Naruto: Wooing Tsunade from Day One!
Chapter 490: Massive Expedition

Chapter 490 - 490: Massive Expedition

The three-day deadline passed quietly.

While Ōnoki was still foolishly waiting for Konoha's response, Fugaku and Duy were already leading their troops, prepared for battle.

Outside the gates of Konoha, a massive formation of shinobi stood ready, waiting for the signal to depart.

"I won't say much."

"I just wish you all victory on the battlefield."

As expected of the Hokage, Tsunade was there to see them off, offering words to boost morale.

"Don't worry, we won't let you down."

The Uchiha Clan was the main force of this expedition, and Fugaku had full confidence in his clan's strength.

He would make sure the Iwa shinobi learned what it meant to fear the Sharingan.

"With me here, nothing will go wrong."

Duy grinned, his bright white teeth gleaming under the morning sun.

"I'll be waiting for good news."

"When you return, we'll celebrate with drinks."

Standing slightly behind Tsunade, Kawakaze gave a final send-off.

"Alright, we're off."

Fugaku and Duy both waved before turning away.

The moment the departure signal was given, the Konoha forces began their march toward the Land of Earth.

...

"Do you think Ōnoki will see this as a show of force?"

Watching the troops disappear into the distance, Tsunade couldn't help but imagine his reaction.

"He probably will."

"He doesn't expect us to be this decisive."

Kawakaze kept his eyes on the departing troops, his tone casual and unconcerned.

"Well, that's good news."

"It'll catch him completely off guard."

Tsunade smirked, remembering how furious Ōnoki had been in the past.

She had no sympathy for the short-tempered old man who thrived on opportunism.

"Haha, exactly."

Kawakaze laughed, fully enjoying the thought—almost as if he had forgotten he was the mastermind behind it all.

"Ugh, now I have to go back and deal with that damn paperwork."

Tsunade turned away reluctantly, her brief moment of good mood vanishing.

"Oh, just hold on a little longer."

"Once the war is over, you can hand it off."

Kawakaze made a show of comforting her—though he conveniently left out any mention of actually helping.

"That's easy for you to say."

Tsunade shot him a glare before pinching his waist hard.

This guy had the luxury of standing around and talking.

"Ah—!"

Kawakaze twisted and dodged, his whole body moving like a snake.

The two gate guards looked away, pretending to admire the sky while silently praising the fine weather.

As the village gates closed behind them, it was as if everything beyond had ceased to be Konoha's concern.

...

"Your dad went to the Land of Earth?"

At the Ninja Academy, a group of students gathered during recess, talking excitedly.

Guy and Kai were surrounded as Kakashi was the first to ask.

"Yeah, he left not long ago."

Guy answered, and Kai nodded in agreement.

"I wish I could go too, but my parents won't allow it."

Ginji sighed, looking disappointed.

"Be grateful. You already got to experience one battle."

Kurenai lightly tapped Ginji on the forehead. She treated him like a little brother.

"Exactly, school life isn't so bad."

Satsuki agreed, nodding along with Kurenai.

Jadelet, nestled in her collar, peeked out with curious eyes.

"The Academy is comfortable, sure, but it's way too boring."

Obito, having improved significantly since returning, was growing restless.

"Don't even think about sneaking off—I'm watching you."

Rin made a gesture with her fingers, pointing from her eyes to Obito.

She was worried he might try to leave Konoha on his own, which would cause a huge mess.

"What? I wasn't planning anything! Just complaining..."

Obito scratched his head awkwardly.

It was clear he wouldn't be able to win against Rin—he was doomed to be henpecked for life.

"This time, Lord Fugaku is leading, and Uncle Duy is with him. They'll tear through the enemy."

Naruto, Jiraiya's son, always had access to the latest information.

As he spoke, he gestured dramatically, as if he were part of the expedition himself.

"The Clan Head will definitely succeed."

Shisui had nothing but admiration for Fugaku.

He was no longer the lost child from the original timeline.

Without his parents' guidance, Fugaku had become his strongest pillar of support.

"My father says this battle is crucial."

"It will be a key step in shaping the future of the shinobi world."

"I hope both of them can take the Land of Earth in one go."

Asuma rarely mentioned Hiruzen Sarutobi in front of his peers, but this time, he made an exception.

No matter what mistakes the Third Hokage had made in the past, his insight was still respected.

"Hearing that, this battle must really be important."

"But even if we take the Land of Earth, there's still the Land of Wind and the Land of Lightning."

"Can we really say this will decide the entire shinobi world?"

"Maybe there's more going on that we don't see."

"Lord Third always looks further ahead than the rest of us."

The students debated Asuma's words.

...

Meanwhile, Hiruzen Sarutobi wasn't fishing today.

Instead, he lounged in a wicker chair in his courtyard, basking in the sun.

"Tsunade married an extraordinary man."

"I never thought I'd live to see the day when the entire shinobi world falls under Konoha's banner."

"Danzō's death wasn't in vain. I should have stepped down long ago."

He muttered to himself, shaking his head with a smile.

His expression was hard to read—somewhere between relief and satisfaction.

The golden sunlight warmed his aging body, making him feel lighter.

His thoughts drifted with the departing army.

He was determined to witness the day their victory was sealed.

...

The Konoha forces left the Land of Fire, passing through the Land of Grass before reaching the border of the Land of Earth.

Though they didn't take the same route through the Land of Rain this time, it was merely a formality.

Everyone knew the Land of Grass was Akatsuki territory now.

Without their approval, there was no way Konoha's army could have crossed so easily.

When word of Konoha's march reached Ōnoki, he could hardly believe it.

Did they really only give him three days?

His first reaction wasn't to mobilize for battle but to send an urgent request to negotiate with Konoha's commander.

He wanted to settle this diplomatically before things spiraled further.

Tsunade had expected this response.

Ōnoki had miscalculated.

...

The Land of Wind also received the news.

Rasa's reaction wasn't as extreme as Ōnoki's, but his face darkened with worry.

"The Konoha army just marched into the Land of Earth?"

"When did Akatsuki become so agreeable?"

The first time they allowed Konoha through, it might have been a compromise.

But could he lie to himself again and use the same excuse twice?

In the Kazekage's office, the intelligence officer holding the report could hardly believe what he was reading.

According to the message, Konoha's army had crossed the Land of Grass without encountering a single Akatsuki ninja.

It was as if Akatsuki had vanished completely.

No way.

There was no way an organization that had seized so much land would leave the Land of Grass completely undefended.

There was no way they wouldn't notice a foreign army passing through their borders.

"We need to start thinking about our own future."

Rasa didn't bother responding.

He no longer had the luxury of hoping the war wouldn't reach the Land of Wind.

His instincts told him that the shinobi world was about to change forever.

The dark clouds looming over him grew heavier, and he no longer knew where Sunagakure's future lay.

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