Before Tsunade could settle into her seat, Nayuki had already poured her a cup of tea.
"Thank you," Tsunade said as she sat down, took the cup, and sipped gracefully.
"Big Brother, aren't you going to pour me one too?" Kawakaze chimed in as he arrived late, taking his seat with an exaggerated sigh. He turned to Sakumo with a teasing smile.
Sakumo, sipping his own tea, shot him a sideways glance. His expression was the epitome of disdain, as if silently conveying, You're plenty capable yourself, and you're expecting me to pour you tea?
Blood brothers might really have some sort of telepathic connection, because Kawakaze gave a wry smile, resigned to his fate. He reached over and poured himself a cup.
"Let's head to the construction site together this afternoon," Kawakaze said casually after draining his tea.
Sakumo clearly wasn't in the mood to humor him. Without even the courtesy of a grunt, he gave a reluctant nod.
"Alright," Tsunade interjected, reclaiming the conversation. After all, this was her domain. "Do we need to bring Onimaru?"
Nayuki hesitated. "Better bring him. We never know what we might run into."
Kawakaze grinned, pulling the massive Onimaru out from behind Nayuki. "With that nose of his? Definitely."
"Woof woof…" Onimaru barked weakly, his tone almost pleading for mercy.
Nayuki awkwardly averted her gaze, feigning ignorance of the dog's plight. Seeing this, Onimaru's bright eyes dimmed with resignation. His tail stopped wagging as if all enthusiasm had drained from him.
Kawakaze didn't seem to care. Without a hint of shame, he hauled the enormous dog's front paws onto his lap and began enthusiastically petting him.
He patted away with the fervor of a madman.
Tsunade stared, stunned, as a sudden and horrifying thought crossed her mind: Could Kawakaze actually smother Onimaru to death just by petting him like this?
"Wanna give it a try?" Kawakaze asked, gesturing at Onimaru. "Don't let his scary looks fool you—he feels amazing to pet."
Tsunade immediately waved her hands, declining with a stiff smile. She was still reeling from her own terrifying imagination.
Meanwhile, Onimaru lay on Kawakaze's lap like a broken doll, his spirit seemingly detached from his body. After a while, Kawakaze got bored and casually set him aside, abandoning his petting spree.
He even stopped offering Onimaru food.
Onimaru, sensing his master's indifference, didn't bother waiting for dinner either. He turned and trudged away, his large frame drooping with disappointment. His retreating figure seemed particularly forlorn.
Nayuki hesitated for a moment, then stood and followed. "I'll go check on him," she said, unable to shake her worry.
With Nayuki gone, the three remaining individuals sat in awkward silence.
As the group prepared for their meal, Nayuki reappeared with Onimaru in tow.
"Let's eat," she said, ushering them to the table.
Onimaru's mood seemed significantly better now. Nayuki had truly lived up to her heritage as a member of the Inuzuka Clan, with their renowned skill in comforting and bonding with animals.
When they moved to the dining room, the group consciously refrained from drinking sake, mindful of the important task waiting for them in the afternoon.
After finishing their meal, Tsunade left for the construction company to check in on things. Meanwhile, the others prepared for the mission: Kawakaze donned his Jōnin uniform, Sakumo slung his short sword across his back, and Nayuki secured Onimaru's leash. All of them stood ready and waited for Tsunade's return.
At the construction company, Tsunade found the ten-person construction crew already assembled. Among them was the dark-skinned Chūnin from earlier in the morning, an Earth Release expert who appeared to be the leader.
"Lady Tsunade, you're here. Let's head out," he said, waving for the team to follow her lead.
To everyone's surprise, Tsunade produced a land approval document and handed it to him instead.
"This is the address. You all can go on your own," she said. "Survey the area or start construction as you see fit. I've got other matters to attend to."
Her tone sharpened as she added a warning: "And don't even think about trying to fool me."
Her words, coupled with the intimidating gleam in her eyes, sent shivers down the man's spine. It was clear she meant business.
"Y-yes, ma'am! I wouldn't dare," he stammered, quickly returning the document. As a long-time resident of Konohagakure, he was familiar with the land and knew better than to cross Tsunade.
"You know what to do," she said, waving them off.
Tsunade stayed long enough to watch the construction team head out before making her way back to the Hatake Clan compound. By the time she arrived, the others were already prepared and waiting.
Without delay, the group set off together for the construction site.
