"Tsunade-sama... I..."
Shizune hesitated, unsure of what to say.
Tsunade's voice grew colder, though not directed at Shizune herself.
"Shizune."
"Tell me... do you think something is wrong here?"
Shizune fell silent.
She was Kato Dan's niece, his only blood relative. It was because of Dan that Tsunade took her in. The Kato clan was small, barely known in the ninja world. Shizune had only met her uncle a handful of times, but she was truly grateful to him. Without him, Tsunade would never have accepted her as her apprentice.
Tsunade—the most legendary kunoichi of her era, an idol to countless female ninjas, even to this day. And yet, she took in an apprentice whose talent was, at best, mediocre. And she had kept her by her side all these years.
Seeing Shizune's tense and helpless expression, Naruto shook his head and spoke up.
"Let's start with Nawaki."
"Master, be prepared. The first half of your life..."
Before Naruto could finish, he noticed Tsunade staring at him with an unreadable expression. A single tear rolled down her cheek.
Well… let the storm rage on.
Some things, even if they were just theories, had to be said.
Tsunade was still the best candidate for the Fifth Hokage. And with her in power, supported by his own connections, the future would be far easier to shape.
"Given the situation at the time, the direct descendants of the Senju clan were sent to the frontlines. The only person with the influence and authority to make that happen… was the old man."
Tsunade already knew the answer before Naruto even said it.
After the main Senju bloodline was extinguished, the second "Uchiha" was fully assimilated into Konoha. What remained was a single obedient Uchiha—Hinata's clan—and a single rebellious one.
"That said, he might have still held onto some remnants of a ninja's honor. Nawaki's death wasn't entirely his doing…"
"Or maybe he knew, but he let it happen."
"After all, there were results from those experiments he could use."
Drip.
Hearing Nawaki's name again—remembering his tragic fate—Tsunade's tears came unbidden.
Naruto felt a bit guilty.
Her tears soaked his sleeve.
Gently, he raised his hand and wiped them away.
"Nawaki's death was too suspicious… and the one person most likely responsible was Shimura Danzo."
"This isn't just speculation."
"Back then, the old guard was researching the First Hokage's cells."
"And Danzo spent his entire life plotting for the Hokage seat."
"One of his goals would've been to make sure you—someone with a strong claim to power—lost all motivation to compete for it."
"There were many reasons. As for proof… Nawaki was killed by an explosive tag, right?"
"His body was completely destroyed. And when they found him, his internal organs were missing. Doesn't that seem odd?"
"And don't forget… Nawaki's teacher at the time was Orochimaru."
"To pull something like that off, right under Orochimaru's nose… hehe."
Tsunade's pupils shrank.
She had been too grief-stricken to think rationally when Nawaki died. The moment she received the news, her mind had gone blank.
And after that… Orochimaru had changed. He became a stranger to her.
A shiver ran down Shizune's spine. Goosebumps covered her skin.
It was chilling.
"Danzo!"
Tsunade clenched her fists, and a surge of chakra erupted from her body, making her hair stand on end.
Naruto placed a hand on her shoulder, channeling gentle chakra into her system. The storm of emotions within her slowly settled.
She looked at him, eyes filled with anger and sorrow.
She had suspected the truth before. But every time she thought about it, the pain, the fury, and the despair consumed her. She never had the clarity to analyze it like this.
"I will kill him."
Tears glistened in Tsunade's eyes, and her killing intent was nearly tangible.
Another person who wanted Danzo dead.
The Third Hokage could live and suffer endless torment, but Danzo? He had to die.
No… dying wasn't enough. He needed to suffer, in body and soul, and pay the price for everything he had done.
Actually, the method Hokage had in mind was quite fitting.
The darkness in this world needed an outlet.
This time, the outlet should be someone else.
Well… Izanagi should be enough. Kill him multiple times, keep him alive just long enough for Konoha's fall, and then execute him publicly in front of the entire village.
No… there was still some use for him.
As Nabekage, he could still draw the world's attention to Konoha. He could be useful up until his final day.
As for clans like the Sarutobi, who had grown fat by feeding off others' blood…
Their end would be even simpler. Haha.
PS: How about this plan for now?
After calming Tsunade, Naruto continued.
"Maybe you still had hope. But then, White Fang's fate had nothing to do with you, did it? Master, think carefully—can you deny their reach?"
"Openly opposing the twisted version of the Will of Fire… even if you held power, you would have been seen as a threat to their interests."
Before Naruto could finish, Tsunade's expression changed.
Shizune shuddered. Her hands trembled, and she nearly dropped Tonton again.
"The Uchiha Clan Massacre was an issue left unresolved by the Nidaime."
Naruto shifted topics, drawing Tsunade's attention back.
Shizune and Tonton followed.
Tonton, sensing that Naruto was the calmest person here, trotted over to his side for safety.
"I think I know that."
Tsunade narrowed her eyes. Unlike Kushina, she wasn't naïve.
