Naruto: Wooing Tsunade from Day One!

Night, Konoha Camp.

Inside the tent, Kawakaze and Tsunade were deep in conversation, with Hayato Yamanaka seated nearby.

"Why is Lord Sakumo taking so long?" Hayato asked nervously. As Konoha's intelligence officer, he had been receiving reports since the camp was set up. Encounters with Suna ninja spies had become frequent, leading to casualties on both sides. The losses weighed heavily on him—each of the fallen was one of his precious comrades.

"Don't worry. My brother is an expert in this field," Kawakaze replied, his face calm as he sipped tea from a low table.

"Suna has deployed an unusually large number of spies," Tsunade noted, her brows furrowing. "It feels off. They've always had spies, but never at this scale. The recklessness and casualties are suspicious."

"Let's see what kind of information Big Brother brings back," Kawakaze said just as Sakumo stepped into the tent.

"We've captured a few spies," Sakumo informed Hayato. "You can interrogate them."

Hayato nodded and immediately left the tent to oversee the questioning.

"We've located the Suna ninja camp," Sakumo continued, sitting beside Kawakaze. "It's heavily guarded, with numerous sentries. An attack on their camp would be too risky—their position is strategically advantageous."

Kawakaze leaned forward, a thoughtful expression on his face. "If you were the Kazekage, and you couldn't risk a head-on battle or retreat, what would you do?"

Sakumo met his brother's burning gaze, sensing the direction of his thoughts.

"Find our weak point," Sakumo answered.

"Supplies," Tsunade said immediately, catching on.

Sakumo exhaled sharply. "Duy isn't here, and our supply lines are already vulnerable. If they're cut, we'll have no way to sustain the army—or retreat."

"I'm afraid the sudden surge of Suna spies is aimed precisely at our supply routes," Kawakaze concluded.

Tsunade and Sakumo both fell silent, carefully weighing the implications of this theory. The risks were too great to ignore.

"It's better to assume there's a threat and prepare for it than to dismiss it and be caught off guard," Kawakaze added.

Tsunade nodded, her expression resolute. "Who will go?"

"I'll go," Sakumo offered without hesitation.

"No, Big Brother, I'll go," Kawakaze said firmly. "I'll be faster than you and can return to camp quickly if something goes wrong."

The Flying Thunder God Technique gave Kawakaze a distinct advantage—he could respond far faster than Sakumo in an emergency.

"Good," Sakumo agreed without argument. On such matters, he knew better than to let pride interfere.

The group continued discussing potential issues and laying out contingency plans for Kawakaze's departure. The stakes were high, and they couldn't afford mistakes.

Before long, Hayato returned to the tent. His expression was a mixture of unease and confusion, suggesting the interrogations had uncovered something unexpected.

"What's the situation? Tell me," Tsunade prompted, noticing Hayato's hesitation. She suspected that the interrogation had yielded little useful information.

"Lord Sakumo brought back a Suna ninja whose brain had been sealed," Hayato began. "I used a secret technique to invade, but he died on the spot."

As he finished, Sakumo and Tsunade exchanged serious glances. This confirmed their suspicions—Suna ninja were protecting crucial information. General intelligence wouldn't be so tightly guarded unless a significant plan was in motion.

"I'll set off now. Keep an eye on the situation," Kawakaze said, standing to prepare for departure. "If conditions allow, we'll strike again after I return with the supplies."

The task of managing camp logistics had already been assigned to Shinku Yūhi, ensuring operations would continue smoothly in Kawakaze's absence.

"Okay, then be careful on the road," Tsunade said, watching Kawakaze as he left the tent. Inside, she, Sakumo, and Hayato resumed their discussion, analyzing the unfolding situation.

Outside, Kawakaze assembled a team of Konoha ninja and prepared to depart.

"Sensei—brother-in-law—what's the mission? We're coming too," Nawaki said eagerly, Minato standing at his side. The two were inseparable and had been restless in the monotonous desert. A mission was the perfect distraction.

"If you're ready, then let's go," Kawakaze replied without hesitation. He led the team along the supply route toward the border of the Land of Wind.

"Sensei, do you think the Suna ninja are planning to attack our supply line?" Minato asked, his sharp intuition kicking in.

"It's just a guess, but it's something we need to prepare for," Kawakaze explained, offering guidance to his disciple and brother-in-law.

Nawaki and Minato nodded in unison, understanding the importance of vigilance.

As the team marched through the desert under the cover of night, they encountered giant scorpions searching for food. However, Kawakaze's group was composed of elite ninjas, and the creatures posed little threat. The scorpions were quickly dealt with, their bodies carefully concealed to avoid leaving any trace. The team's attention to detail was flawless.

While Kawakaze and his men pressed on, the Suna scouts managed to map out Konoha's supply routes, though it came at a steep cost.

Suna Ninja Camp.

"Lord Third, this is the map of Konoha's supply routes." The intelligence officer handed over the carefully guarded document, a result of three arduous days of effort.

"Well done," the Third Kazekage commended as he unfolded the map, revealing detailed routes with multiple ambush points marked.

"It's all part of my duty," the officer replied, stepping aside, his mission complete.

The Third Kazekage's expression hardened. "I will lead team there tomorrow. You will launch an immediate attack on Konoha and hold them off. Once their supply lines are severed, retreat will no longer be an option for them."

"Yes, Lord Third," came the unified response from the Suna ninja, led by Pakura. Only Bunpuku remained silent, hands folded in quiet prayer.

"Sensei, let me join you," Rasa offered eagerly, volunteering for the raid.

The Third Kazekage glanced at his disciple. "Prepare yourself, then."

With permission granted, Rasa left the room with a smile.

At dawn, the Third Kazekage led Rasa and a squad of Suna ninja straight to Konoha's supply routes. Meanwhile, Pakura commanded the remaining forces, launching a frontal assault on Konoha's camp.

As the Suna army advanced, Tsunade led the Konoha ninja out to confront them. Both sides faced off, the tension palpable.

"Master Bunpuku, it's your turn," Pakura said, her voice steady.

Bunpuku nodded. His body began to shift as sand enveloped him. Slowly, he transformed, growing into a colossal figure. When the transformation was complete, a massive raccoon dog covered in cursed seals stood before the Suna forces. Despite his form, Bunpuku's consciousness remained in control, a stark contrast to the usual ferocity of Shukaku.

Shukaku opened its mouth, gathering immense Chakra. A Tailed Beast Ball began to form.

On the Konoha side, Tsunade shouted, "It's a Tailed Beast Ball! Scatter!" She leaped into the air, half-Tailed Beast transformed, seven Chakra tails trailing behind her.

As Shukaku launched its attack, Konoha responded in kind with their own Tailed Beast Ball. The two immense blasts collided mid-air, triggering a deafening explosion. The shockwaves tore through the battlefield, sending debris flying and reducing visibility to near zero.

Konoha ninja, closer to the blast, suffered injuries from the aftermath. Both sides resorted to Wind Release techniques to clear the battlefield.

"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"

The dust and sand parted, revealing the opposing forces. Led by the two Jinchūriki, Konoha and Suna ninja charged, their respective Tailed Beasts towering above them. Regular ninjutsu had little effect against them.