"Bam!"
"Impossible!"
Tsunade smashed a table with her fist, causing the scrolls that Tatsuma and Minato had painstakingly arranged to scatter all over the floor. However, neither of them dared to voice their dissatisfaction at seeing their labor ruined.
Glaring angrily at Danzo, Tsunade exclaimed, "You prioritize resources, you pre-select reinforcements, I can accept all of that. But taking Tatsuma away, what about the wounded on the other side of the battlefield? Do you expect me to handle it alone?"
Danzo insisted on having the ninjas proficient in Medical Ninjutsu. Tsunade could tolerate this, considering that with her and Tatsuma together, they could compensate for the absence of quite a few medical ninjas.
But taking Tatsuma away as well? Unless Tsunade decided not to go to the battlefield anymore and instead focused solely on staying in the medical camp, there wouldn't be enough time to save the wounded. Moreover, Tsunade didn't want Tatsuma to remain under Danzo's control.
Forget about Tatsuma; even if the objectives and purposes on both sides of the battlefield were not different, she wouldn't want Nawaki to stay on this side.
Ignoring Tsunade's anger, Danzo slightly adjusted his position to ensure he could see Tatsuma. He said, "All your words are futile. Isn't the most important thing one's own opinion? Sakamoto Tatsuma, are you willing to stay and serve the village?"
As soon as these words were spoken, even Orochimaru's expression darkened. Danzo actually set a trap for a child. Tatsuma would find it difficult to answer this question.
If he answered "willing," it meant he had to stay, contradicting Tsunade's wishes as his sensei. If he answered "unwilling," who would dare to answer in such a manner?
Even Tatsuma, a child, faced with this question, wouldn't easily answer "unwilling." This question would be daunting even for someone who had roamed the ninja world for decades.
In fact, if Sarutobi Hiruzen had asked this question to Shimura Danzo, even Danzo would grit his teeth and accept, because answering "unwilling" would mean both his reputation and integrity were at stake.
Nawaki looked utterly perplexed, not grasping the intricacies of the situation. Minato furrowed his brow. Although he couldn't immediately discern the underlying significance of the question, he sensed that something was amiss.
As for Tatsuma, he wasn't truly a child, at least not in spirit. Upon hearing the question, his heart sank.
Tatsuma felt that if there were an achievement system for his inner thoughts, it would undoubtedly display a message like "Achievement Unlocked: Coveted by the Blame King."
If we were to consider his inner desires alone, Tatsuma would certainly be entirely unwilling. However, sometimes circumstances constrain one's actions, and it's not as simple as "when the heart doesn't will, the body cannot act."
Especially as an ordinary person, the journey of life is about continuously shouldering burdens. When these burdens become too heavy, one might even lose the courage to look back at their ideals, let alone have control over their own destiny.
Tatsuma knew he couldn't refuse to serve the village. But as he lifted his head, his face still bearing traces of innocence, he spoke with seriousness, "Of course, I am willing to serve the village."
As soon as the words were spoken, Danzo smiled, Tsunade's gaze dimmed, and even Orochimaru slightly lowered his head. Compromise, a scenario experienced by countless individuals, and Orochimaru was no exception.
However, having experienced compromise himself and knowing its pain, Orochimaru was particularly eager to see someone make a new attempt, to make everything different from the old ways. But it seemed that Tatsuma couldn't achieve that either.
Just as Orochimaru felt somewhat nostalgic, and Danzo was immensely pleased, Tatsuma, with utmost seriousness, said, "Serving the village doesn't just mean staying here, isn't that right, Danzo-sama?"
Tsunade raised an eyebrow, her eyes regaining their luster. Orochimaru also slowly lifted his head, gazing at Danzo, whose expression suddenly darkened. For some reason, Orochimaru felt like laughing.
"Are you unwilling to follow me and contribute to the village's victory?"
"Is Danzo-sama unwilling to let me follow my sensei and help save more comrades for the village?"
