"Nawaki... the ones who directly plotted your death, Danzo and Yellow Dog, are both dead..."
Thinking of Nawaki's childhood, bit by bit, Tsunade felt a surge of grief in her heart.
Tsunade raised her head and looked past Nawaki's tombstone. There, row upon row of tombstones stood.
Beneath these tombstones, how many had sacrificed themselves for the village, and how many had died because of the village's own schemes?
Too many had died defending Konoha.
Too many lay here in eternal rest, silently watching the peaceful Konoha of today.
Tsunade wondered, if she had known the truth about Nawaki's death early on, would she have sought revenge for him, broken with the village, and gone to kill Danzo and Yellow Dog... She didn't know the answer.
Fox was much more decisive. After discovering the truth, Fox had spent a few years killing the perpetrators one by one, even if they were Konoha advisors, even if they were the Hokage's son.
Tsunade turned her head slightly and saw Fox appear via Body Flicker Technique.
Tsunade said, "Fox, the Anbu is the Hokage's direct force. You are the Anbu Commander. Is it appropriate for you to stand here with me?"
"Appropriate?" Fox said, "In today's Konoha, who would still question whether we are allied? The Third Hokage? Given the Hokage's habitual tendency to compromise, I think even if he knew, he wouldn't point it out. Nara Rokaku? He's a smart man. He'll make the correct choice. Of the four highest-ranking officials, two won't speak up. Princess Tsunade, after Advisor Danzo's sacrifice, in this village, we no longer need to defer to anyone."
Tsunade thought to herself that she was bound by habitual thinking. Yes, who in the village could still afford to show them displeasure now? The first generation of Konoha's high command had the First Hokage and the Second Hokage at its core. The second generation of Konoha's high command consisted of the six guards of the Second Hokage. high command. For Sarutobi Hiruzen to continue sitting firmly in the Hokage's seat, he must rely on this third generation.
Tsunade suddenly remembered something and said, "The young clan leader of the Nara clan, Nara Shikaku, came to Konoha Hospital to see me a few days ago. He asked me if the Nara clan's Deer Forest needed to cultivate the medicinal herbs currently in shortest supply at the hospital."
"You see, Lord Rokaku is a smart man. He's already begun to change course. If he doesn't change course, he'll be cut down." Hearing Fox's murderously teasing remark, Tsunade suddenly understood that there was also something fishy about Sarutobi Shinnosuke's death.
After paying their respects to Nawaki, Tsunade asked, "Fox, would you like to take a walk in the Senju Clan District?"
"Alright. My mother was from the Senju clan, but I've never entered the Senju Clan District before."
The two left the Memorial Stone and entered the Senju Clan District, walking openly within its grounds.
In the Hokage Building, Black Ant hurriedly entered the Hokage's Office and placed a report on the Third Hokage's desk.
The Third had not yet changed out of the black clothes he wore for the funeral. He opened the scroll and saw it stated that Tsunade and Fox had laid flowers together for Nawaki and then entered the Senju Clan District together.
The Third Hokage looked up in surprise at Black Ant. Black Ant was an elite Jonin of the Nara clan, very strong, and also Sarutobi Hiruzen's most important advisor, privy to all matters in the shadows.
"Black Ant, since when have they...?"
Black Ant lowered his head and thought carefully, then said, "After Advisor White Fang's sacrifice, I felt there was something odd about people like Namikaze Minato switching allegiance to Tsunade. Now it seems Advisor Tsunade has been consciously seeking allies and subordinates all along. Perhaps Commander Fox, like Namikaze Minato, Gekkō Sō, Yamashiro-dera, and others, was won over by Advisor Tsunade long ago. Princess Tsunade is the village's only remaining advisor. Many things are no longer being concealed."
Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded and said, "Namikaze Minato is Uzumaki Kushina's lover. His following Tsunade makes sense. But Gekkō Sō, Yamashiro-dera, and others also following Tsunade reveals some of her methods. Now, Fox is also standing with Tsunade... Tsunade has, without anyone noticing, gained the support of so many people."
