The next morning, Tsunade woke up at home, feeling a bit sheepish. She had stayed up late talking with Kawakaze the previous night, saying whatever came to mind without much thought. The memory made her cringe slightly. If it weren't for his frail condition, she might have been tempted to leave a few marks on him for her embarrassment.
After washing up and pulling herself together, Tsunade focused on the day's tasks. She first visited the construction company to officially greenlight the hospital's construction. With that done, she headed to Koharu Utatane's residence, where the advisor had yet to begin her day.
Knocking on the door, a maid answered and greeted Tsunade warmly.
"Is Advisor Koharu home?"
"Yes, Lady Tsunade, please come in."
Entering the house, Tsunade found Koharu enjoying breakfast.
"What brings you here this morning, Tsunade?" Koharu asked, her demeanor warm and approachable, a contrast to her usual stern expression.
"The hospital construction starts today," Tsunade explained. "I'm here to invite you to witness the ceremony. As the vice-director, you're an integral part of this project."
Koharu smiled and nodded. "Of course. Let me finish eating, and I'll go with you."
True to her word, Koharu quickly wrapped up her meal, and the two women set out for the hospital site together.
By the time they arrived, the construction site was bustling with activity. Samurai from the Hatake Clan stood guard, ensuring order. Kawakaze and Sakumo could be seen atop a raised platform, overseeing the progress, while Nayuki patrolled the area alongside Onimaru.
Meanwhile, in the Uchiha compound, the Clan Head and Danzo had assembled a contingent of ninja. Their intent was clear—they planned to confront those involved with the hospital project. Without delay, the group set out, the air around them heavy with tension.
As Tsunade and Koharu made their way to the site, they engaged in light conversation. Their topics ranged from memories of Hashirama and Tobirama to the current state of affairs. While Tsunade excelled in Medical Ninjutsu, Koharu offered her insights into politics, providing valuable lessons along the way.
When they arrived, Kawakaze and Sakumo stepped forward to greet them.
"Advisor Koharu, thank you for coming," Kawakaze greeted warmly. "Today marks the first day of construction, and we hoped you could offer some pointers. After all, you have a wealth of experience in such matters. Tsunade also speaks highly of your Medical Ninjutsu expertise."
Kawakaze's words were both respectful and flattering, causing Koharu's expression to soften, her face wrinkling into a pleased smile. A faint thought crossed her mind—why hadn't she met such a thoughtful person in her younger years?
"I can't say if I'll be of much help, but if anything stands out, I'll be sure to mention it," Koharu replied graciously.
Tsunade, standing slightly behind, shot Kawakaze a subtle glare. When had she ever praised Koharu's Medical Ninjutsu?
Under Kawakaze's guidance, Koharu began inspecting the construction site, her demeanor serious as she observed the work. The entire setup had been arranged to resemble a leader inspecting a rural project, complete with meticulous attention to detail.
Before long, a commotion erupted outside the construction site—a clash had broken out between the Hatake Clan's Samurai and the Uchiha clan members, joined by Root operatives.
A Samurai hurried over to report the incident, and Kawakaze stepped forward with a calm demeanor. "I'll handle this. Advisor Koharu, please continue your inspection."
Koharu, however, had no intention of staying behind. "I'm part of this hospital too. Let's go together."
"How could I trouble you with such matters?" Kawakaze protested politely, a sly smile flickering across his face as he maintained control over the situation.
"Let's go," Koharu said firmly, her expression resolute. "I want to see who dares to disrupt this hospital—a project that directly benefits the villagers."
Her words carefully avoided mention of clan conflicts, focusing instead on the larger picture.
By the time they arrived at the scene, Kawakaze had already maneuvered the situation to place the blame squarely on the opposition.
"Very well then," Kawakaze said, leading the group to the scene of the conflict.
Upon arrival, they saw a Samurai from the Hatake Clan lying injured on the ground. Kawakaze's eyes flashed with anger as he gestured for the wounded to be carried away for treatment. His sharp gaze quickly locked onto the Root ninja responsible for the attack, standing amidst the group brought by Danzo.
