I looked at them "listen carefully, I'm saying one last time, I won't come back to the village at any cost . The village and that old man can go to h.e.l.l if they want . I don't care . I already cut off my ties to the village . didn't I said that already?"

one of them spoke "Diran-sama, you have already been chosen as the next Hokage . your banishment is already been lifted . hokage-sama sincerely request you to return" .

I released them and said "how many times do you want me to repeat myself . don't test my limits . but I wonder why that old man send you guys? I mean honestly you five aren't even at jonin level . only one reached barely at most and if want to show his sincerity, shouldn't at least Nagato sensei or Itachi come here to persuade me?" .

one of them bit his lip and said "about that . . . Diran-sama, you know about Uchiha clan incident right . coupled with the fact of root incident five years ago, one-third of the village's strength crippled . they were very busy with multiple missions . so, I beg your understanding" .

I fold my hands and replied "did you think I would believe your half-truths . I already know from your emotions that you are hiding the real truth . let me give you the answer to my question . That old man didn't even think of a condition that in case I refuse right? .

he is probably thinking I would be very happy to return to the village and of course, will be very grateful to him to give me Hokage position without any contributions to the village right?" .

they became silent upon hearing it . I smiled "it seems I hit right on the spot" then suddenly I changed my face became serious . "I'm warning you last time . if you people come anywhere near me again, you all would return to Konoha physically disabled" .

after I went away, One of them asked "Captain, what now? should we abort the mission?" Captain of their team shook his head "No, this is our first S-rank Mission that Hokage personally entrusted us with . we can't afford to fail" .

one spoke "So, what can we do? we can't use force, just a little snap from his finger restricted us . even if we have slight hostility, there's no doubt we will be killed without mercy" .

then another one spoke "I have an idea . he had a wife and a kid right . if we can kidnap her and make her as a hostage?" . the remaining four of them sweat-dropped and one replied: "are you trying to get us killed?" . the captain who's stroking his chin "hmm, that's not a bad idea" . "Captain, even you too?"

Captain spoke, "no, we don't make them our hostage, we don't have the power to negotiate with him . remember Nagato-sama's private lesson during our training? he said when we want to have a negotiation with a person using a hostage, never use his most precious person, use his second-most precious one because if we use the person who is the dearest to his heart, there's a high chance that he will go insane and fight to the death with us" .

"that's why we will wait for a time and capture his wife, I heard that before marrying him, she's his employee . after he impregnated her, he took responsibility to marry her . so, it's best if we took her back to Konoha and let those in higher authority deal with the rest" .

one of them asked, "Captain, why don't we report everything we learned to Konoha and let them decide what we do next regarding his family?" . The captain looked at him fiercely "are you an idiot? if we do that, do you think we would even be entrusted another S-rank mission again? . everyone, follow my instructions and do what I say"

a week later,

Ichiko is in the hospital talking to a doctor "is there no chance of cure at all?" . the doctor sighed "we don't even know what kind of disease you have let alone cure . why don't you contact Keis.h.i.+ Hospital, the chief doctor who is also the personal doctor to Diamyo-sama there is the best out of all elemental nations" .

Ichiko shook her head "No if I contact her, my husband would also get the news about my health problem . after two years, he finally started to show affection in his actions towards me, I can't afford to turn that into pity . Tsugi-san, as my friend, promise me you won't ever tell him about this" .

then, after saying goodbye, she came out of the hospital with little Miura . Miura asked, "mama, why do you come to this hospital every week?" Ichiko smiled "I come here to meet a friend . don't tell papa okay . this our little secret" and she crossed a pinky finger with Miura's while Miura giggling" . then suddenly something hit Ichiko's neck and she fell . Miura when she turned all she saw a blur and Ichiko gone .

Little Miura shocked and looked around . seeing Ichiko disappeared and looking at the large crowd in streets around her, she became afraid and started to cry . when people who were pa.s.sing by saw that, some gathered around her "what happened kid?" Miura isn't listening to anyone and only crying "Mama" .

some murmured "looks like she got lost from her mother" . then, someone pointed out "hey, doesn't she seem familiar?" . then people looked at him "do you know this girl?" . he replied "I don't know, but I think I saw her somewhere . I wonder where?"

then one academy student who pa.s.sed by the crowd and after seeing her, she spoke loudly "isn't that Senju-sama's daughter?" "what? Senju-sama has a daughter" "yeah, you don't about it . I heard rumours about it . he has a wife and a three years old daughter" "isn't He only 22?" people began murmuring .

meanwhile, I'm at my office reading accounts, suddenly my heart became heavy . I wondered "what's happening . strange . this is the second time happening like this . first one was . . . " then, my eyes widened and realised "did something happened to Miura?" .

