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Tsunade sat in the Hokage's office, rubbing her temples.
Shizune dutifully brought her a cup of tea before quietly retreating behind her.
Ever since Tsunade had returned to Konoha, she had not genuinely smiled.
Indeed, the Tsunade at the gambling table probably didn't have so many worries.
The door opened, and an elderly man wearing a hat stood up. Upon seeing Tsunade, he smiled slightly before clasping his hands behind his back and leisurely walking toward the Hokage's seat.
"Lord Hokage," Tsunade quickly rose to her feet.
The old man waved his hand. "It's just the two of us here… I'd like to hear you call me 'sensei' again."
Tsunade stared at him, took a deep breath, and said, "Sensei… Sarutobi."
Hiruzen Sarutobi narrowed his eyes with a smile. "So? It's been a month since you returned. Does everything still feel familiar?"
"Compared to before I left, some things haven't changed, while others have," Tsunade replied.
"Go on."
"The scenery and buildings remain the same, but the people are different. Oh, right—Minato's face has been added to the Hokage Rock," Tsunade murmured, her gaze distant.
"He was a good boy—full of passion, even as Hokage. Konoha should have thrived under his leadership," Hiruzen said with a chuckle.
"Jiraiya liked him a lot too," Tsunade said regretfully, a trace of sorrow flashing in her eyes.
Hiruzen's lips parted slightly, but in the end, he didn't say what was on his mind.
If anyone had been hit hardest by Minato's death, it was Jiraiya.
"That incident… was there ever any resolution?" Tsunade asked. "For such a tragedy to occur within Konoha, someone must be held accountable."
"The police force is managed by the Uchiha clan. When something like this happens, the Uchihas cannot escape blame," Hiruzen said solemnly.
"Is that your opinion?" Tsunade frowned slightly.
"It's everyone's opinion," Hiruzen replied.
Tsunade interlaced her fingers, her palms already sweating.
If it were just Hiruzen who held a grudge against the Uchiha, she might have been able to mediate. But if the entire Konoha leadership shared this sentiment, then the situation was far more complicated than she had imagined—so much so that she wasn't sure if she alone could resolve this crisis.
"Could you be more specific? By 'everyone,' do you mean all of Konoha's top brass, including you, or just a certain faction?" Tsunade pressed.
"Does it matter?" Hiruzen asked.
Tsunade remained silent.
"Did you return because of the Uchiha clan?" Hiruzen asked in turn.
Tsunade closed her eyes, taking a long moment before responding. "I came back because I ran into Kakashi. He helped me with something and also told me some news. Uchiha Shisui… is dead."
"Yes."
"He…"
"We found his body by the Naka River. His eyes had been gouged out." Hiruzen's voice carried sorrow.
Uchiha Shisui had been a shinobi he held in high regard. Whether in terms of strength or character, Shisui had surpassed most of Konoha's ninja.
A man like him should have represented Konoha's future. Yet he had died by the Naka River.
If the tension between Konoha's leadership and the Uchiha clan had been fully ignited by the Nine-Tails incident, then Shisui's death had undoubtedly poured fuel onto the flames.
To the Uchiha, Shisui had been the pride of their younger generation—a figure admired by many young shinobi and a key asset to the clan.
His death had significantly weakened the Uchiha, and Hiruzen deeply regretted losing the one bridge of communication he had with them.
As of now, he found it difficult to find another Uchiha he trusted as much as Shisui.
Tsunade fell silent.
A young prodigy of the Uchiha clan, dead—with even his Sharingan stolen. How… tragic.
"How did he die?" she asked.
"Based on the information we have, it was suicide," Hiruzen said, watching her closely. "For me, resolving the conflict with the Uchiha would be ideal… but it won't be easy."
Tsunade exhaled slowly. It seemed Hiruzen was caught between two sides.
"The Uchiha are vital to Konoha. In the last great war, they contributed greatly—not just Shisui, but many other Uchiha who gave their lives. They shed blood for this village. If we label the entire clan as 'traitors'… what would the fallen Uchiha shinobi think?"
Hiruzen chuckled. "I'm glad to know where your heart lies. But this matter may be far more complicated than you realize."
Tsunade set her teacup down. "I'll take my leave now."
"If there's anything I can do, don't hesitate to ask," Hiruzen said.
Tsunade nodded. Her gaze swept over the portraits of past Hokages hanging on the wall before she pushed open the office door and stepped out. Shizune followed closely behind, bowing deeply to the Third Hokage before shutting the door.
Hiruzen stared at the closed door, his expression far from relaxed.
The Uchiha issue wasn't something Tsunade alone could solve. But her sudden return had introduced an unpredictable element to the situation—though how much this uncertainty would affect the Uchiha remained to be seen.
After all, as time passed, the Uchiha's standing in Konoha had grown increasingly precarious, and the rift between them and the village had only deepened.
"Lady Tsunade… please wait for me!" Shizune had only paused to close the door, but Tsunade was already descending the stairs. She hurried after her.
Tsunade didn't respond, her mind still occupied with thoughts of the Uchiha.
From the very founding of the village, the Uchiha had always been somewhat at odds with Konoha. When Tobirama Senju became the Second Hokage, he entrusted the police force to them—a move that appeared to be an honor but was, in reality, a means of control. Otherwise, why had no Uchiha ever entered Konoha's highest ranks?
The tensions between the two sides had gradually built up, reaching their peak during the Nine-Tails incident. And truthfully, the Uchiha did have reason to be suspected—had the Nine-Tails' rampage truly been spontaneous, with no outside interference?
Tsunade's thoughts grew tangled. Suddenly, she remembered Midorima.
Had he not brought up the Uchiha, she might never have returned.
His suggestion had been to find someone trustworthy within the Uchiha clan… but with Shisui gone, who was left to rely on?
As she stepped out of the Hokage's building, a young shinobi around ten years old passed by her. Noticing her, he stopped and bowed politely.
"What's your name?" Tsunade asked curiously.
"Hello. I'm Uchiha Itachi," the boy replied calmly.
Uchiha Itachi… a child of the Uchiha clan.
Tsunade silently repeated the name, glancing at the boy once more—but he had already disappeared into the crowd.
*
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