During this process,
Root ninja continued emerging sporadically from nearby rooms and branching corridors, attempting to stop the "intruders."
However, because of Tsunade's identity, none of them dared attack her directly. Their attempts at persuasion were completely ignored, leaving them no choice but to follow closely behind.
They exchanged uneasy glances and silently prayed that Danzō would arrive soon and stabilize the situation.
Until…
"Teacher, something seems wrong in that direction. I can sense a group of faint chakra signatures, but they appear to be isolated by a barrier, so I can't perceive them clearly."
Yuu lowered his voice.
By now, he and Tsunade had reached the lowest level of Root's base.
Before them was a T-shaped intersection. At the end of the lower passage stood a heavy metal door illuminated by wall-mounted candles, with a conspicuous warning symbol stamped across its surface.
"That place is…"
Tsunade turned to look.
The Root ninja beside them immediately showed alarm. Gritting their teeth, they stepped forward and attempted to block Tsunade with their bodies.
"Lady Tsunade, please stop! That is a top-secret area. Without Lord Danzō's orders, you absolutely cannot—"
"Move."
Tsunade spoke coldly.
"Please don't make things difficult for us, Lady Tsunade. If we allow you to pass, Lord Danzō will punish us severely…"
The Root ninja continued trying to explain.
However…
"I said move! Are you deaf?!"
Tsunade stomped down.
The hard floor instantly cracked into countless pieces.
Then she raised her arm and threw a punch. Her fist, wrapped in terrifying chakra, tore through the air with an explosive roar and struck the nearest Root ninja.
Caught off guard, the man crossed his arms in front of himself to defend.
Even so, the punch sent him flying several meters through the air. He slammed into the wall behind him, leaving a shallow depression before sliding to the ground with blood flowing from the corner of his mouth.
This was already the result of Tsunade holding back.
Otherwise, with the full force of her Super Strength, even Jiraiya would have suffered more than a dozen broken ribs and entered a near-death state. These Root ninja would fare even worse.
If someone could still stand after receiving one punch, they could consider themselves extraordinarily lucky.
After Tsunade made an example of him, the remaining Root ninja instinctively backed away.
She took the opportunity to cross the corridor and approach the metal door. Then she lifted her chin toward Yuu and casually ordered,
"Go. Remove the barrier."
"…"
The corner of Yuu's mouth twitched. He hesitated to speak.
Alright.
Although Tsunade was descended from the two legendary figures of the Warring States Period, Senju Hashirama and Uzumaki Mito, her mastery of sealing techniques did not seem particularly deep.
In the original story, the only ninjutsu involving sealing arts that she regularly used belonged to the Strength of a Hundred Seal system.
However, considering that she had studied under the "Professor of Ninjutsu," Sarutobi Hiruzen, while her fellow students Jiraiya and Orochimaru were both skilled in sealing techniques, Tsunade probably was not incapable of doing it.
She was most likely simply too lazy and wanted Yuu to do the work for her.
At once,
Yuu stepped forward and carefully examined the barrier covering the metal door.
Then he raised both hands and inserted his chakra-covered fingertips into several key points of the barrier's chakra circulation.
"Release!"
Buzz—!
Accompanied by several violently flashing lights, the barrier shattered and dispersed like broken glass.
Tsunade then stepped forward, pressed one hand against the right side of the heavy metal door, and gave a low shout.
The muscles of her arm bulged slightly as she forcibly pushed open the door, which normally required a mechanical device to activate.
Afterward,
dim lights began turning on one after another.
A strong smell of formaldehyde rushed toward them.
Before their eyes was an underground space illuminated by pale white light.
Judging from the equipment, it was a laboratory.
Rows of cylindrical glass cultivation tanks stood across the floor. Most were empty, while a small number were filled with pale green nutrient fluid, within which naked human bodies were suspended.
They were all children.
Their average age appeared to be no more than ten.
Breathing tubes were connected to their mouths and noses, while their bodies were covered in surgical scars or strange wooden growths.
Some of the children's limbs were even twisted unnaturally, creating a horrifying sight.
Clearly, these children were experimental subjects Danzō had captured from elsewhere.
The empty tanks probably represented those who had already died.
