Naruto: Wooing Tsunade from Day One!

"What? The Uchiha Clan Head died in battle?"

"Black flames?" Kawakaze stood up abruptly, the news catching him completely off guard.

It seemed the death of the Uchiha Clan Head had triggered Fugaku's awakening of the Mangekyō Sharingan. Black flames—likely Amaterasu. Such an ability was both formidable and enviable.

However, the cost was steep. The risk of losing one's eyesight was the greatest flaw, even if the technique could severely wound a Jinchūriki with a single move upon awakening. Unless Fugaku fused with Hashirama's Cells or evolved to the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, blindness was inevitable.

Although the surrender of the Land of Wind had initially brought good news, the mood among Tsunade and the others was now far from celebratory.

They were instead focused on preparing to evacuate the Land of Wind and await the start of negotiations.

"Where is Fugaku Uchiha?" Tsunade asked, frowning as she sought more information.

"Fugaku Uchiha was seriously injured and is unconscious. He has already been sent back to Konoha," the Konoha Ninja reported nervously. "The status of the Fourth Tailed Beast Jinchūriki is unknown."

The ninja lowered his head, clearly uneasy as he finished his report. Delivering such grim news to these leaders left him trembling.

"I see. You may go," Kawakaze said after a moment, sighing deeply.

"Yes, Lord Kawakaze," the ninja replied, bowing slightly before retreating without waiting for Tsunade to speak.

"There isn't even a corpse. What a pity," Sakumo commented, sighing. A clan leader who willingly fought on the front lines had earned his respect. To think he had died without even leaving remains behind was sobering.

"He is a hero," Duy said earnestly. He didn't overthink the matter. In his eyes, someone like the Uchiha Clan Head was unquestionably a hero.

Compared to the Third Hokage or the other clan leaders who stayed behind in Konoha, this was a world apart.

"Since it's come to this, there's nothing we can do. I hope this kid Fugaku can pull through," Kawakaze said as he slowly sat down.

Though he and the Uchiha Clan Head had had conflicts in the past, they had worked together well in recent times. Kawakaze couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness. He was quite sentimental about his allies.

"Hurry up and finish things here so we can return to the village. This incident might trigger a series of reactions," Tsunade said, her voice calm but serious.

Her political instincts, already sharp, warned her that someone in the village might try to exploit this tragedy. Fugaku, still young, might not be able to handle the pressure. The Uchiha were now reliable allies, and losing that alliance would be costly.

"Well, we'll head back after the negotiations are complete," Kawakaze replied with a nod. He knew the Uchiha, now leaderless, would be vulnerable to opportunists within the village.

Meanwhile, Fugaku was urgently sent back to Konoha, where his clan immediately brought him to Konoha Hospital. With Uchiha clan members working there, the hospital was their only option.

After an examination, it was determined that Fugaku's chakra reserves were completely depleted. However, his injuries—burns and internal damage—were not severe and were easily treated.

Yet, for reasons unknown, Fugaku remained unconscious. He lay in a hospital bed, receiving intravenous nutrition and constant care, never left alone by his clan.

With the previous Uchiha Clan Head having died in battle, Fugaku, as the youngest heir, was expected to take over the role. When he woke, he would assume leadership and continue pursuing his predecessor's vision for the clan.

This was something everyone in Konoha understood.

Some mocked the late Clan Head, calling him overconfident for going to battle at his age. "Why take such a risk? He could've stayed safe in the village," they sneered.

But the Uchiha knew their situation better than anyone, and it was not something they would share with outsiders.

Konohagakure, Hokage's Office.

"This time, the Uchiha Clan Head died in battle, and Fugaku Uchiha is in a coma. What are your thoughts?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi sat in his office chair, a cigarette in hand. His expression remained neutral, neither sad nor joyful.

The incident had not moved him emotionally. He had always regarded the Uchiha with caution.

"His name can be engraved on the Memorial Stone," Homura Mitokado said. "But Fugaku Uchiha is still young, and if there is anything he does in the future that is not appropriate, he will still need our guidance."

His initial comment seemed to honor the fallen Clan Head, but the latter carried a distinct undertone. Politicians always weighed the pros and cons, and Homura was already contemplating ways to further weaken the Uchiha.

At this moment, he smiled faintly, resembling a fox that had cultivated its cunning for a thousand years—an expression that irritated those around him.

"Let's wait until Fugaku Uchiha wakes up and discuss it then," Koharu Utatane interjected.

Her hostility toward the Uchiha had lessened over time, particularly after interacting more with Tsunade. She spoke without overthinking, unaware that aligning herself with Kawakaze had subtly shifted her perspective.

"Well, let's revisit this matter later," Hiruzen said, setting down his pipe. He exhaled a thick cloud of smoke, his eyes lingering on Koharu for a moment.

His old partner seemed different, and the change hadn't escaped his notice.

Koharu, realizing she may have spoken carelessly, quickly shifted the topic. "Are you leaving the negotiations with the Land of Wind entirely to Tsunade?"

Avoiding Hiruzen's gaze, she seemed almost guilty.

"Yes, it's just a matter of money. There's nothing to worry about," Sarutobi replied.

"If we hadn't suffered such heavy casualties together this time, they wouldn't have surrendered," he added, the weight of the battle damage reports etched in his voice.

"I hear that the Land of Earth can't hold out much longer."

"I think the war is coming to an end," Homura said confidently. His information was reliable.

Rōshi had been seriously injured and brought back to Iwagakure, while the Suna and Kumo Ninjas were locked in bloody battles at the third line of defense for several days. Both sides had sustained significant losses. Ōnoki had already reached out to the Daimyō of the Land of Earth, signaling the potential for peace negotiations.

"Hmph, why didn't Ōnoki die at Raikage's hands," Hiruzen grunted, his disdain for Ōnoki evident.

Ōnoki's interference had prolonged the war, and in Sarutobi's view, without him, Konoha wouldn't be in this position. What he didn't consider was whether his absence from the battlefield had contributed to the situation.

"It's been a long fight," Koharu remarked.

It had been nearly two years since the war began in the Land of Rain—a prolonged and grueling conflict. Having occasionally treated the wounded at the hospital, Koharu had witnessed far too much suffering. The thought of peace now brought a sense of relief to her war-weary heart.

"That's enough for today," Hiruzen said, cutting the discussion short.

The direction of the war was now beyond his control from Konoha. Further discussion would achieve nothing. All they could do was wait for the outcome of the front-line negotiations and continue planning ways to weaken the Uchiha.

A few days later, Tsunade and Kawakaze led their team out of the Land of Wind and returned to the Konoha camp in the Land of Rain.

The peace negotiations were scheduled for two days later, with the location set at the Konoha camp—a decision made by Kawakaze.

Although Pakura expressed dissatisfaction with the arrangement, she had no choice but to agree begrudgingly. Sunagakure couldn't challenge Konoha militarily or politically, and Konoha had no reason to resort to dishonorable tactics to eliminate her.

"Sister Pakura, I'll go with you," Rasa offered calmly, standing nearby.

"There's no need. I'll just bring a few elders," Pakura replied firmly. She worried that Rasa might cause unnecessary trouble and refused his request outright.

"Don't even say it. I'm not taking you," Pakura added, cutting him off before he could argue further.

And so, the matter was settled.