"Wait! You're trying to change the subject!"
Tsunade's eyes narrowed sharply. Shirou dared to deflect her questioning. She had asked him what he had discovered—or rather, what that old ghost Uchiha Setsuna had passed on to him—that made him willing to die on the battlefield.
A meaningless death was uncharacteristic of the Uchiha. But to die in battle? That was very Uchiha.
Fully aware of the Uchiha clan's tendency toward mental instability as their Sharingan awakened further, Tsunade furrowed her brows in frustration.
What a headache!
At that moment, she finally understood what her grandfather had said about the Uchiha—stubborn and single-minded to the extreme.
"Captain Tsunade, seeking death? I think you're mistaken."
Shirou suddenly broke into the quintessential Uchiha smirk, his eyes growing increasingly fervent as he spoke with excitement:
"I merely want to test the limits of my capacity."
The maddeningly obsessive smile on his face only made Tsunade angrier. But as her sharp eyes caught a fleeting flicker of hesitation deep in Shirou's gaze, she began to piece things together.
Seeking death?
This guy brainwashed by the Will of Fire, had no reason to actively seek death under such circumstances—unless there was one reason.
If he didn't die, it would disrupt and damage the current political balance.
On a personal level, the Uchiha clan finally had an opportunity after so many years.
From a public perspective, Shirou's Will of Fire had become deeply ingrained to the point of obsession.
Recalling recent events, Tsunade's amber eyes gleamed with sudden understanding. She barked sharply:
"Is this about to become another Nawaki incident?!"
Shirou's pupils contracted sharply before he masked his surprise with a forced smile.
"Captain Tsunade, are you suggesting someone might target Captain Fugaku?"
But his attempt to divert the topic only earned a cold snort from Tsunade. His reaction earlier had already confirmed her suspicion.
She wasn't wrong.
"Annoying brat!"
Tsunade gritted her teeth. If another Nawaki incident were to happen, the target might not even be Uchiha Fugaku.
Instead, it could very well be Shirou standing in front of her.
Unbeknownst to him, Shirou had already undergone a significant transformation, becoming a bridge between the Uchiha and Senju clans.
If something were to happen to Shirou—much like Nawaki under Orochimaru's command—the fallout would be devastating.
If he were to die under her watch, the unhinged Uchiha clan would surely assume the worst. And with some external provocation…
Would it look like the Senju had simply abandoned their ally after playing with it? Or worse, that they never trusted the Uchiha to begin with?
The implications of Shirou's death would ripple through the village like wildfire.
Damn it!
The thought made Tsunade shiver, her anger growing. Knowing how obsessive the Uchiha clan was, this could easily spark irreparable conflict.
"You're just a brat! You shouldn't have to bear all of this!"
Though initially fuming and ready to scold him, Tsunade's tone softened as she met Shirou's determined yet youthful gaze.
What had she been doing at his age? What about Nawaki?
Being a ninja was already cruel enough, but Shirou was carrying the unbearable weight of his clan's burdens.
"Captain Tsunade, I..."
Perhaps feeling exposed, Shirou's feigned madness faltered, replaced by a trace of panic as he avoided her gaze.
This only reinforced Tsunade's anger toward the village's dirty politics.
"I need all the information!"
Suppressing her fury, Tsunade's voice was firm and commanding.
Under her piercing gaze, Shirou hesitated, then lowered his head and reluctantly began to speak.
"Elder Setsuna passed on intel. The specifics are unclear—time, and location—but it involves finding an opportunity, ideally during the upcoming Amegakure battlefield operations.
The goal is to create another incident to reignite tension between the Uchiha and Senju clans."
Shirou stammered out the information. He wasn't lying. If anything, he was adding another layer of insurance for himself.
If nothing happened, all the better. But if something did, he wanted to ensure those pulling the strings would pay dearly.
"Bastards!"
Tsunade's rage boiled over. The village elders, claiming to act for the sake of the village and the Will of Fire, were forcing Shirou into such a desperate position.
The same people who feared the Uchiha's so-called "evil" were now making Shirou willing to die for his clan and village.
If he were to fall honorably on the battlefield, it would prevent any immediate fallout between the Uchiha and Senju.
"Captain Tsunade!"
"Silence!"
Tsunade roared, her patience snapping.
"Shirou! If you ever hide information like this again, I'll break every bone in your body!"
Her chakra flared with a terrifying intensity, freezing Shirou in place. It was a stark reminder of her Senju heritage and unparalleled chakra reserves.
After her anger subsided, she looked at Shirou's silent figure, and a pang of guilt struck her heart.
Shirou, shrouded in darkness, longed for the light and sought to protect it.
"Don't overuse your curse seal," she admonished, her tone softer.
"I've told you before—stage one is manageable for your body. Just don't push beyond that."
Her stern gaze made Shirou hastily nod.
"Yes!"
But Tsunade could tell he would likely go back to his obsessive ways.
"You brat! Sign this summoning contract!"
Summoning a massive scroll, she shoved it in front of Shirou, startling him.
Big reward?
Sure looked like it.
"Why are you staring? Hurry up!"
Under Tsunade's sharp gaze, Shirou cut his finger and signed the scroll with his name and a blood seal.
"Thank you, Captain Tsunade."
His soft words echoed in the tent, and Tsunade's heart twinged. But her face remained stern as she rolled up the scroll.
"Rest up! Once you're healed, you're handling the inventory!"
Fuming, Tsunade glanced toward the direction of the Amegakure.
"Third Hokage! This is the Uchiha you all fear and ostracize? What role are you playing this time—ignorance, indifference, or apathy toward this 'small matter'?"
Looking back at the silent Shirou on the bed, her expression softened.
"You're the light, even though you don't realize it."
Tsunade's voice was low as she whispered, marveling at how Shirou, shrouded in darkness, radiated a light that surpassed the village's corrupt elders.
PS: Shirou: "I am Ninja Jesus."