After emerging from the forest, Tsunade spotted a nearby settlement. A few inquiries later confirmed that they were in a small northern village within the Land of Fire. Knowing their general location, she and Jiraiya quickly found their way back to Umbrella's hidden base.
When they returned, Naruto was already waiting. Upon hearing the full account of what had happened in Konoha, his brows furrowed deeply.
He hadn't expected Danzō to act so brazenly—but something about the situation didn't sit right.
Naruto's gaze drifted to Tsunade. Her once disheveled appearance was gone; now she stood tall in elegant, cream-colored attire, her composure and beauty restored.
"Tsunade," Naruto began quietly, his blue eyes sharp and contemplative, "what do you plan to do about this?"
Tsunade clenched her fists.
"I can't just let this go. I refuse to let the village my grandfather built fall into Danzō's hands!"
Her tone carried both grief and fury. But even as she spoke, a flicker of hesitation crossed her face. She knew that if Umbrella acted now, their veil of secrecy would be torn away. The organization's existence would no longer be a shadow—it would step into the light.
If Naruto refused… she'd reclaim Konoha herself, no matter the cost.
Naruto, reading her thoughts, exhaled slowly. He understood her rage—and he also knew this couldn't be handled recklessly.
Tsunade wasn't just a Sannin. Her mastery of medical ninjutsu made her invaluable—one of Umbrella's brightest minds. And as a member of the organization, Naruto couldn't ignore her plea.
"I won't stand by and watch," he said at last, his tone resolute.
"Convene the Round Table Conference."
Tsunade blinked in surprise.
The Round Table Conference—Umbrella's highest-level council. It wasn't called lightly. She had expected Naruto to simply send a squad and some equipment, not mobilize the entire upper echelon.
Her heart softened slightly. This was Naruto's way of showing his trust—and his willingness to stand with her.
Beside her, Jiraiya scratched his head, completely lost.
"Uh… what's this Round Table thing again?"
Naruto ignored him and sent a coded signal. Moments later, Shisui and the other senior members arrived, each with solemn expressions. The very fact that this meeting was being held meant something critical had happened.
Shisui took a seat, eyes narrowing in thought. He knew Naruto wouldn't call this meeting unless the matter affected the organization's future.
The chamber was dim, lit only by soft overhead lights that gleamed off the polished, dark-brown surface of the circular table. Ten seats were arranged evenly around it—each reserved for a high-ranking member of Umbrella.
Sasuke entered next, his growth in power evident, though his Sharingan had yet to evolve further. Neji followed soon after.
Lee, as usual, had opted out, claiming he didn't understand "boring meetings" and trusted Naruto to handle it.
Uchiha Yu was still away, stationed at another Umbrella base, unable to return in time.
Zabuza sat near Shisui, his massive blade resting against the table. His tight, water-blue combat uniform reflected Umbrella's standard-issue design.
Izumi took a quiet seat beside him. The strategist responsible for base construction and logistics joined as well, with Shikamaru observing silently from the side—his analytical eyes scanning everyone in the room.
The air was thick with anticipation.
Then—click.
All heads turned as Naruto entered, wearing a sleek black combat suit with the Umbrella insignia on his shoulder. Tsunade followed beside him.
The moment everyone saw her, they understood. The meeting was about Konoha.
And about Danzō.
Naruto sat down, his gaze sweeping across the table.
"I assume you all know what's happened."
He paused for a beat before continuing, his voice calm but edged with steel.
"Konoha has fallen into Danzō's hands. If Tsunade had secured the Hokage's seat, she would've been a tremendous ally to us. But now…" He exhaled softly.
"This isn't just about reclaiming the village—it's about changing Umbrella's entire strategy."
The room fell silent. Everyone knew what that meant. Reclaiming Konoha would be war.
However, this wouldn't be an open conflict between nations. Danzō's personal control over Root limited his manpower—but that made him all the more dangerous. The question was how to eliminate him with minimal cost.
Naruto's tone hardened. "Once we move, the world will take notice. The other great nations will turn their eyes toward us. Continuing to develop quietly is no longer possible."
He leaned forward, resting his hands on the table.
"So my suggestion is simple—fight. Fight with everything we have."
His words echoed through the room, sharp and unyielding.
For a moment, the others were silent.
Then, one by one, their eyes lit up—not with fear, but with determination.
No one had ever seen Naruto this fired up before.
Sasuke's expression was dark and tense.
If they attacked Konoha this time, he could finally take his revenge on that wretched old man—Danzō Shimura.
Naruto had told him the truth: Danzō was the true mastermind behind the Uchiha clan's destruction.
But that didn't mean Sasuke would forgive Uchiha Itachi—the accomplice who carried out the massacre.
Beside him, Neji remained calm and silent. Whatever path Naruto chose, he would follow. Naruto had been the one who helped him break free from the cursed destiny of the Hyūga clan—the one who had given him freedom beyond the cage.
Shisui smiled faintly. "Naruto, if you're saying this, you must already have a plan."
Zabuza laughed, his voice rough and eager.
"My Kubikiribōchō's been itching for some real action!"
No one among them questioned Naruto's decisions anymore—not after witnessing the power the Umbrella had amassed under his leadership.
Naruto's gaze hardened. "This time, I want the entire shinobi world to know our name. We've developed long enough in the shadows—it's time we bared our fangs."
A powerful aura radiated from him—one that made people believe, whether they wanted to or not.
"If we keep growing in secret forever, who knows how many years it'll take before true peace comes to this world?" he continued.
"Recruitment has already slowed. Fewer and fewer people are desperate enough to join us now."
His tone turned sharper, colder.
"How can we change this world without bloodshed? The path to peace is a battlefield paved with struggle!"
Naruto's impatience wasn't without reason. The great war of the original timeline was approaching fast. If they continued developing cautiously, they would make progress—but not enough to become a force capable of shaping the war's outcome.
The Umbrella's growth needed to accelerate.
Without pressure, how could there be progress?
Shisui's expression turned thoughtful.
"You're right, Naruto. We and the shinobi world are like two opposing classes. In a struggle between classes, coexistence is impossible. One side will have to bleed."
He looked up, eyes blazing.
"It's time to step onto the stage. Even if this operation exposes us, the weapons we've created need to be tested in real combat."
His voice hardened, echoing through the chamber.
"Without the baptism of blood and fire, how can we truly grow?"
Shisui, a man who had lived and bled through war, knew it better than anyone—There's a difference between having seen blood… and never having seen it at all.
...
TN:
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