Naruto: Did i Just Get Reincarnated as Gojo?

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Kumogakure – Raikage Tower.

A, the Raikage, held Minato's letter, delivered by Mabui, while listening to her recount Gojo Kaigetsu's terms. He was deep in thought.

Minato's "personal correspondence" was filled with—pleasantries.

It praised A's strength as a ninja, suggesting that despite their rivalry, he was—quite remarkable.

A knew better than to take it all at face value, but a small part—resonated.

A bond between heroes, perhaps.

The thought made him feel—strangely warm.

"That Minato Namikaze—he has a good eye for talent," A grunted, carefully storing the letter in his drawer. He'd display it prominently when Kumogakure conquered Konoha. He'd even take a photo with Minato's face carved on the Hokage Rock, his shirt strategically unbuttoned to showcase his impressive physique.

He'd initially planned to destroy the Hokage Rock, but now—for Minato's sake, he'd spare it.

After all, he didn't want to appear—ruthless.

"Mabui, what did you say earlier? Repeat it."

"Konoha refuses to dispatch their Avengers to eliminate Elder Advisor. But they're willing to—simulate a war, to give you, Raikage-sama, the authority to—purge the Elder Council."

"Simulate a war?" A frowned. "Would those old fogies even believe that? They've lived through two Shinobi World Wars."

"Gojo Kaigetsu anticipated that. He plans to launch symbolic attacks on minor villages within the Co-Prosperity Sphere and insignificant border towns within the Land of Lightning."

"Once news of their—occupation reaches the Raikage Tower, even the most skeptical elders will be forced to believe it."

"What?! They'll actually—attack?" A's frown deepened.

Something felt—off.

He vaguely recalled a similar strategy from the Chronicles of the Land of Fire. How did it apply to Kumogakure's current situation?

Something about—ceding territory for temporary peace.

And then—Kumogakure's superior logistics, Konoha's overextended supply lines, Kumogakure's concentrated forces versus Konoha's scattered defenses, and the unwavering loyalty of the occupied territories.

A's frown softened.

A few insignificant villages and border towns? They weren't essential. Perhaps ceding them to Konoha would even benefit Kumogakure.

"What was—Konoha's tone during the negotiations?"

"Sincere."

"Then—we'll agree to their terms." A waved his hand dismissively.

Given Minato's letter, he trusted that Konoha's actions would be purely symbolic, not a genuine invasion.

It was merely—temporarily entrusting those territories to Konoha, letting them bear the costs. He could always reclaim them later.

"There's one more condition. In exchange for Konoha's—assistance, they want access to the Falls of Truth for their Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. Either now, or in the future."

"They even know about the Falls of Truth…" A's fists clenched.

So, their Two-Tails Jinchuriki had betrayed them.

"How should we respond, Raikage-sama?"

"The Falls of Truth are deep within the Land of Lightning. Do they think becoming a perfect jinchuriki is that easy? Foolish."

"We'll agree, but if the Nine-Tails goes berserk—they're on their own! And I will personally vet the ninjas they send as escorts."

A's eyes gleamed.

He'd control the number of Konoha ninja allowed to enter. If they sent too few, and were overwhelmed by the Nine-Tails…

He and Killer B could then step in and—reclaim the Nine-Tails for Kumogakure.

Eliminate Konoha's elite, acquire a new Tailed Beast. A two-for-one deal.

Konoha had taken their Two-Tails. It was time for payback.

Mabui flipped to the last page of the report. "Raikage-sama, what about Konoha's Avengers Initiative? Should we join?"

"To eliminate rogue ninja, bounty hunters, and their employers…" A sighed. "We lose many ninja to bounty hunters every year."

"Though we have no proof, I suspect Ōnoki is behind it. Only he would do such a thing."

"We might be rivals with Konoha, but we share a common enemy in the underworld. We'll join. On behalf of all members of the Kumogakure Co-Prosperity Sphere."

"Let's see how Ōnoki operates without his bounty hunters. He'll be forced to stay hidden in Iwagakure like the turtle he is."

"Send the message to Samui. Three days from now."

Mabui left the Raikage Tower, rubbing her temples.

The pressure within the tower was immense. If the Raikage's faction lost this power struggle—her future was uncertain.

The elders' chosen successor might purge anyone associated with the previous Raikage.

"You have to win, Raikage-sama," she murmured.

She entered a ninja tool shop on Kumogakure's commercial street, ordered five muscle-boosting tonics, and sat down, a hint of disappointment in her eyes.

Setting aside military matters, the economic disparity between Kumogakure and Konoha was evident.

Though her time in Konoha had been brief, the prosperity of its new commercial district was undeniable. She'd seen countless new shops, new products…

Like that—coffee, and that—milk tea. Though ridiculously expensive, they appealed to her—sophisticated tastes.

