Chapter 18: Your Regret, My Shadow
Hokage's Office
Not long after Uchiha Kazuki departed, another visitor entered the Hokage's office.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
A wooden cane struck the floor rhythmically, producing dull, ominous sounds.
Hearing the distinctive footsteps, the Third Hokage didn't even bother looking up. He continued processing the mountain of documents before him, having clearly known the visitor's identity all along. His tone carried unmistakable impatience. "Danzo, what brings you here? If this is about the Uchiha situation, I've already given you my answer."
"Hiruzen, you've been far too careless."
The visitor was indeed Shimura Danzo, his expression grim, his voice hoarse and threatening. "What happened at the Uchiha compound last night is definitely not as simple as it appears!"
The pen paused mid-stroke on the documents. The Third Hokage slowly raised his head, his eyes filled with cold indifference. "And your point is?"
"Hand that Uchiha brat over to me!" Danzo's face was icy, his tone chilling as the winter wind. "I guarantee I'll extract every secret he's hiding!"
"Absolutely not."
The Third Hokage snorted angrily, directly rejecting the suggestion without hesitation. "You're trying to create internal strife within Konoha! I will not allow you to do that, Danzo!"
"Hiruzen, you're far too naive!" Danzo roared furiously. "The Uchiha clan is a ticking time bomb waiting to explode. Even our teacher, Lord Second, believed this! It's because of your weakness that they've become so arrogant. That Uchiha brat's genjutsu abilities must be hiding some crucial secret!"
"I'll say this one final time, Danzo!"
The atmosphere had become so tense that the Third Hokage simply abandoned all pretense of their old friendship. "You are not to interfere in this matter. I will handle Uchiha Kazuki's situation personally!"
Danzo gritted his teeth in frustration, but ultimately had no choice. He spat out venomously, "You'll regret this decision, Hiruzen!"
"Danzo... I am the Hokage!"
The Third Hokage's voice was cold as steel.
"Hmph! Fine!"
Danzo stood speechless, swallowing his rage. He turned and slammed the door violently as he departed, the sound echoing through the corridor like a gunshot.
The Village Gates
Meanwhile, Uchiha Kazuki had arrived at Konoha's main gates. After looking around for quite some time, he couldn't locate the person the Hokage had mentioned would accompany him.
Could the old man have forgotten?
He scratched his head in confusion, though he immediately dismissed the thought. Who in all of Konoha would dare disobey a direct order from the Hokage?
Just as this thought crossed his mind, he suddenly caught a glimpse of something—or rather, someone—approaching.
"Yo, kid!"
Before Kazuki could react, his head was suddenly pressed downward and shoved into soft, pillowy—
Oh no.
Although the sensation was undeniably soft and accompanied by a pleasant, refreshing fragrance that stirred something primal within him, the mature feminine allure was somewhat overshadowed by a more pressing concern.
He was about to suffocate!
Kazuki struggled desperately to escape from the 'deadly embrace,' finally breaking free and gasping for precious air. "That was... way too close! I almost died!"
"Ahahahaha! You're so cute, kid!"
A familiar female voice rang out, carrying a playful, teasing quality.
"Lady Tsunade, please be mindful of your behavior," Kazuki said with practiced indifference, taking a deliberate half-step backward to avoid being 'suffocated' again. He added pointedly, "Besides, you shouldn't address me by name. My current identity is ANBU. You should use my code name—Owl."
Although ANBU identities were supposedly highly classified, that restriction only applied to ordinary shinobi.
It wasn't surprising that direct associates of the Hokage, like the Legendary Sannin, would know his true identity behind the mask.
"Sorry, sorry! Old habits die hard."
Tsunade patted her ample chest heartily—causing it to bounce rather dramatically—and grinned without a trace of shame. "I'll definitely be more careful next time. Promise!"
Although she was a woman, her bold personality was no less audacious than any man's. Truly worthy of being called the Queen of the Sannin, Kazuki thought with grudging admiration before deliberately changing the subject. "Lady Tsunade, at this hour, shouldn't you be at Konoha Hospital? What brings you to the village gates?"
"Hmm, why don't you guess?"
Tsunade's beautiful honey-colored eyes flickered with mischief. Her slender, delicate fingers lightly touched her red lips as she tilted her head slightly, smiling with devastating playfulness.
Even as someone who considered himself a detached observer of events, Kazuki had to admit that a woman radiating such mature charm—with a voluptuous figure and undeniable beauty—making such a gesture was incredibly alluring. The sheer feminine energy was practically overwhelming.
Focus. Appreciate the aesthetics, but maintain professionalism.
Suppressing the agitated thoughts that threatened to surface, Kazuki replied with carefully maintained expressionlessness. "Lady Tsunade, I'm currently on an official mission."
"Tsk, what a boring brat."
Tsunade curled her lip and rolled her eyes dramatically. "Fine, fine. I won't tease you anymore. The old man sent me as your backup. Now do you understand?"
"..."
