"Next, everyone can begin voting."
At the first Jonin meeting resumed after the New Year, after Hiruzen analyzed the pros and cons of the project and outlined the plan, he opened the floor for the numerous Jonin across from him to vote.
In this resumed Jonin meeting after the New Year, the list of attendees remained unchanged. Although there were a few substitutions among the participants, the voting pattern formed by these ninjas would not change.
In other words, whatever the voting pattern was last time would likely be the same this time. Although there wasn't an actual vote last time, everyone knew that the project to recreate Wood Release ninjas was likely to be terminated.
After Hiruzen's announcement, all the Jonin in the meeting room also turned their gaze towards Tsunade, seemingly waiting for her to voice opposition, as if they would follow suit.
Dan Kato looked at Tsunade, who bowed her head with lowered brows, his eyes filled with unclear concern and pity. Several times, he wanted to raise his hand and voice his opposition, but realizing he was just an unrelated bystander, he restrained himself.
Under the scrutiny of everyone present, Tsunade slowly lifted her head. Despite the psychological preparation she and Tatsuma had been doing these past few days, facing the moment of voting still filled Tsunade's heart with anger and shame. Using her grandfather's remains to secure her future reputation and status was not something a granddaughter should do.
However, Tatsuma had already explained various possibilities to her. Regardless of her choice, her grandfather's remains would be donated for research materials. Even if Tsunade betrayed the village. This was an idea Tsunade had proposed as a last resort, but Tatsuma instantly dismissed it because she couldn't defect from the village through conventional means.
Assassinate the Hokage? Hiruzen would brush it off as a spar between master and student. Attack colleagues? Hasn't Tsunade attacked colleagues enough in recent years? Unless Tsunade dares to actually kill a colleague, it would be futile.
And passing confidential information to enemy villages? Tsunade dares, the village dares to provide secrets and channels for Tsunade to leak, but her identity ensures that enemy villages would never trust her intelligence anyway.
The only possible defection option would be to publicly announce her defection in front of everyone, but this would ironically provide the village with an easier solution. Because the village could use this as a reason to allow another qualified Senju representative to emerge, one who would agree with the village's proposals.
Furthermore, this action would damage the prestige and reputation of the Senju. Initially, there might have been dissent from the village and villagers, but if Tsunade did this, everyone would agree that the village could use Senju Hashirama's remains for research.
As Tatsuma said, this is a situation where Tsunade cannot "win." Only by supporting it can she bring herself more benefits while ensuring the outcome remains unchanged.
Taking a deep breath, Tsunade looked at her sensei and said, "I agree."
When Tsunade's words fell, the meeting room fell silent. Everyone's inquisitive gazes turned instantly to astonishment. Tsunade's response was unexpected by anyone.
Some even shifted their gaze towards the Uchiha and Jonin like Shinku Yuhi known for their adeptness in Genjutsu. Though unspoken, their expressions hinted at a question: "Have you controlled Tsunade?!"
Upon hearing Tsunade's support for the proposal, Hiruzen's emotions were complex. He felt a mix of relief and an inexplicable sense of guilt. Quickly, though, Hiruzen composed himself before the other Ninja could regain their focus.
"Well done. Indeed, as the granddaughter of the First Hokage, Tsunade, your understanding of the Will of Fire is profound. Wherever the leaves of Konoha dance, the flame of fire shall endlessly thrive. The light of fire will continue to illuminate the village and nurture new leaves. Even those that have withered and fallen will provide nutrients for new growth.
If the First Hokage were to know of your decision now, he would surely be immensely proud. Tsunade, thank you for your willingness to sacrifice personal honor and disgrace for the village, and to ensure its future."
"I, on behalf of Konoha, and for you, and for the First Hokage-sama, express my gratitude," Hiruzen said. With that, disregarding his own status, he stood up and deeply bowed to Tsunade. It was what he owed as her sensei and as a descendant indebted to Konoha's pioneers.
As Tsunade looked at her eloquent sensei Hiruzen bowed with his head lowered. Her other hand under the table clenched tightly, knuckles turning white. Despite this, she spoke in a stiff voice, almost through gritted teeth, "No need, Third. I simply made the choice that any Konoha person would make."
Upon hearing Tsunade not address him as sensei, and not even as Hokage, Hiruzen, bowing with a pained expression, quickly resumed his smile and straightened up.
Their interaction, though not perfectly harmonious, left all the Konoha Jonin in the meeting room exchanging glances. They understood that dissent was no longer an option.
After all, to dissent would be to deny being a part of Konoha.
The subsequent voting proceeded very smoothly, with no one casting a dissenting vote. Only the Uchiha clan abstained, led by the current Clan Head Uchiha Fugaku's father, Uchiha Taku, who sighed inexplicably and shook his head without further comment as he looked at Tsunade.
Beside him, Uchiha Fugaku, promoted to Jonin after the war, looked at his father. For some reason, from his father's sigh, he sensed a profound regret and a lamentable feeling.
