Wrecking The Past

25

"It seemed to leave Killer Bee alive proved fruitful," Naruto said with a smug smirk as the hawk from Kumo came with a request to open peace talks between them. Now imagine if I killed him. Oh dear, the storm clouds would come roaring in." 

Hiruzen set his jaw tightly as he looked over the scroll asking Naruto Uchiha and his entourage to attend the meeting alone. There was a slight right in his face, but with the Daimyo present, he couldn't voice his displeasure. "Who will you have as your entourage?" 

"Kushina Uzumaki, Raikage has a fondness for Killer Bee, his second son. Showing our Jinchuriki is a power move and showing we respect her as much as he respects his son. Next would be Shikaku, my strategist and right hand. He'll be the one handling all official documents. Next would be the Sannin, gotta show up with power, everyone knows they're your lap dogs having them follow my command shows I'm not to be trifled with," Naruto listed out without batting an eye at the offended looks by Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru. 

"We'll be using my fox summons to relay all documents in real-time for the Daimyo to peruse and sign off on," Kushina added, her voice polite and strong as she stood by Naruto's side. 

"I made sure to leave a strong impression on Bee because I knew this would be the outcome. Before I came to Konoha my parents and I were privy to information that Bee doesn't have strong ties to the village except for the Raikage and his brother. However, I believe this will be changed when the war ends. Jinchuriki are powerhouses that determine a nation's strength." Naruto murmured his gaze sliding to Kushina. 

"The Land of Iron will serve as the meeting point, neutral grounds with the Chief of the Land mediating the talks. Raikage A is known to have a short temper, his sons often step in to stop him from lashing out. He's a brawler, not a ninja. He settles things with his fist instead of talking. Naruto will prove to be a great spar," Shikaku chuckled lightly. "He's gonna wanna see that Hirashin in real time and that wonderful Rasengan." 

Naruto smirked, his eyes flashing red. "No, he's gonna wanna see if I'm as good as Madara." 

The Third stiffened at seeing those eyes, he remembered Madara's eyes from back then, they were the same as Naruto's. The same chill sank into his bones. He shuddered internally, he hated those eyes, they were truly disgusting and showed how the world was truly unfair to those born without Kekkei Genkai. 

************

The Land of Iron was far, its neutral ground chosen for delicate negotiations between Kumo and Konoha. For Naruto Uchiha, this was another step forward, another test to prove his worth. Not as a warrior, but as a leader.

Inside their tent, Kushina adjusted the folds of her cloak, her fingers lingering over the red Uzumaki insignia embroidered on the fabric. She exhaled softly, turning to face Naruto, who was calmly strapping his war fan onto his back. His Sharingan eyes weren't activated, but she could see the storm of thought brewing behind them.

"You think they'll listen?" she asked, crossing her arms. Her voice was steady, but there was an edge of concern beneath it.

Naruto smirked, his confidence unwavering. "They don't have a choice. I beat their Jinchūriki unconscious and left without a scratch. If they're smart, they'll know they don't want to turn this into a war they can't win."

Kushina sighed, shaking her head. "Naruto, diplomacy isn't just about making them fear you. This is about peace."

His smirk softened, and for a brief moment, his expression turned serious. He stepped toward her, gently placing a hand on her shoulder. "I know. But fear is what gets them to the table. Respect is what keeps them there."

Kushina searched his face, seeing the wisdom beyond his years. He had inherited so much from both sides of his bloodline—her fiery passion, but also the sharp tactical mind of the Uchiha. It was a dangerous combination, but she had seen him use it wisely. And yet, she couldn't shake the unease settling in her chest.