One Month Ago
A day had passed since Akira sent the letter to Itachi.
Once again, he found himself at the edge of the quiet training ground, candlelight flickering from a nearby lamp as he reviewed his notes. This world was real, and mistakes here could not be undone.
Carefully, Akira wrote a new letter—this one addressed to Tsunade Senju.
The structure resembled the one sent to Itachi, but he added a critical promise:
He could revive two people dear to Tsunade within ten years.
He listed the five possible methods.
Finally, he wrote:
"Sarutobi Hiruzen will die within a month.
Return to Konoha."
And with it, the lack of successors for the next Hokage and its reason.
Sealing the scroll, Akira set it down carefully and prepared to send it via Kakashi the next morning.
---
The next morning, Akira arrived at the training ground, the sun casting long streaks across the sand.
Kakashi was in the middle of his training, moving swiftly through forms of Lightning Release, executing Chidori and its variations in precise, controlled bursts. Sparks danced across his fingers, illuminating the determination etched into his expression.
Akira waited patiently at the edge, watching the light of the electricity shimmer against the nearby walls. When Kakashi finally finished, he wiped sweat from his brow with a towel and approached Akira.
"Good afternoon, Kakashi Senpai," Akira greeted, bowing slightly in respect but speaking with the calm confidence of a ninja school genius. "Here is a letter from ' him '. Please deliver it to Tsunade Hime-sama."
He smiled softly, as if passing a small, precious secret, and then turned to leave.
Kakashi took the letter, staring at it for a long moment. His mind flickered through possibilities:
Chronarch… why would he have any reason to involve Tsunade? She's left the village, politically inactive, and deliberately avoiding Konoha. Why now?
He shook his head, deciding it wasn't the time to overthink. The mission was clear. Tsunade needed the letter, and he would deliver it.
---
Soon, Kakashi departed the village and arrived at Root Headquarters. The building was quiet, shadows stretching along the walls.
He knocked on the door of Itachi's office.
"Come in," Itachi's voice said calmly.
Kakashi stepped inside and sat directly in the chair opposite Itachi. There was no ceremonial greeting, no unnecessary respect shown — Kakashi had been Itachi's senior once, and he felt no need for excessive formality now.
Itachi regarded him silently, expression unreadable.
"What happened? Do you have any reports or messages for me?" Itachi asked, his tone neutral.
Kakashi didn't mention the letter. He said simply:
"I have some work with Tsunade Himesama. I will be leaving the village for a few days. If anyone asks, just say I'm on a Root mission."
Itachi's eyes narrowed slightly, a small nod the only sign of acknowledgment. He understood. Kakashi was working for Chronarch.
He was now investigating the truths hidden within Konoha that Chronarch had exposed.
Any absence of Kakashi would be better for him and Konoha because both of them would have one less surveillance person working under Chronarch who knows their every movement.
Itachi knocked twice on the table. A Root ninja appeared immediately.
"Assign Kakashi a mission to the Land of Grass," Itachi instructed. "Provide him with Tsunade Hime-sama's activity over the past seven days and her current location."
The ninja bowed and signaled Kakashi with his eyes. Kakashi followed silently, leaving Itachi to his documents.
---
By midnight the following day, Kakashi arrived in the Land of Grass.
Tsunade was drunk, being half-carried by Shizune to evade loan sharks. Her footsteps were unsteady, but she kept moving forward.
Shizune noticed Kakashi arrival and gave him a small nod — a quiet acknowledgment from a trusted friend. Tsunade, lost in her own world, didn't even glance at him.
Kakashi handed the sealed letter to Shizune, who in turn placed it into Tsunade's hands.
"This is from… Chronarch," Kakashi said quietly, then vanished into the night.
Tsunade's brow furrowed. Chronarch? A title, not a name. Whoever this was must wield influence or power, enough to command Kakashi, but she hadn't heard of this person while traveling through the Ninja world.
---
Once inside her modest hotel room, Tsunade finally opened the letter. Her eyes skimmed the contents:
A warning about internal conspiracies and Hiruzen's impending death.
Political reasoning why Fugaku should not ascend as Hokage and she should be the next Hokage :
1) Fugaku is too tied to the Uchiha clan → cannot be neutral.
2) His appointment would fracture clan relationships and create political instability.
3) He lacks the aggressive authority to control elders during crises.
4) Tsunade's return strengthens Konoha's military and political position.
5) Making Fugaku Hokage may benefit the Uchiha, but not the village.
And the methods for revival:
1. Impure World Reincarnation (Fushi Tensei) – partial resurrection.
2. Rinne Tensei (Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique) – full revival.
3. Chiyo's Life-Transfer Resurrection (Kishō Tensei) – one life exchanged for another.
4. Edo Tensei (Living Body Restoration) – binding a soul to a vessel.
5. Eida's Omnipotence Rewrite (Reality Rewrite) – rewriting reality itself.
Her fingers trembled as she read each line.
"Sarutobi Hiruzen will die within a month.
Return to Konoha."
Her hand curled into a fist, crushing the paper with a sharp, angry crack. She flung it across the room, her face shadowed by frustration and disbelief.
Shizune jumped at the sound, but Tsunade sank onto the futon, muttering under her breath:
"…Why drag me into this…"
Sleep came reluctantly, the weight of the letter pressing down on her like a physical burden.
---