Naruto: Wooing Tsunade from Day One!

"Set out!"

At the front of Konoha's camp near the Land of Wind, Tsunade waved her hand, leading the large army straight toward their destination.

Shinku Yūhi, the warehouse manager, remained behind to guard the camp. This task carried minimal risk and was considered easy work.

"Do you need anything else to prepare?" Tsunade asked Kawakaze, tilting her head slightly.

"Prepare? Just push him aside," Kawakaze replied with a confident tone, glancing back at Sakumo and Duy behind him.

"Good," Tsunade responded firmly. Without interference from Iwagakure, dealing with the Land of Wind would indeed be much easier.

Meanwhile, in Sunagakure, news had already reached them of Kumogakure's invasion of the Land of Earth and Konoha's impending arrival.

"Konoha's troops are already on their way. What should we do?"

Pakura sat in the front seat, her face calm and expressionless. She had anticipated this situation and was prepared.

"Do your best," Bunpuku said softly, not even opening his eyes. He harbored little hope for the battle's outcome. In his mind, the worst-case scenario would be repaying the Third Kazekage for saving his life by sacrificing his own.

"Let's fight them to the death," Rasa declared, his expression fierce and determined.

"Yes, let's fight them to the death," echoed the Suna ninja, surprisingly united in their resolve.

"Has there been any news from the Daimyō?" Pakura asked, ignoring the impassioned cries around her. She directed her question to the intelligence officer present.

"The Daimyō has instructed us to hold out as long as possible. They're already reaching out to the Land of Fire," the officer replied.

This was the only possible course Pakura could see. If surrender became an option, she would accept it without hesitation.

Konoha's full-scale attack was something Sunagakure couldn't withstand indefinitely—it was just a matter of time. However, achieving this would require Sunagakure to risk everything to buy that precious time.

"Prepare for battle," Pakura sighed. The Daimyō's orders sounded simple enough, but in the end, it was the dedicated ninja like her who would bear the brunt of the conflict.

A few days later, Konoha's troops arrived at the border of the Land of Wind. Without warning, they launched an all-out attack.

The blazing heat of the sun beat down on the battlefield as yellow sand rolled across the terrain. Crossing from the Land of Rain into the Land of Wind felt like entering an entirely different world.

Once again, Konoha and Sunagakure clashed fiercely within the Land of Wind's borders.

Under the leadership of Konoha's four great masters, including Kawakaze, Sunagakure's carefully planned defenses failed to produce the intended results. The heavy troop formations and traps proved insignificant in the face of overwhelming power.

Kawakaze alone completely overpowered Shukaku, forcing the tailed beast into a defensive position, cowering as it endured relentless attacks. Judging by its battered state, it seemed unlikely Shukaku could hold out much longer.

Kawakaze's strength was even more terrifying than Tsunade's.

With her hands freed, Tsunade charged into the ranks of the Suna ninja, cutting through their forces effortlessly. Her crimson silhouette darted back and forth across the battlefield, unstoppable. Pakura could only watch in agony as the carnage unfolded.

Pakura unleashed a Scorch Release attack, turning a group of Konoha ninja into mummies. Just as she tried to reposition himself, her path was blocked by Duy.

"Didn't get enough last time?" Duy said with a grin, flashing a bright smile. The oppressive force of the green whirlwind of chakra surrounding him made Pakura instinctively retreat a few steps.

Seeing their commander in trouble, several Sunagakure Shadow Guards rushed forward to assist. Even with their combined efforts, the monstrous strength of Duy was overwhelming.

Meanwhile, Sakumo brandished his white chakra-imbued blade, cutting through the battlefield with precision.

With each strike, he claimed the lives of countless Jōnin, leaving no room for hesitation or mercy.

In just half a day, the defenses of the Land of Wind had completely collapsed.

Realizing they were no match, Pakura and the others combined their strength to repel Duy and signal a retreat.

Bunpuku, who had been prepared to die in battle, suddenly felt a surge of relief. Just because he was willing to sacrifice himself didn't mean Shukaku shared his sentiment. After blocking Kawakaze's attack, Shukaku fled in panic, leaving behind most of his tail.