Tatsuma indeed couldn't refuse; he couldn't utter the words of refusal. But Danzo couldn't either, unless he had gone mad, daring to say that going to Jiraiya's battlefield wasn't serving the village.
Upon hearing Tatsuma respond with his own rhetoric, Danzo's expression darkened completely. However, for some reason, he didn't feel much anger inside, at least not the kind of indignation he felt when talking with Tsunade about "no one understanding his wholehearted devotion to the village."
"Hmph! If you only want to follow your sensei and waste your own growth with petty antics, then so be it. In the end, it'll be you who regrets it!"
Danzo turned and left with a sweep of his sleeve. Unfortunately, there was no real door to the tent; otherwise, Tatsuma believed he would have slammed it shut forcefully.
"Sigh..."
As Danzo departed, the tension in the tent instantly eased. Nawaki and Minato, who had been afraid to breathe heavily, inexplicably showed expressions of relief, as if they had survived a disaster.
Tsunade turned around, gripping Tatsuma's cheeks with both hands, and exclaimed, "You scared me!"
"Ouch, ouch, ouch!"
Feeling the pain in his cheeks, Tatsuma began to struggle. However, his strength, much superior to Minato's, was as feeble as a child's resistance under Tsunade's hands, allowing her to knead and flatten at will.
After venting for a while, Tsunade finally let go. By then, Tatsuma's cheeks were slightly swollen, and his hair resembled a bird's nest. It was only then that Orochimaru spoke up:
"Tatsuma, from now on, you must be cautious with your words and actions. Those lurking in the shadows will scrutinize your every move, and any mistake you make will be magnified a hundredfold."
Although Orochimaru's words were not explicit, he believed Tatsuma could understand. Tatsuma nodded in agreement. Tsunade, on the other hand, seemed unconcerned and remarked, "If Danzo dares to provoke me and Tatsuma, I'll dismantle his roots!"
"Then you'll be called Root Dismantler from now on. I can't let you hog all the infamy."
Tatsuma regretted his jest as soon as he said it, for he saw Tsunade's eyebrows furrow again. Just as he thought to dodge, he realized Tsunade's anger didn't seem directed at him.
Chakra rapidly overflowed as Tatsuma sensed the surroundings with his sensory abilities. Two figures appeared nearby, and their chakra emitted a sense of disgust to Tatsuma.
"Swoosh, swoosh."
Two figures clad in ANBU attire emerged, with one of them stepping forward and saying, "Tsunade, Orochimaru, please hand over the list of support personnel for this mission."
Simultaneously, Danzo-sama requests Tsunade and Tatsuma to go to the medical camp to treat the injured ninjas."
Although the word "please" was used, there was no hint of respect in the ninja's tone. Orochimaru picked up the list, looked at the ninja before him, and said to Tatsuma, "Remember these people. They are the ones who will monitor your every move and word. Am I right?"
After speaking, Orochimaru stared at the two ninjas, who nodded without hesitation, saying, "It's just to ensure the safety and order of the village."
Tsunade frowned and said, "Tell Danzo that when we return to the village, Tatsuma will move to my grandfather's house. If Root dares to approach or investigate, they will be charged with illegally obtaining Konoha's secrets."
"I will convey the message to Danzo-sama. Now please hand over the list to me and then proceed to the medical camp to treat the wounded," the Root ninja said, still devoid of any emotional fluctuations, reaching out to Orochimaru. With a smile, Orochimaru handed the scroll to the Root ninja.
"Ugh."
"Thud."
Suddenly, the Root ninja collapsed to the ground. Dark purple veins appeared on his exposed skin, resembling blood vessels of various sizes within the human body, akin to tree roots winding through the earth.
Only then did Orochimaru speak, "Don't worry, Tsunade has developed the antidote. It's Chiyo No. 7 Antidote. You have... nine minutes left to detoxify."
"Hmph! Let's go."
