When Tsunade heard Byakuya's question, her expression faltered. A slight flush crept onto her cheeks as her gaze drifted to the floor.
"It's... complicated. But it's nothing you need to worry about right now," she said quickly, trying to change the subject. "Help me remove the seal first."
Byakuya frowned. "You're acting strange."
Before Tsunade could respond, he suddenly clutched his chest. A wave of heat surged through his body, as though his chakra were spiraling out of control.
"What the... My body... it's burning up!" he grunted, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.
Tsunade's eyes widened. As a skilled medical ninja, it only took her a second to realize what was happening.
"Wait... did you eat or drink anything recently?" she asked, rushing to his side.
"Only the tea Senju Tsunami gave me," he muttered, the heat rising in his body becoming unbearable.
Tsunade's face darkened. "Those damn old fools..."
"What was in that tea?"
"A stimulant. Chakra-enhancing... and something else," she said grimly. "They laced it with an aphrodisiac."
"What!?" Byakuya growled. "They drugged me?"
"Not me," Tsunade said sharply. "I had nothing to do with it. I was sealed in here too, remember? This is the elders' doing."
Byakuya took several deep breaths, trying to regulate his chakra. "Those cowards think they can manipulate us like pawns."
Tsunade nodded. "They want a child with Wood Release. That's what this is all about."
A long silence followed. The tension in the room was thick.
"I just became an adult this year. And you—shouldn't you be about thirty by now?"
Byakuya looked at Tsunade, feigning a tone of exaggerated grievance.
"You brat! What did you just say!?"
Tsunade's voice cracked like a whip. Her golden eyes flared with anger.
"Who's thirty?! I'm still in my twenties, thank you very much!"
There was no woman in the world who liked being aged up—especially not Tsunade, who was known to obsess over appearances despite her true age being much older due to her Transformation Technique.
Byakuya smirked, clearly enjoying her reaction.
"Ohhh, so you admit you're already in your twenties. Then I'm clearly at a disadvantage here. You're an older woman taking advantage of an innocent young man."
"You little—!"
Tsunade's fist swung with fury, chakra surging instinctively into her arm. But Byakuya, already anticipating her response, caught her punch mid-air. With a slight tug, Tsunade lost her balance and stumbled forward—straight into his arms.
"Now, now, Tsunade... throwing yourself at me? If that's how you feel, then I won't hold back."
"You bastard! Let go—mmph!"
But her protests quickly gave way to another round of struggle and passion as the two wrestled once again—half in play, half in heat.
Meanwhile, in Kusagakure – The Sarutobi's Frustration
The darkened council chamber of Kusagakure echoed with a sudden shout.
"What did you just say!?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen rose to his feet, knocking over a table. His eyes widened in disbelief.
"The allied assault from Kumogakure and Iwagakure failed?!"
The messenger swallowed hard and nodded. "Yes, Lord Third. The Uchiha clan, led by Byakuya, crushed both forces."
"Impossible!" Hiruzen bellowed, his voice filled with fury and disbelief.
"Two of the Five Great Nations attacked simultaneously! How could they be defeated by just one clan from Konoha!?"
Across the room, Shimura Danzō stood silently, face pale. The situation had spiraled beyond his control.
Originally, their strategy had been meticulous—allow Kumogakure and Iwagakure to exhaust and destroy the Uchiha clan, leaving Konoha ripe for Sarutobi's return to power. It was supposed to be a final blow to Byakuya's rising influence.
But now…
"Two great nations brought low… by a single Uchiha commander?" Danzō muttered grimly. "Just how strong has he become?"
"Strong enough to destroy our entire plan," Hiruzen spat. "This isn't just a setback. It's a disaster."
Outside the chamber, a heavy silence fell over Kusagakure. War had not just failed them—it had made a god out of their enemy.
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