The escalating conflict at the mission office soon reached Sarutobi Hiruzen's ears.
"Hm?" He frowned as he listened to the reports. "So, anger over missions has led to hostility toward Uchiha and now Tsunade as well? Are they seriously blaming her for this?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen was perplexed. Tsunade held a revered position in Konoha, especially among combat ninjas. Such sudden discontent seemed contrived, as if fueled by external manipulation. The thought of Danzo immediately surfaced in his mind.
"Hokage-sama, should we intervene?" asked an ANBU operative, concern evident in their voice. "If this situation continues to escalate, it could create more serious issues."
Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression grew thoughtful. He knew Konoha's newfound pharmaceutical research division relied heavily on Tsunade and Reiki's potions, and any public backlash against them could complicate matters.
"Keep an eye on Tsunade and Reiki. Report any significant movement," Sarutobi Hiruzen instructed after a moment.
"Yes, Hokage-sama." The ANBU operative vanished, leaving Hiruzen to his thoughts.
"This situation could actually be an opportunity for Tsunade," he murmured, picking up his crystal ball to perform the Telescope Technique. The crowd at the mission office was visibly agitated, with familiar faces among them—ninja known for stirring trouble during public ceremonies and events, many with connections to Danzo's Root organization.
It was clear to him that Danzo had orchestrated this chaos. Now, he watched with interest to see how Tsunade would respond.
---
Meanwhile, back at Tsunade's courtyard, she sat exhausted after a long day of work. She leaned back in her chair, savoring a sip of sake. "There's nothing like a drink after work," she muttered contentedly.
The past few weeks had seen things settle into a routine. Tsunade didn't worry much about her three disciples. Reiki, while prone to mischief, always managed to stay within safe limits. Shisui performed well in the ANBU, both in terms of execution and task completion. Nozuki, with Minato as her older brother, was also well taken care of.
As Tsunade let herself relax, Nozuki burst into the courtyard, breathless. "Sensei! There's trouble!"
"What happened?" Tsunade's relaxed demeanor vanished as she sat up straight.
"At the mission office... there's been an incident," Nozuki reported, relaying what she had witnessed. With Minato's team currently without missions, she had gone to the office to look for suitable tasks when she witnessed the growing unrest.
Tsunade's expression darkened as she processed the situation. "They're blaming us for the mission shortage? Ridiculous," she muttered, already guessing the involvement of higher-ups aiming to leverage the Uchiha situation for their own gain and drag her into the crossfire.
"Sensei, do you need my help?" Reiki spoke up, eyes alert. He'd been sorting medicinal supplies at home when the news broke. Finally hoping for some rest, he found himself once again in the thick of conflict.
"It's not just about us; there's more at play," Tsunade said. "This is likely a scheme involving the top families and their politics, using Uchiha as a pawn. And we're collateral damage."
With a glint in her eyes, Tsunade rose, determination hardening her features. "If they want a game, let's give them one. Ready, Reiki?"
"Always, Sensei," Reiki replied with a grin. As long as Tsunade was prepared to fight, he was ready to support her.
"Good. Let's meet them head-on." Tsunade strode toward the courtyard gate, Reiki following with two stools in hand. Nozuki trailed behind, excitement bubbling in her eyes. "Sensei's about to cause a stir," she whispered, admiration sparking in her tone.
Shizune, who had intended to join them, was held back by Reiki. "Stay here, Shizune. We don't want the Yuhi family caught in this."
The trio sat outside, waiting for the wave of disgruntled ninjas to arrive. And arrive they did. The crowd grew steadily, an undercurrent of anger running through them.
As they made their way through the village, many noticed injured ninjas on the ground, clearly victims of a single powerful punch. The consistency of the injuries and the presence of special jonin among the wounded could only point to one culprit.
"Tsunade," they muttered. It made sense—only she possessed the skill and power to incapacitate trained ninjas with such precision. The realization further fueled the crowd's anger.
"Does being revered and respected mean you can do anything you want in this village?" someone shouted, stirring murmurs of agreement. The booing ninjas only added fuel to the fire.
But Tsunade, calm and collected, waited for them to make their move. She had faced greater challenges, and this time, she was determined to show that she wouldn't be played.
>>>>>
Up to Chapter 460 available on Patreon.com/c/GGFanfiction :)
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