Finally, the Root ninja's words showed emotional fluctuations. Enduring the pain caused by the poison, he picked up the fallen scroll. His companion made no move to assist him but simply opened the tent flap for him.
After heaving a sigh of relief, a faint smile appeared on Tsunade's face. However, Orochimaru frowned and said, "The medical camp, Tsunade, that's where you are truly needed."
After finally managing to smile, Tsunade's face once again showed a displeased expression. Seeing this, Tatsuma spoke up, "Sensei, I'll go by myself."
"I can accompany Tatsuma as well. Although not as skilled as Tatsuma, I should still be able to help to some extent," Minato, who had been silent for a while, said at this moment. He didn't understand why Tsunade and Orochimaru treated Danzo and this unknown Root member with such hostility, but he could sense that Danzo carried malicious intent. However, such emotions shouldn't be directed towards others. The ninjas at the medical camp needed treatment, and he wouldn't demand Tsunade to comply with Danzo's orders, but he could offer his own assistance.
Upon hearing their words, Tsunade waved her hand and said, "The two of you won't be able to handle it. With so many critical patients accumulated over time, there must be many severe cases in the camp. Don't tarnish my reputation with your amateur skills. Leave the severe cases to me, I don't have time to deal with the others. Follow me."
"Yes, Sensei."
"Yes, Tsunade-sensei!"
The two quickly followed, heading towards the medical camp. Before entering, Tsunade also adjusted her mood and put away her sour expression.
Although Tsunade lagged far behind Tatsuma and Minato in terms of humanistic care for patients, she wouldn't let her emotions affect her medical work. After all, during the treatment process, a doctor must be the most emotionally stable one.
When the patients in the medical camp spotted Tsunade with Tatsuma and Minato, they erupted into cheers. Tsunade's reputation in the village was very prominent, not just because she was the granddaughter of Senju Hashirama and a disciple of Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Her medical ninjutsu had long been recognized by fellow villagers. Even the poison techniques favored by the Sand and Rain ninjas had been neutralized by Tsunade numerous times. In the field of medical ninjutsu, Tsunade had surpassed veteran medical ninjas like Utatane Koharu and Sarutobi Biwako.
Though Tatsuma and Minato's reputations weren't as prominent, they had been tirelessly working in the medical camp. Minato even brought hot meals to the patients, earning their love and gratitude.
Although some of the newcomers in the camp weren't familiar with Tatsuma and Minato, after receiving explanations from their fellow patients, they too began to cheer.
Without a smile on her face, Tsunade addressed Minato, "Minato, go check the severe patients adn send them over to me. Tatsuma, summon Katsuyu."
"Yes!" x2
Upon receiving their orders, they swiftly moved into action. Minato quickly examined the cases and transferred the critically ill patients, while Tatsuma began to form the Seal of Confrontation to gather chakra.
Although he refined his chakra during every break to prevent accidents on the way, chakra dissipates with the body's metabolism and can't always be maintained at full capacity.
Faced with so many patients, he needed to summon Katsuyu with all his strength, probably summoning the same Katsuyu whom often cooperated with Tsunade.
Minato also realized this and, while transferring patients, cleared out a large enough space for Tatsuma. By the time Minato had moved the critically ill patients, Tatsuma had finally replenished his chakra enough to summon Katsuyu.
Forming the five seals, Tatsuma slapped his hand onto the ground, and the Sealing Jutsu instantly unfolded on the surface.
"Boom!"
"Is it Tatsuma-kun? Did you summon me because you need my help?"
A massive blue-white Katsuyu appeared, and Tatsuma, standing beneath her, took a few shallow breaths. He felt that Katsuyu had grown significantly in size, almost causing the summoning to fail.
However, it's impolite to ask a lady about her weight. Tatsuma just caught his breath, pretending not to notice, and earnestly said to Katsuyu, "Yes, these patients need your help, Katsuyu-sama."
"No problem."
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