"The Second Hokage would have maintained a balance. But they wouldn't. They actively fueled the conflict."
"Luckily, a filial son emerged."
Tsunade had never heard the term "filial son" used like this, but she immediately understood—Naruto was referring to Uchiha Itachi.
"Also, Master, the old man knew about Danzo's actions. He let them happen."
"Master, do you even know what kind of childhood I had?"
Tsunade looked at Naruto, his face calm as always.
Then, without warning, she pulled him into her arms.
"I'm sorry... If I had come back… No, I couldn't. I didn't want to return to this rotten village... I—"
She choked on her words.
Naruto struggled to breathe in her grip.
With some effort, he managed to push his head out.
Tonton, caught in the struggle, went flying and landed at Shizune's feet.
"Master, don't blame yourself. My parents understood your situation. They never blamed you. So why would I?"
The pendant left by Hashirama Senju swayed as Naruto spoke.
"Naruto-sama, what are you planning to do?" Shizune asked, nervous.
"Give them a taste of their own medicine."
Shizune's eyes widened.
"Using me as an outlet?" Naruto smirked. "Then I'll turn him into one of the outlets for the future ninja world..."
Shizune's glare was sharp, and Tonton fainted in response.
Tsunade and Shizune were no fools. They could vaguely guess what Naruto was implying.
"When?" Tsunade asked.
"In one month. The third round of the Chunin Exams will begin," Naruto replied. "That's when Orochimaru will launch the Konoha Crush plan."
"Orochimaru?!" Tsunade and Shizune exclaimed in unison.
Naruto offered a faint smile. "I'll explain it all later. But for now, let's talk about what truly concerns you, Tsunade-sama."
Tsunade hesitated for a moment before looking down at Naruto in her arms. A strange warmth filled her chest.
"Naruto, you should stop calling me 'Master.'"
"Why not?" Naruto raised an eyebrow. "You're the Princess of Konoha, the heir of the Senju Clan. Once you take the Hokage position and abolish the Daimyo system, you'd be the most powerful woman in the ninja world. As your apprentice, I'd have the perfect position to enact reforms..."
Tsunade's head spun from the weight of the titles Naruto was piling on her. Seeing his unwavering confidence, she felt a small sense of relief. Perhaps, just perhaps, there was hope that her brother Nawaki could be brought back.
Baji—
"What a sweet apprentice~"
Naruto rolled his eyes. And you call me a pervert, you old hag?!
"The matter of Nawaki… it's connected to the Senju Clan as a whole." Naruto's expression turned serious. "But what I want to discuss next is more personal, Tsunade-sama."
At that moment, Shizune tensed.
"Don't worry," Naruto reassured her. "What you said earlier helped me notice details I had overlooked before."
Tsunade took a deep breath, her mind settling. "After all these years, it doesn't matter anymore. Maybe I would've cared before today, but not now."
Shizune straightened her posture, her face filled with both innocence and anxiety.
"Shizune, in all these years, I have never doubted you. Not before, not now, and not in the future."
Hearing this, Shizune finally relaxed.
"As for the Third Hokage... the old monkey..."
Shizune hesitated, unsure of how to phrase her thoughts. Finally, after seeing Tsunade's encouraging look, she took a deep breath and spoke with conviction:
"The old monkey wouldn't do that. He was your master, Tsunade-sama. He knew you never wanted the position of Hokage. Even if he feared your power, all of your contributions to Konoha's medical advancements were given freely to the village."
"So, as Naruto said, Uncle Dan's death had nothing to do with the Third. But... we can't ignore the possibility of a double agent."
Buzz—
Tsunade's anger flared again. Naruto was about to praise Shizune for her sharp analysis, but before he could—
"Mmmph!"
He struggled as Tsunade tightened her grip around him, holding him back with one hand.
With a frown, Tsunade recalled, "From the very beginning, I pushed for a standardized medical ninja system, making medics a required part of every squad. But the village was at war, and the old man denied my request, citing a lack of funds."
"After Nawaki died, my determination to implement a medical corps grew even stronger. But again, the old man rejected it—again citing a lack of funds."
She let out a bitter laugh. "But back then, I still had plenty of my own wealth. When I offered to fund it myself, suddenly, it was an issue of manpower instead."
"There was always an excuse," she muttered. "Now it seems clear—it wasn't about resources. They were afraid of my reputation growing too high."
Naruto nodded. "Smart."
"And that's when Dan appeared," Tsunade continued.
Shizune's palms were clammy. She was almost afraid to look at her mentor.
"Tsunade-sama," Shizune murmured. "When Uncle Dan appeared… it must have been the lowest, most vulnerable point of your life, wasn't it?"
A bitter smile formed on Tsunade's lips. "Yes. Just after being rejected, he showed up, agreeing with my vision, supporting me. He understood me... or so I thought."
Shizune frowned, deep in thought. "But what was his true purpose?"