Black Ant very much wanted to say that Clan Leader Rokaku had long ago set the tone for the Ino–Shika–Chō Trio Clans to gradually align themselves with Advisor Tsunade. Such confidential matters were not convenient to tell the Hokage directly. Advisor Tsunade was 30 years old this year, in the prime of her life. Whether in terms of strength or influence, she was the undisputed second-in-command after the Hokage. Even if Orochimaru stepped out of his lab to compete with Advisor Tsunade, he would likely be no match for her. Now that Fox and Advisor Tsunade had allied, just like when Konoha's White Fang allied with Tsunade, it filled the weakest link in Advisor Tsunade's position. Advisor Tsunade is the granddaughter of the First Hokage. Anyone could harm the village, but Advisor Tsunade could not. However, governing a village on righteousness alone is not enough; some shadowy methods are necessary. Commander Fox is far too qualified in that regard. Commander Fox is far too dark.
Black Ant, as the Vice-Commander of the Anbu, served with trepidation. He had thought Commander Fox's most trusted subordinate, White Ram, would become Vice-Commander. He had prepared himself to cooperate with White Ram. In the end, the Hokage insisted on appointing him as the Anbu Vice-Commander. He felt as if he had snatched the Vice-Commander position from White Ram's hands. If Commander Fox held a grudge, how many lives did he, Black Ant, have to spare for Commander Fox to take?
Black Ant had secretly reviewed Commander Fox's career path from a regular Anbu member to Commander. Regardless of the reasons, from the results, Commander Fox's enemies were all dead. Commander Fox's superiors, except for the retired Black Gorilla, were all dead too. It was terrifying. Being Commander Fox's enemy was dangerous, but being his superior was fatal. Black Ant looked at the Third Hokage, hoping the Hokage would be clear-headed, like the Nara clan. give his next order, commanding Black Ant to monitor Advisor Tsunade or monitor Commander Fox... Wouldn't that be seeking death?
After a long while, Sarutobi Hiruzen suddenly smiled. "They've grown up. Unknowingly, the reckless Tsunade has truly grown up."
Black Ant thought to himself, Advisor Tsunade is already 30. Of course she's grown up.
"You may go, Black Ant."
Black Ant breathed a sigh of relief. It was great that the Hokage didn't order him to monitor those two.
After Black Ant left, Sarutobi Hiruzen thought of another piece of intelligence. Nara Shikaku had visited Konoha Hospital to ask Tsunade about medicinal herbs. The Nara clan managed medicinal herbs in the Deer Forest and had frequent contact with Konoha Hospital, but sending the young clan leader Nara Shikaku to inquire of Tsunade carried profound implications.
Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes instantly filled with killing intent, which lasted for a few seconds before instantly turning into weariness and helplessness. He felt he was getting old. If it were a few years ago, if Mitokado Homura and Danzo were both still here, he would definitely purge the Ino–Shika–Chō Trio Clans for their betrayal, and he would definitely strike hard at Tsunade and Fox. However, everything had changed.
Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed and pulled open a drawer. Inside was a group photo. A photo of him, Shimura Danzo, Utatane Koharu, Mitokado Homura, Akimichi Torifu, and Uchiha Kagami. The photo was already faded, taken many years ago when they had just become the Second Hokage's guards. smiled brightly, while Danzo's face remained cold. Akimichi Torifu had his arm around Uchiha Kagami's shoulder, trying to make him relax. Uchiha Kagami wanted to smile, but in the end, his expression was slightly tense. In the photo, he and Utatane Koharu stood in the center. At that time, he was filled with fighting spirit, his eyes resolute, aiming for the Hokage's seat. That version of himself seemed somewhat unfamiliar...
The familiar scene, yet the faces had changed. In the vast Konoha Village, he alone remained.
Tsunade and Fox had openly allied. Sarutobi Hiruzen hesitated and hesitated, ultimately choosing to pretend he didn't know. Compromise. Being Hokage wasn't as free and unrestrained as the villagers imagined...
—
In Tsunade's bedroom within the Senju Clan District.
"Princess Tsunade, I want to have a heart-to-heart talk with you."
"What kind of heart-to-heart talk?"
Fox thought to himself, in one lifetime, when he had a "heart-to-heart" talk with Tsunade, Tsunade had turned around and punched Fox right in the solar plexus. That punch had been so powerful.
Fox reached out and gently placed his hand on Tsunade's chest.
Tsunade's face flushed, her breathing grew rapid, then she suddenly raised her hand and grabbed Fox's wrist.
"My... heart is a bit lower than where you're pressing..."
Following Tsunade's guidance, Fox's hand moved downward.
Half an hour later...
A hand extended from the bed, forming a single-handed seal to reinforce the bed legs with Wood Release.
Truly, this was Tsunade. In terms of stamina, she actually surpassed the younger Uzumaki Yuka. Couldn't handle it, really couldn't handle it...
***
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