Danzo's expression tightened upon seeing Kawakaze, a mixture of apprehension and reluctant relief flashing through his eyes. The presence of the Uchiha made him feel marginally safer—if things spiraled out of control, he could always find a way to retreat amidst the chaos.
However, when Danzo spotted Koharu Utatane, his expression shifted to confusion.
"Koharu, why are you here?" he asked.
"Koharu?" she echoed with a pointed tone. "I'm the future associate director of this hospital. Why wouldn't I be here?"
Though Koharu and Danzo hailed from the same generation, she had little affection for him. His clandestine methods and cold-blooded ambition had long been a source of disdain. She addressed him without the slightest courtesy.
"You're the vice-director?" Danzo repeated, his voice laced with disbelief and barely suppressed anger. An unknown frustration surged in him, but he couldn't find an outlet to release it.
The Uchiha Clan Head stepped forward, breaking the exchange.
"Enough of this nonsense," he said sharply. "We're not here to trade titles or pleasantries. We, the Uchiha and Danzo, are here to demand you hand over the murderer. The one who injured our Uchiha clan member and killed five of Root's operatives!"
His tone was harsh, his posture aggressive, and his intent clear: there would be consequences if their demands weren't met. The tension between the two sides grew thicker with every word, the atmosphere teetering on the brink of conflict.
Kawakaze glanced at the Clan Head, amused by his theatrics. This old fox really knows how to play the victim, he thought, keeping a careful eye on the movements of the Uchiha contingent.
"Let's get one thing straight," Kawakaze said, his voice calm but dripping with defiance. "Not only do I have no idea what you're talking about, but even if I did, what exactly do you think you can do about it?"
Sakumo Hatake, standing nearby, stepped in with a sharp glare. "Watch your tone, Uchiha," he warned.
The Uchiha Clan Head bristled, his mask of control slipping as he prepared for a confrontation.
Danzo, seeing the mounting tension, finally snapped. "Sakumo Hatake, don't push it!" he growled, the memory of Root operatives falling to Sakumo's blade still fresh and bitter.
"And if I am pushing it? What will you do, old man? Crawl back to your shadows like the stinking bug you are?"
Sakumo Hatake unleashed a storm of curses, his words sharp and biting, leaving Danzo's face dark with suppressed fury.
"Let's settle this peacefully. There's no need to resort to violence so quickly," Koharu Utatane interjected, stepping forward in an attempt to mediate. As an advisor to the Hokage, she was keenly aware of the consequences of open conflict between clans.
Before she could say more, a kunai with an explosive tag attached hurtled toward her.
"Be careful!" someone shouted. "Protect Advisor Koharu!"
Kawakaze reacted instantly, deflecting the kunai mid-air with his blade. The weapon flew off course, detonating in a fiery blast at a safe distance.
"It wasn't me!" Danzo exclaimed, his instincts warning him of the growing danger. He raised his hands in a defensive gesture, trying to deflect the blame.
But the situation had already spiraled beyond his control.
Kawakaze's swift intervention set the battlefield into motion. Sakumo Hatake moved like a tiger into a flock of sheep, cutting down Root ninjas with precision and ferocity, their throats silenced in swift strikes. Only the sheer number of Root operatives allowed some to escape his immediate wrath.
The Samurai of the Hatake Clan clashed with Uchiha ninjas in fierce hand-to-hand combat, blades and fists meeting in a deadly dance.
Kawakaze's focus, however, remained squarely on Danzo. Without hesitation, he unleashed a deadly strike with his Eight-Sided Han Sword, aiming directly for Danzo's neck.
Danzo, having anticipated danger, managed to dodge the fatal blow at the last moment, the blade slicing through empty air.
"This is madness!" Danzo barked, his voice desperate. "It wasn't me—it was the Uchiha! They're behind this!" He was still grasping at excuses, oblivious to the fact that he had walked straight into a trap.
Under the cover of Tsunade, Koharu Utatane had already withdrawn from the conflict. Her role was over, and she wisely chose to stay clear of the escalating chaos.
Nayuki and Onimaru, tore through Root operatives with an unmatched ferocity, cutting down anyone who dared stand in her way. It was evident that Sakumo Hatake had chosen a partner of extraordinary strength and skill.