Naruto: Getting Observation Haki By Sacrificing The Byakugan

After going through Shisui's genjutsu interrogation, what did Kurenai learn? That Shinno was, unexpectedly, a highly skilled and dangerous ninja.

In terms of taijutsu, he could rival even the Fourth Raikage. Moreover, he was said to use the forbidden Konoha technique—the Eight Gates Formation.

Even more absurdly, the rumors about the mysterious Zero-Tailed Beast were somehow connected to him.

Tsunade rubbed her temples, a headache beginning to form.

"What's going on with the ninja world lately? One ridiculous story after another."

As she said this, Tsunade glanced at Kurenai, the meaning behind her look clear.

The most outrageous thing was still the red-haired girl's fiancé standing in front of her.

Yet the fact that Tsunade was aware of such rumors made it evident she still had access to Konoha's information network. She hadn't completely cut herself off from the village.

The financial records could confirm this. Although it wasn't clear whether Tsunade maintained active intel channels, one thing was certain—the village sent her a substantial sum each month. Officially, it was labeled as compensation for property damage. But that was just the surface.

The real source of her wealth came from rental income on relocation housing and commercial properties built on what used to be Senju clan land—now redeveloped after the clan's territory was demolished.

According to Second Hokage Tobirama—who had managed the Senju estate long before—those once-humble locations would skyrocket in value over the next ten or twenty years.

Many villagers didn't understand the foresight behind this. Some even scoffed, accusing the Uchiha of deliberately complicating things for the last living descendant of the Senju.

But it was indeed Tobirama who orchestrated these real estate arrangements. Left to her own devices, Tsunade would have liquidated the entire estate for quick cash.

Tobirama had used every ounce of his intellect for his grandniece's future. Sadly, no one in the village seemed to appreciate this—except Kawaki Aoba.

"So, after all that, we still don't know what this Zero-Tailed Beast even is?" Kurenai's voice pulled everyone back to reality.

By now, Tsunade had fully recovered from her hemophobia.

Curling her lips with disinterest, she replied, "Who cares what it is? It has nothing to do with us."

"Hasn't that kid—Kawaki Aoba—already become the so-called 'God of the Shinobi World'? Tailed Beasts are meaningless to him. This 'Zero-Tailed Beast' sounds made-up. It might not even be stronger than the One-Tail."

She waved the matter off. "Why bother with that mess? I've got a gambling match tonight."

"You big sucker," Anko Mitarashi complained. "You're just giving money away again, aren't you?"

Anko was immediately rewarded with a heavy flick from Tsunade.

"What do you brats know? I'm making a comeback tonight. All of you who've taken my money will pay it back—with interest!"

Tsunade looked fierce and determined. Yet the way she said it, no one could quite believe her.

Then she gestured toward the unconscious Fourth Raikage lying nearby.

"Also, get this broken-armed guy out of here. Whether you kill him or send him back to Konoha, I don't care. I'm moving on."

The Raikage's wounds had already been cauterized with medical ninjutsu—no blood was visible. But Kurenai still hesitated.

This was the Fourth Raikage, after all. What were they supposed to do with him?

Killing him outright?

If the Raikage died here in Kusagakure, no one might ever know. Who would believe the Fourth Raikage perished in a backwater like this?

Still, such a death would be too unceremonious for someone of his status.

("The Third Kazekage would like a word," someone muttered dryly.)

After weighing her options, Kurenai decided to inform Kawaki Aoba.

Ever since the Iwagakure incident, Aoba had practically become a living Enma, the Demon King. To many, he was more terrifying than any Tailed Beast.

With just one Tailed Beast, he had almost emptied Iwagakure's resources.

If he could do that with a single beast, imagine what he could extract from a Kage.

Kurenai pulled out an unusual creature that looked like a snail.

Brrrr… Brrrr… Brrrr…

It occasionally made strange noises until it suddenly spoke—with Kawaki Aoba's voice.

"Hm? Kurenai? What's up? Trouble?"

The creature in her hands was a Den Den Mushi—a relic from another world, obtained by Aoba through altar sacrifices.

Though most of these tools were odd and impractical, this particular Den Den Mushi proved useful for communication.

Kurenai quickly explained the situation, including the capture of the Fourth Raikage, A.

There was a pause before the Den Den Mushi replied.

"I understand. In that case, leave the Raikage to me. I'll also check out this Zero-Tailed Beast myself."

The moment the voice stopped, Kawaki Aoba appeared in the clearing via Instant Transmission.

"You guys with your space-time ninjutsu—I'm so jealous," Kurenai muttered.

Aoba smiled. "So you like space-time abilities? I'll get you one sometime."

If anyone else had said that, it would've sounded like nonsense.

But this was Kawaki Aoba—and when he said it, you believed it.

Especially Kurenai. She knew he wasn't just being polite. He meant it.

