"This old man will absolutely not apologize to a junior!" Danzo said stubbornly.
"No apology?" Hiruzen snorted coldly, then swiftly slapped Danzo across the face twice more with fierce speed!
It's so fast that Danzo didn't even react!
"Sarutobi Hiruzen!" Danzo cursed loudly, "You bastard! What the hell are you trying to do!"
He couldn't figure out why Hiruzen would actually hit him!
And twice!
'What was going on?'
'What's wrong with this old fool today? He seems like a different person!'
"What am I trying to do? What do you think I'm trying to do?" Hiruzen's anger burned hotter inside.
Thinking about all the things Danzo and these two Hokage's Advisors had done over the years, and comparing them to the pure and upright Takumi, his anger flared up uncontrollably!
'Everyone works for the village.'
'Why are you people so damn punchable!'
Unable to suppress the pent-up anger accumulated over the years, Hiruzen started beating Danzo, raining blows on his head and face.
"Making you not apologize! Making you not apologize! Making you not apologize!"
"Will you apologize or not!"
After beating him for a minute, forcibly making Danzo kneel, Hiruzen finally stopped, glaring with wide, angry eyes.
Danzo wanted to remain stubborn.
He even wanted to activate Kotoamatsukami on the spot and kill this damn Sandaime Hokage!
But the pain wracking his body and the last shred of reason left in his mind forced him to yield.
"Hiruzen, with all our years of friendship, you'd actually betray me for a little brat." Danzo said, having basically figured it out by now.
'It must be that Takumi causing trouble behind the scenes!'
'To preserve his trust in the village, Hiruzen had to resolve the Tsunade issue!'
'That's why he beat us so severely!'
"I'll apologize..." Danzo gritted his teeth until they nearly bled, but he still nodded in agreement.
What else could he do? After all, he was the Root of Konoha?
No matter how bitter or difficult, for the sake of the village, he had to endure!
Hadn't he persevered like this all these years?
It was frustrating!
"And you two?" Hiruzen turned his fierce gaze towards the other two.
Even Danzo, whom Hiruzen usually tolerated, had been beaten black and blue. How could Homura and Koharu dare to argue?
Facing Hiruzen's scorching, fiery gaze, they could only nod repeatedly, saying with obvious frustration:
"We'll apologize."
"Alright, we'll apologize. Just stop being so angry."
"Mhm, fine."
Seeing their attitudes, Hiruzen nodded satisfied.
But he also felt extremely frustrated inside.
'Although you are all important to the village and to me...'
'Takumi is more important to me and the village!'
'You can't have your cake and eat it too.'
'So...'
'For now, you'll just have to bear the injustice.'
Hiruzen thought to himself, 'After placating Tsunade and ensuring she could stay in the village, I would find an opportunity to explain my reasons to the three of them.'
They were close partners.
They were also meritorious officials who had developed Konoha to its current state.
All his actions today were forced, done for the greater good.
He believed his comrades could understand his actions.
…
After Tsunade finished treating Sasuke, she returned to the inn with Shizune.
Her goal of saving someone was accomplished, and she planned to pack up and leave.
She didn't want to stay in Konoha, this place of sad memories.
Besides, leaving quickly might also help her avoid being... by Takumi...
However, just then, two Anbu suddenly arrived at the hospital.
"Takumi-sama, Tsunade-sama, Hokage-sama wishes to see you."
Hearing this, Takumi's heart immediately settled.
'Just as expected, exactly as he had calculated.'
'This Sarutobi Hiruzen was really being led by the nose, completely fooled by my little diary entry!'
"You mean the old man wants to see me?" Tsunade frowned tightly.
'Why does the old man want to see me?'
'What's his purpose?'
Thinking this, several disgusting figures immediately flashed through Tsunade's mind.
Her eyes also unreservedly showed disgust.
"Tsunade-sama, since we've already saved the person, let's leave quickly." Shizune, seeing Tsunade's reluctance, advised from the side.
"What do you think?" Tsunade turned her head to look at Takumi.
She wanted to hear this miracle boy's opinion.
"Let's go see him. Sandaime-sama won't eat anyone." Takumi said very relaxed, "He might even give me a reward."
Tsunade hesitated repeatedly.
Finally, she helplessly sighed.
"Fine, let's consider it seeing the old man one last time."
Her words sounded as if she would never return to Konoha again.
At the very least, it seemed she didn't plan to return while Sandaime was still alive.
"Tsunade-sama..." Shizune looked at Tsunade with some worry.
Tsunade waved her hand, "Don't worry. I'll go and come back."
The two put down their packed luggage and, along with Takumi, headed for the Hokage Tower.
Hokage's Office.
Only the smiling, amiable Sarutobi Hiruzen was in the office.
Seeing no one else, Tsunade breathed a barely noticeable sigh of relief.
"What do you want, old man?"
"Long time no see, Tsunade." Hiruzen's eyes were complex, but he tried his best to maintain a beaming appearance.
Then he looked at Takumi and started lavishing praise.
"Takumi-kun, you did very well this time, successfully bringing Tsunade back. You not only demonstrated friendship among comrades but also proved the Will of Fire in your heart."
"You have talent far exceeding ordinary people. You will definitely be a pillar of the village in the future."
