Chapter 195

Tsunade didn't care much about the leaked information regarding Uchiha Shin's disappearance.

The Sage Seal was still intact, and Shin maintained daily communication with them. Because of this, the Fire Country remained largely stable despite the situation.

Of course, there were still some hidden insurgents who colluded with outside forces once they learned of Shin's absence. For the Fire Country, this was like taking a dagger to the back in the midst of war.

Not to mention the Land of Water—after all, it had only recently been subdued. If Tsunade hadn't stationed forces to keep things under control, the region would've erupted into chaos.

The best news came from the Land of Wind.

Loulan, under the rule of Queen Sasha, had allied with the Fire Country. This cooperation delivered a devastating blow to Sunagakure, causing the Wind Country's front lines to crumble entirely.

"Xiao Shin, how much longer? Kushina and the others' bellies are starting to show. If the backbone of the Fire Country doesn't return soon, the Water Country is going to start acting up."

Tsunade's daily complaints echoed in the room. Mei Terumi, sitting beside her, could only sigh.

The situation in the Water Country was a growing headache. While Kirigakure was holding steady, the former Daimyō, who had been forced to abdicate, was gathering troops in an attempt to reclaim power.

Uchiha Shin rolled his eyes at Tsunade's whining.

"I need to ensure everything is foolproof. This is my first attempt at something like this, and I won't act until I'm 100% certain."

Shin had no intention of gambling with his life. Even a 95% success rate wasn't good enough—he wanted absolute certainty.

Moreover, his plans had shifted. He intended to bring Kaguya Ōtsutsuki back with him. With so much additional data to consider, he had to refine his strategy.

"Fine, you're in no hurry." Tsunade let out an exasperated sigh. "Whatever. I'll handle the Water Country myself."

She raked a hand through her hair, already feeling the stress taking its toll. But the current tense situation required her direct intervention.

With her super Kage-level strength and the chakra link with Uchiha Shin, her power had undoubtedly reached a level comparable to Hashirama Senju.

She was about to show the Water Country that just because Shin was gone didn't mean they could act with impunity.

Mei Terumi remained silent, watching Tsunade prepare to leave.

As if sensing her thoughts, Tsunade clapped her on the shoulder. "Relax, Ye Cang will be here to help."

"…She left for the Wind Country two weeks ago," Mei deadpanned.

Tsunade's smug grin faltered. Clearly, the long nights of handling affairs had muddled her memory.

"Right. Well, just tough it out," Tsunade said, flashing a cheeky smile. "If you need to, pull an all-nighter or two."

"You—"

Before Mei could get another word out, Tsunade had already disappeared from the office, leaving behind only a faint scent of sake.

Mei sighed heavily. With no other choice, she began forming hand seals, summoning shadow clones to handle the workload. She would pay for this later—using clones for paperwork always drained her stamina faster than doing it herself.

Meanwhile, Tsunade moved through the Water Country like an untethered force of nature.

Upon arrival, she unleashed Mokuton: Jukai Kōtan and Mokujin no Jutsu, wiping out rebellious factions within three days. The entire country was brought to its knees in the wake of her overwhelming power.

Even those in the Fire Country who had been growing restless, hoping to exploit Shin's absence, quickly abandoned their treacherous thoughts. Uchiha Shin might have vanished, but Tsunade alone could annihilate an entire clan.

If not for Mei Terumi insisting that she return, Tsunade might have stormed the front lines herself. But she understood the risks. Unlike Shin, she wasn't invincible—if she ever fell into an ambush, the consequences would be dire.

For now, her job was to intimidate and maintain control. Until Shin returned, she would be the Fire Nation's pillar.

Two months passed in a flash. The war in the ninja world raged on.

Shin's creation—the Dragon Princess—had entered the battlefield, forcing every village to deploy their Jinchūriki just to maintain a foothold.

Everything was progressing as expected. Fire Country remained dominant. Even without Shin, they were on track to unify the entire continent within three years.

But then, the unexpected shattered all of their plans.

"Scientific Ninja Tools? What the hell is this?"

Tsunade's expression was pure disbelief when she first heard the term.

The pieces fell into place when she met with Orochimaru, who had been analyzing captured samples in his lab.

"These contain the latest advancements in bioengineering and mechanical systems. It's astounding… they've developed an artificial chakra circulatory system using modified puppet technology and genetic engineering," Orochimaru explained, his golden eyes gleaming with fascination.

"They've also found a way to store ninjutsu in these devices, allowing even those without chakra control to use high-level techniques. In other words, ordinary civilians can become the equivalent of trained shinobi."

Tsunade's stomach churned as she processed Orochimaru's words.

Training a Genin took years. Most shinobi never advanced beyond that rank. Now, with these tools, even a commoner could wield jutsu like an experienced Genin.

This wasn't just an advantage—it was a game-changer.

"This has to be the work of the Kara organization," Orochimaru continued. "I'd wager they've assembled a massive research team with support from multiple nations. They must have pooled their hidden knowledge and jutsu to accelerate the development of these tools."

Orochimaru's voice carried a rare hint of irritation. Even he couldn't replicate the technology overnight. His own research was too focused on communication satellites to divert resources elsewhere.

Tsunade clenched her fists. If this spread, wars would change forever.

The battlefield was no longer just for shinobi. Ordinary people could now stand among them. With mass production, their enemies could flood the front lines with countless pseudo-shinobi.

For the first time in years, Tsunade felt a sliver of uncertainty.

If Uchiha Shin didn't return soon, things might spiral beyond even her control

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