A Growing Unease
Uzumaki Jiuno soon realized something—
Saigoji Youmu's gaze had been locked onto her.
His staring was so blatant, so undeniable, that it made her feel… uncomfortable.
She fidgeted, gripping Tsunade's sleeve.
"Sister Tsunade…" she whispered. "That guy keeps looking at me."
Tsunade followed her gaze and nodded.
"Yeah, he's an acquaintance of mine."
Hearing this, Uzumaki Kushina's curiosity flared up.
She turned toward Saigoji Youmu, tilting her head.
"To be friends with Tsunade-san, you must be really strong!"
Saigoji Youmu smiled, finally breaking his gaze away from Jiuno.
"So-so." He shrugged. "Not as strong as your sister Tsunade."
A vein twitched on Tsunade's forehead.
"You little brat… are you mocking me?"
Kushina, Jiuno, and Minato exchanged confused glances.
They didn't fully understand what Tsunade was upset about.
Before Tsunade could press further, Saigoji Youmu changed the subject.
He pointed toward the academy.
"Is that your brother?" He asked casually. "Looks like he's coming out."
Tsunade followed his gaze.
As soon as she saw who it was, her face darkened.
More veins bulged on her forehead.
"Nawaki."
Senju Nawaki, grinning from ear to ear, was chatting loudly with his friends as he walked out of the academy.
Then—
"NAWAKI!"
A booming voice rang through the air, startling the young boy so badly he nearly tripped.
His smile twisted into fear.
He knew that voice too well.
His older sister—Tsunade.
"H-hey… S-sis… y-you're back?"
He turned toward her, smiling awkwardly.
Tsunade crossed her arms, expressionless.
"Come here."
Nawaki hesitated.
Something was wrong.
Normally, Tsunade would've punched him already.
The fact that she hadn't made it even scarier.
"Uh… w-what's up, sis?" He cautiously approached.
Tsunade's response?
A flick to the forehead.
BOOM!
"OUCH!" Nawaki yelped, clutching his forehead.
Tsunade cracked her knuckles.
"You seem pretty happy, huh?" She said through gritted teeth.
"P-please have mercy!" Nawaki yelped, dodging as she reached for him again.
"HELP!"
"STOP RUNNING!"
While Tsunade chased Nawaki around, the rest of the group just watched, amused.
But elsewhere…
Things were far less peaceful.
In the Hokage's Office, tensions were boiling.
BANG!
A fist slammed onto Sarutobi Hiruzen's desk.
The perpetrator?
A middle-aged man, his right eye wrapped in bandages.
Shimura Danzō.
Leader of Root.
Hokage's "advisor."
And a man with his own agenda.
"Hiruzen." His voice was cold. "Your approach is too weak."
The Third Hokage took a slow drag of his pipe.
"Oh?" He exhaled smoke. "And what do you mean by that?"
Danzō's single visible eye gleamed.
"That boy. Saigoji Youmu.
"A dangerous person like him should be under our control."
"And if we cannot control him—"
A chill filled the room.
"—Then we eliminate him."
Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression remained unreadable.
But inside—
He sneered.
"Control? Eliminate?"
He knew exactly what Danzō meant.
"Control in 'our' hands, huh?" Hiruzen thought.
"More like in your hands, Danzō."
Still, he played along.
"And how do you propose we do that?"
Danzō smirked.
"We take the girl."
"Konan."
Hiruzen's fingers tightened around his pipe.
Danzō continued.
"That boy values her, doesn't he?"
"If we hold her hostage, Saigoji Youmu will have no choice but to submit."
His cold, calculated tone sent a chill through the room.
"It doesn't matter if he's a genius."
"Even a strong man has weaknesses."
There was a crack.
Hiruzen had snapped his pipe in half.
The atmosphere in the office turned heavy.
The weight of a Kage-level master's killing intent pressed down on Danzō.
For the first time in a while—
Danzō paused.
Then, Hiruzen spoke.
His tone was no longer casual.
It was cold. Sharp. Absolute.
"Danzō."
His voice carried the authority of the Hokage.
"I have turned a blind eye to many of your ambitions."
"I have ignored your secret dealings in the shadows."
"But…"
His gaze darkened.
"If you dare to gamble with Konoha's future for your own selfish gain—"
"I will make you understand the true weight of the word Hokage."
Danzō stiffened.
This was a clear warning.
For a long moment, silence filled the air.
Then, Danzō scoffed.
"Hmph."
He turned sharply and walked away, disappearing into the shadows.
But in his mind—
He was already making plans.