Although Tsunade often called Sarutobi Hiruzen "old man," deep down she had always respected him. To her, he was not just her teacher—the one who had guided her in ninjutsu—but also the successor of her grandfather's Will of Fire.
So when Byakuya bluntly claimed that Hiruzen had ordered this attack, Tsunade was visibly shaken.
"What!? Sensei did this? That's impossible!"
"The old man would never…" Tsunade's voice trembled with disbelief.
Byakuya's gaze was cold. "Don't be naïve. That old man was never a saint. You think he didn't know what Danzo and the elders were doing under his nose? He orchestrated half of it."
He didn't even flinch as he continued. "If not for his manipulation, Uchiha Shisui wouldn't have died loyal. And Uchiha Itachi? Hiruzen let that massacre happen—and covered it up like it was nothing."
Tsunade's heart clenched. "That's not true… The Senju clan died out naturally… He didn't…"
"Didn't he?" Byakuya scoffed. "You're the last Senju. And yet you still defend the Hokage who let your clan vanish while propping up his own people."
Tsunade staggered slightly. Her hands curled into trembling fists.
"Tsunade-sama…" Nara Shikaku stepped forward solemnly. "I didn't want to believe it either. But it's true. Sarutobi Hiruzen gave the orders."
Hatake Sakumo, equally grim, added: "He's not the man you remember. Or maybe he never was."
"You have no proof!" Tsunade shouted desperately. "These are just accusations—assumptions!"
Byakuya didn't argue. Instead, he flung a half-conscious ninja in front of her. The man wore the Sarutobi clan crest.
"He's yours. Ask him yourself."
Tsunade looked down, hesitant. This was her last wall. Her truth or her illusion.
Byakuya glanced at one of his men. "En. Do it."
"Yes, Lord Byakuya." Uchiha En activated his Sharingan and cast a genjutsu over the wounded Sarutobi ninja. With his mental defenses weakened, the man fell easily into the illusion.
"Done. Ask him what you will."
Tsunade hesitated, then asked in a strained voice: "Was the order really from Sarutobi-sensei…?"
The ninja, trapped in the illusion, spoke without resistance.
"Yes… It was the Hokage's command… The Sarutobi clan, the Utatane, the Mito, and Root… We were all ordered to destroy the Uchiha…"
Each word hit Tsunade like a kunai.
She stepped back, her breath caught in her throat. Her legs gave way slightly, and she barely caught herself. The world around her blurred as her teacher's image shattered.
Byakuya remained impassive.
Uchiha En looked at her. "Do you have any other questions? He doesn't have long."
But Tsunade stood frozen, her expression hollow. She said nothing. Her heart had been pierced more deeply than any blade ever could. Her belief in the Hokage, in the system, in her sensei—everything had crumbled in an instant.
Her silence spoke louder than any answer.
It could be said that, if no one intervened, Tsunade would spiral into psychological trauma—just like in the original timeline, developing hemophobia and losing her will to fight. Eventually, she'd become nothing more than a broken shell, drowning herself in alcohol and gambling.
But Byakuya had clearly noticed the signs early.
Now that Tsunade stood by his side, he wouldn't let history repeat itself. He wouldn't allow her to crumble again.
In a flash, Byakuya appeared in front of her, grabbed her shoulders tightly, and shouted:
"Senju Tsunade! What the hell are you doing!?"
"Don't forget who you are—you're the head of the Senju clan!"
"Are you going to fall apart here? Are you going to abandon the will of your ancestors and let the Senju name be trampled!?"
Tsunade, who had been sinking into despair, trembled.
Yes… he was right.
She was the last remaining heir of the Senju clan. She carried the blood of Hashirama and Tobirama. How could she let herself be broken by this?
She clenched her fists.
"I still have to revive the Senju… I still have to make that bastard Sarutobi Hiruzen pay for lying to me all these years!"
With that clarity, Tsunade broke free of her internal torment.
"…You damn pervert! Where do you think your hands are!?"
Only then did Tsunade notice Byakuya's hands had been gripping more than just her shoulders. He quickly let go, awkwardly stepping back.
"Ah… sorry. Didn't notice in the moment," he muttered, turning away. "I'll go deal with the remaining enemies."
Before Tsunade could retort, Byakuya had already vanished into the battlefield.
Still, he couldn't help but glance at his right hand.
As expected of Tsunade. The sensation… wasn't bad at all.
Meanwhile, the tide of battle continued to turn.
With Byakuya leading the charge, the Uchiha forces devastated their enemies. The Root and Sarutobi-affiliated shinobi were suffering massive casualties.
"Damn it! The Uchiha are too strong—we're no match for them!"
"We have no choice! Root, stop holding back and release him!"
"Yes! Only his power can suppress the Uchiha!"
"Understood! Begin the unsealing—immediately!"
A group of Root operatives rushed to a massive coffin-like container, covered in tightly woven sealing jutsu.
The moment it appeared, a chilling aura filled the battlefield.
"…What the hell is this?" Byakuya muttered, his eyes narrowing. "What kind of monster did Danzo dig up this time?"
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