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Back then, when Midorima casually said, "Are you sure you want to know?" Tsunade was dragged into the whirlpool surrounding the Uchiha clan.
But this time, it concerned Shizune's vengeance. No matter what, she couldn't back down.
Tsunade took a deep breath and looked at Midorima with unwavering determination. "I'm sure… I want to know."
"I refuse." Midorima tore off a chicken leg, took a bite, and savored the rich, juicy flavor. It really was delicious.
"…" Tsunade's eyes widened, her temper flaring.
So after all that, he was just messing with her?
"Why? Telling us would benefit you too, wouldn't it?" Shizune voiced the question burning in Tsunade's mind.
"Why would you think that?" Midorima tilted his head in confusion. "What good would it do me?"
"What do you mean?" Tsunade pressed.
"Where are we right now?" Midorima pointed at the table.
"My house."
"Think bigger."
"Konoha."
"And what am I?" Midorima continued.
"A missing-nin from Kirigakure." Tsunade frowned, still not seeing the connection.
"Exactly. A rogue ninja from Kiri sneaks into Konoha and tells you, 'Oh, by the way, the person who kidnapped Shizune is so-and-so from your village'… What do you think would happen?" Midorima countered. "At best, I'd be accused of sowing discord. At worst, I'd be labeled a destabilizing force—a major crime. Being hunted by Kirigakure is one thing, but if Konoha adds me to their bingo book too? Tsk. No, scratch that. I might just drop dead on the spot. After all, there are ANBU lurking around here. They could drag me straight to the Hokage, pin all the blame for yesterday's mess on me… Someone's gotta take the fall, right?"
"I know you're not the culprit," Tsunade insisted.
"And what good does that do? The higher-ups will do anything to shut up 80% of the crowd. The truth doesn't matter." Midorima shrugged.
Hiruzen Sarutobi wasn't some pure-hearted saint either.
"Let me be blunt. Even if someone in Konoha really did kidnap Shizune, and even if I admit they're no saint, they haven't harmed me. At least I'm still standing here. But if the village—especially the Third Hokage—finds out about me, do you think he'd believe me, even if every word I say is true? I know what's at stake. Besides, I already saved Shizune. Sure, she suffered a bit, but she's intact. Let's just drop this, alright?"
"I trust you, so—" Tsunade began.
"And then what?"
"You're a missing-nin from Kiri, right? Persecuted by the Akatsuki. I can help you deal with them and get Konoha to lift your bounty. Fair trade?" Tsunade refused to give up.
"No need." Midorima waved her off. "Didn't I say this before? Akatsuki is a byproduct of Konoha's own mess—more specifically, Jiraiya's doing. One way or another, your village is tied to it. Don't act like I owe you anything."
"Can you explain that more clearly? What does Jiraiya have to do with Akatsuki?" Tsunade's patience was wearing thin.
"Let me give you a name you'll recognize—Amegakure."
The moment Tsunade heard that name, her mind sharpened.
Amegakure was a place she'd never forget. It was there that she, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru were given the title of "Sannin" by Hanzo of the Salamander. But to her, that title was nothing to be proud of.
Three against one, and they still lost. Hardly an impressive feat, even if Hanzo was at the pinnacle of shinobi power back then.
Their ties to Amegakure were few—aside from Hanzo, there were only those orphaned kids… the very ones Jiraiya had taken under his wing.
If Akatsuki really was connected to those children, then Konoha's involvement was undeniable.
"How do you know all this?" Tsunade's suspicion deepened.
This kind of information should've been highly classified. If even Konoha didn't have intel on it, how could Midorima possibly know?
"First, as the falsely accused, I had to find a way to clear my name. That meant investigating Akatsuki while dodging assassins. Second, Orochimaru was part of Akatsuki too. It's not strange that I'd learn some inside info from him." Midorima lied smoothly.
It wasn't like Orochimaru could pop up now to deny it. Might as well use him as a shield.
Tsunade nodded slightly. At least his logic held up. And if Konoha couldn't even track Shizune's whereabouts, failing to uncover Akatsuki's origins wasn't surprising.
"Oh, and about helping me explain things to Kirigakure—or even breaking the genjutsu on the Mizukage—my advice is: don't. I'm innocent as it is, but if Konoha steps in, won't it look like we're collaborating? That'll just make things worse." Midorima shook his head. "Besides, whatever happens to Kiri isn't my concern right now. There's plenty I can do outside."
Tsunade blinked, momentarily speechless.
It was clear Midorima knew a lot. But as he said, outright naming the culprit would only make him look like a troublemaker. And Tsunade couldn't just take his word and brand someone a criminal without proof.
That was the reality.
It wasn't about whether she trusted Midorima—before anything else, she was a Konoha shinobi.
"Can I say something?" Itachi interjected.
"Hm?" Midorima glanced at him warily, staying alert.
If Itachi suddenly activated his Mangekyō Sharingan, he'd have to be ready.
That said, this version of Itachi hadn't yet been fully corrupted by Danzō. He shouldn't be that ruthless yet.
"Was the Konoha shinobi who imprisoned Shizune… connected to the Uchiha clan?" Itachi asked.
"Why would you think that?" Midorima feigned ignorance.
"Sasuke's disappearance was too strange. I suspect that person was involved." Itachi's voice was heavy.
If it meant getting Sasuke back, he'd do anything.
"Well… he does have some ties to the Uchiha, but Sasuke's disappearance probably isn't related." Midorima speculated.
Danzō had been too busy putting out fires last night. Midorima hadn't spotted Sasuke in the crowd either.
"Then is it related to the Uchiha clan's rebellion?" Itachi pressed.
"That… I'm not sure." Midorima shook his head.
Even if he knew, he couldn't say. He had no proof.
"I'm speaking to you as a member of the Uchiha clan, not as a Konoha shinobi. Does that work?" Itachi negotiated.
Midorima hadn't expected Itachi to play semantics. He scratched his head. "First, answer me this: in your heart, does Konoha matter more, or the Uchiha clan?"
"Is that important?"
"Of course. It determines whether I'm talking to an Uchiha clansman or a Konoha shinobi claiming to be one." Midorima glanced at Tsunade. "And whether our conversation will have… a third party involved."
Tsunade's expression grew graver.
She could tell—Midorima was considering speaking to Itachi alone.