I hurriedly went to my home and saw that it was locked "did both of them go out together?" then, I went to various places Miura and Ichiko liked in the city but all of them replied they haven't seen both of them today .

my intuition told me something bad happened to either or both of them . if only they weren't ordinary people, I would have tracked them by Sage mode .

I hurriedly went to Daimyo and told them everything . at first, he joked that they must have been roaming around . then after seeing my serious face, he mobilised some of his guards to looks for them but I was in a hurry . so, I forced him to use to his entire army to look for them including the twelve ninja guardians .

after half n hour, we got a report that Miura was found alone in the streets and was brought to my office by some civilians . I hurriedly dashed towards there and after seeing her, I got relieved but at the same time felt like a mountain crashed on my heart upon seeing her crying non-stop with pale face and without energy .

"Miu chan" then, she looked at me and with her little energy, she forced herself to stand up and ran toward me and collapsed while I caught her . I wiped her tears "tell me what happened? where's your mother?" .

she weakly responded "Papa, Mama . . . Mama . " and she fainted . then, I carried her straight to Daimyo palace and wait for the information . after a while, I got information that a former s.h.i.+n.o.bi saw four s.h.i.+n.o.bi in masks running fast carrying a woman .

after I hear that, my killing intent aroused so high and it enveloped almost a quarter of the city . the civilians and low-level s.h.i.+n.o.bi all fainted along with the Daimyo . only twelve ninja guardians seem fine but even they aren't in as good condition . one of them spoke, "Senju-sama, please have mercy and lower your killing intent or else people won't just faint, they will die for real" .

I looked at Diamyo who was fainted . I immediately calmed down "I apologize Daimyo later for putting him and the people in danger" . then, I turned towards Asuma who's face was pale "but Konoha will have to pay a price for this . your father made me very angry for the first time in these five years" . instantly I activated Sage mode level 3 . I made a wood clone and it carried Miura to my home .

"I can't find them in the city anymore . it's almost an hour, so, they must have not gone too far from the city" . I disappeared from there . after I went, Daimyo was woken up by Kazuma .

after hearing everything out Daimyo sama sighed and mobilised the remaining eleven of them to take care of the matter . after they went, Kazuma said "Daimyo-sama, it seems Hokage sama don't want to give any face to you anymore . he even ordered Diran-sama's wife to be kidnapped right in the middle of the city . Konoha needs to be reminded that Daimyo-sama is the absolute ruler of the fire country which includes Konoha" . Daimyo replied sternly "Kazuma, didn't I said not to talk about that again?" "I apologise Daimyo-sama" .

elsewhere ten minutes later, a few miles away from Keis.h.i.+

as they are running towards Konoha, Captain suddenly said "I'm feeling something bad going to happen . let's hurry" then a voice came from the back "why are you guys in so much hurry?" . after hearing my familiar voice . they got stunned and turned back . "Diran-sama . . this . . " before they even know what's going to happen, their heads rolled on the ground . "Hmpf, since you are acting under the orders of the Hokage, I gave you a quick death . be thankful for that" . I looked at the unconscious Ichiko and my expression changed to gentleness .

I picked her up and went back to our home . after she woke up . she was surprised to see the familiar surroundings . I was sitting next to her . after she saw me, she asked me what happened . after listening to everything, tears started to come out of her eyes "I'm sorry, I became a burden to you" .

I stroke her hair "silly woman, don't talk like that . everything is fine now . its already been settled" . then my face became cold "Konoha will pay the price for this" . Ichiko took my arm and shook her head "No, just forget about it" .

I replied "how can I? I know that old man very well . he a persistent ba****d who won't stop his efforts until he reaches his goal . Until I settle it with him, he won't stop" .

She said "then, let's leave this city . forget about the city . let's just leave this country . I don't want you to fallen out completely with your village and become enemies with your friends because of one man . we have lots of money anyway . the bank will work on its own . you don't even need to be here to direct it" .

