Chapter 45: The Fallout
On the other side, after Tsunade was released from the genjutsu and learned Tenchi had been imprisoned, she, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru rushed straight to Hiruzen Sarutobi's office.
"Oh, Tsunade, Jiraiya, Orochimaru. You're back," Hiruzen said with a warm smile as the three burst into his office. "How was your first long-distance mission? Are you settling in well?"
"Cut the pleasantries, old man!" Tsunade snapped, her voice sharp with anger. "We're here for answers! Why was Tenchi arrested and thrown in prison? You need to give us a reasonable explanation, today!"
"Look at this," Hiruzen said, his smile fading as he considered Tsunade. He handed her a sealed file. If anyone else had demanded this, he would have refused. But Tsunade was different—the granddaughter of two Hokage and the Princess of the Land of Fire. Her words carried weight. "Then you'll understand."
"I'll see what excuse you have!" Tsunade snatched the folder, tore it open, and pulled out the documents inside. Her eyes scanned the page.
"Impossible... This can't be! Tenchi was with us! How could he have gone to the Land of Earth? This is impossible! This is fake!" Tsunade threw the documents to the floor, her face a mask of confusion, disbelief, and denial.
Orochimaru and Jiraiya, puzzled by her reaction, picked up the fallen papers and read them.
"This... this can't be right," Orochimaru whispered, his face mirroring Tsunade's shock.
"Now you see why he was arrested," Hiruzen said gravely. "Attacking the Land of Earth without authorization. Interfering with the peace. Deliberately provoking a war. Do you understand how serious these charges are?"
"Sarutobi-sensei, is this information confirmed?" Orochimaru asked, ever the analyst. "Could it be a fake? A frame-up by an enemy?"
"Yeah! It must be a setup!" Jiraiya agreed fervently.
"Impossible," Hiruzen stated flatly. "This came directly from the Tsuchikage himself. I've also sent my own agents to verify it. There was indeed a Konoha ninja named Uchiha Tenchi who attacked Iwagakure in the Land of Earth." His words shattered their last shred of hope.
What they didn't know was that the news had already spread across the ninja world. A Konoha ninja had single-handedly attacked a Great Ninja Village. The story was impossible to contain, and for a time, the Land of Earth became the laughingstock of the entire shinobi world.
***
"Damn it! It leaked! When I find out who talked, I'll make them wish they were dead!" Ōnoki roared in his office, hurling a teacup against the wall in a fit of rage.
"This can't continue! If the Land of Earth shows weakness, the other great villages will seize the opportunity to pounce. What do we do?"
"Fine!" he snarled, an idea forming. "Someone! Relay my orders! Find the minor countries near our borders that are mocking us and crush them! And send another demand to Konoha! I want a satisfactory answer, now!" He issued the commands to his subordinates, his voice trembling with fury.
*'This should be enough to show our strength,'* he thought, trying to calm himself. *'I hope the other major villages don't try anything. If another great war breaks out now, with our losses, Iwagakure could be reduced to a minor village.'*
"This is all Konoha's fault! Damn Konoha ninja! Damn Uchiha Tenchi! If it weren't for him, we wouldn't be in this mess!" Ōnoki cursed, directing all his hatred towards Konoha and the young Uchiha.
***
Back in Konoha, the three genin were still pleading with their teacher.
"Sarutobi-sensei, can't you find a way to help Tenchi?" Tsunade begged. She knew the severity of the charges. If convicted of breaking the peace unilaterally, he would be ostracized. The villagers, who longed for peace, would protest. If public order broke down over this, Tenchi's punishment would be even worse.
"Yes, please, you have to help Brother Tenchi!" Jiraiya and Orochimaru joined the plea.
"Do you think I don't want to?" Hiruzen retorted, his frustration showing. "The Land of Earth is demanding an explanation. They want Tenchi executed! The council of elders has voted to hand him over. The fact that I've managed to keep him alive and safe within Konoha is a minor miracle in itself."
"Starting a war is absolutely out of the question. Right now, my only option is to negotiate with the Land of Earth and try to appease them with reparations. I'm afraid the cost will be staggering. And I haven't even convinced the elders of this plan yet. It's... a very difficult situation." Hiruzen sighed deeply. "Now you understand. The village must uphold law and order. Please, don't trouble me further. I will find a way to handle Tenchi's situation. You are all dismissed."
"Alright... But Lord Sarutobi, you *must* protect Tenchi."
Hiruzen gave a slow, tired nod. The three genin filed out of the Hokage's office, their spirits low.
"This is really serious," Jiraiya muttered once they were outside. "I can't believe Brother Tenchi attacked the Land of Earth while he was with us. How did he even get there and back so fast over such a long distance?"
"Hm... I suspect he possesses some kind of secret high-speed movement technique," Orochimaru analyzed calmly. "There's no other way he could have made the trip so quickly."
"Still... I have to admire him," Orochimaru continued, a rare look of genuine respect on his face. "In such a short time, he not only reached Iwagakure but fought the entire village single-handedly and returned unscathed. His power is... immense."
"Yeah, Brother Tenchi is seriously amazing," Jiraiya agreed, nodding in awe.
"Enough about how amazing he is!" Tsunade cut in, her worry overriding her pride. "He's been arrested! We need to find a way to use his strength as leverage. If they push him too far, Konoha could become the next Iwagakure!" Her fear was twofold: concern for Tenchi, and the terrifying thought of what he might do to the village if cornered.
"But what can we do?" Jiraiya threw his hands up in frustration. "We're just genin. Our words don't carry any weight. We have no status."
"Status...!" The word sparked an idea in Tsunade's mind. "I know who to go to!" She immediately turned and sprinted away.
"What's with her?" Jiraiya asked, looking at Orochimaru.
"You ask me? How should I know?" Orochimaru replied with a shrug.
Tsunade, having split from the others, ran straight to her grandmother's residence. Jiraiya's mention of "status" had made her think of Uzumaki Mito. Her grandmother was the wife of the First Hokage, the God of Shinobi himself. Her words would carry immense weight with the village elders, even with the Fire Daimyo. If she pleaded for Tenchi, they would have to listen. Filled with renewed hope, she rushed into Mito's home.
***
Meanwhile, in the depths of the prison, Tenchi received a special visitor.
"Well, well. If it isn't our beloved 'Asura,' Uchiha Tenchi. What's the matter? You look a little... tied up at the moment."
The voice was laced with mockery. The visitor was none other than Shimura Danzo, the man who had always despised him.