"Sister Shizune," Naruto interjected, "the Kato Clan… it disappeared long ago, didn't it? You don't even carry the surname."
Boom—!
The words hit them like a thunderclap.
Tsunade's face darkened. "I see… No wonder we've never heard anything about the Kato Clan all these years."
"To be so thorough… to not leave behind even a single trace…"
"Danzo alone wouldn't have been enough. He worked from the shadows, but there had to be someone covering things on the surface."
"Tsunade-sama… I'm so sorry…" Shizune's voice trembled.
"Idiot! Who do you take me for?" Tsunade scoffed. "At the time, my mind was consumed by grief over Nawaki. I didn't have the time or energy to dig deeper."
Shizune let out an awkward chuckle before frowning once more. "Then it all makes sense. The Kato Clan wouldn't have just disappeared without reason. Dan's actions must have had something to do with it."
"If Uncle Dan was indeed working as a double agent…"
"Then his entire relationship with Tsunade-sama… his support of her medical reforms…"
"His convenient accident when using the Spirit Transformation Technique…"
Shizune clenched her fists. "Uncle Dan was a Jonin—an experienced one. It was wartime. There's no way he'd make such a fatal mistake!"
She took a deep breath before concluding, "Which means... the only ones who knew the location of his real body were… our own people."
Naruto watched as Shizune pieced everything together, while Tsunade absentmindedly squeezed him tighter. A new thought surfaced in his mind.
Temari, the Kazekage's daughter. The princess of the Sand. She's their strategist.
"So the real question is…" Naruto mused. "Who orchestrated it all?"
Shizune's eyes widened.
"Naruto!!!" she nearly shouted, her voice filled with realization.
Tsunade, equally shocked, let out a gasp.
The truth was terrifying when pieced together.
"When we met, he played on my longing for Nawaki and my guilt. He claimed to dream of becoming Hokage!" Tsunade's voice trembled with rage. "Maybe it was a lie at first, but later... when I joined the medical team, they realized the value of my identity and skills. Damn it!"
Her fist clenched. "That bastard wanted to use me to rise to the top!"
Somewhere in the ether, the spirit of Minato Namikaze muttered, Am I late?
BANG!
The wooden table cracked under the force of Tsunade's fist.
Naruto, trapped within the chaotic emotions swirling around the room, could only sigh as he silently activated his abilities to repair the shattered wood. Sort it out... he thought to himself.
Tsunade's breaths were labored, her emotions flipping between realization, excitement, and seething anger.
Beside her, Shizune lowered her head, tears welling in her eyes.
"I'm sorry, Tsunade-sama..."
"Idiot! How could I ever blame you?" Tsunade reached out, pulling Shizune into a tight embrace.
Shizune trembled. "Tsunade-sama..."
"Silly girl, you were just a child back then. How could you have known?"
"Mm!"
Naruto: ...Hello? Anyone remember I'm here?
After a few moments, the two finally turned their attention back to him. Shizune quickly stepped away, her face flushed—whether from crying or something else, Naruto couldn't tell.
Tsunade, on the other hand, smirked confidently. "Pervert."
Naruto: ...Seriously?
Before he could retort, Tsunade suddenly leaned down, placing a kiss on his forehead.
"I will definitely become the Fifth Hokage!"
Naruto: ...Okay, now I'm speechless.
Tsunade leaned back, their eyes meeting at a close distance. A slight blush dusted her cheeks, but she chuckled softly. "My good disciple, thank you~"
SMACK!
The second time today, Naruto found himself caught in her grip.
He immediately struggled free, backing away before she could trap him again. Taking a deep breath, he looked at them both. Their faces were flushed like freshly brewed tea.
"Now that we've sorted this out, there's one last thing that needs confirming."
"What is it?" Tsunade asked, regaining her composure.
Naruto didn't answer immediately. Instead, he glanced at Tonton, still unconscious at Shizune's feet. Eh… better leave that one alone. Otherwise, she really might end up as emergency rations.
"Sister Shizune, come here for a moment."
"Me...?"
Shizune fidgeted nervously, her thoughts running wild. Lord Naruto… we're not suitable… Lady Kushina wouldn't approve… But senior sister and junior brother holding hands... it's just a test… right?
Despite her internal turmoil, she obediently stepped forward. Naruto took her hand, much to Tsunade's amusement and suspicion.
Then, before anyone could react, he raised her hand and let the power of the Mori-Mori no Mi take effect.
A sharp wooden blade formed from his fingers, lightly cutting across Shizune's fingertip. Blood welled up instantly.
Shizune: "..."
Tsunade: "..."
"L-Lady Tsunade?!"
"Ah—?!"
Three seconds of stunned silence.
Then, realization struck.
Naruto smirked. "When the knot in your heart is undone, the inner demon shatters."
Tsunade's eyes widened. The wound on Shizune's finger. The sight of blood. Yet… no reaction.
"Master," Naruto said, grinning. "Your hemophobia—"
THUMP!