Naruto: Wooing Tsunade from Day One!-Chapter 464: Battle Encounter in the Land of Hot Water (Part 1)
Chapter 464 - 464: Battle Encounter in the Land of Hot Water (Part 1)
After receiving Kawakaze's message, Yahiko immediately contacted Konan and Kakuzu.
Once he explained the situation, both agreed without hesitation. Dropping everything at hand, they each led a squad of elite shinobi toward the Land of Rice Fields.
Yahiko had initially planned to take over the Land of Hot Water sooner, but now there was no rush. Instead, he decided to use the time lag to his advantage—waiting for Kirigakure to wipe out Yugakure before leading his forces into the Land of Hot Water. By then, there would be no one left to interfere.
With his plans set, Yahiko found himself with little to worry about. The Land of Rice Fields had no shinobi village, so he simply led his forces straight to the Daimyō. Under overwhelming military pressure, the Daimyō surrendered immediately.
Yahiko, in a show of goodwill, spared his life. However, the Daimyō was demoted to a local official, effectively stripping him of any real power. With no change in the figurehead, Yahiko had little to manage himself.
After days of battle, he finally found some time to rest in the Land of Rice Fields.
...
Meanwhile, in the Land of Hot Water, the Kiri forces remained unaware of Akatsuki's movements and continued their advance.
After a brief stop in the Land of Waves, Yagura Karatachi led his main force ashore in the Land of Hot Water the following day. The soldiers stationed at the docks—mere pretenders at best—didn't even have time to raise the alarm before being swiftly eliminated by Kiri shinobi.
"With this level of negligence, we can take the Land of Hot Water in a single day," Shin Aoki remarked.
He wasn't exaggerating. Even putting raw strength aside, these soldiers lacked the most basic sense of vigilance.
"Keep moving," Yagura ordered, barely sparing Aoki a glance.
Following his command, the Kiri shinobi advanced further inland.
The journey was scenic, with natural hot springs scattered throughout the region—no wonder its tourism industry thrived. But with the constant wars plaguing the ninja world, even the Land of Hot Water's economy had taken a hit.
The towns they passed through were eerily quiet. The civilians dared not question the Kiri forces marching so brazenly through their streets. Just a glance at their forehead protectors sent waves of fear through the people.
Fortunately, Yagura had no interest in targeting civilians. He only dealt with a handful of unfortunate Yugakure shinobi who happened to cross their path.
Once they captured a few prisoners, the location of Yugakure was no longer a mystery.
Guided by their captives, the Kiri forces quickly found the village's hidden stronghold.
Aware of their own weakness, Yugakure had chosen a secluded refuge, but their caution was meaningless now.
When the Yugakure leader realized the sheer number of Kiri shinobi at their doorstep, his first instinct was not to fight—but to flee.
Cowardice or pragmatism, it was hard to say.
With two loyal subordinates, he attempted to slip away unnoticed, but the difference in power was too vast. Their movements couldn't escape Kiri's sensory shinobi.
Realizing he had been detected, the Yugakure leader abandoned his escape and prepared to fight alongside his men.
But Yugakure had too few shinobi, and most were mere Genin. Against Kiri, they were no better than insects resisting a storm.
The battle ended as quickly as it began. Yugakure's leader fell, and Yagura accepted the village's surrender. From start to finish, he hadn't even needed to lift a finger.
With the prisoners secured, the Kiri forces looted the village, gaining a modest haul.
For a country as wealthy as this, Yugakure had been living quite comfortably. Now, their riches belonged to Kiri.
...
News of the invasion finally reached the Daimyō of the Land of Hot Water.
A fool could never hold such a position, and he knew better than to resist. Instead of confronting Yagura over his army's brutality, he sent emissaries to negotiate.
Without a single word about the invasion, he offered generous terms.
In the end, Yagura accepted.
The Land of Hot Water officially became a vassal state of the Land of Water, with Kirigakure as its exclusive military force for hire.
Both Kawakaze and Yahiko had anticipated Yugakure's downfall.
But what they hadn't expected—was for it to fall this fast.
Before Yahiko could even reunite with Konan and Kakuzu, Kiri had already secured its grip on the Land of Hot Water.
"What is the current situation in the Land of Rice Fields?"
Yagura sat across from the Daimyō, who was eagerly pouring him tea, his face full of flattery.
"I'm not entirely sure. The Land of Hot Water has always been a peaceful nation."
"Which is why intelligence gathering has never been a priority."
The Daimyō looked slightly embarrassed. If he had another chance, he would have fully supported Yugakure's development. After all, outsiders could never be as trustworthy as one's own people.
But regrets were meaningless now. It was too late.
"Alright," Yagura muttered, his expression briefly stunned. If he hadn't seen it for himself, he wouldn't have believed that such a naïve Daimyō could exist in the ninja world.
"If you want to know, I can send someone to investigate immediately," the Daimyō offered, at least showing a willingness to cooperate.
"No need. I'll send my own people."
Yagura refused without hesitation. The soldiers at the docks had left a strong impression on him—sending men like them to gather intelligence was no different from handing over their location on a silver platter.
"Understood."
The Daimyō likely guessed why he had been turned down, his cheeks flushing slightly in embarrassment.
"You're busy. Just make sure to arrange a place for us to establish a village as soon as possible."
Handing the Daimyō his task, Yagura turned and left.
"What a disaster..."
Watching Yagura walk away, the Daimyō's face twisted with bitterness. But what choice did he have?
...
While Yagura sent Kiri shinobi to the Land of Rice Fields to gather intelligence, he himself took the opportunity to rest at a hot spring inn.
Days passed. In the blink of an eye, three days had gone by, and the scouts he sent had yet to return.
A bad feeling settled in.
If they hadn't reported back by now, it could only mean one thing—the Land of Rice Fields had already fallen into new hands.
Without hesitation, Yagura gathered his forces and set off. The last thing he wanted was for the territory he had just secured to fall into another war.
At the same time, the same thought crossed Yahiko's mind. By now, Konan and Kakuzu had also arrived. The three wasted no time, leading their troops straight toward the Land of Hot Water.
By sheer coincidence, as Kiri forces neared the border between the two lands, Yahiko's forces appeared before them.
A clash was inevitable.
The moment their eyes met, the battle had already begun.
No words. No negotiations.
Yagura led his forces straight into an assault. Yahiko and his companions charged in response, and the battlefield ignited into chaos from the very first moment.
"Water Release: Great Waterfall!"
Three-Tails chakra surged, and a massive tail rose behind Yagura. A towering wave, carrying overwhelming force, exploded outward from his position.
Under the crushing power of the surging water, even the strongest fighters couldn't help but feel their insignificance.
The once sunlit land was instantly cast into shadow.
"Water Release: Bubbles Technique!"
Shin Aoki pulled a large straw from his gear pouch, brought it to his lips, and blew out a stream of bubbles, sending them drifting toward the Akatsuki forces.
At first glance, the bubbles floated lazily, but they steadily closed in on their targets.
From the very start, both Kiri Jinchūriki had unleashed large-scale ninjutsu.
It was their way of acknowledging the strength of Akatsuki's three founders—
And their way of showing just how dangerous they knew them to be.
