"Tsunade-sama, aren't you going back to Konoha?" Shizune asked curiously. Not long ago, Tsunade had said she might return, yet now she was roaming gambling halls again.
"Hmph, don't even mention Konoha. If I go back, I might not be able to stop myself from punching those old geezers to death!"
Tsunade's face darkened with anger. She had spoken with Kushina through the ring terminal, and after learning that Kushina was nearly killed by Root's ninjas, she was so furious that she almost rushed back to Konoha to kill Danzo herself.
Kushina was practically her only close relative left in the shinobi world. When Kushina was little, she lived in the Senju clan's compound—just like Nawaki—making her akin to Tsunade's little sister.
And yet she was almost murdered by Root. If it hadn't been for the Curse Mark Sage Mode and Hyuga Mirai's timely arrival, Kushina would have died at her own son's hands.
Danzo's method of controlling the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki utterly disgusted her. If it weren't for Hyuga Mirai stopping her and asking her to wait until the ANBU came to request her return, Tsunade would've already killed Danzo.
"But we're out of money now... and it's not really right to keep spending Mirai-kun's," Shizune murmured.
"What's wrong with it?" Tsunade replied confidently. "Shizune, you're saying that because you don't know how much money he actually has. Besides, I belong to him now—shouldn't a subordinate's expenses be covered by her superior?"
Shizune didn't understand Hyuga Mirai's business empire, but Tsunade knew very well. Losing even tens of billions was nothing to him. Just slightly raising the price of his medicines would bring in hundreds of billions in no time.
"How is that in any way reasonable…" Shizune muttered. She could never win against Tsunade's twisted logic. But since Tsunade clearly had her own plans, Shizune knew it wasn't her place to argue.
"Tsunade-sama, where are we going next?"
"To the hot springs, Shizune. This time, no surprises. After the bath, we'll visit Otogakure in the Land of Rice Fields. I want to see what Orochimaru is up to. He's always so secretive with his research—he must be doing something shady."
Tsunade clicked her tongue in annoyance at the mention of Orochimaru. She had some idea of what his research involved, and that was precisely why she disliked it.
Once they arrived in Otogakure, she intended to extort him properly.
Back in Konoha, the Uchiha clan's departure had sent shockwaves through the village. Especially the heavy losses suffered by both ANBU and Root severely weakened the Hokage's direct forces.
Only about thirty ANBU remained, and Root had similar numbers. Although Danzo didn't report specific casualties, every ninja Hyuga Mirai killed during his departure belonged to Root.
Yet even as Mirai slaughtered his men, Danzo remained indifferent, his expression unmoved.
Afterward, many ninja clans murmured among themselves that perhaps the title "Shinobi Hero" belonged more to Danzo than anyone else.
The current ANBU captain, eldest son of Hiruzen Sarutobi, frowned upon receiving the latest orders from the frontlines.
ANBU was woefully understaffed. Forget finding Tsunade—they didn't even have enough manpower to restrict Koharu, Danzo, or Root. Even internal patrols had been handed over to other task squads.
"So that's how it is…"
Upon opening another scroll marked with the Sarutobi clan crest, Sarutobi Shinnosuke understood where ANBU could find reinforcements.
Taking the scroll, he went straight to the Sarutobi clan compound and convened a meeting in his father's name.
He asked the elders to dispatch fifty clan ninjas to bolster ANBU and sustain its operations.
"Fifty? Shinnosuke, isn't that a bit too many?" one elder asked hesitantly. The Sarutobi clan had grown stronger in recent years, but they only had about three hundred ninja. Sending out that many at once would be a serious blow to their strength.
"It's not too many," Shinnosuke said firmly. "Father is stuck on the frontlines. We must bring Tsunade back to become the Fifth Hokage. Rather than waiting for her to rebuild ANBU, we should have it ready when she returns. That way, our clan's influence won't decline when Father retires."
As ANBU captain and son of the Third Hokage, Shinnosuke held considerable authority in the Sarutobi clan.
"Hurry and prepare the personnel. Once they're assigned, I'll move to restrict the powers of the village advisors and Root. If you have any foresight, you'll send even more people—this is a prime chance for the Sarutobi clan to expand its influence."
With that, Shinnosuke ended the meeting.
Though Hiruzen's message had been vague, years of interpreting such letters let Shinnosuke understand his father's intent.
