Naruto: Wooing Tsunade from Day One!

After the sudden rain stopped, Kawakaze and Tsunade embraced contentedly and drifted into a peaceful sleep.

At noon the following day, the radiant Tsunade summoned the heads of each clan for an important meeting. The gathering was primarily intended to gauge the attitudes of the clans, ensuring Tsunade had a clear understanding before making further arrangements.

A renowned five-story restaurant in town was fully booked by Konoha for the occasion. The establishment's owner, upon receiving payment, promptly vacated the premises, even escorting a group out. This day was a special Konoha event, marked as the last grand feast before the impending war.

The restaurant, famous for its luxurious decor, buzzed with activity. At its entrance, only Konoha shinobi could be seen coming and going. The first through fourth floors were already packed with Konoha ninjas, all seated and enjoying the preparations. The service staff, too, were Konoha ninjas, and it was said, with only slight exaggeration, that even the dog roaming the restaurant belonged to Konoha.

At the top of the stairs leading to the fifth floor, two young guards stood vigilant, only those on the list were permitted entry, and no one could bypass the guards, even if they attempted to force their way in.

"Luckily, we ate in advance," Minato remarked casually.

The individuals on the list had already arrived, and Nawaki approached Minato to exchange greetings.

"It's fine to skip a meal," Minato added, his tone understated yet confident—traits that made him the boss's favorite employee.

"You're eating more than me and still saying that?" Nawaki snapped, glaring at him. His friend's words were particularly irritating at that moment.

"Then I'm only saying this because I've eaten," Minato responded with a laugh, clearly unbothered. He hadn't actually skipped any meals.

As the two friends continued their banter, the banquet on the fifth floor officially began.

At the head table sat Tsunade and Kawakaze, flanked by prominent leaders of the major clans. Nearby, Sakumo and Duy joined the gathering. The atmosphere around the table was far from formal; the participants relaxed, engaging in lighter conversations.

"Thank you all for coming to our aid. Since we cannot drink sake today, I will toast you all with tea instead," Tsunade said, standing to deliver a brief opening speech.

"You are too kind, Lady Tsunade," someone responded respectfully.

The attendees, all refined individuals, rose with their teacups in hand. This collective gesture acknowledged Tsunade's status as a commander and demonstrated respect for her unparalleled strength. Among the Konoha ninja, it was now widely known that she was a perfect Jinchūriki, her power exceeding anything from her past.

"Please, everyone, sit down. Let's eat and chat," Tsunade said, encouraging a more casual tone.

Kawakaze refrained from overshadowing her, observing how she maintained control of the situation. Should there be any gaps, the Uchiha Clan Head would step up, and if not, Kawakaze himself would intervene.

Tsunade waved her hand, signaling everyone to sit down. After taking a few bites of her food, she continued, "Let me go over the situation again. You can all voice any thoughts you have. We can discuss it together then."

She had gone over this process with Kawakaze in bed the night before.

The group put down their chopsticks and listened attentively as Tsunade began her briefing. The support troops had only arrived a day prior, leaving many details still unclear.

"The order I received from Sensei was to take advantage of the Land of Wind's weakness and seize it all at once," she explained. "But at the moment, we still risk being invaded by the Iwa Ninjas. What we have to face next is the combined strength of the two villages. What do you think we can do to break the stalemate?"

Tsunade outlined the situation succinctly. The battle was inevitable, and the orders had already been issued. However, dealing with the two villages was more complex than expected. Konohagakure lacked a decisive advantage in high-end combat power, and their total number of ninjas was far fewer than the combined forces of their enemies. Even with reinforcements, significant challenges remained.

The leaders of the major clans sat reserved, each lost in thought. Old conflicts between them lingered, evident in the way the Uchiha Clan Head and the Hyūga leader exchanged cold, silent stares, with no intention of speaking to one another.

Meanwhile, the smaller clans engaged in animated discussions, their voices filling the room with lively chatter.

Tsunade chose not to interrupt, quietly observing the arena.

"We have something to say."

A deep voice broke through the noise. A large, heavyset man spoke, drawing everyone's attention. He didn't rise but instead nudged a skinny ninja with a pineapple-shaped hairstyle seated next to him.

"Go ahead," he said.

"This is such a pain," the skinny ninja muttered, scratching his head before reluctantly standing up.

"Jōnin Shōta Nara, at your service, my lords," he said, offering a polite greeting before speaking slowly. "Although we don't know the other party's actions yet, it is likely that Sunagakure will not ally with Iwagakure. The battlefield we will face next is probably the Land of Rain, which borders the three countries. I do not recommend a large-scale advance without more information. Send a small team to gain a foothold first, and then make arrangements according to the actual situation."

After saying this, he nodded slightly and sat back down.

"How do you know they won't ally?" someone asked. Clearly, not everyone was quick to grasp the point.

"I only said it was likely, which is why we need to send someone to investigate the situation first," Shōta replied, showing no intention of elaborating further—doing so would simply be too much trouble for him.

"You're right. I agree with you," Kawakaze said promptly, stepping in to support Shōta. The intelligence of the Nara Clan was well-known and respected.

"What do you think?" Tsunade asked, following Kawakaze's lead.

"We, the Uchiha, have no objections," the Uchiha Clan Head responded first.

"We, the Hyūga Clan, also have no objections," the Hyūga Clan leader added. There was no intention of disputing with the Uchiha here. While internal struggles within the village persisted, outside the village, the desire to achieve victory united them. The Hyūga's innate perfectionism meant they aimed to succeed without unnecessary delays.

With the two major clans setting the tone, no one else dared to object, and the decision proceeded smoothly.

"In that case, who among you is willing to lead a group to the Land of Rain and take the lead?" Tsunade asked, her tone devoid of emotion, watching closely to gauge the clans' reactions.

This proposal aligned perfectly with what Kawakaze had suggested to her earlier, and so far, things were progressing smoothly.

The Uchiha Clan Head, however, was reluctant to take the lead again. He was a shrewd strategist who knew when to hold back and avoid drawing unnecessary attention.

"This team needs both combat power and intelligence capabilities," Shōta spoke up again, his calm analysis leaving little room for dispute. "My suggestion is that each clan cooperates, rather than any one clan acting alone."

"Exactly. I don't think any of you would have a problem with that," Kawakaze said, supporting Shōta's suggestion. His sharp gaze swept across the room, making his presence impossible to ignore.

Even if they harbored objections, few dared to meet his eyes. Kawakaze Hatake's reputation was fearsome—he had slain Hanzō in one battle and killed the Kazekage in another. He was a man who always led from the front.

The room grew tense and silent. Eventually, the Uchiha Clan Head broke it with a measured response.

"The Uchiha have no objections and will follow the commands of Lady Tsunade."

The Hyūga Clan leader could hardly believe his ears. Since when had the Uchiha and Senju Clans been so cooperative?

Previously, he had assumed the Uchiha had merely hired Tsunade to train their medical staff, knowing her reputation for being greedy when it came to money. But now it seemed there was more to their alliance than met the eye.

Still, this wasn't the moment to dwell on such thoughts. Opposing a proposal that directly benefited their battle efforts would serve no purpose.

"The Hyūga Clan will obey your orders," the leader finally declared.

One by one, the other clans voiced their agreement. Tsunade was pleased with how smoothly things were proceeding. There were no difficult individuals causing disruptions, which was a welcome relief.

"Then I will let you know once I have decided on a list," she said with a smile, signaling the meeting's conclusion.

Meanwhile, Kawakaze, who had been eating throughout the discussion, was already smeared with oil from the food.