With the voting results announced, Hiruzen nodded. According to the usual procedure, they should have started discussing the next proposal. However, Hiruzen spoke up:
"Since this proposal has been passed, I propose that Orochimaru be appointed as the lead researcher for this project. Does anyone have any other recommendations?"
Upon hearing Hiruzen's words, Tsunade, who had barely suppressed her anger, lifted her head again. Her eyes stared incredulously at her sensei. It was at this moment that she finally understood why her teammates had not attended the meeting twice in a row.
Betrayed by sensei, disciple, and her own teammates, Tsunade at this moment felt unprecedentedly lost and confused.
"Bang!"
Tsunade suddenly stood up and walked towards the door. Her sudden outburst stunned everyone in the meeting room. Dan Kato paused for a second, then also stood up and said:
"Hokage-sama, Tsunade seems to be feeling unwell. I'll go check on her."
"Please do."
Hiruzen waved his hand dismissively. Dan Kato immediately got up and hurried in the direction Tsunade had left.
As the two walked out of the meeting room, Dan Kato saw Tsunade standing alone in the corridor outside. He quickly closed the meeting room door and watched Tsunade not far away.
"Come out!"
Tsunade suddenly exclaimed angrily. Dan Kato looked puzzled, pointing at himself, but Tsunade didn't look at him and seemed to be talking to herself.
Just as Dan Kato was puzzled, another figure suddenly appeared in the corridor—short and thin, dressed in ANBU attire. Dan Kato quickly ran through the ANBU members he knew in his mind, but none matched this description.
Soon, he noticed the distinctive blue and white curly hair of the ANBU ninja and realized their identity.
Tatsuma appeared, looking at Tsunade and then at Dan Kato, who wore a surprised expression not far away. Tatsuma reached up and removed the Yaksha mask from his face, which unintentionally gave a comical impression.
"Sensei."
Looking at Tatsuma, Tsunade restrained her anger and asked, "Do you know Orochimaru is the lead researcher for the project? Did you know about this?"
"I guessed."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"No need."
Perhaps it was because he was still wearing the ANBU uniform, Tatsuma's response was unintentionally terse. Of course, there might be another reason—normal conversations with Tsunade always tended to infuriate him.
And when he gets angry, Tsunade gets even angrier, and then he gets beaten up again.
Upon hearing Tatsuma's response, Tsunade's anger was somewhat subdued, replaced by a feeling of incomprehension. Instinctively, she asked, "Why?"
"Because he's the best researcher. Even if he's not involved now and the research fails later, the Daimyo will question why the village didn't let Orochimaru, the best researcher, lead the project. Then the village will continue to invite Orochimaru-sama to lead this research project, and he also lacks the real confidence to refuse. Eventually, he will become the lead researcher. With his personality, perhaps he will seek good terms and then join without hesitation."
Tatsuma's response once again made Tsunade instinctively nod. It sounded like the kind of choice her teammate would make—wrong! How could this guy, who has known Orochimaru for such a short time, understand him better than she does?
But by now, Tsunade's anger had subsided considerably. She even felt a kind of sympathy for Orochimaru, a feeling of shared suffering, and asked, "So what do you think is the leverage the village has to make Orochimaru take action?"
Upon hearing this, Tatsuma furrowed his brows slightly and involuntarily began to ponder what kind of leverage could move Orochimaru. After a moment of thought, Tatsuma said, "Perhaps it's funding for other research projects."
Seeing that Tatsuma wasn't very clear either, Tsunade decided not to dwell on it further. She was about to go home alone and sulk. After all, she didn't have money to go to a bar or a casino, and Jiraiya wasn't around to let her vent her frustration by beating him up.
But as she turned her head, she noticed Dan Kato standing there dumbfounded. Seeing this potential enemy who was secretly investigating her, Tsunade's expression immediately darkened, and she asked displeasedly, "Were you eavesdropping on our conversation?!"
Upon hearing this, Dan Kato indeed felt a bit embarrassed. After all, he hadn't avoided overhearing Tsunade and Tatsuma's conversation—it was technically eavesdropping.
"I'm sorry," Dan Kato admitted his mistake openly, then continued, "I'd like to invite you to a yakitori shop. I recently found one that serves great grilled chicken and good drinks. I think you'd really like it."
Tsunade narrowed her eyes and said coldly, "You want to take advantage of me more easily when I'm drunk?"
Tsunade's blunt words made Dan Kato blush. Adhering to honesty, he found himself nodding involuntarily.
Seeing this boldness from a hidden enemy within the village, Tsunade's expression darkened further. Yet, her inherent defiance surged within her, and she continued, "Fine, let's drink! Since your tolerance is so weak anyway. We'll see who gets drunk first—if you take advantage of me, or if I get the chance to take advantage of you!"
"This..." Dan Kato's face reddened even more, while Tatsuma slapped his forehead, feeling like these two were beyond help.
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