When they reached their destination, they found the construction crew hard at work, surveying the land and meticulously sketching plans on paper. Their professionalism was evident in every move.
Tsunade, Kawakaze, Sakumo, Nayuki, and Onimaru concealed themselves in the dense foliage of two nearby trees, taking care to suppress their chakra and breathing. Unless their observer was an elite sensory ninja, they would remain undetected.
"I wonder if Danzo will make a move," Tsunade murmured, her voice low but tinged with curiosity.
"No way to tell," Kawakaze replied. "That's why I suggested hiring more workers to stretch this out over a few days. We need to wait and see."
Patience was not something Kawakaze enjoyed, but for now, there was nothing else to do.
Sakumo, in contrast, seemed perfectly at ease. A man who thrived on missions, he relished the quiet focus of the task.
Nayuki, ever vigilant, kept her eyes on the workers while occasionally glancing at the surrounding area. Beside her, Onimaru stood rigid, his keen senses on high alert. Every so often, he let out a sharp snort.
The narrative begins as the scene shifts back in time to the arrival of a construction team at the designated construction site. As the team set foot on the grounds, their presence was immediately detected by Uchiha clan members stationed covertly nearby. This swift discovery prompted a report to the clan's headquarters.
Uchiha Clan Headquarters: The Council Hall
In the spacious hall, the Uchiha Clan Head sat at the center, his expression calm and inscrutable. To his right knelt Fugaku Uchiha, the only other figure present in the room. Despite his stoic demeanor, the Clan Head had been meticulous in mentoring his nephew, offering him opportunities to gain experience.
Kneeling before them on one knee was the ninja who had returned to deliver the report.
"Clan Head, a construction team has entered the hospital site and is conducting surveys," the ninja reported.
"Are there any Senju clan members among them?" the Clan Head asked directly, his tone steady.
"The leader is a ninja, and I can sense Chakra fluctuations from him," the ninja replied. "But he seems to be just a construction worker proficient in Earth Release techniques."
The Clan Head nodded slightly. "Continue to observe without revealing yourself. Do not act. Also, deliver this information to the Root."
With a wave of his hand, he dismissed the ninja, sending him off to run another errand.
After the ninja left, the Clan Head turned to Fugaku. "What should we do next?"
Fugaku was momentarily taken aback by the question, recognizing it as a test. He steadied himself, resting his head on his right hand in thought. After a brief pause, he answered, "We wait. If Danzo makes a move or a member of the Senju clan appears, we can reevaluate. The Uchiha must not be the first to act."
"Let Root be the first to act and gauge the situation," Fugaku suggested, his tone firm.
After speaking, he glanced at his uncle, trying to read his reaction. A faint, nearly imperceptible smile appeared on the Clan Head's lips.
"That's a good suggestion," the Clan Head acknowledged, "but it's not without flaws."
He paused, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Danzo is biding his time for an opportunity. Why not create that opportunity for him?"
Fugaku's expression flickered with surprise. His uncle's words hinted at a depth of cunning he had yet to fully grasp. He realized he was still too naive, too unseasoned.
"What do you mean…?" Fugaku asked hesitantly.
"Wait for the news, then plan accordingly," the Clan Head replied enigmatically. He rose to his feet and left the hall, leaving Fugaku kneeling in place, deep in thought.
Meanwhile, the Uchiha ninja who had delivered the report reached the designated Root contact point and passed along the information. Afterward, he returned to the construction site to continue his surveillance. The Uchiha Clan's unity remained strong, unmarred by the ideological influence of the Third Hokage or the "Will of Fire." However, their current strength was far from its peak.
Even Fugaku, a respected clan leader, was merely a Jōnin with Three Tomoe Sharingan, a far cry from the prodigies of future generations.
At the same time, Danzo received the Uchiha's intelligence. Seated in his dimly lit chamber, his expression was as dark as the room around him. A Root ninja knelt before him, awaiting orders.
"Monitor the Uchiha closely," Danzo commanded, his voice cold and calculating. "The Senju Clan's hospital is a point of contention. They'll be more impatient than we are."
"Report any abnormalities immediately," he added with finality.
"Yes, Lord Danzo," the Root ninja replied before departing swiftly with their orders.
Danzo, ever the shadowy manipulator, remained in control, his mind calculating every potential move. His ability to read people and predict their actions was unmatched.
Thus, the players in this standoff maneuvered silently: Uchiha monitored the construction site, Root kept tabs on Uchiha, and the hospital project became the focal point of a precarious three-way stalemate.