Chapter 76: The Hunt Begins

The weight of the coming storm hung heavy in the air.

Konoha was preparing to move, and the world would soon know the meaning of true conquest.

The Purification of Sarutobi Hiruzen

In the depths of Konoha's medical research division, an ancient ritual was taking place.

Sarutobi Hiruzen sat cross-legged within a complex sealing array, his upper robe removed, exposing the worn but powerful frame of a man who had carried Konoha's burdens for decades. The dim glow of the candles flickered across his face, casting deep shadows that made him seem older than he was.

Tsunade and Orochimaru stood on opposite sides of the array, their roles clear. She would refine his body, he would refine his chakra.

"Are you certain about this, Lord Third?" Tsunade asked, her hands forming the first sequence of the technique. "Once this process begins, there's no turning back."

Hiruzen chuckled, exhaling smoke from his pipe before handing it off to a nearby table. "At my age, there are few things I'm uncertain about, Tsunade."

Orochimaru's golden eyes gleamed with amusement as he prepared the chakra-infused solution. "For a man so old, you still want to keep up with us?"

Hiruzen smirked. "It's not about keeping up. It's about ensuring Konoha stands tall. If I must adapt to this era of monsters, then so be it."

Tsunade let out a slow breath before pressing her glowing palms against his back. The process began immediately—his cells shifting, regenerating, becoming something stronger. Orochimaru followed, his own chakra slithering through the array, dissolving impurities and refining Hiruzen's reserves into something purer, something worthy of a Hokage who would reshape the world.

Minutes passed.

Then an hour.

Finally, Hiruzen opened his eyes. His body felt lighter, his chakra deeper—he had been reborn.

He rolled his shoulders, stretching his arms experimentally before clenching a fist, feeling the power coursing through him. His expression darkened with determination.

"It's time for Konoha to stand tall."

The Gathering of the Elite

The war council was in session.

A large map lay across the table, marked with the known locations of the Jinchūriki across the elemental nations. The candlelight flickered over the faces of those present—each one a key figure in the war.

Ōtsutsuki Ryūsei stood at the head, eyes scanning the battlefield they were about to enter.

Beside him, Jiraiya, Tsunade, Orochimaru, Sakumo Hatake, and Hiruzen all watched as he detailed the plan.

"We strike before they can react," Ryūsei said, his tone unwavering. "Once they realize what we're doing, they'll try to scatter the Jinchūriki. We must move swiftly and simultaneously."

A tense silence followed as the gravity of his words settled in.

"This will mark us as enemies of every village," Jiraiya muttered.

"They already see us that way," Tsunade said, arms crossed. "We're just making sure they can't pretend otherwise."

Orochimaru chuckled darkly. "I must say, I enjoy the directness of this approach."

Sakumo exhaled sharply. "This is going to be a war like none before."

Hiruzen, now stronger than ever, nodded. "Then let's make sure we win it."

A Moment Before War

Later that night, under the quiet glow of the moon, Ryūsei stood atop Konoha's outer walls. The village lay before him, peaceful in the moment before the storm.

Footsteps approached from behind.

He smirked before even turning around. "You're awfully sneaky for someone so loud."

Tsunade scoffed, stepping beside him. "And you're awfully cocky for someone about to throw himself into the middle of five villages' worth of rage."

He glanced at her, amusement flickering in his golden Byakugan. "That's what you love about me, isn't it?"

She rolled her eyes. "More like what annoys me the most."

Silence stretched between them for a moment, the wind rustling gently through the trees below.

Then, in a softer voice, she asked, "You're really doing this?"

He turned to her fully. "You know I am."

Her golden eyes met his. "And if you die?"

His smirk widened. "Then I die as the most irritating bastard you've ever known."

Tsunade let out a frustrated sigh before suddenly grabbing the collar of his cloak, yanking him down slightly so they were face to face.

"Listen to me, Ryūsei Ōtsutsuki. If you die, I'm resurrecting you just so I can kill you myself."

He chuckled. "Dying just to have you chase me down in the afterlife? Sounds romantic."

She huffed. "You're impossible."

"And yet, you're still here."

Tsunade held his gaze for a moment before her grip loosened. Her expression softened, and for once, she let the worry show in her eyes.

"…Come back alive, you hear me?"

He reached up, brushing a strand of her blonde hair behind her ear, his fingers lingering for a second longer than necessary.

"I will."

For once, there was no sarcasm, no teasing—just quiet assurance.

Tsunade studied him, then nodded. "Good."

Then, in a moment too quick to react to, she leaned up and pressed a brief kiss to his cheek before turning on her heel and walking away.

Ryūsei stood there, blinking, before a slow grin spread across his lips.

"…Huh."

Guess he really did have something to come back for.

The First Step Toward Dominion

As the first light of dawn crept over the horizon, Konoha's elite forces moved out.

Their targets were set.

The hunt for the Tailed Beasts had begun.