"Lady Tsunade!"
Not long after Hinata Haruki had left, a guard entered the medical tent, holding a stack of files."The information you asked me to find this morning, I've brought it. These are the complete records on Hinata Haruki." The guard handed over the documents and withdrew.
Tsunade had spent the previous day with Dan Katō and hadn't returned to her own quarters. Early this morning, she'd called one of her ANBU guards and ordered him to track down Haruki's file. Now, at last, the guard had brought it.
She flipped it open, and the first page bore the bold characters: Chūnin.
Tsunade gave a faint, wry smile. If the ANBU had brought me this file earlier, maybe I could have understood Haruki a little better… maybe I could have apologized and cleared up the misunderstanding. Then he might not have turned me down…
No mention of his medical skills. Looks like the kid never got the chance to show them in the village… or maybe he deliberately hid them…Pressure point strikes with that kind of effect? I'd love to discuss medical techniques with him… His body resisted the Caged Bird Seal? Could that be due to Senju bloodline traits? … His flak jacket was specially tailored by Konoha? And he even improved it himself? I thought he'd just imitated a standard Chūnin jacket…
Haa… did I really just drive away such a promising student?
Closing the file, Tsunade made up her mind. She would find Haruki, explain the misunderstanding, apologize properly, and formally take him as her apprentice — and then announce his identity to everyone. She had no shortage of pride, but she wasn't too proud for that.
Tsunade headed for the logistics division.
Haruki spotted her approaching, his expression puzzled, his tone cool."Lady Tsunade. Is there something you need from me?"
"Mm? This is one of your shadow clones from this morning, isn't it?" Tsunade guessed from his demeanor.
"Yes. I'm a shadow clone," Haruki confirmed flatly.
"And your real body?" Tsunade pressed. This clone had been created in the morning and wouldn't carry the memory of him refusing her.
"He went to the hospital to visit Teacher Dan Katō. If not there, then he's training."Even though the clone disliked Tsunade, it still told her where the original was.
Haruki himself was walking slowly toward his training ground. He'd just turned Tsunade down flat, cutting their master–disciple relationship in name and in spirit.
To him, that was fine — it was about defending his dignity and venting his frustration. He could always discuss apprenticeship with the Third Hokage later. The less he had to do with Tsunade, the better. Each would walk their own path.
The only downside was that he no longer had anyone to teach him medical ninjutsu… but that was a problem for another time. For now, he'd focus on training in other areas.
As he entered the small grove where he usually trained, he suddenly stopped. He turned his head toward a tree not far away, Byakugan already activated.
"Come out," he said evenly. "Or I'll make you."
Chakra quietly built in his palms — if whoever was hiding up there was an enemy, he'd have no hesitation in unleashing Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm.
"Chūnin Hinata Haruki, please don't attack. I mean you no harm."
A masked figure in ANBU combat gear flipped down from the treetop. The mask was decorated with striped markings, almost like a traditional face pattern.
"ANBU?" Haruki asked, his suspicion easing only slightly as he released his gathered chakra.
"More precisely, the ANBU Special Tactical Unit," the man explained.
"Special Tactical Unit? And what business do you have with me?" Haruki asked calmly, though inwardly he was on alert. Special Tactical Unit… heh, that's just 'Root,' isn't it? What does Danzō want with me?
Haruki's impression of Shimura Danzō was anything but good — a man ruthless, cold-blooded, and manipulative by nature. The perfect spymaster… and exactly the kind of person Haruki had no interest in dealing with.
Meanwhile, Tsunade, following the directions given by Haruki's shadow clone, arrived and happened to overhear voices ahead.
Hm? Who's Haruki talking to? She quietly moved closer and concealed herself to listen in.
"Chūnin Hinata Haruki," the masked man said bluntly, "Lord Danzō greatly admires you. He hopes you'll join the ANBU Special Tactical Unit."
Tsunade's eyes widened slightly. Special Tactical Unit? Danzō's men? What's he doing seeking out Haruki?
She knew well that Danzō was one of the Third Hokage's oldest rivals — their ideals had clashed for over twenty years. As the Third's student and the First Hokage's granddaughter, Tsunade naturally rejected Danzō's ideology.
"Admires me? Why?" Haruki asked aloud, while thinking privately, So Danzō has his eye on me. Does he want me in Root? Or is it my Byakugan he's after? But my Byakugan is practically useless right now — I can only maintain it for twenty-five minutes. And with the Caged Bird Seal, he can't get his hands on it anyway.
Danzō's "collection hobby" for ocular techniques was infamous, but Haruki quickly dismissed that motive.
"Hyu— Hinata Haruki," the man continued, "Lord Danzō has been watching you from the shadows. You have remarkable potential — strong combat skills for your age, and medical expertise that is truly exceptional. You've continually impressed him. Just because Lady Tsunade doesn't know about your miraculous work at the field hospital doesn't mean Lord Danzō doesn't! He needs talented people like you."
