Chapter 57: Hidden Information
Inside the room.
Tsunade sat cross-legged on a wooden chair, her slender hand with red-painted nails playing with the scroll in her hand, as she cast a cold smile at Uchiha Yosuke.
"Is this what you've been hiding?"
"Are you sure there's nothing else you're hiding?"
Faced with Tsunade's questions, Uchiha Yosuke nodded repeatedly, clearly nervous.
"Tsunade-sensei, I'm really not hiding anything else. The intel from the elder mentioned a spy in the village planning to harm you, Tsunade-sensei. They're also trying to stir up discord between the Senju clan and the village..."
But under Tsunade's calm, light brown gaze, Yosuke's voice grew smaller and smaller. Finally, he couldn't even meet her eyes, looking away in discomfort.
Seeing this, Tsunade's anger flared up even more. This kid still dared to hide things!
"Kid, do you think dying will solve everything? Come clean!"
With a sharp command, Tsunade stood up, her presence towering, her bright brown eyes blazing with fury.
"Kid, don't push me!"
Under Tsunade's demanding gaze, Yosuke's face grew dark, as though he could no longer hide the truth.
Seeing Yosuke's expression, Tsunade's stern face softened. She moved forward, gently ruffling his black hair, which had grown nearly as tall as hers over time.
"You're never alone. Just like in that cave, I didn't abandon you."
With Tsunade's gentler tone, Yosuke finally lowered his head, his voice hoarse as he revealed the hidden intel.
"According to the elder's intel, the Senju clan is becoming increasingly feared. After the war, certain people in the village plan to secretly eliminate some members of the Senju, using the excuse of experimenting with the First Hokage's cells. And as for White Fang… I don't have the exact details, but something's planned for him after the war ends as well…"
Yosuke shared these two matters, speaking from a mix of real intelligence and his own deductions. As a skilled ninja, analyzing intel was second nature to him, and as someone who once thrived in sales, he understood the importance of information.
In the original story, the Third Hokage mentioned that Konoha secretly experimented with the First Hokage's cells in hopes of recreating Wood Release, sacrificing numerous people to failure.
It likely couldn't have happened during the First War, as Konoha faced four other great ninja villages then, and the Senju clan was still the dominant powerhouse. The Third Hokage's faction could only have researched the First Hokage's cells with the Senju clan's approval.
With his clan's permission, Yosuke now knew several village secrets. Both intel and human nature analysis pointed to one timeframe—after the Second Great Ninja War, before the Third War began.
The plan to research White Fang, the experiments on Wood Release, and the weakening of the Senju clan seemed beneficial only to the Hokage's faction.
"Damn it!"
Tsunade cursed furiously. She couldn't hold back her rage any longer. This was clearly a long-laid plot!
"Kid, how could you hide something like this!"
Tsunade glared at Yosuke, then glanced at the scroll in her hand. This kid intended to disappear with the truth and merely leave her and the Senju clan a warning.
The Senju and the village would maintain their uneasy truce, with no one knowing the ugly truths, at the cost of a single sacrifice.
"You…!"
Tsunade was angry at just how much this kid had kept from her.
"Well! Looks like you've grown bold!"
With an expression caught between anger and amusement, Tsunade glared at Yosuke, who lowered his head in shame and spoke in a hoarse voice.
"I'm sorry. I did it all for the village."
And he wasn't lying. The village had every reason to research the First Hokage's cells. If the Senju clan found out, of course, they'd want to experiment too. He was just informing Tsunade early to try and prevent a tragedy.
As for the business with White Fang, he didn't have all the details, but it was clear something was bound to happen.
More than anything, what he was saying was the truth!
He was just sharing it with Tsunade early to avoid certain misfortunes.
And the earlier part he withheld? It was to prevent discord between the Senju clan and the village, all for the village's sake!
But before Yosuke could apologize again, Tsunade embraced him. Her eyes held a complicated warmth.
"You haven't wronged anyone."
In Tsunade's eyes, Yosuke had borne all this for the village and the clan, even to the point of risking his life.
It all started with her. Ever since the death of Nawaki, Yosuke's deep guilt had awakened his Sharingan. Then he promised to be a double agent for the Uchiha and the Senju clans, delving deeper into the darkness, discovering more terrible truths, all while yearning for the light but never daring to step forward. He wanted to bury the secrets himself.
All of this led Tsunade to feel as though she'd shaped him this way, changing a once bright and innocent face into something calm and reserved.
For the first time in her life, someone had genuinely protected her, and that person was this kid.
Just then, she glanced down at Yosuke's flushed face and his attempts to pull away, noticing his reaction. She smiled, amused.
"Kid, it seems you really have grown up."
She let him go, and Yosuke awkwardly caught his breath, glancing away as Tsunade teased him, shifting the conversation from its heavy tone.
"Tsunade-sensei—"
But before he could continue, Tsunade tilted his chin, her gaze turning soft.
"Yosuke, you're not a replacement."
She couldn't speak about Nawaki yet, but this time she meant it—there was no ulterior motive, only remorse and compassion.
Yosuke felt a warm touch on his forehead, his eyes wide with surprise.
"Yosuke, thank you for the birthday present."
Usually an authoritative leader, Tsunade smiled warmly this time, like a caring older sister, holding up the scroll he'd given her.
Who could refuse this boy who was willing to risk his life to save her, even thoughtfully preparing a birthday gift?
With a sincere smile, Tsunade held up the scroll Yosuke had given her—a self-created A-rank jutsu. She knew it also held a subtle message to remember the Uchiha clan, a reminder of their efforts to prove themselves.
"Tsunade-sensei…"
Under her warm but commanding gaze, Yosuke's voice softened as he corrected himself.
"Tsunade-nee… happy birthday."
It was August 2nd, Tsunade's birthday and the day they'd returned to Konoha from their harrowing escape from the Land of Grass.