Naruto: Starting with Tsunade

Chapter 219 Admitting to a Relationship

The thought that the big boss had been lurking by his side all these years, playing the role of a good person, made Aokiji's breathing become rapid. He only came back to his senses when Hiruzen Sarutobi reminded him.

"Aokiji, are you alright? You're sweating a lot all of a sudden. Are you feeling unwell? Or is it because of the tailed beast inside you?"

"what?"

Aokiji looked up and saw Hiruzen Sarutobi's kind expression, and swallowed hard.

It's nothing...

Thinking that he could just brush it off with a casual remark, but considering that saying such a thing might attract the other person's attention, he swallowed it back and instead said, "I was just suddenly feeling a bit sentimental. There are such undercurrents behind the seemingly calm surface."

"I'm very sorry about what happened to Itachi Uchiha..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice was filled with apology: "This is my fault as Hokage. If only I had reacted sooner. Perhaps, perhaps it wouldn't have happened..."

Aokiji closed his eyes and slowly shook his head, interrupting Hiruzen Sarutobi from speaking further. His attitude was very reasonable: "Hokage-sama, you don't need to apologize. This was Elder Itachi's own choice."

Hiruzen Sarutobi was satisfied with the answer, and then began to praise the deceased Elder Itachi: "He was willing to sacrifice his precious life for the peace of the village. He was a true inheritor of the Will of Fire."

"Yes, from now on, I will inherit his will and protect the family and the village for him."

Aokiji raised his arm and clenched his fist, his reply clear and unambiguous: "I will not allow anyone to disrupt the relationship between the Uchiha clan and the village."

"If you can say that, I think that person in the afterlife would be pleased," Hiruzen Sarutobi said with a smile. "May I hear what your next steps are?"

Aokiji pursed his lips, seemingly thinking seriously for a moment, before giving a clear response: "Next, I will try my best to control the power of the tailed beast within me, help the village win the war, and gain everyone's recognition."

Upon hearing this textbook-perfect answer, Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes showed approval, and he gave it high praise: "You have now inherited Itachi's Will of Fire and transformed into a true ninja."

Aokiji was cautious in his words and actions, and humbly said, "The Hokage-sama really thinks too highly of me. I am still far from being a true ninja."

Just as Hiruzen Sarutobi was pondering how to guide Aokiji toward his intentions, Aokiji seemed to suddenly remember something and interjected, "Um, Hokage-sama, I remember you just said that someone is planning to sabotage the relationship between the Uchiha clan and the village, right?"

"Yes."

Hiruzen Sarutobi seized the opportunity, sighed, and feigned a troubled expression: "To my shame, I haven't been able to come up with a good solution to this matter."

Aokiji saw his predicament: "Is it because my people have developed a rift with the village?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed and nodded.

Aokiji covered his chest with one hand and volunteered, "If possible, please let me handle this task."

Hiruzen Sarutobi glanced at him, a meaningful look on his face: "You?"

"Yes, I am a member of the Uchiha clan, and this mission suits me perfectly," Aokiji explained. "I can use this identity to take the opportunity to expose the guy who's been secretly causing trouble."

Just as he was wondering how to lure Aokiji into this mission, the other party unexpectedly took the initiative to approach him. Hiruzen Sarutobi was secretly delighted and played hard to get: "This won't do, it's too dangerous. If something happens to you, how will I face the dead Itachi?"

"Please, I want to do something for the village to make up for the mistakes I made." Aokiji lowered his eyebrows, looking remorseful.

Hiruzen Sarutobi comforted him, "This isn't your fault..."

Aokiji looked guilty and moved his lips, saying, "But the Five-Tails committed the crime by using my body."

Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed, looking like he was forced to accept it: "Alright, since you insist, I won't stop you, but please be careful and don't get discovered."

Thank you very much.

Hiruzen Sarutobi laughed and said, "But I can tell you for sure that once a ninja accepts a mission, he can't give up halfway through, unlike last time."

Bringing up the old story again, Aokiji gave an awkward laugh: "I promise this time it won't happen again."

"That's good then." Hiruzen Sarutobi said seriously, "But before you carry out this mission, you must first learn to control the power of the Tailed Beasts and prevent the power of the Tailed Beasts within you from going berserk, otherwise everything will be in vain."

Aokiji nodded and said earnestly, "I will try my best to learn how to control the Five-Tails, no, I will definitely control the Five-Tails and protect Konoha."

"I'm relieved to hear that," Hiruzen Sarutobi casually remarked. "But speaking of which, it would be great if you had the Sharingan. The Sharingan can control the power of the Tailed Beasts, which would give you a much better chance of controlling them."

Damn it, that old man is trying to trick me into revealing information. Don't think I can't see through him.

Since learning that he had been deceived in his feelings by a scumbag, Aokiji now trusts Tsunade completely, but he will hold back to some extent with others.

Following his words, Aokiji sighed, "It's truly shameful that someone from the Uchiha clan didn't awaken the Sharingan, but instead awakened the Ice Release bloodline limit."

Hiruzen Sarutobi, with a kind and gentle expression, comforted him, "Don't underestimate yourself. You're still young. Who knows, you might awaken the power of the Sharingan in the future."

Aokiji waved his hand: "It's impossible, it's too difficult. I've already awakened Ice Release. If I awaken the Sharingan, wouldn't I have two bloodline limits?"

"That's hard to say." Hiruzen Sarutobi observed Aokiji's expression discreetly, trying to discern something from it.

However, Aokiji was very good at disguising himself and shrugged.

Hiruzen Sarutobi exhaled a smoke ring, marking the end of the conversation: "Alright, I've already taken up a lot of your time. Now go with the others to your new life and learn how to control the tailed beasts."

Upon hearing this, Aokiji did not leave immediately. He lowered his eyes, nodded, and opened his mouth.

Seeing his hesitant expression, Hiruzen Sarutobi chuckled and asked, "Is there anything else you want to say?"

"Actually, before I formally accept this mission, I would like to ask the Hokage to grant me a request." At this point, Aokiji seemed to want to correct this statement, so he deliberately shook his head and continued, "No, rather than a request, it is actually a small personal request."

Hiruzen Sarutobi chuckled, "I was wondering why you suddenly became so enlightened; it turns out you had your own little scheme in mind."

Aokiji scratched his hair sheepishly and gave an embarrassed smile.

"Speak, what is it? If it's too much, I might consider it."

Aokiji's eyes flickered, hesitating whether to speak or not: "Actually, it's about me and Tsunade..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked puzzled: "About you and Tsunade?"

"Keep pretending..." Aokiji took a breath and mustered his courage: "Actually, I've been dating Tsunade lately..."

"Oh, dating..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi was a beat slow to react, his eyes widening in surprise: "Eh, you and Tsunade were already in this kind of relationship? When did this happen?"

(End of this chapter)