They're promoting the "Konoha threat" theory, and spouting nonsense about the Hidden

Chapter 139 Two Years Later & Tsunade's Mission to Kirigakure

No matter what method Hozuki Shingetsu came up with, Yakushi Kabuto was still breastfeeding and had not yet become a war orphan, nor had he met Yakushi Nonou. Therefore, no matter what method Hozuki Shingetsu came up with, he could not implement it and could only silently wait for the right time.

The most important thing for Kirigakure right now is to take advantage of the chaos in the ninja world to hone their internal skills.

In this way, when the war is about to end in two years and Hozuki Shingetsu's plans can be realized, Kirigakure will be able to take off like a fully wound-up machine.

Hozuki Shingetsu naturally understood the principle that governing a large country is like cooking a small fish, so he immediately suppressed his temper and focused on sorting out the village's development strategy. He then casually planted some spies in various parts of the ninja world in preparation for the future.

While Hozuki Shingetsu was able to patiently farm in Kirigakure, the four great nations over there had no time or inclination to develop themselves.

The war has been going on for nearly a year now, during which time events have occurred, including Iwagakure being defeated and forced to withdraw from the war by Konoha, the possible appearance of Konoha's Wood Release and Mangekyou Sharingan, Konoha's home being stolen by the Sky Village, and Iwagakure rejoining the battlefield.

The four great nations are also fighting fiercely in these increasingly frequent wars. Konoha, in particular, was already besieged by the three great nations, and now it was attacked by a sixth brother who came from nowhere, resulting in the deaths of all the elders of the various ninja clans in the village.

However, just as the various ninja clans were all dressed in mourning clothes, intending to hold a funeral for their ancestors, the three great nations unexpectedly planned to launch a fierce offensive, hoping to subdue Konoha in one fell swoop.

Thus, caught off guard, even Senju Nawaki perished in this attack.

This really angered everyone in Konoha.

That's the Thousand-Handed Rope Tree!

As the only grandson of Hashirama Senju, and especially as an elder of the Senju clan, Shogo Senju had just given his last drop of blood for Konoha when Nawaki Senju died in battle. How should outsiders view Konoha?

The Senju clan's legitimate line is now reduced to just Tsunade. What does this mean? It means that the Senju's legitimate line has officially become extinct!

Upon hearing this news, Hiruzen Sarutobi was so enraged that he didn't even plan to hold his father's funeral, and with bloodshot eyes, he was ready to fight the three great nations to the death.

Guided by this trend, coupled with the Senju clan's long-standing reputation in Konoha and the resentment and unwillingness of those who survived the air raid on the Sky Village, Konoha, with a sense of "a desperate army will surely win," launched a fierce counterattack against the three great ninja villages and successfully regained some lost territory.

Misfortune for a nation is fortune for a poet, and the same is true for heroes. The four great ninja villages also produced a large number of heroic geniuses during the war.

For example, the son of the Third Raikage of Kumogakure, the younger generation of the "AB" duo, Higashi Shijin, Rōshi, Han, and Kōtō of Iwagakure, and Aoyama and Rasa of Sunagakure who mastered Magnet Release all rose to fame because of this war.

Of course, when it comes to the number of heroes who have emerged, Konoha is the place to be.

"White Fang" Sakumo Hatake, Tsunade, Orochimaru, Fugaku Uchiha, and the new generation of Ino-Shika-Cho all showed the world why Konoha could be called the strongest ninja in the world during this war.

In particular, Sakumo Hatake seemed to be treating this Ninja World War as his own stage.

Time and again, he ventured alone deep behind enemy lines, maneuvering and maneuvering to demonstrate the essence of guerrilla warfare to the fullest extent, traversing thousands of miles without being stopped by anyone.

He single-handedly tied down about a quarter of Sunagakure's forces, and even under these circumstances, he killed Chiyo's son and daughter-in-law, two promising puppeteers.

This enraged Chiyo, who relentlessly pursued and attacked Konoha, ultimately killing Tsunade's boyfriend Dan in retaliation.

These two events also led to a renewed surge in the intensity of the war.

Two years passed seemingly slowly but actually quickly amidst this back-and-forth war.

-

Konoha, Hokage's office.

"Old man, you were looking for me?"

Tsunade pushed open the door and stood calmly in the doorway.

For some reason, despite it being wartime, she wasn't wearing armor, but rather a loose green robe, dressed casually at home.

"...Tsunade, you still haven't solved that problem?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi tapped his pipe lightly, glanced at Tsunade's attire, and asked in a low voice.

Taking advantage of the lull in the fighting at the front, Hiruzen Sarutobi hurriedly returned from the front, his real purpose being to see Tsunade.

"So what if it's solved? So what if it's not? What's the point of solving it or not?"

Tsunade asked calmly.

My brother and boyfriend have passed away, so what's the point of resolving this hemophobia?

"Sigh, Tsunade, I know the village has wronged you..."