She wasn't lacking in funds, after all.

Back in Kumogakure, she could only order muscle-boosting tonics in these dingy ninja tool shops.

Even these establishments were struggling. Only clan ninja, with their stipends, could afford to be regular customers.

Kumogakure's economy seemed to be teetering on the brink of collapse.

Four kunoichi, all wearing Kumogakure headbands, entered and sat with Mabui. They were her friends from the Academy.

"Mabui! I heard you went to Konoha."

"Yes."

With kunoichi gathered, gossip flowed freely. "Did you hear about that wedding in Konoha? The Uchiha Clan Head and an Uzumaki—so lucky. Married to Fugaku Uchiha—she'll never have to work again."

"Yeah, the Land of Whirlpools was destroyed. I wonder what he saw in her."

"Is it true that the Uchiha Clan Head paid an eight million ryō dowry?"

"No."

"I knew it! A survivor from a destroyed village—how could she be worth that much?"

"It was 7.98 million ryō and a house near the Hokage Tower."

"7.98 million?! That's practically eight million. How many missions would I have to complete to earn that much?"

The envy in their voices was palpable. Mabui shifted uncomfortably.

"Omoi, you're an elite Chunin. With a few extra missions and some—financial discipline, eight million ryō isn't that much," another kunoichi teased.

"No way! I love baking, traveling, and fitness. My expenses are high. And the Raikage Tower's taking a bigger cut from our mission rewards. I have no hope of becoming a Special Jonin. My income is stagnant."

"I'm even studying for the Raikage Tower clerical exam. And there are thousands of applicants, mostly men! Why don't they just focus on their training?!" The ninja world wasn't just about combat; there were also administrative positions.

"I'm so jealous of Mabui—A Special Jonin and the Raikage's secretary. You'll never have to worry about money."

Mabui smiled but said nothing, turning to her other two, quieter friends.

"Hiroi, how are things with your boyfriend?"

Hiroi, who'd been silently sipping her drink, looked up. "Not—great. I'm thinking of breaking up with him."

"What?! Why? You two seemed happy," Omoi asked, surprised.

Hiroi's face fell. "We're—not compatible. And he's—not ambitious."

"And you, Toroi? Weren't you about to get married?"

"We broke up yesterday," Toroi said flatly.

"What?! Why?!"

"He said he could only offer a 200,000 ryō dowry—I don't care about the money. Even if he offered 300,000 or 500,000, I wouldn't take it. It's the thought that counts—All I wanted was—a gesture of sincerity. He doesn't even have the courage to—commit. I'm so disappointed."

"He probably thinks I'm a gold-digger. But he doesn't understand—it's about his commitment! "

"Don't blame yourself, Toroi," Omoi said, her voice filled with indignation. "It's him, not you…"

One after another, the nameless boyfriends were labeled "trash."

Mabui, cradling her tonic, felt a growing distance between her and her friends.

Their chatter seemed—distant, their concerns—trivial.

She knew their boyfriends. Though Hiroi and Toroi weren't exactly—attractive, their partners seemed happy enough. They were likely to marry and have children, contributing to Kumogakure's future ninja force.

But now—what had happened?

Why were they all breaking up?

"What's going on with you all? You seemed fine before," Mabui asked, genuinely puzzled.

"Mabui, you don't understand. You work at the Raikage Tower, surrounded by elite ninja. You don't see the—disappointments we face on our missions."

"What makes a ninja 'elite'?"

"Money? Power? At least Special Jonin level, right? Not some—nobody."

"Exactly. We deserve better. Even if they're not as—accomplished as the Uchiha Clan Head, they shouldn't be that far off, right?"

"Am I truly less desirable than a survivor from a destroyed village?!"

"We shouldn't limit ourselves to Kumogakure. We should—expand our horizons!"

Mabui was stunned.

This was—absurd.

True "elite" ninja wouldn't even look at them.

Objectively speaking, these kunoichi weren't even close to Samui's level, in terms of talent, looks, or—physique.

And those who fit their definition of "elite"—they wouldn't care about a woman's feelings.

Look at what Samui had endured in Konoha!

If even a skilled Kumogakure kunoichi was treated like that—they, who fell short of their own standards, would likely be—discarded.

Mabui shuddered, recalling the—incident she'd witnessed through Samui's eyes. Suddenly, her muscle-boosting tonic tasted bitter.

She couldn't endure their negativity any longer.

"I have work at the Raikage Tower. I'll take my leave."

"But—it's past quitting time. What work could she possibly have?" they whispered, watching her depart.

"She's probably just going home to—de-stress."

