Hearing Tsunade address him as Mizukage-sama, Chiba allowed himself a faint smile and gently released her hand. For Tsunade, that single form of address felt like a clean break from her former self,an unmistakable farewell to the past, and the beginning of an entirely new life.
Shizune finally let out the breath she had been holding. "Tsunade-sama… perhaps this truly is the best choice."
Tsunade nodded softly, then turned to her. "And what about you, Shizune?"
Shizune smiled without hesitation. "Wherever you go, Tsunade-sama, I'll go too. Besides, Konoha would never spare me just because I left you behind."
Tsunade sighed, her voice tinged with guilt. "I'm sorry… for dragging you into this."
"There's nothing to apologize for," Shizune replied gently. "If anything, I might feel even more at ease in Kirigakure. I've already seen far too much of Konoha's darkness."
Terumi Mei smiled warmly and extended her hand toward Shizune. "Then welcome as well, Shizune."
"Thank you," Shizune said, grasping her hand.
From that moment on, Tsunade had truly severed her ties with Konoha and become a shinobi of Kirigakure.
Before long, Jiraiya and the surviving ANBU returned to Konoha.
Inside the Hokage's office, Hiruzen Sarutobi was in a fury. One of the Legendary Three Sannin,his own disciple, the granddaughter of the Shodaime Hokage,had defected from Konoha and joined Kirigakure, one of its most dangerous rivals.
Damn Tsunade.
Damn Chiba.
Hiruzen's anger toward Chiba and Kirigakure surged to its peak. In that instant, he even felt the urge to declare war outright and plunge the two villages into open conflict.
His fury then turned toward Jiraiya.
"Jiraiya! What were you thinking?!" Hiruzen demanded. "She openly betrayed Konoha, and you still let her walk away?!"
Jiraiya replied calmly, "Starting a fight then and there wouldn't have given us any advantage. The ANBU captain was already dead. On our side, there were only me and six or seven ANBU. On the other side stood the Mizukage himself, Tsunade, her disciple Shizune, and Terumi Mei of Kirigakure. There was no chance of victory."
He met Hiruzen's gaze directly. "Were you hoping we'd all die there, sensei?"
Hiruzen fell silent. He knew Jiraiya was right,yet he also understood that this wasn't the whole truth. Jiraiya simply couldn't bring himself to continue attacking Tsunade.
Still, this was a moment when Konoha could not afford to lose any more pillars. Tsunade was already gone. If Jiraiya were lost as well, Hiruzen would truly stand alone. Orochimaru was never trustworthy, and even Shimura Danzō at his side constantly coveted the Hokage's seat. Only Jiraiya, despite his emotional nature, would never betray Konoha.
Hiruzen snorted coldly. "Very well. Jiraiya,and all of you,your failure will be noted. I won't punish you this time, but from now on, you will redeem yourselves through action."
The ANBU immediately straightened. "Yes, Hokage-sama!"
Jiraiya nodded silently.
Behind them, Shimura Danzō exchanged a glance with Utatane Koharu.
"To think Tsunade would truly defect…" Koharu murmured. "Konoha will become a laughingstock."
Danzō's voice was icy. "Hiruzen, the time has come to fight Kirigakure to the death. If we hesitate any longer, Konoha will be slowly eaten away by Chiba until we don't even have the strength to declare war."
Hiruzen clenched his fists. "Do you think I don't want revenge? But in our current state… can we truly guarantee victory?"
At that moment, a familiar figure appeared at the doorway.
It was Orochimaru.
"Sensei," he said smoothly, "it seems Tsunade's defection is troubling you. Still, what truly matters now is how to deal with the Mizukage and Kirigakure, isn't it?"
Hiruzen's eyes sharpened. "Orochimaru. Do you have a solution?"
Orochimaru chuckled. "Of course. I told you long ago,my cooperation was always meant for this. When the time comes, we each take what we want. I only need those two children."
Hiruzen took a deep breath. "How much strength can you provide?"
"If we have sufficient certainty," he continued, "we can declare war immediately."
Orochimaru smiled. "Sensei, there's no need to underestimate Konoha. A camel may be emaciated, but it's still larger than a horse. Even now, Konoha remains a former great village."