"but" . she pleaded to me once "please, let's just forget about the incident and go away from here" . I thought for a while . even though I was reluctant, I nodded "Fine, but where should we go? . there aren't a lot of places where no one would recognize me" .

she replied "there is . My hometown . remember fis.h.i.+ng village you once been brought upon four n half years ago?" I nodded "yeah . it's a nice place . I liked it when I stayed there for a while" . next day after talking to Miura, and discussing with Diamyo, we decided to go to the Fis.h.i.+ng village which is in the land of Tea .

One year later, after Ichiko suddenly became ill, I discovered that she has an incurable disease . by using my forbidden jutsu, I halted it temporarily by keeping her life force in check .

Then, I travelled back to Keis.h.i.+ and met with the chief doctor in secret . after seeing the reports she said "I'm sorry Senju-sama, it has no cure . it's already in an advanced stage . if its Tsunade-sama, there may be a slight chance, but I don't want to give you empty hope . even if it's her, there's not much chance even if she was at her peak . but she already deserted the village after her lover died in the second ninja war . I heard the rumours that now she spends her life in gambling and drinking . her skills mostly must have been deteriorated . sigh . . if only Hokage-sama had agreed to that plan Tsunade-sama proposed years ago, by now Konoha would be the heavenly land for patients for all types of diseases . anyway, there's no use talking about the past" .

I came out in disappointment . but I comforted myself "But, hey isn't Tsunade still alive and well? . if I can reach and plead her, considering us both of the same clan, maybe she would consider it . no matter what, even if I had to use force I would make her cure Ichiko" .

I told Takahiro Ojisan and Toyoharu to look after them and packed my bag to look for Tsunade . I expected Ichiko to object as I know she would never want to put any kind of burden on me . she didn't say anything about it but requested me to at least stay for a month with her before I began to go on a journey . I didn't find it odd as her condition is pretty much serious .

after a month, on a fine morning on the day, I was about to go, I wake her up but she didn't wake up . after calling her a few more times, I touched her only to feel her body cold . I picked her hand up and found there's no pulse . even though I fully knew the answer, to confirm it I activated the Sage mode and I was collapsed on to the floor .

I didn't even understand how did this happen . tears falling from my eyes onto the floor . later, Miura found out and started crying non-stop . after burying her and everything over, after Miura slept, I sat on the sofa while reading a letter which I found below the photo frame of three of us . I drank for a while and sighed "just like you requested I promise that I won't go seeking trouble with Konoha" . and I live there peacefully with Miura until I saw Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura at Degaras.h.i.+ port .

* Flash Back ends*

back to the present in the land of Lightning

I stood up and stretched my body "So guys, that's my story" then I looked at the sky "Oh, Sun is about to rise" . I turned towards them to find Mei, Hana and some of the others were tearing up and some others were filled with various emotions . I clapped "its already dawn . go and sleep for now . there's only one day to the war" .

after everyone cleared out, Itachi patted my shoulder and smiled "Thank you" . then we parted ways, I went to the room allotted for me and Miura . I saw Miura already woke up and meditating . when she saw, she smiled "Papa, where were you this whole time?" I replied "I was with some friends the whole night . are you worried?" . she shook her head "my papa is the strongest s.h.i.+n.o.bi in the world . so, I'm not worried about you" .

I pinched her nose "you cheeky brat" . she grinned "ah, by the way, fresh up . I will make breakfast for you" . I waved my hand "Nah, it's okay . I'm very sleepy right now . just wake me up a couple of hours later . I need to attend the meeting" .

after lunch, I went to the meeting . there we again discussed several strategies . in the middle of our meeting, we suddenly got a message "Naruto and B were trying to escape the turtle island and on their way to here" . Fourth Raikage stood up "I will take care of it . Naruto must have probably heard from B and confirmed it with the jonins placed there . Tsunade, you also come with me to take care of Naruto" .

I stood up "no need, I'll go there" . Raikage looked at me "you?" . Mei replied "I agree . to deal with jinchuuriki, he is the best choice out of all of us . he can suppress them with his mokuton jutsu" . I looked at Tsunade "I don't know how to convince them with the words . so, I will have to use force if I needed to . do i have your permission to do that? . don't worry . nothing will happen . I will just suppress them and convince them with force" . Raikage sat down "fine" .

after thinking for a while, she replied: "I wanted them to partic.i.p.ate in the war but since its alliance decision, I will respect it" . I disappeared from there .

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Last Chapter of this volume;

Next chapter: A day before the s.h.i.+n.o.bi war part 1