Naruto: Reincarnated with a programmable system core.

"This attack on the merchant is a clear message," Mei said firmly, her eyes scanning the gathered faces in the meeting hall. "The Mizukage knows we're gaining ground, and he's getting desperate. If we don't respond decisively, we'll lose the momentum we've worked so hard to build."

Konan stood in the corner, her gaze drifting between the map and the others in the room.

Kisame leaned against the wall. Mei's father, a weathered man with a grizzled beard, nodded in solemn agreement, his demeanor calm, though his eyes moved toward the map like he was calculating something.

"Konan," Mei said suddenly, her tone lighter, "where's your… blond shadow?"

Konan's brow twitched ever so slightly.

"Hiroshi has other tasks to handle,"

Mei smirked knowingly, her emerald eyes gleaming with mischief. "Other tasks? He seems to pop in and out whenever he pleases. Is that why you're always so annoyed with him, or is it something else?"

Konan shot her a glare but didn't respond.

'She's deflecting,' Mei thought, amused. She had seen the way Konan's eyes softened when Hiroshi was around, even if Konan herself didn't realize it.

Mei chuckled softly to herself and returned her attention to the map.

"Focus, Mei," Konan snapped, clearly irritated. "We're discussing the Mizukage."

Before Mei could tease her further, the entire hall shook violently. A deafening explosion erupted from outside.

Kisame grabbed Samehada instantly. "Looks like the Mizukage's goons found us," he said with a toothy grin. "Finally, some fun."

Bang

The heavy doors burst open, and masked Mist shinobi stormed in, Without hesitation, they attacked.

Kisame leaped forward with a gleeful laugh, cleaving through the first wave of shinobi with a single swing of Samehada. "You call this an army? I was expecting a challenge!"

Mei formed a series of quick hand seals, unleashing a stream of molten lava that forced several attackers to retreat. Her molten rock splashed against the walls, hissing as it melted through the stone. "Careful with the furniture!" she quipped her voice light despite the chaos.

Konan, calm as ever, unfurled her paper wings, sending a storm of razor-sharp shuriken slicing through the air. "If you focused on the fight instead of making jokes, this would be over already,"

"I'm multitasking," Mei shot back, smirking as she hurled another lava attack.

Through the chaos, Hiroshi's clone moved with calculated precision. While others fought with flair, the clone's movements were deliberate and efficient. His gravity jutsu immobilized several shinobi at once, leaving them vulnerable to follow-up attacks.

On the other side, as they fought side by side, Mei couldn't resist glancing at Konan. "You know, Hiroshi moves like he's always three steps ahead. Does the real one do that too?"

Konan didn't reply, slicing through an attacker with her paper blades.

"Don't be so defensive," Mei teased, her molten rock melting a kunai mid-air. "It's obvious he gets under your skin. You get this look whenever his name comes up—like you don't know whether to punch him or... something else."

"Mei, if you don't focus on the shinobi trying to kill us, I'll let them take care of you."

Mei laughed, stepping back as another shinobi charged at her. "Admit it, Konan. He's gotten to you."

Konan didn't respond, but her silence spoke volumes.

The battle raged on, but the resistance fighters, with Konan, Kisame, and the Hiroshi clone leading the charge, quickly turned the tide. One by one, the Mizukage's shinobi fell, their masked faces hitting the floor in defeat.

Kisame, standing amidst the carnage, leaned on Samehada. "Well, that was disappointing," he said. "Is that the best they've got?"

Mei's father, who had been directing the resistance forces, approached the center of the room, his voice grave. "If this was just a scouting party, we should prepare for worse."

The Hiroshi clone surveyed the aftermath, his gaze sharp. "This felt too easy," he muttered, his voice low but audible to Konan and Mei.

Konan nodded, "The Mizukage doesn't play games. This was intentional–" Before Konan finished her words, the ground trembled again—this time with a more oppressive energy. The resistance fighters turned toward the shattered entrance as a figure stepped into the light.

The Mizukage himself stood there, his chakra presser filling the room like a storm. Behind him stood an entire battalion of elite Mist shinobi.

"Well," the Mizukage said, his voice calm but laced with venom. "I expected more from the great resistance. You've been a thorn in my side for too long."

Mei clenched her fists, her lava chakra flickering at her fingertips. "You've underestimated us for the last time."

The Hiroshi clone stepped forward, "Guess I'll have to step in again,"

...

The newly transformed dragon let out a deafening roar, its breath scorching the air. "This is your end!" it bellowed, unleashing a torrent of white-hot flames.

Hiroshi barely managed to dodge, rolling behind a boulder as the flames scorched everything in their path. "Alright, enough playing around."

With a deep breath, Hiroshi formed a series of hand seals. "Let's see how you like this."

"Deep Forest Emergence"

The ground beneath him trembled as massive roots burst forth, forming towering trees that filled the cavern.

The roots shot toward the dragon, wrapping around its legs and wings, trying to pin it down.

The dragon roared, thrashing against the wooden restraints. It unleashed another blast of flames, burning through the roots. Hiroshi gritted his teeth, pouring more chakra into the jutsu to regrow the trees even faster.

"Not so easy to keep you tied down, huh?" he muttered.

The dragon lunged at him, its claws slashing through the wooden defenses. Hiroshi leaped back, forming another set of seals. This time, a massive wooden humanoid rose from the ground—a 'Wooden Human' armed with a giant wooden sword.

The wooden construct swung its blade at the dragon, landing a solid hit that sent the massive beast crashing into the ground. But the dragon quickly recovered, using its tail to smash the wooden human apart.

Hiroshi cursed under his breath. "This thing's a tank."

The battle raged on, with Hiroshi constantly summoning more wood constructs and roots to fight the dragon. Each time he seemed to gain the upper hand, the dragon would break free, its flames and brute strength overwhelming his defenses.

Hiroshi's chakra reserves were dwindling, and his movements grew slower. The dragon lunged at him, its massive jaws snapping shut inches from his face. Hiroshi rolled out of the way, narrowly avoiding being crushed.

"Nova," he said, panting. "If you've got any advice, now's the time."

"Focus everything on the core," Nova replied. "Its chest is where its remaining life force is concentrated."

Hiroshi nodded, He formed a final series of hand seals, pouring all his remaining chakra into one last attack.

The ground beneath him erupted as massive roots and trees surged forward, converging on the dragon's chest.

The dragon roared in defiance, unleashing one final burst of flames. But Hiroshi's attack struck true. The roots pierced the dragon's chest, wrapping around its core and draining its remaining life force. The beast let out a final, mournful cry before collapsing to the ground.

Hiroshi stumbled, barely able to stand as he surveyed the destruction around him. The once-mighty White Snake Sage lay lifeless, its massive form reverting to its original snake shape.

"That… was way too close," Hiroshi muttered, leaning on his dagger for support.

Nova's voice chimed in. "You did it. But your chakra reserves are dangerously low. You'll need to rest before you can do anything else."

Hiroshi nodded weakly. "Yeah, yeah. Let me just… catch my breath."

...