Naruto: Starting with Tsunade

Chapter 220 Preventing Uchiha Madara

Aokiji nodded in agreement: "That's a long story."

Hiruzen Sarutobi recalled, "I remember Jiraiya seemed to like Tsunade quite a bit, right? He kept clamoring to pursue her, but Tsunade wouldn't even bother to look at him. I never thought you would be the one to win her over."

Aokiji gave an awkward smile: "We shouldn't let the good stuff go to outsiders."

"You should call this stealing someone else's love," Hiruzen Sarutobi chuckled, then changed the subject: "What was Jiraiya's reaction when he found out?"

Aokiji replied, "I think he had a hard time accepting it at first, but he gradually came to terms with it later."

"Oh, that puts my mind at ease. I was really worried about things going wrong." Hiruzen Sarutobi chuckled. "My disciple is really not someone to worry about. But why are you telling me this kind of thing?"

Aokiji saw through Hiruzen Sarutobi's pretense: "Hokage-sama, stop playing dumb. You already knew, didn't you? Those ANBU members who were secretly observing to prevent the tailed beast from going berserk within me when Tsunade visited me in the hospital should have reported this to you, right?"

A romantic relationship between the Uchiha and Senju clans is enough to attract attention in the village, especially since the woman is the granddaughter of the First Hokage, a figure with a special political status.

Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't deny it: "Oh dear, you found out."

Aokiji felt a little smug: "I'm not stupid."

"But what does that have to do with you telling me that you two are dating? I think that even though I am the Hokage and manage all aspects of the village, I shouldn't be involved in romantic relationships."

Aokiji looked troubled: "How should I put it, Hokage-sama? As you know, our two families seem to have quite a history."

Hiruzen Sarutobi understood what he meant: "You want me to say a few words about this matter?"

Using his childlike identity, Aokiji clasped his hands together and said sincerely, "Please."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's lips curled into a bitter smile: "Even as Hokage, I can't control things like this."

"Sigh..." Aokiji frowned.

Hiruzen Sarutobi left himself an out, saying, "However, I can still give you some advice."

Aokiji raised his eyebrows and brightened his eyes: "Hokage-sama, please tell me, I'm listening carefully."

Hiruzen Sarutobi gave two pieces of advice: "First, you should control the power of the tailed beast as soon as possible and contribute more to the village in the war. This way, the villagers will recognize you, and they will naturally not stand in your way. Second, it is best not to announce your relationship for the time being to avoid causing unnecessary trouble."

Aokiji found the words reasonable and thanked him, saying, "That makes sense, Hokage-sama, you are such a kind person."

"It was nothing, just a small favor. If there's nothing else, then you should hurry over there and report for duty." Hiruzen Sarutobi wore a warm smile, keeping everyone in suspense: "I think the people over there must be getting impatient waiting for you."

"Those people over there?" Aokiji was taken aback. "Who?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled mysteriously: "You'll find out when you get there."

"Alright then..." Aokiji bowed deeply, nodding his head with a barely perceptible sly glint in his eyes.

First, I'll develop cautiously for a few years and fully digest the power of the tailed beast within me. Then I won't have to be so careful about what I do every day.

As Hiruzen watched Aokiji leave the room in high spirits, the smile in his eyes gradually faded, and a dark hue appeared in his once clear eyes.

He had kindly offered advice to Aokiji earlier, not because he genuinely wanted to bring the two of them together. This was a last resort; even if he hadn't said anything, Aokiji would have figured it out himself. So he figured he might as well do him a favor.

Moreover, the situation is still so tense, and Aokiji and the power of the tailed beast within him are undoubtedly a significant force.

........................

Leaving the Hokage's office and following behind the relevant personnel, Aokiji walked and pondered.

First, they analyzed Madara Uchiha's intention to help him stuff the tailed beasts.

First: He disliked his own weakness, so he inserted a tailed beast to strengthen himself. As for the Mangekyou Sharingan, using it too much can strain the eyes. In this era, there are no White Zetsu cells that can reduce the side effects of the Mangekyou Sharingan.