This little scene at the ninja tool shop was a microcosm of Kumogakure's current social climate. Everywhere, relationships were falling apart.

An Anbu operative diligently recorded the phenomenon, then crossed it out. Such petty squabbles between ninja seemed—trivial.

The Raikage's orders were to suppress dissent, and Kumogakure's focus was on—the bigger picture.

Relationship problems, no matter how widespread, couldn't possibly overshadow the power struggles between villages, could they?

So, despite the alarming trend, no one reported it.

A semblance of peace and tranquility prevailed.

…

…

While Kumogakure maintained its facade of stability, Sunagakure was in an uproar.

Thanks to Iki's distribution channels, and the completion of the Konoha-Suna Trade Route, The Forest Reader had reached every bookstore in the Land of Wind.

Unlike Iki's subtle influence, The Forest Reader's arrival was like a Tailed Beast Bomb detonating in Sunagakure, unleashing a sandstorm of epic proportions.

Recently, a series of positive reports had reached the Kazekage Tower, painting a rosy picture of Sunagakure's prosperity.

Sacrificing Pakura to reconcile with Konoha, establishing trade—it had been the right decision.

The incompetent second-generation ninja had been sent to Kumogakure to—enjoy themselves. The talented youngsters, to Konoha for training.

Sunagakure's younger generation had a bright future.

Konoha had built the trade route, was extracting chakra metal ore from Suna's deserts, and paying market value. Sunagakure was practically printing money.

Though settling transactions in Land of Fire currency was slightly inconvenient, their access to the market was now guaranteed. For a village accustomed to poverty, it was a dream come true.

With the profits, they purchased water from Konoha and Yugakure, launching ambitious irrigation projects.

As the projects progressed, Sunagakure's water restrictions eased.

From an outsider's perspective, it was like watching a village simulation game. The villagers' angry, red faces gradually turned into smiling green ones.

"We have water! This is wonderful!"

As the villagers' spirits lifted, so did Sunagakure's economy.

Reports piled up on the Kazekage's desk.

Rasa, the Fourth Kazekage, smiled, his wrinkles seeming to lessen.

He'd never appreciated the Statistics Bureau so much.

Rasa was pleased.

The Sunagakure Economic Report showcased the village's remarkable growth. And it had all happened during his tenure. Thanks to the trade agreement with Konoha, their economy was booming. They'd solved the village's chronic water shortage. These were his accomplishments.

Perhaps, in future history books, his name would be etched in gold.

Both Rasa and Kosaka Kaoru beamed.

But according to the Law of Conservation of Smiles, happiness in the ninja world wasn't created or destroyed, it simply—transferred.

Baki, the leader of the War Hawks, wasn't smiling.

Trading with Konoha, in his view, was a dangerous game. Sunagakure would become increasingly reliant on them. Eventually, they'd lose their independence, becoming a mere vassal state.

Economic prosperity meant the decline of the military—A future he, a staunch militarist, couldn't tolerate.

He held the economic report, his face grim. "How much of this—profit has been allocated to military development?"

The celebratory atmosphere in the room evaporated.

Kosaka Kaoru's smile faltered. "We're celebrating the village's prosperity, and you want to—ruin the mood?" He produced another report. "According to recent polls, over half the villagers want us to build a 'Kazekage Rock,' like Konoha's Hokage Rock. Or at least a Suna cultural park. The Konoha-Suna Trade Route will soon be completed. We'll see a surge in tourism. Promoting a positive image of Suna is essential. We need to attract more merchants and travelers. I've been to Konoha. Their tourism industry is booming. We should emulate their—hotels and specialty shops. We need a luxury hotel to accommodate visitors, and high-quality local products. That requires funding. Imagine—a magnificent, sailboat-shaped hotel in the middle of the desert! As for specialty products—we can't produce anything that refined, so let's import from Konoha. The 'Soft Konoha' and 'Hard Konoha' cigarettes mentioned in Iki…"

Kosaka Kaoru, as if he'd just had an epiphany, launched into a passionate speech about his economic development plans.

His words painted a vivid picture of a prosperous Sunagakure, captivating the elders.

One, seemingly entranced, murmured, "Lounging in a sailboat hotel, smoking a 'Hard Konoha'—paradise."

Baki, however, lost his patience. "How much will all this cost?!"

"A preliminary estimate—eight hundred million ryō."

"Eight hundred million?!" Baki glanced at the economic report. After accounting for essential expenses and existing projects, the village had roughly one billion in disposable funds.