Seeing his disciple in this state, Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn't help but show a hint of regret on his increasingly aged face.

"No, the village hasn't wronged me at all. The only one the village has wronged is the Senju!"

Tsunade interrupted Hiruzen Sarutobi, showing him no mercy.

While Tobirama Senju's influence played a role in the Senju clan's decline to its current state, Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo Shimura also played crucial roles.

The death of Senju Nawaki merely removed this fig leaf from the surface.

Therefore, Tsunade's implication was quite clear: with only her remaining direct descendant of the Senju clan, she had given up on the idea of ​​reviving the Senju.

Since her younger brother and boyfriend died in battle, Tsunade, who was full of vigor and longed to restore the glory of the Senju clan, has died.

Although it is objectively known that their deaths in battle should not be blamed on the village, how can people be completely dominated by reason?

Tsunade is now completely heartbroken. The only reason she stays in Konoha is probably the simple fact that it is the village founded by her grandfather and that it is currently in the midst of war.

She no longer cared about anything else, such as the "Wood Release Experiment Project," the "Glory of the Senju," or the "Grievances between the Senju and Uchiha."

Hiruzen Sarutobi remained silent upon hearing this, only able to exhale smoke repeatedly in his office before finally breaking the silence with a few words.

"...Tsunade, the village needs you now."

"Need me? What use would they have for a useless person like me? The only thing I'm good for right now is researching antidotes for the Sand Village at the hospital, isn't it?"

Tsunade looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi with a hint of mockery on her face.

"The war has been going on for two and a half years... You know the village's current situation. The supplies we stockpiled before the war are almost exhausted, and we probably won't be able to hold out much longer if we continue fighting. Although the three opposing ninja villages are in a similar situation, we can't gamble with them. We must do everything we can to take the initiative..."

"Now, the only one capable of intervening in this war and breaking the balance is Kirigakure, which is located overseas and has never joined the war."

"The various factions in the ninja world already understood Kirigakure's intentions: their purpose in sending that humanitarian medical team was to maintain neutrality and not participate in the war. At the time, we breathed a sigh of relief regarding Kirigakure's attitude, but now they are our only hope..."

As Hiruzen Sarutobi finished speaking, he stood up, turned his back to the setting sun, and walked step by step to Tsunade. He patted her on the shoulder and said:

"Therefore, we must send someone to Kirigakure to seek their help. Considering their status, there aren't many people in the village who can do this; it must be a respected young person. Sakumo is currently on the battlefield in the Land of Wind, Jiraiya has been missing in the Land of Rain for two years, Orochimaru isn't good with words, and Fugaku Uchiha is a complicated case... I can only count on you."

"Rely on me? You must think I'm the only good-for-nothing who does nothing all day, right?"

Upon hearing Hiruzen Sarutobi's words, Tsunade raised an eyebrow and asked in return.

"And I'm afraid it's not just that, is it? I heard that the new leader of Kirigakure, Hozuki Shingetsu, is the son-in-law of the Uzumaki clan. You're probably planning to have me plead with the Uzumaki clan on your behalf, aren't you?"

Seeing Hiruzen Sarutobi's silent expression, Tsunade grew angrier and angrier as she spoke, the heavy fruit teetering precariously.

"When Uzushio Village was besieged, the village didn't send a single soldier to help. Now you're thinking of using that connection to beg the Uzumaki clan for help? Are you dreaming or am I dreaming?"

Since the incident of the whirlpool entering the water, the bond and past between Uzushio Village and Konoha Village have vanished with the disbandment of Uzushio Village.

Nowadays, the Uzumaki clan is probably only recognized by the Senju clan in Konoha.

Currently, Konoha only has Tsunade as a pure Senju clan member.

What does this mean? It means that Hiruzen Sarutobi wanted Tsunade to personally humiliate the Senju clan in order to gain the support of the Uzumaki clan. How could this not enrage Tsunade to such an extent?

Your village has done countless bad things, and now that you're in trouble, you want to use the Senju clan's name to clean up your mess. Do you really think the Senju clan is extinct?

"Tsunade, the village had its reasons for doing what it did before..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi opened and closed his mouth repeatedly, finally managing to utter a single sentence after a long pause.

Upon hearing this, Tsunade crossed her arms and snorted coldly, clearly uninterested in this explanation of her predicament.

"...Tsunade, what's past is past. That's how things are now. The village is at a critical juncture, and this is the only way to save it. Whether you want to go or not is entirely up to you."

Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed, turned around and went to the window. Looking at the Hokage Rock bathed in the afterglow of the setting sun, he said something seemingly casually.

"It's just a pity that the village that Lord Hashirama built with his own hands will disappear into the long river of history along with the Senju clan..."

After a moment of silence, a voice, half-compromising and half-relieved, rang out:

"...After the war ends, I will leave Konoha with Dan's niece."

(End of this chapter)