Reborn in the Shinobi World with an Arceus Inside

"Lady Tsunade, you can't go in! Lady Mito is resting…"

"Get out of my way!"

Bang!

Tsunade shoved the bedroom door open and stormed inside.

Lying on the bed, Mito heard the commotion and opened her somewhat clouded eyes.

"Oh, it's you, Tsunade. The rest of you may leave."

"Yes, ma'am!"

Soon, only Mito and Tsunade remained in the vast room.

Tsunade fought to control her anger, her voice low and tight. "Why? Why did it have to be Nawaki?!"

"Sigh…" Mito let out a long breath. "It seems you already know everything. First, help me sit up."

After a moment's hesitation, Tsunade walked over. She grasped Mito's thin arm and supported her shoulders, gently helping her shift into a sitting position.

"Was it the teacher… Was it Lord Hokage's idea?"

"This has nothing to do with Hiruzen. It was my own choice," Mito said slowly. "This is our duty as members of the Senju clan."

"Then let me do it!" Tsunade shouted. "I'm a member of the Senju clan, too! And I'm stronger—wouldn't I be a better choice to suppress the Nine-Tailed Fox? Isn't it more dangerous to seal it inside Nawaki?"

"You are better suited to be an elite jonin, fighting for Konoha on the front lines, than to be the Nine-Tails' jinchuriki. You don't need to worry about Nawaki's safety. While his aptitude isn't as great as yours, it is more than enough for him to master the Adamantine Sealing Chains. Furthermore, after I transfer the Nine-Tails to him, a portion of my remaining chakra will stay behind to protect him until he grows into an outstanding ninja."

"Even so," Tsunade said, biting her lip, "he's still just a child! This isn't a burden he should have to bear! His life shouldn't be forced down a single, predetermined path."

"Nawaki has grown up. He's become a fine young man. When faced with the choice this cruel old grandmother of his made, he didn't utter a single word of complaint. He simply accepted it." Mito paused. "He is worthy of the Senju name. This was his own will."

"How could he…" Tsunade murmured.

In her heart, she knew this was the best choice for Konoha, but as a sister, she couldn't bear to see it happen. She didn't want her little brother to become the vessel for a monster.

Seeing Mito's unwavering resolve, Tsunade's expression fell. In a daze, she wandered out of the bedroom, left the house, and found herself standing at the gates of the Ninja Academy.

She waited. After a long while, a familiar, sunny smile appeared before her.

"Sis? What's wrong? You look awful."

"I'm fine." Tsunade took a deep breath, forcing a smile onto her face. "Come on, I'll treat you to a feast!"

"Alright!"

During the meal, Nawaki chattered about the interesting things that had happened at the academy.

"Sis, did you know? There's a student in a lower grade named Minato Namikaze. He's as brilliant as I am! He's definitely going to be my rival, but I won't lose to him. And also…"

Tsunade, however, was lost in her own thoughts and barely said a word.

After they finished eating and returned home, Nawaki suddenly pointed to the roof. "Sis, let's go up there and talk."

"Oh."

They sat side-by-side on the roof's edge, their feet kicking restlessly in the air.

For a long time, neither of them spoke.

It was Nawaki who finally broke the silence. "Sis, I want to protect Konoha. I want to protect the village my grandpa founded with his own two hands, because I'm the grandson of the First Hokage! And one day, I'm going to inherit the title of Hokage, just like Grandpa. Because being Hokage is my dream!"

Tsunade stared at Nawaki, stunned. She suddenly realized that he truly had grown up. He was no longer the clueless little kid who used to follow her everywhere.

Looking at his earnest face, the turmoil and anxiety in her heart quietly faded away.

"Haha, well said, you little brat!" Tsunade laughed, roughly ruffling his hair.

"Stop, stop! That hurts!"

"To celebrate your future success, I have a gift for you."

"A gift? What is it?"

"Close your eyes first."

"Eh?"

Nawaki reluctantly squeezed his eyes shut. A moment later, he felt something being placed around his neck.

When he opened his eyes, he saw a necklace with a green crystal hanging from his neck. He couldn't help but gasp in surprise. "Sis, is this…?"

"That's right. This is the necklace Grandpa left behind. I'm giving it to you. I hope it will protect you, so you can successfully become Hokage."

"Haha, you bet! I'm a man destined to be Hokage!"

Watching the overjoyed Nawaki, Tsunade made a silent vow in her heart. From now on, I will protect you and the village. Even if you are the Nine-Tails' jinchuriki, I won't let anyone hurt you!

A few days later, Mito passed away, and the second jinchuriki of the Nine-Tails was born. Konoha had weathered another crisis.

Nawaki remained a student at the academy, attending school every day, though now he carried a malevolent tailed beast within him.

The ship of destiny had steered toward another fork in the road, heading down a path unknown to all.

The Land of Rain, in an unnamed village.

"I'm off to work. I'll leave Nagato in your care, Fuso." The man gave his wife and son an adoring kiss, then donned his raincoat and stepped out into the downpour.

Fuso held her son, watching from the doorway as her husband departed. Only when his figure had vanished from sight did she go back inside and close the door.

"Nagato, you can play by yourself for a little while. Mommy needs to get some work done."

She set her son down to play alone in the living room and went into the kitchen to get busy.

Suddenly, a flash of lightning illuminated the house.

Amid the ensuing roar of thunder, a figure wearing a straw cloak appeared abruptly inside the room.

Strangely, neither Fuso nor Nagato noticed.

"Finally, I've found it. A suitable vessel to nurture my eyes." The cloaked figure looked up at Nagato, and a pair of crimson eyes, each with three tomoe, began to spin slowly.

"Hmph. An environment this peaceful will only stifle his development. It seems I'll have to plant the seeds of hatred. Only from despair and hatred can the most beautiful flowers bloom. Don't disappoint me, Nagato…"

The Land of Lightning, the Village Hidden in the Clouds.

This village, perched high in the mountains, was often shrouded in clouds and mist, with thunder-like sounds echoing from time to time.

The towering Third Raikage sat upon his high seat, his imposing gaze sweeping over the ninja below.

"Have you still not deciphered the sealing jutsu capable of containing a tailed beast?"

"Lord Raikage, we still need more time. These sealing techniques are incredibly complex."

"Hmph. Get it done, and quickly. If we can harness the power of the tailed beasts, the Land of Lightning will surpass the Land of Fire and become the strongest nation!"

"Yes, sir!"

The Land of Earth's Village Hidden in the Rocks, the Land of Wind's Village Hidden in the Sand, and the Land of Water's Village Hidden in the Mist.

They, too, were unwilling to be left behind. With one accord, they all sought to increase their own strength and become the most powerful nation in the ninja world.

The drums of war had not faded with the Land of Rain's retreat. On the contrary, they were beating ever closer.

The time until the outbreak of the Second Great Ninja War was running out.