Her heart warmed once again.

Then Aoba turned his gaze to the unconscious Fourth Raikage.

Watching the man with a broken arm lying on the ground, his life or death uncertain, Aoba Yamashiro's eyes showed neither sorrow nor joy. Without hesitation, he unleashed a final strike, putting an end to the man's suffering.

The Fourth Raikage, A, was dead.

"Aoba… that was the Fourth Raikage! You just killed him like that?" Kurenai Yuhi asked in disbelief, the scene before her feeling utterly surreal.

Aoba, however, remained calm.

"It's just the Fourth Raikage. What's the big deal about killing him? Do I need to send an announcement to the entire ninja world first?"

Everyone was speechless.

Especially Kurenai, who explained anxiously, "Aoba, that's not what I meant. I mean—he's the Fourth Raikage! Didn't you plan to use him for something? Like… bargaining with Kumogakure over the Eight-Tails?"

Aoba shook his head and gave a thin smile. "There's no point. That kind of plan might work on a different Kage, but every Raikage is the same—unyielding, proud, and stubborn to the core. Each one is a storm waiting to erupt."

"If I tried to use him as leverage, Kumogakure might play along at first. But the moment they got him back, they'd declare war—without hesitation. And the excuse would be obvious: to erase their shame."

"Even if they do launch a war, Kumogakure's existence is irrelevant. It'd just take a bit more effort to deal with them. But I have bigger things to handle—I don't want to waste time."

"So, after thinking it through, it was better to just kill him."

Good grief… was the Fourth Raikage really so insignificant?

Apparently so. Otherwise, his death wouldn't have happened this abruptly.

"As for that 'Zero-Tails' rumor, I'll investigate it later. But you guys—now that you've found your mission target, have you figured out how you're going to complete it?"

Aoba clearly knew the kind of mission Kurenai's team was on, but he just glanced toward Tsunade without elaborating.

Kurenai sighed, shaking her head. "We've hit a snag. It's going to take more time than expected."

Indeed. Judging from Tsunade's expression, she had no intention of returning to the village. And with her status, using force wasn't an option.

This mission was proving to be quite the challenge.

Tsunade wasn't oblivious either. From how Kurenai's team had approached her, it was obvious their mission involved her. But so what?

She hated complications—and returning to Konoha was the biggest complication of all. That village had become a graveyard of pain and regret.

Sure, she'd heard that things were improving. But Konoha was still where her heart had shattered. She had no desire to go back.

It wasn't hard to guess the nature of their mission. They were either trying to bring her back—or they'd gotten themselves into trouble because of her.

Now that the matter seemed settled, Tsunade didn't bother being subtle. She issued a straightforward dismissal.

With no other choice, the group reluctantly retreated.

On the road, Aoba turned to Kurenai. "Any ideas on how to convince Tsunade to return?"

Her bitter expression said it all. If she had a plan, they wouldn't have been kicked out in the first place.

Aoba rubbed his chin, deep in thought.

Tsunade's problem, at its core, was psychological. If someone could help her overcome her past, she might return to Konoha on her own. She might even conquer her hemophobia.

But therein lay the challenge: how could someone pull her out of that deep emotional pit?

Aoba didn't know any 'Talk-no-Jutsu.'

Kurenai's team wasn't much help either. And waiting for Naruto Uzumaki to grow up and work his magic would take a decade at least. No one had that kind of time.

"It looks like the usual approaches won't work," Aoba muttered. "Which means… we'll have to go with the last resort."

Kurenai raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "There's a last resort? Aoba, are you saying you actually have a way?"

Aoba smirked. "I don't have a way to fix the problem. But if I can't solve the trouble… can't I solve the source of the trouble?"

Kurenai's heart skipped a beat. Her voice wavered. "Aoba… that's Tsunade-sama you're talking about."

"Kurenai, you think I don't know that? Relax—I'm not talking about harming her. I'm saying we knock her out and carry her back to Konoha."

"Once she's back in the village, make up a reason to keep her. If she tries to leave, don't stop her. But the moment she crosses the gates—we knock her out again and repeat the process."

"She wants to leave? Let's see how many times she can do it."

Aoba's meaning was crystal clear. He was ready to resort to brute tactics to 'escort' Tsunade back to Konoha.

It was bold. It was crude. But… it might actually work.

Strangely, the idea didn't seem entirely out of place.

Kurenai found herself oddly convinced. She even felt tempted to try.

Behind them, the three members of Shisui Uchiha's team exchanged glances.

They didn't know what to say. Traveling with these two felt like being inside a storm. Was this how powerful ninja handled problems?

They were definitely learning a lot.

That evening, the group of five waited patiently. As night fell, they crouched along the path leading to the local casino—the route Tsunade always took.

They weren't hiding.

They stood in plain sight, bold and confident.

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