupid"

"It's not both villages. It's just one."

Shinki spread out the scroll and pointed to the section about the Mist Village.

"Yagura isn't aiming for an endless war. He wants to eliminate dissidents within his village. Once that's done, he'll end the conflict. If he keeps fighting for too long, it'll jeopardize his position."

"A war that doesn't end in clear victory but forces the Cloud Village to withdraw is perfect for him. He can frame it as a victory and stabilize his rule. Propaganda doesn't need to reflect the truth—it just needs to convince people."

"Yagura's tactics are clever. Destroying the Cloud Village's ships works well because they can't catch him in the water. His sneak attacks are nearly impossible to counter."

Shinki smirked. "But he underestimated the Third Raikage. That man doesn't know how to give up. He calls Onoki a stubborn old man, but he's just as stubborn himself."

"Now, both sides are obsessively destroying each other's ships. Once they lose enough vessels to prevent large-scale war, it'll turn into smaller, localized skirmishes. But as long as the Third Raikage refuses to quit, the Cloud ninjas will find a way—even if it means rowing small boats to attack the Land of Water."

Tsunade frowned. "If this keeps up, could the Cloud Village end up turning on us? Could they see Konoha as an easier target?"

Shinki noted her concern and reassured her. "There's no need to worry. As long as we don't hold back in fulfilling our obligations as allies, even if the Cloud Village loses the war, they won't blame us."

He paused and added, "You're forgetting something important."

"What?"

Tsunade pointed at herself in disbelief. "Me? Forget something?"

Shinki smirked and flicked her forehead.

"You forgot that we don't need to fear retaliation from the Cloud Village. In fact, they should be afraid of us."

Tsunade hissed, covering her forehead as she glared at Shinki like a lioness. "You dare to hit me?"

Ignoring her threatening gaze, Shinki continued calmly.

"Even if the Third Raikage holds a grudge, do you really think he'd dare retaliate against us? The Five Kage Summit only restricted us from dropping puppets on the Five Great Ninja Villages. Nothing stops us from using them elsewhere. Do you think the Third Raikage wants to risk that?"

Tsunade blinked, rubbing her forehead. "You might have a point…"

Just as Tsunade seemed to process his argument, Shinki leapt out the window.

"Wait! Get back here!" Tsunade shouted, clenching her fists angrily. She stood and bellowed out the window, "Shinki! If you dare flick my forehead again, you're dead! I'll kill you tonight!"

Her voice carried far across the Hokage's office building, causing the bustling workers to freeze. Heads turned toward the source of the shout, curiosity and confusion in their eyes.

"Did Hokage-sama just say that?"

The atmosphere grew awkward as rumors about Tsunade's tomboyish temper began spreading through the village.

Unbothered by Tsunade's threats, Shinki returned home with Kushina, where they found Killer Bee training intensely by the river.

Since being repeatedly defeated by Minato Namikaze, Killer Bee had transformed into a more serious and focused ninja. Gone were the days of carefree songwriting and casual training. Now, his sessions were longer and more grueling, ending only when he was too exhausted to continue.

The Eight-Tails watched Killer Bee with quiet satisfaction. Its host had finally stopped annoying it with incessant chatter, and training had become a productive routine.

However, the Eight-Tails tensed suddenly as it sensed a familiar presence.

"Nine-Tails…"

The Nine-Tails, resting within Kushina, stirred and looked in the same direction.

"Eight-Tails…"

The two tailed beasts recognized each other's chakra.

"Master Shinki!"

Noticing Shinki's approach, Killer Bee stopped his training and stood at attention, his body glistening with sweat.

In the past, Shinki had warned Killer Bee to take his training seriously. When Bee failed to comply, Shinki gave him a lesson he wouldn't forget, knocking him around and scolding him thoroughly.

Since then, Killer Bee had developed a grudging respect for Shinki, even if he still set his ultimate goal as surpassing Minato Namikaze. For now, though, he greeted Shinki with a salute and awaited instructions.