That night was indescribable.
In the morning, sunlight streamed through the windows, casting a silver glow across the room.
A pair of delicate, pale feet stepped down from the soft bed. Tsunade lazily got up, stepping lightly on the plush carpet as she made her way to the dressing mirror near the bed. Tilting her body slightly, she examined herself in the mirror, the corners of her mouth curving into a subtle smile.
What a wonderful feeling.
Tsunade was rarely vain, but the way a certain brat had been utterly enthralled with her last night made her indulge in a little self-appreciation.
"Up so early..." Haruto Saito's groggy voice came from the bed.
Tsunade tensed for a moment—she absolutely could not let him catch her admiring herself. She quickly ran her fingers through her hair and replied naturally, "I'm not tired. Are you? You don't want to sleep a little longer?"
"I'm fine. Perks of being young." Haruto rubbed his face as he spoke.
"Are you implying that I'm old?" Tsunade tilted her head and questioned.
"Of course not! Don't be so sensitive. You'll always be young. Just don't dislike me when I get old." Haruto grinned as he flipped himself out of bed, stretching his body with a self-satisfied twist before stepping onto the floor.
"Look at my neck—it's all red again because of you," Tsunade muttered as she examined herself in the mirror. A soft glow lit up in her hands as she pressed against the marks, making them disappear instantly.
Haruto stepped behind Tsunade, wrapping his arms around her from behind. His hands began to move forward...
"Brat! What are you doing? It's morning!" Tsunade smacked his hand away.
Neither of them was wearing anything.
"Heh." Haruto chuckled, his hands not behaving at all.
"Stop that... Annoying... You little—! Ugh, you're impossible..."
An hour later.
Tsunade slouched in the chair in front of the dressing mirror, panting slightly, her body still flushed with a lingering heat.
Meanwhile, Haruto stood by the bed, looking outside, appearing completely refreshed.
"You have no shame! What if someone saw you?" Tsunade huffed, still breathless.
"Relax. There's a sealing barrier. No one can see or hear anything." Haruto smirked.
"Hmph!" Tsunade pouted, glancing at herself in the mirror. It was embarrassing beyond belief. "Brat, if I end up pregnant, I swear I'll beat you to death!"
"Would you really?" Haruto teased shamelessly.
That afternoon, Haruto left the village of Furuta, and within minutes, he arrived at Konoha.
Since he had experience using the technique before, he had preemptively placed enough Flying Thunder God kunai along the route the last time he returned from Konoha.
Only a handful of people, including Sarutobi Hiruzen, knew that Haruto had returned to Konoha. He only stayed for two hours, during which he secured a two-hundred-million-ryo deal with the village. Then, carrying supplies, he teleported back to Furuta.
To ensure the success of his plan against Kirigakure, Haruto had significantly increased his investment.
He had no choice.
He was getting married—failure was not an option!
To convince Hiruzen, Haruto had employed both logic and persuasion. In the end, he even paid an additional eighty million ryo, securing enough explosive tags from Konoha.
Of course, he didn't just purchase explosive tags—he acquired other crucial supplies as well.
Over the next few days, while the Land of Whirlpools appeared calm on the surface, it was actually seething with hidden tensions. The entire shinobi world was watching the movements of the First and Third Legions of Kirigakure.
On the sixth day of Tsunade's stay in Furuta...
At dusk.
In the underground command center of Furuta Village.
Haruto Saito, Kakuzu, Tsunade, Jiraiya, Orochimaru, Thirteen, and Hattori Ryuuno were all gathered. In addition, there were over ten seemingly ordinary men in their fifties and sixties.
These men were all miners.
And not just any miners, but highly experienced experts. In the civilian world, they held significant status. Some could even be considered geologists—though the shinobi world didn't have such a term.
"Based on our survey, if we directly detonate this section of the mountain, the force of the water would indeed carve out a river channel. However..." An elderly man named Daoharu Jiro pointed at the map as he spoke.
Daoharu Jiro, aged sixty-two, had once been the lowest-ranking laborer. But due to his exceptional skills in geological analysis and mineral prospecting, he gradually became one of the most respected "geologists" in the Land of Whirlpools.
He originally served the large settlement of Shanling Village in the southwest of the Land of Whirlpools. This region contained a vast mountain range rich in minerals, spanning both the Land of Whirlpools and the Land of Fire.
Haruto had recruited him during his campaign in the Land of Whirlpools.
It hadn't been easy to bring him on board. Haruto had to go through considerable effort.
To ensure Daoharu Jiro's full cooperation, Haruto had promised him a one-million-ryo reward upon completion of the task. He had already paid half in advance. Meanwhile, Daoharu Jiro's entire family, including over twenty members from his sons to grandchildren, had been relocated to Konoha.
After the task was completed, Daoharu Jiro himself would also move to Konoha—to retire in comfort.
The sum Haruto had promised him was enough for his family to live in wealth for generations.
"From the soil samples we've analyzed, the rock layer here is incredibly thick. If we trigger a massive explosion from this point to this point..." Daoharu Jiro pointed at the map. "The most likely outcome is the formation of internal fractures within the mountain, causing water to seep underground."
"That's troublesome," Tsunade remarked, resting her chin on her hand.
"What if we detonate it from underneath?" Haruto asked.
"Are you referring to tunneling?"
"Exactly."
"It's possible, but we'd need to create numerous tunnels, each at least twenty meters deep. Furthermore, it would require an enormous amount of explosives."
"Explosives are not a problem. The real question is whether the resulting water flow would be powerful enough."
"Hard to say. I inspected that lake myself," Daoharu Jiro hesitated. "The estimated water volume is around two hundred million cubic meters. If we unleash it directly, the impact would be significant. But if it has to travel through an extended river channel, even with an elevation drop, its force may diminish... The calculations are quite complex, and post-detonation uncertainties are high."
"Hmm..." Haruto pursed his lips.
"The chances of success don't seem great," Tsunade commented, glancing at Haruto.
"What if I increase the available water volume by more than double?" Haruto asked.
"That would create an unstoppable catastrophe!" Daoharu Jiro replied.
"Perfect!" Haruto slammed his palm onto the map. "We move out tonight. The operation begins tomorrow night! Prepare everything!"
The group started leaving the chamber.
Tsunade and the others, however, looked at Haruto in confusion.
"How exactly are you planning to double the water volume?" Tsunade couldn't help but ask.
Haruto grinned at her. "That's where you come in."