"What is this!?"
Looking at the intelligence scroll Shirou had handed over, Tsunade raised an eyebrow. This seemed eerily familiar—the last time she had seen a scroll like this, it had nearly cost Nawaki his life.
Tsunade's expression turned grave as she opened the scroll.
Shrou's demeanor was equally serious. After handing over the scroll, he spoke in a low voice.
"Captain Tsunade, after I returned from the Naka Shrine, Elder Satsuna secretly gave me this intelligence scroll."
As soon as Tsunade scanned the contents, fury flashed across her face. She slammed her fist onto the table in front of her.
Crack!
The table shattered.
"Damn it!"
Her bright brown eyes burned with anger. Someone had plotted against her!
The information in the scroll was straightforward yet chilling: it contained intelligence supposedly from the future, written by Uchiha Shirou, of course. In summary, it predicted that after Nawaki's death, Tsunade would be emotionally devastated, leaving her vulnerable. This would create an opportunity to exploit her.
Coincidentally, Tsunade had been preparing a medical proposal to present at the upcoming Jonin meeting, and Nawaki's death would likely strengthen her resolve to push that agenda. The analysis was tailored to her personality, an unsettling sign that whoever was behind it knew her intimately.
The detail that truly troubled Tsunade was that very few people were even aware of the medical report she was preparing.
Her anger surged.
Shirou noticed her reaction and bowed his head, speaking in a serious tone.
"Captain Tsunade, Elder Satsuna's health isn't good. Based on my observations, he likely only has two or three years left."
He paused, measuring her expression.
"I know this intelligence seems malicious, but... the incident with Nawaki already proved its credibility."
The reminder hit Tsunade hard, though she remained silent.
"So, what about this intelligence?"
Shirou continued.
Feigning earnestness, he added, "Captain Tsunade, even if this was uncovered by Elder Satsuna, it could still be the work of enemy villages. Given the ongoing war, we must remain vigilant."
At this, Shirou's expression turned resolute, as though he truly believed his own words.
"Captain Tsunade, I believe this is a ploy by enemy spies—to drive a wedge between the Senju clan and the village."
Tsunade stared at him coldly, a sharp smirk forming on her lips.
"You brat. No wonder the Uchiha clan let you approach Kushina. I suppose that, too, was influenced by this intelligence, wasn't it?"
Without waiting for a response, she tossed the scroll back at him.
Shirou hurriedly caught it, his eyes widening in mock surprise as he scanned the document again. His voice trembled with feigned shock.
"This... This!"
The scroll's contents mirrored his previous mission: to approach a specific target. This time, however, the target wasn't Uzumaki Kushina—it was Tsunade herself, the Senju princess.
The parallel was unnerving.
"What's wrong, brat?"
Tsunade smirked, watching him flounder.
Shirou lowered his head, a flush creeping over his face.
Internally, Tsunade scoffed. Where did all that righteous fervor go? This guy had even dared to make her apologize once. Now, he was like a cow sitting on an explosive tag, ready to blow at any moment.
But then, she paused, considering her options. With her experience and standing, she could see the situation far more clearly than Shirou. It was highly likely that this intelligence network was a powerful tool, deeply embedded within the Uchiha clan's infrastructure.
Moreover, Elder Satsuna had once dared to challenge the village's authority. It stood to reason he would have hidden assets. And with the elder nearing the end of his life, Tsunade realized Shirou was precisely the kind of talent she could use.
Hot-headed. Fiercely loyal to his clan and Konoha. Willing to shed blood if necessary. He even awakened his Sharingan out of guilt...
A calculating smile crept across Tsunade's face. If this intelligence network fell into Shirou's hands, it wouldn't be much different from being under her control.
"You're too naive," she said coolly, masking her thoughts with a scolding tone.
Shirou flinched.
"Captain Tsunade, I—"
"Enough," she cut him off, her sharp gaze pinning him in place.
"Your Uchiha clan's goodwill has been received by the Senju clan. I don't care about Kushina, but remember this: don't try to play any tricks on me."
Her words carried an unmistakable warning.
Shirou nodded hurriedly.
"Captain Tsunade, you have my word. I swear on the honor of the Uchiha."
Despite his solemn vow, Shirou's mind raced. If he truly followed through with the mission to approach Uzumaki Kushina, it would paint a target on his back—especially from the Third Hokage's faction. He had no intention of becoming another Nawaki, killed in the shadows during a routine mission.
This mission was one he planned to go through the motions with—nothing more.
"Good," Tsunade said finally.
"This matter ends here. Keep your clan's business clean, or I won't be so forgiving next time."
Shirou nodded again, his expression serious.
"Understood, Captain Tsunade. I will uphold the Uchiha clan's integrity. And as for the scroll, I'll ensure its contents remain confidential."
He was telling the truth. The Uchiha had their methods to prevent leaks—mental seals to block enemy genjutsu from extracting information.
Tsunade knew this too, which was why she had never attempted to probe Shirou with genjutsu after he'd collapsed from awakening his Sharingan.
The intelligence scroll wasn't merely a warning. It was a gesture of goodwill—a subtle but deliberate attempt by the Uchiha to bridge the gap with Konoha and earn trust.
Tsunade saw through it all, but she played along. She knew when to bide her time.
As for Shirou, he heaved a sigh of relief as he carefully tucked the scroll away. For now, Elder Satsuna's burden was his to bear—but he would carry it, if only for the sake of his clan.