Hokage Tower.
Tsunade walked into the office. The two advisors and Shimura Danzo, who had been waiting for a long time, all turned their gazes towards her.
"Don't you forget, he is Uchiha Itachi," Utatane Koharu questioned sternly.
"So?" Tsunade sat down in her seat, crossing her arms. She wanted to see what shocking words these three old geezers would come out with.
"You are the Hokage. You should be aware of the impact on Konoha if that incident were to be exposed," Mitokado Homura also spoke. "And Uchiha Itachi is a firsthand witness to that incident. No one can guarantee he won't speak of it."
"Those who dwell in darkness do not yearn for the light." He paced to the window, looking out at the bustling and peaceful morning street. "To Uchiha Itachi, who bears the darkness, the prosperous Konoha of today is the very light he despises."
"So, you're saying I should have taken the opportunity to kill Uchiha Itachi just now?" Tsunade listened for a while and finally understood what these two old geezers meant.
The two advisors nodded slightly.
SLAM!
"Then where were you just now?!" Tsunade slammed her hands heavily on the table, glaring angrily at the two. "How many enemies were there? What was their strength? Do you even know?"
"A Perfect Susanoo. You probably understand what that signifies better than anyone."
"When you knew your lives were threatened, you hid in your safe houses. Now that the danger has passed, you show up before me, acting all high and mighty with your supposed titles as advisors appointed by the Third Hokage, ordering me around!"
"This is wrong, that's wrong; criticizing this and that!"
"Do you think I wouldn't dare to touch you?"
As Tsunade said this, the atmosphere in the room instantly plummeted to freezing point.
The two advisors exchanged a glance. Utatane Koharu spoke, "Tsunade, we know you're angry. We can pretend we didn't hear what you just said."
"But you must understand, everything we do is for Konoha."
"Never for personal gain."
Hearing this, Tsunade scoffed and simply stared coldly at the two. She finally understood: it was useless to say anything to these parasites; they had completely brainwashed themselves. They had fully immersed themselves in the role of defenders of Konoha's interests.
"Uchiha Sasuke and that unknown ninja can return to Konoha," Shimura Danzo suddenly said. "The Uchiha are, after all, a symbol of Konoha."
"Only Uchiha Itachi cannot. He, who massacred the Uchiha clan, is an enemy of Konoha!"
"This is for Konoha's benefit, and even more so for your benefit."
"Lady Tsunade, don't forget, Hiruzen tacitly approved the matter of the Uchiha clan."
"..." Tsunade ground her teeth.
"For Konoha, a dead Uchiha is the best Uchiha. That's all I have to say. I hope Lady Tsunade will consider it carefully." After speaking, Shimura Danzo stood up and walked out of the room.
Seeing this, Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura knew their objective for this visit had been achieved. They snorted lightly and also left.
But what the three of them didn't know was that the moment the door closed, the stormy expression on Tsunade's face instantly vanished. Her graceful figure leaned back slowly in her chair, fingers tapping lightly on the desk, her eyes flickering as she pondered something unknown.
"You two know each other?" Uchiha Sasuke looked at Naruto and Future Sasuke doubtfully.
How did this guy get involved with my future self? he wondered. He and I were barely acquaintances.
No, even calling them acquaintances was an exaggeration. They were merely strangers who knew each other's names.
"First, I wouldn't have come looking for you. Second, I wouldn't have come looking for the guy lying in bed either," Naruto shrugged slightly. "Eliminate the possibles, and whatever remains, however impossible, becomes the truth."
"Also, good luck, future Sixth Hokage." Remembering Sasuke's earlier declaration, Naruto encouraged him.
Uchiha Sasuke: "..."
For some reason, he felt a bit embarrassed that this guy had heard his vow.
"Is Boruto alright?" Future Sasuke asked.
"Apart from worrying about your safety, he's eating well and sleeping soundly," Naruto said.
"Right!" Future Sasuke seemed to remember something. He instantly appeared in front of Naruto and asked, slightly nervously, "Have you started cultivating a Sage Body?"
Just as Naruto could sense if someone cultivated Yin Release through his Yang Release, Sasuke, with his Rinnegan, could similarly sense if someone cultivated Yang Release.
"Sage Body?" Naruto paused, then immediately thought of how his body cells were constantly being infused with natural energy after entering Sage Mode. Perhaps the Sage Body was the ultimate product of cultivating Sage Mode.
"What's wrong?"
"I want to ask you to heal Itachi," Future Sasuke said.
Naruto turned his head to look at Uchiha Itachi lying on the bed and nodded slightly. "Alright."
After all, Future Sasuke had told him the trajectory of future events. Logically and emotionally, he should help heal this person. Even if this guy had once tried to capture him and extract Kurama from his body.
"His body has lost a significant amount of life force due to prolonged use of the Mangekyo. Even the Fifth Hokage can only treat his superficial wounds, not replenish this deficit," Future Sasuke said.
"I know." Naruto placed his palm on Uchiha Itachi's chest.
"Can he really do it?" Uchiha Sasuke was full of doubt about Naruto's abilities. The one being treated was his beloved older brother. He didn't want his brother's condition to worsen because of some quack doctor. Although Naruto's strength had surpassed his during their Ninja Academy days, he was confident that, having been taught by Orochimaru, one of the Sannin, his current strength had definitely surpassed Naruto's.
"Little Sasuke, haven't seen you in a while. Didn't expect you to get so arrogant," Naruto couldn't help but click his tongue. "If he hadn't asked me to treat this guy, don't even think about it."
"Have you two already clashed?" Future Sasuke's expression flickered slightly. He had almost forgotten that Akatsuki had clashed with the Dragon Heritage organization, and Naruto, as the leader of Dragon Heritage, would certainly have been at the forefront. In a sense, the two were still enemies.
"Clashed? It wasn't that mild," Naruto shook his head. "A while ago, when I was still in the Land of Wind, this guy and Kisame almost cut me down."
Uchiha Sasuke, Future Sasuke: "..."
Did we ask the wrong person?
He wouldn't actually kill Itachi, would he?
Thinking of this, both of them started to panic.
"Itachi was just a spy sent by Konoha to Akatsuki. None of this was his true intention," Future Sasuke quickly said.
"Sorry, I'm a rogue ninja. I don't side with Konoha."
Hiss… Future Sasuke sucked in a cold breath.
"No need to be nervous. Since I promised to heal him, I won't pull any tricks." Naruto slowly withdrew the life energy from his palm and stood up, speaking to Future Sasuke.
"How is he?" Uchiha Sasuke couldn't help but ask.
"He'll be able to get out of bed tomorrow," Naruto estimated.
Future Sasuke observed Itachi's condition and breathed a sigh of relief. Although Naruto's demeanor felt a little off, he was still the same person who kept his word and honored his promises.
"Naruto," Future Sasuke suddenly said, "are you interested in killing someone together?"
"Who? Why?" Naruto looked at him doubtfully. Is this any way to invite someone?
"Shimura Danzo."