Naruto: Starting with Tsunade

Chapter 292 Breaking the Ties with Hiruzen Sarutobi

Watching his departing figure, Danzo was already plotting how to kill Aokiji.

However, to his dismay, just as Hiruzen Sarutobi had said, the best time to kill Aokiji had already passed.

Aokiji is too powerful now; it's simply unrealistic to try and eliminate him secretly.

With three bloodline limits and the power of the tailed beast, he's practically monster-like in strength.

No, even calling him a monster wouldn't be enough to describe Aokiji right now.

Aokiji's three bloodline limits are not simply bloodline limits.

His bloodline limit is so powerful because all of them can be seamlessly connected and perfectly coordinated.

Ice Release grants Aokiji the ability to both attack and defend, and can even be used as a sealing technique when necessary—it's simply too versatile.

Boil Release grants him unparalleled mobility; in terms of speed, only the Third Raikage in the ninja world can truly surpass him.

The Sharingan grants extraordinary insight; any taijutsu, ninjutsu, or even genjutsu can be seen through by these eyes.

In addition to the three bloodline limits, he also has a tailed beast within him, which, through the manipulation of the Sharingan, can continuously provide Aokiji with powerful chakra.

Each of these things is remarkable on its own, let alone all of them being concentrated in one person.

However, what he just showed were only Aokiji's visible talents; he had an even more powerful talent that he hadn't yet revealed.

Mangekyou Sharingan...

Thinking of this, Danzo's face darkened.

He missed the best opportunity to kill Aokiji, and time is running out for him...

We must find a way to kill him while he's still young...

In one or two years at most, Aokiji's strength will rise to another level.

Otherwise, let alone waiting for him to awaken the Mangekyou Sharingan, just the power of the three bloodline limits plus the tailed beasts would make it very difficult to find anyone in this world who could defeat Aokiji.

……

……

When he got home, Tsunade was lounging lazily on the sofa. Seeing him return, she asked curiously, "What did you and Fugaku do?"

Aokiji added fuel to the fire, saying, "What else can I do? The people in the clan are begging me to become the Uchiha clan leader."

"Come on, don't give me that."

Tsunade had a fairly good understanding of the Uchiha clan.

Although Aokiji's clan probably genuinely wanted him to shoulder the burden of the family, they shouldn't have to be so subservient.

"Fine, don't believe me then."

Aokiji shrugged.

Tsunade took a bite: "And what about your attitude?"

"Although I don't really want to be the clan leader, I probably wouldn't refuse if the time really comes for me to step down and hand over the position to a more capable person."

Now that his Sharingan ability has been exposed, Danzo, knowing that he has the Sharingan, is probably thinking about how to kill him.

Aokiji was still quite apprehensive. He wasn't afraid of a one-on-one fight, but he was afraid that his opponents wouldn't be patient and would choose to gang up on him.

The power of the Uchiha clan is indispensable for this.

Tsunade smiled knowingly: "Really? Well then you'd better watch out from now on."

Aokiji laughed and said, "Tsunade, from now on you will be the wife of the Uchiha clan head. You'd better watch your words and actions from now on. Don't embarrass me."

Tsunade chuckled: "I should be the one saying that. I'm going to be the Hokage's woman. As my husband, you'd better not embarrass me. From now on, you'd better watch your words and actions."

Aokiji teased, "Oh, so you've already started calling yourself my wife so quickly."

"So what if I am?" Tsunade was already somewhat immune to Aokiji's teasing: "So why don't you hurry up and cook for me, the future Hokage?"

"It's me again. When we first started living together, didn't you really enjoy cooking?" Aokiji sighed. "As expected, after you won me over, you started showing your true colors. Hmph~ woman~"

Tsunade's expression was one of utter exasperation: "I should be the one saying that."

You're wrong.

Tsunade: "???"

"I've been constantly revealing my true nature."

Tsunade: "..."

^^^^

One day later.

Aokiji was summoned to the Hokage's office: "Hokage-sama, you wanted to see me?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded, and then he chatted with Aokiji about all sorts of random things.

Aokiji roughly understood the meaning, which can be summarized as the front lines being in dire straits, so Hiruzen Sarutobi planned to remove Aokiji from Tsunade's side and send him to provide support.

With his and Tsunade's combined combat prowess, it would be fine if they were to carry out high-difficulty missions together, but such high-difficulty missions are not something that can be done frequently.

Therefore, if it's for some relatively ordinary tasks, then having two people tied together would be a waste of their talents.

What Hiruzen Sarutobi said was not without merit.

Aokiji thought it made sense.

But what does this have to do with me?

"I'm sorry, Lord Hokage, but I cannot comply."

Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned, his eyes showing displeasure. He hadn't expected Aokiji to refuse so directly.

He disguised it well; a fleeting look of displeasure crossed his eyes, barely noticeable, and he asked with a warm expression, "What's the reason?"

"It's simple, because I don't want to leave Tsunade's side."

Hiruzen Sarutobi had considered many reasons, but he never expected it to be this simple.

Aokiji said earnestly, "For me, Tsunade's safety is more important than anything else."

"But……"

Hiruzen Sarutobi wanted to try to persuade him again and make a final attempt.

Aokiji deeply loves Tsunade, so it's understandable that he can't bear to see her in danger.

But isn't he going a bit too far?

You have to understand that Tsunade is very strong. She has survived all these years, so Aokiji doesn't need to keep protecting her.

Aokiji interrupted, "Hokage-sama, please stop talking. I will not leave Tsunade."

"Have you considered the many sacrifices you'll make by doing this?"

"I've thought about it, but I still stand by what I said: for me, Tsunade surpasses everything."

Hiruzen Sarutobi paused for a moment, then asked, "Does that include the village?"

"Lord Hokage, aren't you making a bit too much of this?"

Aokiji refused to answer this crucial question.

Even without answering, Aokiji knew that what he just said meant that his "harmonious" relationship with Hiruzen Sarutobi had come to an end, and they had almost completely broken off relations.

But he couldn't do anything about it; that old man was hiding in the shadows, waiting for an opportunity to kill Tsunade.

Aokiji didn't have time to continue playing the hypocritical game with Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"I have a pot of soup cooking at home, and I need to go back and check on the fire. If there's nothing else, I'll be going now. If the Hokage has time, you might as well come to my house for some soup."

Hiruzen Sarutobi watched Aokiji's departing figure, his face grim, without uttering a word.

In a sense, Aokiji's actions constituted disobeying orders.

Under normal circumstances, when the Hokage personally issues a mission, a ninja has no reason to refuse, and even if there is, they have to bite the bullet and do it.

Because that's how ninjas are.

Those who are willing to risk their lives to complete a mission, like Aokiji who does it based on personal preference, are a very rare breed.

Or perhaps it's because the Sharingan was exposed that they've simply given up pretending...

Or perhaps he noticed something?

Hiruzen Sarutobi narrowed his eyes slightly: "This kid completely outmaneuvered me..."

(End of this chapter)