"The strength you've shown at your current age already far surpasses your peers in the village. In the future, you might even have a chance to become Hokage."
With the last sentence, Hiruzen deliberately playfully winked at Takumi.
Tsunade felt secretly disgusted, but on Takumi's face, a shy smile appeared skillfully.
"Not at all, not at all." Takumi said modestly, "It was just what I should do."
Hiruzen wanted to say more, but Tsunade on the side looked impatient, "Hey, old man, if there's nothing else, I'm leaving. Don't waste my time."
"Wait." Hearing this, Hiruzen's face became serious, "Actually, I called you here mainly this time."
"I want to solemnly apologize to you, Tsunade."
'Huh?'
Hearing this, Tsunade was stunned.
She was a bit dumbfounded.
'Apologize?'
'The old man apologizing to me?'
'What the hell kind of joke is this?'
Tsunade frowned, full of surprise staring at Hiruzen. She didn't understand what act he was putting on.
"Perhaps it's because I'm old. Seeing children like Takumi-kun grow up, I realize how wrong I was back then." Hiruzen said with an ashamed expression.
"If I had supported you against all opposition back then, Konoha wouldn't have suffered such heavy losses in the war. It was all my fault."
As he spoke further, he even took off his Hokage hat and bowed deeply to Tsunade.
"Takumi-kun is as pure as you were back then. But I listened to others and didn't maintain my trust in you. It was my fault, Tsunade."
"Can you forgive this old man?"
Hiruzen's aged face was full of devoutness and pleading.
It didn't look like a prank or acting at all.
It was just as if he was genuinely apologizing!
Tsunade was plunged into shock.
'What's going on?'
'The old man is actually apologizing to me?'
'Did the sun rise from the west?'
Everything happening before her felt very unfamiliar to Tsunade.
And very unreal!
She gently pinched herself.
'It hurt!'
'Not a dream!'
Tsunade stared wide-eyed in shock.
"Are you on the wrong medication, old man?" She simply couldn't believe what she was seeing.
"Sigh..." Hiruzen sighed, then said, "It seems my apology alone isn't enough..."
He clapped his hands.
Danzo and the other two, who had been waiting nearby, walked in unwillingly.
Tsunade looked at the three of them, her eyes involuntarily flashing with a trace of disgust.
'These damn bastards?'
'What are they doing here?'
'Could it be...'
Considering Hiruzen's earlier behavior, a hint of surprise flashed in Tsunade's heart.
'No way?'
'Are they going to apologize too?!'
"What the hell are you standing there for? Hurry up and speak!" Under Hiruzen's stern glare, Danzo and the others also began to apologize to Tsunade unwillingly.
"I am very sorry, Tsunade. Back then, we did not heed your good intentions and instead speculated about your noble heart with petty minds." Danzo said expressionlessly, his eye darting around. It clearly lacked sincerity.
"Sorry, Tsunade-chan. We were foolish back then. We don't know if you can forgive us?" Koharu said with a smile tinged with shame. But Tsunade found it disgusting.
"Sorry, Tsunade. Back then, we didn't agree with your plan and even forced you to leave the village. Sigh..." Homura sighed and shook his head, looking as if the past was too painful to recall.
Tsunade, watching these three act of yielding, felt her worldview shattered!
'This is so unbelievable!'
'The sun really did rise from the west!?'
'These Konoha F4 had always flaunted their seniority, relying on their status to act recklessly!'
'They never put other juniors in their eyes!'
'Even for the evil deeds they did, they would never admit they were wrong!'
'But today...'
'They're actually apologizing to me?!'
Tsunade was completely stunned.
Her eyes wide, her face full of incredulity!
Although they didn't seem very sincere, and relying on their seniority, seemed to want to minimize the matter, the mere fact that the Konoha F4 would bow their heads to her was enough to shock Tsunade!
However, expecting Tsunade to forgive them so easily was clearly impossible.
"Do you truly admit you were wrong?" Tsunade asked, her face serious.
"Yes, we were wrong." Koharu said somewhat reluctantly.
"Alright then..." Tsunade turned to look at Hiruzen.
"Can I hit them?"
Facing Tsunade's words, Danzo and the others all tensed up, staring in disbelief.
'Damn!'
'We apologized like this, and you still won't forgive us?'
'We just got beaten, and now you want to beat us too?!'
They turned their heads in unison, looking at Hiruzen with pleading eyes.
But the old and crafty Hiruzen, of course, chose to sell out his teammates.
"You may. Consider it making amends to you, Tsunade." Hiruzen said, taking a puff of his smoke, praying inwardly: 'Endure it for now, for Konoha's future!'
Tsunade immediately clenched her small fists.
She walked up to Danzo.
Danzo struggled to maintain a calm attitude.
He knew how strong Tsunade was.
But he didn't think Tsunade would use her full strength.
It was nothing more than beating him up to vent her anger.
He could still endure it.
But Tsunade had no intention of showing mercy whatsoever.
SMACK!!!
With speed faster than lightning, Tsunade's monstrous strength was fully unleashed!
Takumi, watching from the side, saw it clearly.
If played in slow motion, the moment Tsunade's palm hit Danzo's face, all the skin and muscles on Danzo's face were slapped into distortion!
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
BOOM!!
Danzo's body spun seven thousand two hundred degrees in the air before crashing into the wall and stopping.