"I shouldn't have listened to other people's lies." In a desperate attempt to deflect, the Third Hokage tried to pass the blame, hoping to minimize the damage.
"Also, I've already stripped Koharu and Homura of their duties. They've done a lot of things that were detrimental to the village recently, and I think they need time to reflect."
Tsunade was genuinely surprised to hear this. Koharu and Homura being stripped of their powers was something only a few people knew about, and she certainly hadn't expected it.
There had to be something more to it. The Third Hokage wouldn't just remove them from power for no reason while allowing them to keep their positions as elders and advisors.
But this was good news. It saved her the trouble of fighting them for it and getting into a heated argument.
Tsunade, who had barely slept while mulling things over all night, had finally decided to take Xin's advice. Whether it was for Xin, for herself, for Nawaki, or for the village's future, she had to step up and fight for what was right.
Her original intention was to let them handle things gracefully. But since they had shown no shame, she had no choice but to handle it herself.
As Xin put it, "I'm tired of this. I'm done playing their games, so I'm joining in." If it came down to it, they could all suffer together and see who would end up worse off.
"Well, that's wonderful," Tsunade said with a smile, her serious demeanor lightening. Seeing this, the Third Hokage breathed a sigh of relief.
As long as Tsunade's expression had softened, he felt hopeful. Whether she was angry or happy, it was better than the cold, expressionless stare she'd been giving him earlier. That stare had unnerved him, making him feel like something bad was about to happen.
And soon, his instincts proved correct.
The moment Tsunade learned that Koharu and Homura had been stripped of their power, she lit up with joy.
Maybe it was only temporary, and perhaps they'd eventually get their power back. But did Tsunade care? Absolutely not. She only cared that positions were now available, and there was no reason for the Third Hokage to hesitate.
Pulling up a chair, Tsunade sat down in front of the Hokage's desk.
"Sensei, I've made up my mind. Instead of wasting my time in a haze, I might as well do something beneficial for the village. Let me take over the Finance Department. Don't worry- I won't use public funds to gamble."
Crash!