After explaining the situation, Tsunade pulled open the door and stepped out.
Shuji followed closely behind, leaving the quiet room as well.
The corridor light was dim. Shuji quickened his pace to walk alongside Tsunade: "Will Itachi's condition relapse?"
Tsunade glanced at him, not slowing: "No need for me to lie to you—it was cleared thoroughly, no aftereffects."
Hearing this, the young captain finally relaxed.
For everything that happened in this mission, he—as the planner—bore responsibility.
In the postwar period, he had repeatedly reviewed the entire process. As the strategist, he couldn't shirk blame.
The biggest mistake was over-optimism about the Wasabi estate's defenses.
Knowing enemies might attack, with severely limited intel and the team tied down, yet hoping the squad could hold.
The safest approach would have been decisive: have Wasabi Jirōchō take his people and Itachi into hiding immediately, rather than staying exposed as targets.
A deeper issue lay in the tactical goals' shift.
His primary demand against the Black Erosion Group had always been intelligence gathering, yet it turned into an "all-out first battle."
Though the outcome succeeded, the process was fraught with peril, the cost heavy.
This loss of control forced him to scrutinize flaws in his planning.
"That Uchiha kid is Fugaku's son, right?" Tsunade's voice interrupted Shuji's thoughts.
"Yes."
"Hmph," Tsunade let out an ambiguous snort. "What are you scheming now?"
No matter how Shuji viewed himself, the young captain's layout abilities in the Black Erosion incident had left a deep impression on her—outwardly harmless, inwardly as meticulous as an old fox.
This was slander; he hadn't schemed anything.
Shuji replied helplessly: "Itachi joining my team was the village's arrangement. As for what you mean... regarding the Uchiha clan, I do have some thoughts."
"You should know the Uchiha clan's situation. Since the Fourth's death, it's only worsened."
"Back in Great-Uncle's time, Uchiha tried rebellion too—what's the big deal?" The Senju princess dismissed it. "It's the old man's hesitation that's the problem."
Such matters needed swift, severe handling—did they wait for the Uchiha to unify internally? Tsunade felt the Third Hokage's current actions were abnormal, not like resolving conflict.
Years of war, now nearing stability—still no plan?
"It's different this time, Tsunade-sama."
"The village's losses were too great."
Decades ago, Uchiha Madara's actions were stopped by Senju Hashirama, causing no substantial harm to the village.
But this time, the village lost the Fourth Hokage, and in the Nine-Tails rampage and the ensuing three-year war, vitality was gravely wounded.
The Memorial Stone's densely carved new names were shattered families, bone-deep pain. This heavy toll had exhausted the village's patience with the Uchiha to its limit.
And the Uchiha offered no explanation for that Sharingan pair during the Nine-Tails incident.
Without an omniscient view or a satisfactory answer, the village's hostility wasn't baseless.
Even Shuji, without knowing the truth, would naturally be among those wary of the Uchiha—after all, his predecessor fought at the borders, and comrades died.
Tsunade finally stopped, turning to fix Shuji with sharp eyes: "What good does telling me this do? I've retired."
Shuji said softly: "Just explaining the situation."
Tsunade sneered: "Save that for yourself. So young, yet every word hides a hundred thoughts—nagging away."
"Anyway, whatever," her fingers unconsciously tightened on the cool necklace at her neck. "Grandfather's ideal... has already failed."
The First Hokage Senju Hashirama's dream of founding Konoha and ending the Warring States era.
Images flashed in her mind: Great-Uncle Senju Tobirama, hailed as the "swiftest in the shinobi world," ultimately died in an ambush by Kumogakure's Gold and Silver Horn brothers; brother Nawaki, so young with life just beginning, perished in a cruel explosive tag trap; lover Kato Dan, possessor of the rare Spiritualization Jutsu, gutted empty and dead...
Shuji fell silent. The corridor held only their faint breaths.
After a long while, he spoke: "You've traveled this world extensively, visited many places, met many people—surely you've formed your own conclusions about it all."
"I have matters to arrange—farewell for now, Tsunade-sama." Shuji inclined his head slightly and left.
Tsunade watched his back vanish at the corridor's end, biting her lower lip.
Why... something clearly failed, yet one after another, unclear.
It wasn't an excuse—Shuji truly had things to do. After visiting Itachi, Jirōchō awaited him.
The Chasan Group matter resolved smoothly after the Black Erosion Group's fall, as did the Waisuke family's.
But procedures must be followed; the Wasabi messenger had departed anew, this time with Black Erosion intel.
By his calculations, a response should arrive soon.
"Waisuke Yūma misjudged people, employed unwisely, deceived by mere bandits—truly betraying the daimyō's trust."
As expected, when Shuji entered the reception room led by a servant, he saw a man in a black hat and red robe seated at the head, speaking with Wasabi Jirōchō.
"I've ordered him to commit seppuku. The Waisuke family will henceforth be led by Waisuke Kuzu."
"This is a Konoha ninja, I presume?" The man turned to Shuji. "The daimyō especially thanks you all for your efforts. The Black Erosion Group's ambitions were wild—they did such things, and on Kichi Island remain their recruited underlings."
"The daimyō wishes to commission Konoha to purge those bandits."
"Please lend your aid."
Shuji replied: "Once the daimyō commissions the village, the village will dispatch personnel. As for us, my team's mission is complete; we're preparing to return."
"In that case, with Kichi Island urgent, I'll take my leave soon." The envoy rose hastily and departed.
"Please sit, Mr. Shuji." Jirōchō stood to welcome Shuji. "That was the daimyō's retainer."
"The one behind the Waisukes?"
"Indeed. Waisuke Yūma's suicide ends the Waisuke matter. Degarashi Port's restoration is thanks to you."
This time, he bowed deeply, kowtowing.
"The Wasabi family's survival is entirely due to Mr. Shuji and your subordinates' merits."
With that, Jirōchō produced several thick ledgers.
"These are the rewards negotiated with your village. Given the gravity, please have your team deliver them."
Chapters in advance there: patreon.com/Thaniel_a_goodchild