Uchiha Kazuki had never felt so utterly speechless in both his lives.
Has Hiruzen Sarutobi's brain been crushed by his stupid crystal ball?! Sending TSUNADE to assist me on this mission?!
Was this really assistance, or was he being forced to babysit a walking disaster?!
Just thinking about Tsunade—who was somehow even less reliable than Jiraiya, and who suffered from severe hemophobia—gave him an instant headache.
"What?! You got a problem with that?!"
Seeing the young ANBU operative remain silent for so long, Tsunade's temper flared. She delivered a light punch to his masked head. "I'm one of the Legendary Sannin! Do you have any idea what that title means?! I, Tsunade Senju, Princess of Konoha and member of the Legendary Sannin, am willing to accompany you on your mission! You should feel honored, you little brat!"
The punch was relatively light—more warning than actual violence—but Kazuki's lips still twitched beneath his mask. "It's truly an... 'honor'... to undertake a mission with you, Lady Tsunade."
"Hmph! That's more like it."
Tsunade crossed her arms beneath her chest, seemingly completely oblivious to the heavy sarcasm he'd layered into that statement.
Kazuki remained silent, feeling genuinely melancholic.
If it were anyone else, I could find a way to slip away from them during the mission. But not Tsunade. If I let her get separated from me and she encounters enemy shinobi while her hemophobia acts up, she'd be completely defenseless.
Not only did he have to complete an already dangerous S-rank mission, but he also had to protect Tsunade from herself.
Isn't this basically an SS-rank assignment at this point?
The Truth Behind the Scroll
"Don't think for a second that the old man sent me along just so you could babysit me."
After the playful banter subsided, Tsunade's demeanor shifted—becoming more serious and professional. Having apparently guessed his thoughts with uncanny accuracy, she spoke with meaningful weight. "The dangerous individuals recorded in that ancient scroll were primarily sealed away by the Uchiha and Senju clans working together."
She paused deliberately, her expression growing grave.
"There's something else the old man conveniently didn't mention to you."
After delivering that ominous statement, she deliberately paused again—clearly waiting for the young operative to show proper curiosity. When his body language shifted with interest, she continued with obvious satisfaction. "A very small portion of those sealed entities... are members of the Uchiha and Senju clans themselves."
"Members of the Uchiha and Senju clans were sealed?!"
This revelation genuinely shocked Kazuki. The scroll contained far bigger secrets than he'd anticipated—this changed everything.
"So now do you understand, Uchiha brat?"
Tsunade smirked, flicking the boy's forehead lightly through his mask. Her sexy red lips curved into a knowing smile. "There's more good news, by the way. Thanks to your psychological treatment sessions, my hemophobia has improved considerably."
"Oh? That's an unexpected pleasant surprise!"
Kazuki's entire demeanor brightened noticeably—this was genuinely excellent news.
"So stop worrying about protecting me."
Tsunade revealed her former legendary pride, patting her chest confidently and promising with absolute conviction, "On this mission, I'll be the one protecting you!"
Deep Within the Unknown Cave
In the darkness of a hidden underground cavern, far from the light of civilization, the frail and elderly Uchiha Madara clung to life with the aid of extensive medical equipment. His breathing was barely audible—shallow and labored.
The once-mighty legendary warrior who could single-handedly challenge the entire shinobi world had been reduced to little more than a living skeleton, his body sustained only by the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path and countless IV lines feeding directly into his withered veins.
Suddenly, his eyes slowly opened, a barely perceptible trace of weariness flashing across ancient Sharingan that had witnessed the rise and fall of entire eras.
"Black Zetsu... you've returned."
A dark figure crawled pathetically into the cave, but its appearance was absolutely miserable—only half of its body remained intact. It raised its pitiful face with an expression of profound grievance.
"Lord Madara... it's me! I've come back!" The creature's voice actually cracked with emotion, as if on the verge of tears.
Looking at the utterly wretched state of Black Zetsu—who had left the cave whole and returned in pieces—even Madara's eyes twitched involuntarily. He remained silent for an extended moment before finally asking with strained patience, "What... happened to you?"
Wasn't I supposed to have sent Black Zetsu to Konoha simply to observe my potential successor?
Such a simple reconnaissance task, requiring absolutely no combat whatsoever—how did this incompetent fool end up in THIS condition?!
"Lord Madara, it happened like this..."
Black Zetsu proceeded to recount the entire disastrous sequence of events—though he naturally embellished certain details to make himself appear less incompetent and more the victim of impossibly bad luck.
"..."
After listening to the complete account, even the world-weary and extensively experienced Uchiha Madara found himself momentarily speechless.
To be THIS catastrophically unlucky... Black Zetsu has truly achieved something remarkable!
The ancient Uchiha could only shake his head slowly, wondering—not for the first time—whether his plan for the Moon's Eye Plan would actually survive contact with reality.
Or whether his chosen agents would manage to bungle everything before it even began.
[End of Chapter 18]
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