As for those who remained, most of them did not appear to have much time left. Even if they were released immediately, they probably would not survive for more than a few days.
Furthermore,
metal labels were attached beneath most of the cultivation tanks, bearing text written in red ink:
"Subject A-17, age five. Moderate rejection of First Hokage cells. Vital signs weak…"
"Subject C-5, age eight. Deceased. Remains disposed of…"
"Subject…"
"Special Sample X9: Senju Hashirama cell sample, cultivated to the ninth generation. Cell activity rating: 75. Displays wooden characteristics under chakra stimulation…"
"…"
Tsunade fell silent.
On the way here, she had still harbored some doubts regarding Yuu's claims.
She had thought that perhaps Danzō's actions were not as terrible as Yuu had described and that her student might have exaggerated somewhat.
But now…
every suspicion had been confirmed.
Not only had Danzō secretly continued the Wood Release experiments, but he had maintained them for an unknown number of years, even cultivating Hashirama's cells through nine generations.
Judging from the number of tanks and the labels attached to them, no fewer than fifty children had probably died inside this "laboratory"!
Beside her, Yuu's pupils also trembled.
He had long known about Danzō's crimes.
In his previous life, he had seen similar scenes in the anime and in many films involving human experimentation, so he had already prepared himself mentally.
But actually standing here and personally reading those labels carried an entirely different impact.
Of course…
with Root and Danzō's own research capabilities, conducting human experiments on this scale would have been extremely difficult.
Many of these labels were probably Orochimaru's work.
If the investigation continued deeply enough, the Sannin would likely be implicated as well…
In that case…
things could become troublesome.
Yuu instinctively began considering the possible consequences.
However, before he could think any further, hurried footsteps came from the far end of the passage outside the laboratory, echoing continuously through the corridor.
They were accompanied by a somewhat familiar chakra presence.
Yuu raised his head slightly and glanced outside.
Beside him,
Tsunade did not notice any of this. Her gaze remained fixed upon the cultivation tanks.
She stared at the cold, bloody words with clenched teeth, desperately wanting someone upon whom she could vent her rage.
Then an angry voice approached from the distance.
"Tsunade! You've gone too far!"
"This is a restricted Root facility! Did you receive Hiruzen's permission before daring to come here?!"
"…?"
Tsunade turned around.
Shimura Danzō was approaching rapidly with a cane, surrounded by several Root ninja.
Upon seeing the metal door standing open, his expression grew dark enough to drip water.
His blade-like gaze swept toward the ninja beside him.
"What were all of you doing? Why didn't you stop her?"
"…"
The Root ninja exchanged glances.
No, seriously…
How were they supposed to stop her?
Even ignoring Tsunade's identity as the "Princess of Konoha," her strength alone made it impossible.
She was one of the Sannin, someone who had already been capable of fighting the "Demigod" Hanzō of the Salamander seven or eight years ago.
The average strength of the Root ninja present was only around special-jōnin level.
Would charging forward accomplish anything?
They would probably be beaten to death one punch at a time!
Not to mention that beside her stood the "White Reaper," who had captured the Fourth Kazekage alive.
Rounded up, that was two Kage-level fighters.
What the hell were they supposed to fight with?
On the other side,
Tsunade turned fully toward Danzō like an enraged lioness.
"Stop me? How ridiculous!
"Shimura Danzō, no wonder no one discovered the filth hidden here for so long!
"If I hadn't come today, I might never have learned that you had secretly committed so many inhuman atrocities!"
"'Inhuman atrocities'?"
Danzō's eyes flickered briefly.
Then his face hardened and his voice became cold.
"What do you understand?! Everything this old man has done was for Konoha! I have never acted out of selfishness!"
"Stop making excuses for yourself!"
Tsunade roared, cutting him off.
"Does saying 'for Konoha' somehow give you the right to openly take the lives of so many children?!
"The old man halted the Wood Release experiments back then because the death rate was far too high. Nearly every volunteer in the first group died…
"Yet after the project was stopped, you secretly kidnapped children and continued experimenting on them! The number of deaths is more than ten times greater than before!
"These children might have lived brilliant lives. They might even have become pillars of Konoha!
"Instead, because of you, they died in this dark underground prison!