No matter what, the loss of the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki was something Hiruzen had to take responsibility for. Nara Shikaku's claim that Hiruzen was pinned at the frontlines was just a way to save face. Even without the Sand Federation's involvement, he would've had to step down soon.
Once Hiruzen resigned, the Sarutobi clan's growth would stagnate—unless they seized the political vacuum before Tsunade returned.
Finding Tsunade was now a top priority, with the Ino-Shika-Cho trio, Inuzuka, and Aburame clans all pushing ANBU to act. Even if Shinnosuke wanted to stall, he couldn't.
While the Sarutobi clan scrambled, unrest was also brewing within the Hyuga clan.
It had been three or four days since the Uchiha incident, but the atmosphere within the Hyuga clan was only growing more tense.
Hyuga Mirai's final words before leaving had struck the branch family hard.
"This generation is beyond saving?!"
That one line pierced the hearts of every branch member. Some tried to rationalize—after all, the main family didn't have the Caged Bird Seal either, and their Byakugan wasn't as powerful as Mirai's. But others shot back with the legend of Ten'nin Hyuga.
The true name of Ten'nin Hyuga had been lost, but he was revered as the strongest ninja of his time—a near-mythical ancestor.
Why he was so powerful remained a mystery, passed down only in the clan's oral history.
But now, with Mirai's abilities, it seemed another Ten'nin had appeared—one who may have uncovered the Byakugan's hidden secrets.
For several days, the branch members openly gathered in large numbers to discuss the matter—not in secret, but boldly. Had Kiyo Hyuga not been away at the frontlines, they would've sought her counsel immediately.
Among all the main family, only Kiyo Hyuga commanded universal respect.
The branch might distrust others, but Kiyo's strength and decisiveness left no room for criticism. Even those she punished held no grudges.
In her absence, the branch was like a headless snake—ready to act, united in thought, but lacking the courage to speak out.
Their large gatherings alarmed the main family, who called a meeting to explain Mirai's words.
"As I've said," began the second elder, "that traitor was trying to sow discord in our thousand-year-old unity. If you believe him, it will destroy the Hyuga clan."
He claimed there were no secrets behind the Byakugan—that the main and branch families had identical eyes, with the Caged Bird Seal merely a safeguard.
But despite the third elder's long-winded explanations, the branch members remained calm and unconvinced. Some still looked on with doubt.
"You still don't believe me? The Hyuga clan has endured nearly a thousand years thanks to the Caged Bird Seal!"
"Second Elder, what about Hyuga Mirai's eyes?"
A branch member suddenly spoke. What they wanted was the truth: Why could Mirai's Byakugan shift to bright blue pupils and back again?
Was the Caged Bird Seal really a safeguard—or a shackle?
The second elder flared up. "How should I know what's going on with his eyes?! He's a traitor! Are you really taking his words seriously?"
"But the facts are right before our eyes…"
"Facts? That's just a trick—genjutsu meant to deceive you and divide us!"
"A trick? Then why is the Hokage Rock still in ruins…"
"Hyuga Kenta! Are you trying to follow a traitor? Are you going to betray the Hyuga clan?!"
Furious from being questioned, the second elder, Hyuga Sōun, began forming the Caged Bird Seal to make an example of Kenta.
But the branch members saw the hand seals and erupted in even greater fury.
Again with the Caged Bird Seal!
This so-called safeguard was nothing more than a tool of torment.
"Second Elder, what is the meaning of this?!"
"Kenta only asked a question. What did he do wrong? Didn't you call us here to explain?!"
"The Fourth Elder would never use the Caged Bird Seal like this. Why are you so eager to punish Kenta?!"
One by one, the branch protectors stood up, Byakugan activated, veins bulging, eyes fixed on the second elder.
Kenta had been terrified at first—but seeing his comrades defend him filled him with courage.
He stepped forward, activated his Byakugan, and stared down the elder.
"Second Elder, if you're going to use the Caged Bird Seal on me just for speaking, then I will die unyielding. You are not even the equal of Elder Kiyo!"
"You insolent brat!"
Enraged, Hyuga Sōun prepared to strike. He might have tolerated other insults, but comparing him unfavorably to Kiyo Hyuga was too much.
If you want to die, then—
"Enough!" Hyuga Hiashi roared. "This is a clan meeting! Have you all forgotten who the clan head is?!"
(End of Chapter)