He continued calmly, listing their assets one by one: Hiruzen himself, Danzō, Koharu, the ANBU and Root, the Sarutobi and Shimura clans, elite shinobi like Kakashi, Might Guy, Yamato, Asuma… the Hyūga, Aburame, Inuzuka, Yamanaka, Nara, and Akimichi clans.
"And beyond that," Orochimaru added, "you still have me,and Jiraiya. Not to mention Otogakure, which I built with my own hands. Our strength should not be underestimated."
He paused, then smiled more deeply. "And I possess a true trump card."
Hiruzen's gaze sharpened. "What trump card?"
Orochimaru slammed his hands together.
"Kuchiyose no Jutsu , 'Summoning Technique'!"
"Edo Tensei , 'Impure World Reincarnation'!!!"
With a thunderous crash, two coffins burst forth from the ground. Their lids flew open, and two figures stepped out calmly before the stunned eyes of everyone present.
Senju Hashirama.
Senju Tobirama.
The First and Nidaime Hokage.
Hiruzen's face drained of color. "This… this is,"
Orochimaru laughed softly. "The forbidden technique left behind by the Nidaime Hokage. With their biological information, I can summon them from the Pure Land at any time."
He looked directly at Hiruzen. "Sensei… is this trump card sufficient?"
Hiruzen's heart pounded violently. If Hashirama and Tobirama truly fought under his command, then crushing Kirigakure,no, even sweeping across the entire shinobi world,would not be impossible.
Still, he asked carefully, "How much of their original strength can they display?"
Orochimaru's expression shifted slightly. "At present, perhaps less than ten percent. But even so, they are still former Hokage. More than enough to serve as decisive forces."
He leaned closer. "And more importantly… if you provide me with the biological data of more deceased powerhouses, I can summon them endlessly. An army of Edo Tensei."
Hiruzen, Danzō, and Koharu exchanged glances. Such power was terrifying,unprecedented.
Jiraiya frowned. "Edo Tensei requires living sacrifices. And manipulating the dead like this… it isn't right."
Orochimaru laughed. "Still as naive as ever, Jiraiya. Besides, this technique was created by the Nidaime Hokage himself. He used it during the First Great Ninja War to repel four allied villages."
"There is no good or evil technique," Orochimaru continued. "Only how, and for what purpose, it's used."
Hiruzen nodded slowly. "He's right. If the Nidaime Hokage could use it, then so can we."
He turned to Danzō. "You'll handle this together with Orochimaru."
Danzō inclined his head.
At that moment, Hiruzen Sarutobi felt hope rekindled within him. With Konoha's remaining foundations, Jiraiya, Orochimaru, Otogakure, the Sand Village alliance, and the Edo Tensei army,especially with Hashirama and Tobirama among them,what could a mere Kirigakure truly do?
A cold smile crept onto Hiruzen's face.
"Chiba… Kirigakure…"
"This time, you will pay for everything in blood."
Soon after, the news spread across the entire shinobi world.
Tsunade had defected from Konoha and joined Kirigakure.
Konoha,and Hiruzen Sarutobi,became the subject of ridicule everywhere. At the same time, the conflict between Konoha and Kirigakure escalated sharply.
War seemed imminent.
Within Konoha itself, tension quietly reached its breaking point.
The Hyūga Clan stood at a crossroads.
Hyūga Neji and Hyūga Hiashi faced one another once more, the air between them heavy with urgency and restrained tension. When Neji finally spoke, his voice was low but edged with disbelief. "So the Mizukage truly brought Tsunade-sama under his command?"
Hiashi did not answer immediately. His gaze remained distant, thoughtful. "For Kirigakure, it is undoubtedly a tremendous gain," he said at last. "But for Sarutobi Hiruzen… it will only drive him further into madness." His expression hardened as he continued, his tone steady yet resolute. "The matter of the Hyūga Clan can no longer be delayed. We must move forward immediately."
Neji frowned slightly. "But the Mizukage hasn't sent any response yet. Relying on our own strength alone, it's impossible for the entire clan to withdraw from Konoha safely."
