Tsunade did have a slight fondness for Baimu, though she didn't know why. Was it because he saved her?
Perhaps, but that didn't mean Tsunade was a fool. Moreover, she was well aware of Baimu's ambition, and he hadn't even hidden it from her, telling her directly.
Reform!
This was no simple matter.
To reform, one must break the village's existing structure and power framework, but the question is, would this be allowed?
Obviously, no.
How could those with vested interests easily step aside? Furthermore, for the Uchiha to initiate reform, and for a mere youngster like you to attempt such things, it's truly a pipe dream.
"Kid, don't say things to make me laugh; it's not funny at all."
Doesn't Tsunade believe it?
To Baimu, this was not surprising.
He understood it, but the fact was that Tsunade was indeed targeted, even if it was because of him and she was merely caught in the crossfire. She was targeted nonetheless.
Moreover, the person targeting her was Uchiha Madara!
"Lady Tsunade, why do you think you were attacked?" Baimu asked, his expression unchanged and his tone calm.
"Why?"
Tsunade was stunned.
She was actually asked that.
However, her being attacked was indeed a bit strange. She was inexplicably ambushed by the Kirigakure ANBU, and crucially, Uchiha Baimu, Alice Lize, and Esdeath saved her.
Honestly, was it really such a coincidence?
Thinking of this, Tsunade blurted out, "You're not going to say that these people were after you, and I just happened to run into them?"
Baimu smiled and said softly, "More or less, but the Third Mizukage of Kirigakure is clearly not quite right. Haven't you noticed?"
Hearing Baimu say this, Tsunade was completely confused, her expression revealing bewilderment: "Not right?"
Regarding Tsunade's question, Baimu calmly explained, "He is a Kage, the leader of Kirigakure. He harbors deep hatred for me, a young Uchiha, and he directly said, 'Uchiha Baimu, I will kill you.' Isn't that problematic?"
"You're an Uchiha, and you performed exceptionally well on the battlefield. It's not strange for him to know you." Tsunade frowned slightly, pondering whether it was true or not, but then offered a reasonable explanation.
Besides, you suspect the Third Mizukage?
The problem is, him coming at you like that, couldn't it be that he knew you were such a talented youngster and wanted to strike first to eliminate you, causing Konoha to lose a future potential star? That's entirely plausible, isn't it?
Baimu continued, "The Third Mizukage is being controlled. The mastermind is coming for me and intends to deal with you as well. This situation is very serious because it targets both the Uchiha and Senju clans simultaneously…"
Targeting the Uchiha and Senju?
Is this kid deliberately exaggerating?
The bigger the story, the more easily people can be fooled?
However, Tsunade still remained skeptical. She didn't quite believe what Baimu was saying, feeling as though he was trying to deceive her, but what was his motive... Wait, it was still about this reform.
And ultimately, it was about power struggles.
For Tsunade, she disliked such matters.
All this Hokage talk was just for selfish desires.
Ever since her great-grandfather and great-uncle passed away, and the Third Hokage took over, he was fine when he was young, but as he aged, his problems became more prominent. The most direct manifestation was his obsession with power. He spoke of the Will of Fire, but in reality, he acted differently, which greatly annoyed Tsunade.
Furthermore, behind the decline of the Senju clan, there was no shortage of malicious actions from Hiruzen Sarutobi, Danzo Shimura, and those old geezers. But even if Tsunade had suspicions, she had no evidence, and they were operating under the political ideals of the Second Hokage.
Integrate into the village!
If you don't integrate, do you have an issue with the Second Hokage?
As for why it had to be the Senju of the Forest, it was naturally because the Second Hokage had always said so, emphasizing that ninja clans should integrate into the village, and the Senju clan should take the lead. And we are merely following our esteemed teacher's dying wish.
And Tsunade, deeply affected by the death of her younger brother Nawaki, coupled with the dwindling number of close relatives, the integration of clan members into the village, and the decline of the family, all these successive blows led her to become disheartened. She then chose to flee, unwilling to face the increasingly dark side of the village.
"Don't talk to me about this. If what you say is true, who would target the Uchiha clan? Are you saying Kirigakure is colluding with certain people in the village?"
The more she thought about it, the more agitated Tsunade became, her fists already clenched. If she hadn't known Baimu's strength, she probably would have acted already, but precisely because she knew his power, she held back.
To say such things for the sake of power and gain?
Although she knew Hiruzen Sarutobi was selfish, he wouldn't go so far as to do something like this, not even to weaken the Uchiha clan.
After all, only with Konoha Hidden Village existing could he be the Hokage of Konoha. If it didn't exist, he would be nothing, and where would his Hokage authority be then?
Baimu spread his hands and smiled, "You see, I didn't even say it was someone from the village, but you naturally thought of them, so you also know that these people would do anything for power."
"I didn't mean that."
Tsunade's face darkened as she said, somewhat irritably.
"Didn't mean that? But you still said it, didn't you? That means you truly believe it deep down." Tsunade's strong denial was useless; instead, it only made Baimu continue to tease her.
"I am not."
Her expression instantly changed, and she swung a punch at Baimu.
I've really put up with you for too long. If it weren't for the fact that you saved me, would I be this polite to you? Now you're taking advantage, and I have to teach you a lesson.
However, the moment Tsunade made her move, her fist was covered in ice.
Seeing this, Tsunade's expression changed slightly, and with a small burst of strength, she shattered the ice on her fist.
After shattering the ice, she said with annoyance, "You can even use Ice Release? What's going on with you, kid? What's your relationship with those two women?"
To be honest, she was very suspicious, wondering if Baimu's relationship with Esdeath and the others was perhaps too close, clearly not that simple.
Regarding Tsunade's suspicion, Baimu calmly explained.
"Well, it's actually not that complicated; we just have a very good relationship. But none of that is important. Lady Tsunade, please let me finish. When I said the Third Mizukage was controlled, I wasn't implying collusion with certain people in our Konoha. You need to listen carefully to that part and not misunderstand."
Controlled?
Nonsense!
Tsunade didn't believe it. After all, he was a Kage of a village; how could he be controlled? It was absolutely impossible; she simply didn't believe it.
"Are you kidding me?"
She flicked off the ice shards from her hand and said coldly, "I told you, don't joke with me."