"What you've done is a grave desecration of Grandfather's power and a monstrous crime that completely violates the Will of Fire!"
"Hmph! Foolish compassion!"
Danzō raised his own voice and spoke with righteous conviction.
"Have you forgotten how difficult things were for Konoha when the other ninja villages surrounded and attacked us during the previous two Ninja World Wars?!
"To recreate the First Hokage's power and prepare against future threats, a small number of sacrifices are a necessary price!
"This was done for the village's long-term peace and stability!
"Even if Lord Hashirama and Lord Tobirama returned to life, they would understand!"
"…"
Danzō's words, "foolish compassion," caused Tsunade's expression to darken.
After all, ever since she, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru earned the title of the Sannin, it had been a long time since anyone dared insult her on the basis of her gender.
And his mention of Hashirama and Tobirama returning to life only added more fuel to the fire.
Although Senju Tobirama might genuinely have supported Danzō's actions to a certain extent…
were those words really his to say?
Who understood the Senju better—you or me?
"Fine! Fine! Fine!"
Tsunade took a deep breath and laughed from sheer fury.
"What an excellent 'necessary sacrifice'…
"Then answer me this!
"Were the Konoha comrades who died beneath Kirigakure's blades on the southeastern front because you sold their defensive intelligence also 'necessary sacrifices'?
"What right did you have to condemn them to death?!"
"What…?!"
Danzō's pupils abruptly contracted.
The capture of Otsu and Shin had been secretly discussed and carried out by Yuu, Kakashi, and only a few others.
No one else knew.
Yuu and Asuma had also returned to Konoha only within the last few hours.
Even if Root had spies stationed near the Sarutobi compound or among ANBU's personnel, they would at most have seen Asuma return to the village carrying a sealed human body.
They would not know the details.
Therefore,
Danzō still knew nothing about Otsu's exposure.
When Tsunade questioned him, his mind went blank for an instant before being overwhelmed by shock.
For a moment, he could not think of any suitable words to refute her.
This… this isn't right…
What happened? Why does Tsunade know about Otsu's mission? Was Otsu captured?! Wait… that brat is here too! If he returned from the southeastern front, then…
Danzō suddenly noticed Yuu standing behind Tsunade.
The instant his gaze shifted over, it became vicious.
Tsunade noticed that look.
She was already furious with Danzō over the intelligence leak and the Wood Release experiments.
Now, her anger erupted even further.
Her eyes widened.
"Hey! What is that look supposed to mean?!
"Was harming all these children not enough? Are you also planning to attack my outstanding student?!
"You…"
"Parasite of Konoha!"
Accompanied by a deafening roar, Tsunade vanished from her original position.
The ground beneath her feet exploded into a deep crater!
The next second,
Tsunade appeared directly before Danzō!
Her seemingly delicate, pale fist was wrapped in chakra compressed to a terrifying degree.
It tore through the air in an instant, releasing a piercing scream as it blasted toward Shimura Danzō's chest!
It was as though she intended to release all her accumulated rage with this single punch!
"Super Strength: Cherry Blossom Impact!!"
Before the fist even arrived, the terrifying wind pressure caused Danzō and the Root guards behind him to widen their eyes in horror.
"Tsunade, you…"
You really dared attack?!
Although Danzō had not expected this situation, he was still a veteran expert and reacted quickly.
He thrust his cane forward immediately while twisting his body sideways at an almost impossible angle, narrowly avoiding Tsunade's punch!
Rumble!!!!
A deafening explosion and terrifying shock wave swept through the entire laboratory!
A massive hole appeared in the hard concrete wall.
Fine cracks spread outward around it like a rapidly expanding spiderweb!
"…Tsunade, are you trying to kill this old man?!"
Danzō roared hoarsely.
The hole in the wall proved that Tsunade had used real strength.
If the punch had struck him directly, even if he did not die on the spot, he would probably suffer seven or eight broken ribs and spend ten days to half a month confined to a hospital bed.
Faced with Danzō's accusation,
Tsunade ignored him completely.
She suddenly raised one leg into a vertical split and immediately brought it crashing downward like an axe.
"Heavenly Foot of Pain!!"
Bang—!!!
Another deafening explosion rang out as dust filled the air!