"I'm certain the information has already reached Mizukage-sama," Neji added after a brief pause, his conviction unshaken. "At this very moment, he's likely already planning his next move. The Hyūga Clan is a force that neither Konoha nor Kirigakure can ignore. Even the Mizukage wouldn't abandon such a rare opportunity,one that weakens Konoha while greatly strengthening his own village."
Hiashi nodded slowly. "That may be true. But the question remains,when will he act?"
Neji met his gaze directly. "Or perhaps the real question is this, Clan Head: when will you inform our people? Are we planning to lead the entire clan into defection without warning? They still know nothing."
Hiashi let out a quiet sigh. "This cannot be rushed. If we act too hastily, secrets will leak, and we'll only alert the enemy. Rest assured,once word comes from Mizukage-sama, I will immediately notify every member of the clan."
Neji nodded. "Understood."
At that very moment, chaos erupted across Konoha. A sudden disturbance swept through the village like a shockwave, jolting Hiashi upright. "What's going on?!" he demanded.
Almost instantly, a Hyūga clansman rushed in, his voice tight with urgency. "Clan Head! Reports say Tsunade,who defected from Konoha,has appeared inside the village! The Hokage has already dispatched ANBU to capture her!"
Hiashi's heart skipped. It made no sense. If Tsunade had truly defected, why would she return to Konoha? Wasn't that nothing more than throwing herself into a trap?
Before he could voice his doubts, his vision blurred. In the blink of an eye, a figure appeared before him. It was the newly appointed Mizukage of Kirigakure,Chiba.
"M-Mizukage-sama?!" Hiashi exclaimed, shock flashing across his face before sudden realization struck him. "So it was you… You arranged for Tsunade-sama to appear in the village, deliberately drawing Sarutobi Hiruzen's attention away, giving our Hyūga Clan the chance to escape?"
Chiba smiled faintly. "As expected of Clan Head Hiashi. You see things clearly."
"But won't that put Tsunade-sama in danger?" Hiashi asked, hesitation flickering in his eyes.
"Relax," Chiba replied calmly. "I've already made the necessary arrangements. What matters now is you. It's time for the Hyūga Clan to prepare to leave."
Hiashi exhaled deeply. When the moment truly arrived, reluctance was inevitable. This land had been the Hyūga Clan's home for countless generations,how could one abandon it without sorrow? Yet he knew all too well that this path was unavoidable. And perhaps, one day, they might return.
Resolve settled in his eyes. Exchanging a glance with Neji, the two nodded before immediately splitting up, moving to inform both the Main House and Branch House. A clan with a thousand-year legacy naturally possessed its own emergency signals and contingency methods, and under Hiashi's command, the entire Hyūga Clan soon received notice to evacuate Konoha.
Shock spread at first,panic, disbelief, confusion,but reality quickly set in. They understood their situation all too clearly. They were next. The next Uchiha Clan.
As expected, Hyūga Tetsu had already reported the matter to Sarutobi Hiruzen. The Hokage flew into a rage and immediately split his forces in two. One unit continued the pursuit of Tsunade, while the other advanced directly toward the Hyūga Clan. In an instant, the shadow of annihilation descended upon them, tightening every nerve.
Hiruzen personally dispatched Shimura Danzō, along with ANBU and the Root organization, to hunt Tsunade. As for himself, he led the Sarutobi Clan, the Shimura Clan, and the remaining elite ANBU forces, advancing like an overwhelming tide toward the Hyūga Clan. He would not allow another Uchiha tragedy to unfold. Not again.
In less than half a day, Konoha was thrown into complete upheaval. The other major clans were left stunned, uncertain of what was happening, yet just as on the night of the Uchiha Clan's extermination, they chose silence over involvement. Hiruzen's forces arrived in overwhelming numbers, intercepting the Hyūga Clan in their entirety.
At that moment, amid his boundless fury, Sarutobi Hiruzen felt something far worse take root in his heart,despair. The Uchiha Clan had not been completely eradicated; they had been taken by Chiba to Kirigakure, becoming a blade turned against him. Tsunade had defected as well. And now, even the Hyūga Clan,Konoha's foremost noble lineage,was abandoning him.
Was he truly destined to be forsaken by everyone, cast into an inescapable abyss of ruin?
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