This left…

He slammed the table. "Are you treating us like beggars?! Do you even realize that spending on economic development now exceeds the military budget? We are ninja! Not shopkeepers! If we don't prioritize the military, what happens when Konoha or Iwagakure attacks? The intelligence reports indicate a significant increase in Konoha's military budget! They're growing stronger, while we're—playing shopkeeper! What's next? Are we going to build a Hokage Rock? Or perhaps fly Konoha's flag over the Kazekage Tower?!"

His words, though impassioned, had little effect.

Rasa frowned. "Baki, that's enough. Sit down and calm yourself."

"Hmph." Baki sat back down, his arms crossed, his gaze sweeping over the elders' faces. His heart sank.

His warnings had fallen on deaf ears. The War Hawks' influence in Sunagakure wasn't due to some charismatic leader, but rather the village's precarious situation. Suna had to fight to survive.

Now, however, their main source of income wasn't missions or the Daimyo's funding, but rather resource extraction and trade…

They'd found an easier way to survive.

Why fight when you could simply—follow Konoha's lead and profit?

Who would support his militaristic approach now?

Even the elders who usually sided with him seemed—less enthusiastic.

This was a dangerous sign.

"You—you…" Baki sputtered, his anger making him speechless.

Just then, an Anbu operative entered, carrying a magazine and whispering something to Rasa.

"What?!" Rasa's face paled. He snatched the magazine, his eyes widening in shock. "Go! Buy copies for everyone!"

Soon, every elder held a copy of The Forest Reader. The silence was broken only by the rustling of pages.

The Law of Conservation of Smiles was in effect. Only this time, the smiles had transferred from Sunagakure to Konoha.

No Suna elder could smile after reading this. No one.

"Suna students' shuriken missed their targets repeatedly, while Konoha students' accuracy was met with cheers."

Missing their targets? Slacking off during training? Going hungry? Lacking teamwork and discipline?

How was that possible?! These were Suna's most promising students, not the incompetent second-generation brats sent to Kumogakure.

Comparisons were cruel. The Suna students, placed beside Konoha's prodigies, were exposed for all their flaws.

Sunagakure's pride, already fragile, shattered completely.

Not only were they economically and culturally inferior, but now, even their "spirit of hardship," the very foundation of Sunagakure, had been—mocked.

Had the Suna students truly lost their discipline, their ability to endure hardship?

In the past, Rasa and Baki would have proudly declared, "No one understands hardship better than Suna!"

But now…

"Perhaps—we shouldn't limit ourselves to Konoha. We should also—collaborate with Kirigakure. Learn from their Bloody Mist policies! Implement a Blood Sand regime in Suna! Whip these undisciplined brats into shape!" One of the elders, whose child had participated in the Summer Camp, exclaimed, his face red with anger.

Rasa's expression turned grim. "If this article spreads—the consequences will be severe. Order the bookstores to remove it."

The damage would be more than "severe." Sunagakure's younger generation would be labeled "weak" and "undisciplined." Their reputation would plummet. Sunagakure, once known for its resilient ninja, might become the laughingstock of the ninja world.

"No! We can't do that!" Kosaka Kaoru interrupted. "This magazine is distributed throughout the ninja world. Banning it now would only confirm its contents. We'll—prove them wrong during the joint Chunin Exams. We'll crush Konoha and restore Suna's honor!"

"Wait—Kosaka, are you saying this article is—false?"

"I'm not sure. But look—it was written by a Land of Lightning citizen and published in the Land of Hot Water. And the Land of Hot Water is a member of the Kumogakure Co-Prosperity Sphere. They likely have ties to Kumogakure."

"This publishing house—it could be Kumogakure's propaganda tool. People often emphasize what they lack. This 'Land of Lightning citizen' keeps proclaiming his neutrality, his objectivity—I suspect he's a Kumogakure agent, trying to sabotage our relationship with Konoha, to undermine our trade agreement. Though we lack concrete evidence, it's the most plausible explanation. We can't fall for Kumogakure's tricks. We'll question our students when they return."

This honorary Konoha citizen had unknowingly become Suna's greatest ally.

If Gojo Kaigetsu knew, he'd award Kosaka Kaoru a Konoha Green Card.

The elders' anger shifted from their own students and Konoha to Kumogakure.

"Those damned Cloud bastards! How dare they slander Suna!"

"We'll show them who's weak during the Chunin Exams!"

The meeting room erupted in angry shouts.

Only Rasa and Baki's expressions remained—complex.

Rasa's gaze was fixed on the article mentioning the "exorbitant costs" of the second phase of the exchange program.

Baki, on the other hand, was staring at the second article in The Forest Reader: "Konoha's Wedding of the Century."

'I can't hesitate any longer. If I don't act—the Kazekage Tower will fly Konoha's flag!'

'Times make heroes. And this—this is my time. I, Baki, will become Suna's hero!'

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