Chapter 131: Prepare to Take Over the Land of Fire!
"Storm the Daimyo's palace! Kill the Daimyo!"
Unknowingly, such voices had become the mainstream sentiment in Konoha.
Shikaku could only watch helplessly as the situation unfolded, unable to suppress it any longer.
He knew very well that these people wouldn't listen to him.
Among them were many small clans that had aligned with Hyuga Fuji.
There were also civilian ninjas who had been suppressed by Minato's policies but now sought change.
And then there were the many ninja and civilians who had been rescued from isolation or neglect.
All of them shared a common trait: they had suffered under the current system or been consistently overlooked.
They were also the most likely to... dismantle the existing order.
Right now, Konoha lacked a single ninja with both the prestige and strength to unite these disparate voices. The few who possessed such qualities were either dead, missing, or still outside the village and yet to return.
Using force to suppress them would only lead these people to question his motives, plunging Konoha into even greater chaos. Yet allowing them to continue gathering support unchecked could lead to catastrophic consequences.
Just as Shikaku found himself trapped between these two impossible options, a figure capable of stabilizing the situation returned.
It was Tsunade!
"Tsunade-sama, thank goodness you're back. I'm at my limit here," Shikaku said, visibly relieved to see her.
The Hokage's office was tense. Seeing Tsunade return alone, Shikaku asked curiously, "What about Fugaku and the others?"
"I came back on my own," Tsunade replied curtly, waving her hand dismissively. "I won too many rounds in the casino, so I didn't carry out the rest of the cleanup plan. I came back early and didn't run into Fugaku."
"I... see," Shikaku said, sweating a little.
"Let's not talk about that for now. Are the rumors about Konoha true, Shikaku?"
Tsunade's expression darkened as she asked, "Minato is dead? Jiraiya is missing? Orochimaru has defected? And... Fuji is dead as well?"
"..."
Shikaku's face grew heavy as he nodded. "The news about the Fourth and Jiraiya-sama came from Yakumaru. After Orochimaru's defection, the Third pursued him. As for Fuji... his body is in the morgue, and it has been confirmed."
"The Daimyo did this?"
"..."
Tsunade's face grew colder as Shikaku fell silent. She turned to the window, gazing out at the growing crowd of gathered ninjas. Her lips pressed into a thin line, and without another word, she left the office.
It seemed she had come merely to confirm the truth of the rumors.
Seeing her walk away, Shikaku froze for a moment before hurriedly following her. "Tsunade-sama, where are you going now?"
"To see... Danzo."
With those words, Tsunade stepped out of the Hokage's building. The crowd of gathered ninjas, having heard of her return, silently began following her.
Shikaku knew they were looking for a leader, a pillar of support. They wanted Tsunade's answer.
If Tsunade opposed them, they would be powerless to act.
In this heavy silence, Tsunade walked to the high-security detention area where Danzo was being held.
There, as always, Danzo sat calmly, bound by chains inscribed with sealing formulas.
"Tsunade. So, is Hiruzen regretting his decisions now?" Danzo sneered, his voice sharp.
"Don't play dumb. You know why I'm here," Tsunade said coldly. "You planted agents near the Daimyo, didn't you? Tell me what you know about him."
"..."
Danzo narrowed his eyes and said in a low voice, "And what do you plan to do with this information?"
Indeed, he had embedded operatives within the Daimyo's ranks. Some members of Root were even performing unsavory tasks under the Daimyo, biding their time for the right moment.
"What I do is none of your business," Tsunade said flatly.
"Heh."
Danzo let out a cold laugh, not expecting a straight answer. "What do I get in return?"
"You don't get killed right now."
The veins on Tsunade's arm bulged as her chakra flared. Danzo, sensing her dangerous aura, realized it wasn't the time to provoke her further. He reluctantly provided the information.
"Go to the third shop on the commercial street. You'll find all the intelligence you want there."
Without another word, Tsunade turned and left, not bothering to continue the conversation.
Shikaku silently followed her as she reviewed the intelligence collected by Root's spies.
One by one, she saw irrefutable evidence tying the Daimyo to the conspiracy that had led to Minato's demise.
When Tsunade finally came across a document containing Hyuga Fuji's name, her expression hardened as if reaching a decision. She stood and walked out of the shop.
By now, most of Konoha's ninjas had gathered outside.
Not only those seeking revenge but also clan ninjas unaware of the full truth. They, too, had come, drawn by Tsunade's status and reputation, seeking answers.
"..."
Before Tsunade could speak, Shikaku, fearing she might act rashly, urged her to stay calm.
"Tsunade-sama, please... be rational. We—"
"Minato is dead," Tsunade interrupted softly, cutting him off. She took slow steps toward the crowd of ninjas.
"Jiraiya may also be dead.
"Orochimaru has left.
"And Fuji... Fuji is gone."
With each step, she uttered a name, her tone heavy with grief. Finally, she turned back to Shikaku, her eyes filled with sorrow and anger.
"Shikaku, tell me, how can I stay calm? How am I supposed to stay calm?"
"..."
Shikaku had no answer.
"In our new textbooks, it's written: 'To seek peace through struggle preserves peace. To seek peace through compromise destroys it.'"
At that moment, an Uchiha ninja stepped forward, locking eyes with Shikaku.
"Shikaku-senpai, you've always been calm. But what has that calmness brought us?
"If being calm means losing our Hokage, then let the Daimyo feel the wrath of Konoha!"
Shikaku's mind reeled. He couldn't refute the man's words.
Some rage doesn't fade with time. Some hatred lingers forever.
To navigate this crisis, someone needed to stand up.
And Tsunade was the best candidate.
The granddaughter of the First Hokage.
A princess of the Land of Fire.
She had both the strength and the status to confront the Daimyo.
"Let's go," Tsunade said at last, her voice resolute. "Anyone who wants to follow me, come. Let's ask the Daimyo for answers."
With that, Tsunade walked toward the village gates, her expression unreadable.
The gathered ninjas were stunned but quickly followed her lead. Together, they left Konoha, heading toward the Daimyo's palace—another center of power in the Land of Fire.
Watching them depart, Shikaku's face was lined with worry. He turned to a fellow Nara clan ninja and spoke bitterly:
"Prepare yourselves... to take over the Land of Fire."
Confrontation?
If Tsunade's current mood allowed for peaceful discussion, Shikaku wouldn't be this anxious.
Especially not with so many enraged ninjas at her side...
This was bound to lead to endless complications.
And yet, perhaps... this was the only way to break the stalemate.
Shikaku sighed deeply.
(End of Chapter)