Second: To enhance the bond between myself and Tsunade, which will make the sword even more effective.

Third: To be determined.

Having clarified the above relationships, Aokiji began to think about how to prevent this Uchiha Madara.

In the original manga, the Uchiha clan's strategy was to kidnap Rin during a battle, and then deliberately lure Obito into witnessing Rin's death, causing him to go berserk.

This template seems to work fine for Aokiji as well.

The implementation of this plan focuses on two aspects:

First: We need to capture Tsunade.

Second: You need to be able to see Tsunade in person.

Once Aokiji understands these two points, he just needs to find a way to eliminate them.

Since he has only recently become a Jinchūriki, the village cannot allow him to participate in battles to prevent the tailed beast within him from going berserk. In other words, Tsunade should be safe for the time being.

However, once she gains control of the Tailed Beasts and is deployed to the battlefield, she needs to be careful, as Madara Uchiha will begin to make moves, preparing to capture Tsunade and kill her.

The best way to avoid this situation is to avoid going to the battlefield, but that's impossible.

It's not that Konoha wouldn't allow it, but rather that he could only delay his deployment to the battlefield as much as possible within a certain timeframe. After all, who knows if Madara Uchiha would get impatient and choose to execute another plan?

If that's the case, then Aokiji will lose his informational advantage and be put in a very passive situation.

If he leaves the mountain too early, he won't be able to withstand Madara Uchiha's attack; if he leaves too late, Madara Uchiha will change his plans.

Just as Aokiji was racking his brains over this matter and had a terrible headache, the Five-Tails inside his body couldn't hold back any longer and started to move: "I say, Aokiji, you really are a liar. You clearly have the Sharingan, so why did you lie to that human? I think that human seemed to treat you quite well."

Aokiji said to the tailed beast inside him, "Don't be fooled by his appearance. This person is not as kind and benevolent as he looks."

Once the Jinchuriki removes the Tailed Beast, the host will die immediately. Separating the Five-Tails from oneself is equivalent to kicking the bucket, so there is no need for him to hide anything from the Five-Tails.

Gouwei understood: "So, he's the kind of hypocrite who's all talk and no action."

"It's not entirely true, but he's a complicated person, hard to explain in a few words. Also, my hiding my Sharingan isn't because I don't trust him at all; it's more for self-preservation."

"Self-preservation?"

Wuwei became interested: "Is someone in the village trying to kill you?"

"In some ways, it's about the same..."

Aokiji thought that if he were to expose the power of his Sharingan, aside from Hiruzen Sarutobi, someone like Danzo would definitely not tolerate the existence of someone who possessed both the Sharingan and the power of a Tailed Beast.

Five-Tails, connecting the context, analyzed, "Is it because of the Sharingan?"

"The power of the Sharingan is too great, which will attract covetousness. There are countless people in this world who want my eyes. I think you must understand this feeling very well."

Hearing this, the Five-Tails empathized deeply and quickly connected it to its own experiences. Because of its naturally powerful chakra, it had always been the target of attempts to capture it and seize its power. As a result, it felt a greater sense of identification with Aokiji.

Aokiji lamented, "Most people are too complicated. I feel it's better to have a dog than to get along with them. I can occasionally have a heart-to-heart talk with them and I don't have to worry about being betrayed."

The Five-Tails, unusually, didn't criticize Aokiji much, and instead chimed in, "That's true..."

Aokiji replied cheerfully, "Right?"

Suddenly, the five-tailed brain seemed to think, "Wait, you're telling me all this honestly, does that mean I'm just a dog in your heart?"

Aokiji laughed and denied it: "You're overthinking it. In my heart, you're much more important than a dog. Dogs still need to eat, drink, and poop, but you don't."

"That's more like it... um."

The Five-Tails felt that Aokiji was insulting it, but since it had no evidence, it could only respond with a hum.

Aokiji, seeing the Five-Tails sulking, suddenly had a brilliant idea: how to deal with Madara Uchiha coming to kill Tsunade.

(End of this chapter)