Yakushi Kabuto didn't realize it was never "his own fault" until he was caught in Izanami.
He believed it was because he couldn't earn enough money that forced the director to compromise under Danzo's threats.
He believed it was because he was too naive—too quick to trust Danzo—that the tragedy of killing the director with his own hands happened.
He believed it was because his intelligence wasn't complete enough that he lost to Uchiha Itachi.
From beginning to end, he never understood that he had been handed an opportunity—an opportunity to drag Konoha to its death, and make the entire Land of Fire bury itself with him.
Shinobi were people—and people had selfish desires.
For example, Kurenai's father would teach his daughter not to rush too far forward, to learn to lie low and stay alive.
Maybe that alone wouldn't be fatal—but don't forget, the ninja world wasn't peaceful. Any internal rot could become the final straw that breaks the camel's back.
"That damn Danzo! How can he be this stupid?"
"Has he been rotting in the gutter for so long that his brain went bad? And that old man too—something this huge, and he never heard a word about it from start to finish!"
Tsunade cursed under her breath, pacing back and forth inside the wooden cabin. She was truly anxious now.
She had to stop this—but she lacked a proper reason to intervene.
Just as Tsunade was racking her brain, a voice came from outside the cabin. "Tsunade-sama, you have a letter."
"Come in."
"This was delivered from the village. It's signed Yakushi Nonō."
Tsunade's eyes lit up. She immediately took the letter.
In it, Nonō reported Kiyonari's learning progress in detail: he had fully mastered the Mystical Palm Technique.
[——As a teacher, I believe he already has the ability to become a qualified medical ninja. Therefore, my commission has been completed successfully, and I have not failed Tsunade-sama's trust.]
After reading, a spark flashed in Tsunade's mind.
Got it!
She strode out of the cabin and ordered the guard on duty, "Go get Shisui."
"Yes!"
Before long, Uchiha Shisui arrived and knelt on one knee. "Tsunade-sama, you called for me?"
"Get up. No need to be so formal." Tsunade waved it off. "I need you to return to the village immediately and bring my student Hyuga Kiyonari here."
"Understood. I'll depart at once."
"Wait." Tsunade stopped him just as he turned to leave. "Shisui—Kiyonari is extremely important to me. You must—absolutely—protect his safety."
"Understood." Shisui nodded solemnly.
But Tsunade still felt uneasy and called again, "Wait!"
She hesitated for a long time, then finally took a deep breath. "Shisui, you've been with this border force for more than a year. You should be able to see what this unit means to Konoha—especially to the Uchiha clan, right?"
Shisui nodded with heartfelt gratitude. "I will never forget Tsunade-sama's kindness."
Tsunade leaned forward slightly, her expression grave. "What I'm about to say must not reach a third person's ears. Not even in front of the old man. You must not let a single word slip."
Shisui's body jolted. He knew "the old man" meant the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen.
"I swear. What is said today will never be spoken outside."
"Tsunade-sama formed this unit, giving the Uchiha and the village the chance to communicate again, to build new bonds—this kindness, I acknowledge only Tsunade-sama alone."
Tsunade sighed. "I understand your sincerity, but… what you don't know is that the one who proposed this plan, the one who saved your Uchiha clan, wasn't me."
Her tone was complicated. Even after a year of working together, Shisui had earned her trust—
But anything that might add risk to Kiyonari still triggered an instinctive resistance in her.
Those words hit Shisui like thunder on a clear day. He snapped his head up, eyes wide, and the violent surge of emotion even drew out his Mangekyō Sharingan.
"Not… Tsunade-sama?"
Shisui's thoughts spun wildly, trying to figure out who that benefactor could be.
brainstorm.jpg
To turn Kumogakure's threat into a chance to resolve the conflict between the Uchiha and the village—someone like that had to possess extraordinary wisdom.
Could it be the Third Hokage?
No. If it were the Hokage's suggestion, Tsunade wouldn't have ordered Shisui to keep it secret.
A high-ranking Anbu?
Unlikely. Anbu might know many things, but they didn't necessarily have that kind of long-term political vision.
Or… some hidden strategist behind the scenes—Nara Shikaku?
But Ino–Shika–Chō clans traditionally avoided political struggles, and they had no ties with the Uchiha. There was no reason to take such a risk just to pull the Uchiha back up.
As Shisui's mind ran in circles, Tsunade slowly spoke a name he never expected.
"It was Kiyonari."
"What?!"
At that moment, even "Shisui of the Body Flicker" couldn't keep his inner waters still. He froze completely—his brain outright crashed.
Kiyonari? Hyuga Kiyonari?
How was that possible?!
"Tsunade-sama… you mean—Hyuga Kiyonari?" Shisui forced the words out, voice going off-key. "But he—he's only—"
"Only a few years old, right?" Tsunade took over, her expression complicated. "But it really was his idea."
"The reorganization proposal for this unit, and the suggestion that you serve as my deputy—those were all Kiyonari's ideas. I have no reason to lie to you—"
Each line hit harder than the last. Shisui's mind went nearly blank; he couldn't even properly process what she was saying.
The first time he'd heard the name "Hyuga Kiyonari" was from Uchiha Itachi. But Itachi had only offered a brief praise—that Kiyonari was unusual, not bound by clan gain or personal profit.
Only when Shisui finally came back to himself did Tsunade continue.
"So, Shisui—you understand now."
"Rather than saying Kiyonari is my student, it's more accurate to say we are the ones who need to learn from him. His existence is, for Konoha—no, for the entire ninja world—an irreplaceable treasure. That's why I've emphasized again and again: you must protect him."
"…Understood," Shisui said, bowing deeply.
"Tsunade-sama, what you told me today—Shisui will take it to the grave. And as for Kiyonari-kun's consideration of the Uchiha clan… I, Uchiha Shisui, will never forget it. Anyone who tries to harm Kiyonari-kun will have to step over my corpse first."
A faint satisfaction passed across Tsunade's face. "It doesn't need to go that far. I already gave him a way to survive. If real danger comes, you only need to buy a moment of time."
"And one more thing: if you treat him with too much reverence, you might attract the attention of people with ulterior motives. Some things are enough to remember in your heart."
"Understood." Shisui nodded at once.
"Then go." Tsunade waved her hand. "Be careful on the road."
~~~
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