Haruki inwardly sighed. So they don't know I just fell out with Tsunade today. Turns out they've been after my medical skills all along… Their intel network must be huge — probably started tracking me right after the Chūnin Exams.
"Thanks for the compliment, but I've already… well, I had a master," Haruki said, only now remembering that he and Tsunade had just severed ties. Once I'm back in the village, I might as well just ask the Third to take me as his student. Not like I need him to teach me — just give me access to the resources and I'll teach myself.
"Everyone knows Tsunade is your teacher," the man pressed, "but how has she treated you? She sent you to do menial work in logistics, and for months she hasn't checked on you. You're a genius — does she deserve to be your master?"
Listening from the shadows, Tsunade clenched her fists. She couldn't deny it — she really had given him nothing so far. But I wanted to teach him everything I know… I have to clear this up with him quickly.
Haruki didn't bother to refute it. Tsunade had indeed disappointed him… but Danzō was no better in his eyes.
"If she hasn't given you what you need, why stay under her? She can't make proper use of your talents — but Lord Danzō can. He can give you the most complete medical-ninjutsu archives in all of Konoha, even research from other villages…"
"And that's not all," the man continued, "He can provide you with the best training conditions, sparring partners, and instructors. He values you highly and wants to cultivate your abilities. With his support, your skills will skyrocket."
Haruki tilted his head. "And what about Tsunade? If I choose Lord Danzō, that's turning my back on her."
He wanted to see just how much influence Danzō had in the village — and how he planned to handle the fallout of breaking with Tsunade, especially since the whole village knew him as her apprentice.
Hearing that, Tsunade felt a chill in her chest. Is he tempted? He doesn't have a master now, so taking Danzō wouldn't be impossible… but does he really have to make it a deal like this? Would he betray his principles for advantage?
The masked man laid it out plainly: "Lady Tsunade's ambush plan failed, and the Hokage's advisory council already knows. Lord Danzō will take the lead in calling for her removal as field commander, stripping her of her authority. At the same time, he'll tell everyone that she's neglected you, and request to replace her as your master. The Third Hokage will likely compromise to protect her position — but he'll insist you must agree yourself."
"When the time comes, you step forward, state the truth, and choose Danzō openly. You make sure everyone knows Tsunade sent you to do grunt work. No one will call you a traitor — the moral high ground will be yours. You'll have your revenge."
It was a classic open-scheme — a "righteous" plot no one could call underhanded.
"Oh? Put that way, Lord Danzō's plan is impressive," Haruki said with a slight smile, thinking, As expected of Danzō — cunning and calculated. This hits Tsunade, weakens the Hokage's faction, and even if she isn't removed, he can still claim me as a disciple and use me against her. One move, three gains.
Tsunade's stomach tightened. So this old fox really plans to go that far… Haruki, even if you won't be my student, I'll make sure the village knows it's my fault, not yours. Lord Third has treated you well — you can't do this.
But she didn't rush in. They hadn't committed any crime, and breaking up this conversation would only tip them off that she knew the plan — likely pushing Haruki toward Danzō. Better to hear his decision.
The man reached out his hand. "So, Hinata Haruki… become Lord Danzō's personal disciple. Walk his path. Change the village, change the Land of Fire, change the world. Achieve greatness."
Haruki could see the sincerity in the recruitment attempt. Under Danzō, he could indeed learn Konoha's medical techniques — and gain access to research from other villages. Wasn't that exactly what he wanted?
Then came the killer offer: "Lord Danzō also says… the Caged Bird Seal is not impossible to remove. And he will fully support you in becoming the next head of the Hyūga clan. One day, the clan would be yours to command."
That made Haruki freeze — then he smiled faintly. "I have to admit, Lord Danzō is a skilled negotiator. Those are tempting terms."
No wonder Root can gather so many capable shinobi… he probably offers irresistible deals to those frustrated within their clans. Of course, if I became clan head under his backing, I'd be his man — and the Hyūga clan would, in effect, be under his control. He never makes a move without profit.
From her hiding place, Tsunade felt a pang of sadness. The boy's decided… Who could refuse such terms? But this path would betray everyone who's trusted him — Lord Third, Dan, the Hyūga… Can he really do that?
"So… Hinata Haruki. Your decision?"
"This is too important to decide on the spot. I'll need time to think," Haruki replied after a pause.
"Fair enough. Consider Lord Danzō's offer carefully. When you've decided, I'll come find you."
With that, the man flickered away into the forest.
Haruki thought for a moment, a sly smile tugging at his lips, then stepped deeper into the grove to begin his daily training.
Tsunade silently watched him disappear among the trees, her expression complicated. She hadn't expected that the moment he turned her down, Danzō's people would swoop in — with such an offer, no less.
He was tempted. Maybe ready to betray the Hokage's faction entirely…
I can't let Danzō succeed.
"You don't want to be my student? Fine — but even if you're not, I won't sit by and watch you walk the wrong path. That wretched Danzō… making such underhanded deals in secret. I won't let my 'student' be led astray."
She clenched her fist tightly, gazing toward where Haruki had gone, her resolve firm.