Senju Clan, Tsunade's Medical Laboratory.
At noon, Uchiha Yo, now familiar with the place, once again found himself in Tsunade's medical workspace.
"Well, kid, how does it feel to overachieve your mission?"
Tsunade lounged lazily in her office chair, a teasing smile on her face as she gazed at the young shinobi before her.
Yo glanced down at the IV tube recently inserted into his arm, a flicker of stubbornness flashing across his face before he fell silent.
With a heavy sigh, Yo portrayed the frustration of someone burdened with responsibility, the kind who endures silently for the greater good.
"Lady Tsunade, the Uchiha have made mistakes in the past, but now, we just want to protect the village together with everyone else—not to remain isolated."
Finally, Yo spoke hoarsely, sharing the plight of his clan once more.
To Tsunade, the young man before her, though serving as her spy, clearly held a deep love for his clan.
"Alright, alright, that's old news—ancient history, really. It's all in the past."
With a wave of her hand, Tsunade brushed off his concerns, her carefree nature surfacing. The grudge between the Senju and Uchiha had long since faded into irrelevance.
"Kid, aren't you going to talk about those two pieces of intel?"
Tsunade's gaze carried a trace of curiosity, as though probing for his true intentions.
Yo's expression turned resolute.
"Lady Tsunade, the Rain Country battlefield is urgent. As for the two pieces of intelligence, they don't necessarily prove that the village's leadership was involved. Nawaki's incident was an unfortunate accident, and last night's situation… well, you must be aware of the influence of your position."
His tone suggested unwavering faith in the village.
Yo's words painted a picture of a staunch believer in the Will of Fire—someone determined to believe in the village despite all odds. Yet, the cracks in his voice hinted at uncertainty, as though even he was struggling to convince himself.
"Your position, Lady Tsunade, carries immense weight. Even within the Uchiha, they whisper that anyone who marries you would likely become the Hokage. Perhaps Dan's actions were merely personal."
Despite the glaring holes in his reasoning, Yo forced himself to project confidence. He was playing the role of a devoted idealist, steadfast in his trust that any darkness in the village was the work of a few bad apples.
"'Personal'? 'Accident'?"
Tsunade chuckled softly. She crossed her slender, graceful legs with a practiced ease, exuding a quiet elegance.
The sunlight streaming through the window bathed her golden hair in a warm glow. For a moment, she fell silent, her expression tranquil.
Chakra, being a mix of spiritual and physical energy, drew much of its strength from one's beliefs. Many of the great shinobi in history possessed unshakable convictions. However, when those beliefs faltered, their strength often diminished dramatically.
The saying, "Blackened, ten times stronger; redeemed, three times weaker," aptly described this phenomenon.
Yo had no intention of breaking Tsunade's beliefs. Instead, he aimed to subtly sow seeds of doubt, leaving her to reevaluate her convictions on her own.
"Lady Tsunade, I believe in the Will of Fire. I believe in the village!"
Sensing Tsunade's internal wavering, Yo spoke firmly, his voice brimming with conviction.
The implication was clear: I'm steadfast, so if there's any doubt, it's on your end.
By positioning himself as unwavering, Yo planted a psychological suggestion that would lead Tsunade to question her own resolve. He didn't need to manipulate events overtly; the seeds of doubt were already planted.
In time, they would grow.
"Tch. You're as stubborn as any Uchiha brat," Tsunade scoffed.
Leaning back in her chair, she smirked, her tone carrying a mix of exasperation and amusement.
"And what about your clan, then? You mentioned they've tasked you with sacrificing yourself if necessary."
Her tone shifted, her amber eyes boring into Yo's as if testing his sincerity.
Yo inhaled deeply, his heart skipping a beat.
As expected of Tsunade. Her instincts are sharp. She's probing me again.
But he didn't falter.
"Lady Tsunade, I…"
Yo's face flushed with color, his eyes filled with conflict. He seemed to teeter between loyalty to his clan and loyalty to the village, as though dancing on a field of explosive tags.
In Tsunade's eyes, the young man before her—a boy the same age as her late brother Nawaki—was shouldering burdens far beyond his years.
A trace of mockery curled her lips.
The "evil" Uchiha, willing to set aside their pride to integrate into Konoha, stood in stark contrast to those who sat high above and forgot who had elevated them there.
Convinced of Yo's sincerity, Tsunade's tone softened.
"Yo, you'd better behave from now on. After all, the whole village—and your clan—are watching you."
Her teasing, almost doting tone sent a shiver down Yo's spine.
He glanced at her, catching sight of her radiant smile, her golden hair catching the light.
She's gorgeous. But this is dangerous.
The risks of pursuing Tsunade outweighed the rewards, and Yo couldn't shake the headache forming at the thought.
"Lady Tsunade, I was only trying to shield you for a moment," Yo murmured sheepishly.
"The misunderstanding last night is already resolved. I've reported everything to my clan, and they're funding my treatment. Bloodline illness medication and intelligence about you…"
Yo hesitated before continuing, "...like your drinking, gambling, and how most of the Senju Clan's wealth was handed over to the village—they've promised to support you."
Tsunade's face darkened instantly.
"Kid, what's that supposed to mean?"
Her voice carried a note of danger. She wasn't sure whether to be amused or insulted.
Did this brat think he could buy her off?
"Lady Tsunade! That's not what I meant—"
Yo's flustered attempt to explain himself was met with an icy stare.
In truth, Yo was painfully aware of his precarious position. Balancing between the Uchiha and the Senju was already like dancing on a tightrope over a minefield.
He couldn't afford to entangle himself further with the village's upper echelons.
Tsunade, however, sipped her tea calmly.
"Kid, isn't this your chance to become the bridge between your clan and the village? The Senju may be weak now, but we still carry significant influence."
Her gaze grew sharper as she toyed with her teacup.
The Senju had grown weak—so weak that some dared to challenge their authority.
But now, with the Uchiha in play, things could change.
The events surrounding Nawaki and the recent jonin meeting had forced Tsunade to mature rapidly. She now saw Konoha's darkness more clearly and understood that it wasn't reserved for enemies—it ex
tended even to its own.
The village had nearly forgotten the Senju Clan in less than two decades.
Tsunade vowed to remind them.