The Suna ninja retreated while fighting, but their escape came at a heavy cost.

Konoha emerged with a decisive victory in this battle. Pakura could only hope the Daimyō would act quickly. If they delayed for too long, even surrender might no longer be an option. Now, her fate and the Daimyō's were tied together.

With the front line secured, the Konoha ninja began to rest and recuperate. The Suna ninja's hastily constructed houses now served as temporary shelters for the Konoha forces.

"They won't be able to hide for long," Kawakaze said, seated cross-legged in one of the sand houses in front of a low table. He showed no signs of exhaustion; defeating Shukaku hadn't required much effort from him.

"It's just a matter of time. Lining up to be killed takes a while, doesn't it?" Sakumo added, his tone flat and his face expressionless.

"Okay, you two, stop agreeing with each other," Tsunade snapped, glaring at them with irritation. She couldn't believe how complacent they were acting.

"I think they're right," Duy chimed in cheerfully, joining the conversation without hesitation.

"Fine, you guys chat. I'll go check downstairs," Tsunade said with a wave of her hand. Without sake or food to keep her entertained, she had no interest in bantering with the three of them. She decided to check on the wounded instead, standing to leave.

"Stay a little longer," Kawakaze called after her, still trying to persuade her to stay. But there wasn't much appeal in sitting around with three men.

"I'm busy," Tsunade replied curtly, maintaining an air of aloofness as she walked out.

Kawakaze immediately followed her, leaving Sakumo shaking his head with a sigh. Duy, on the other hand, grinned.

If I'd been as smooth as Kawakaze when courting my wife, maybe Guy would have been born a few years earlier, Duy mused to himself.

...

On the battlefield of the Land of Wind, Konoha achieved significant victories, while the Uchiha Clan Head led his troops into the Land of Earth.

"Uncle, where are we going?"

The route they were taking this time was unfamiliar to Fugaku; it didn't seem like a return to any of their old haunts.

"You tell me," the Uchiha Clan Head replied, his gaze fixed on Fugaku. He was testing his nephew's knowledge without revealing his own plan.

"We definitely can't go to the front line. With the few men we have, we'd be walking into certain death," Fugaku said after a moment's thought. "As long as we can create a commotion and attract some Iwa Ninjas over here, we'll have completed our mission."

"Not bad, you've improved," the Uchiha Clan Head said with a smile, offering his nephew some rare praise before continuing. "If the Iwa Ninjas split their forces, the pressure on the Kumo Ninja will lessen. On the other hand, this also means the Iwa Ninjas will suffer heavier losses."

He glanced at Fugaku. "The enemy of my enemy is my friend. In this case, we're also using the strength of the Kumo Ninja."

His plan was well thought out—low risk, with the potential to inflict substantial losses on the enemy.

"I just don't know if Ōnoki has sent anyone to defend the area," Fugaku remarked. He knew Konoha's intelligence officers had been captured, which increased the likelihood of Ōnoki assigning defenders.

"That old fox will definitely send someone," the Uchiha Clan Head said. "But given the Third Raikage's threat, it's unlikely he'd send any masters to this area."

While his analysis was solid, he underestimated how much importance Ōnoki placed on Kawakaze's movements.

"That makes sense," Fugaku nodded, trusting his uncle's wisdom.

"Tell everyone to keep a lookout for Iwa Ninjas and report back if you spot any," the Uchiha Clan Head instructed, assigning Fugaku the task of spreading the order. The majority of their group consisted of Uchiha Clan members, and Fugaku would help lead them.

"Yes," Fugaku replied, retreating to pass along the instructions. He reminded everyone to remain cautious and vigilant.

However, for a group of this size, complete concealment was nearly impossible.

Unbeknownst to them, their presence had already been detected.

Rōshi, fueled by his desire for revenge after the humiliation he suffered at Kawakaze's hands, had begun to plan their pursuit.

What the Uchiha Clan Head didn't know yet was that his group would soon be facing a dangerous adversary: the Four-Tailed Jinchūriki.