Chapter 175: The Radical Within the Conservative Faction
Hokage's Office.
This time, Tsunade was sitting behind the Hokage's desk. Hiruzen Sarutobi, now the Hokage's Aide, was puffing on his pipe, looking quite relaxed. Kinoshita Genichi and Fugaku Uchiha were also present.
"It's basically confirmed. Uchiha Tekka has defected to Madara Uchiha," Tsunade said with a grave expression.
Previously, when Genichi had asked to see Tekka's body, he had hit the mark. It was indeed a fake, a White Zetsu imposter.
"Wouldn't it have been better if the body simply couldn't be found?" Fugaku was a little puzzled. "After all, it's not uncommon for ninja to go missing without a trace. This seems like an unnecessary step."
"If I hadn't brought it up," Genichi said, "I'm afraid none of you would have even thought in that direction."
At first, he had also thought it was an unnecessary move on Madara's part. But that was ignoring the most critical point: he himself possessed intelligence on White Zetsu, but Madara didn't know that. Even though he had taken half of a Zetsu's body, and a lot of intel could be researched from a corpse, it was very difficult to fully grasp all of its abilities just from that. For example, its ability to perfectly mimic chakra with its transformation jutsu.
"Secondly, based on the intel we do have, even if we couldn't determine who was being controlled by Madara, we would have definitely focused our search on those who were missing a body. Then, it would be a matter of course to remove their chakra markers from the system."
"The sensory barrier?" Hiruzen immediately understood. "This is to allow him to use Uchiha Tekka's identity to better infiltrate Konoha."
"That should be it," Genichi nodded. "Perhaps there's more, but I haven't thought of it yet."
Madara didn't really care if his own identity was exposed. A mix of truth and lies was more confusing.
"Then have the Barrier Team resolve this loophole immediately," Tsunade said.
"No, leave it," Hiruzen said.
"The Third is right," Genichi nodded. "Leave it, but have the Barrier Team keep a constant watch on Uchiha Tekka's chakra. I'll have a clone stationed with them," he added after a moment's thought. It's not like Tekka will awaken Kamui if he gets the Mangekyō, right? If he does, I'll definitely have to beat the hell out of the author.
The entire village was enveloped in a sensory barrier that could identify whether someone was a Konoha ninja. If an outsider invaded, it would immediately sound an alarm. Only a very small number of people in Konoha knew the barrier's code formula, and Tekka was most likely not one of them. To enter silently, one either needed a space-time ninjutsu or to have cracked the barrier formula. In the original timeline, Pain had invaded by entering from the sky and using a summoning jutsu to confuse the Barrier Team into thinking only one enemy had entered.
"To prevent the possibility that he knows the code," Tsunade said after some thought, "have the Barrier Team change the formula. Also… Clan Head Fugaku." She looked at him. "Is there any possibility of making Uchiha Tekka turn back?"
"I'm afraid that will be very difficult," Fugaku shook his head. "Without absolute certainty, this is not a good thing."
"Understood," Tsunade nodded. Indeed, if they could really turn him, they could use him as a double agent. But what if it was a fake turncoat? It would be very difficult to trust each other.
"Then let's prepare for the worst," Tsunade said in a deep voice. "Clan Head Fugaku, I need to reorganize the Police Force."
"Yes. The Uchiha will cooperate fully," Fugaku nodded immediately.
The Police Force was the Uchiha's private territory, but it also restricted them. In Konoha, the core was naturally the high-ranking leadership. Before, it had been Hiruzen and the three elders. Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and Tsunade were not part of the decision-making core. Below that was the Anbu, which reported directly to the Hokage. The Anbu itself was divided into many departments, such as the Intelligence Division and the Interrogation Unit, which were all under the Hokage's direct command.
And the Uchiha had nothing to do with any of them. The Hyūga clan was mostly the same. The Uchiha were excluded by the leadership itself. The Hyūga, on the other hand, were both suppressed by the policy of weakening the great clans that had started with Tobirama, and also had their own strategy of staying away from the core of power.
In the original timeline, Itachi was the first Uchiha to enter the Anbu. Fugaku had even ordered his son to use his position to spy on the Konoha leadership.
Now, Obito had become a member of Tsunade's Hokage Guard, which was part of the core power structure. Fugaku was not a fool. He would not cling to the Police Force. Was the Police Force as important as the Anbu? Obito's appointment was a signal from Tsunade. Fugaku had received it, which was why he had expressed his support without hesitation.
With this step taken, Tsunade pushed further. "Other departments also need to be filled with Uchiha elites."
Fugaku was shaken. "The Uchiha clan will completely follow the Hokage's orders," he said quickly.
Hiruzen watched, wanting to speak but holding his tongue. He felt Tsunade was being too radical. Starting with the Police Force was enough. They should build trust and then slowly proceed. Being so aggressive could easily cause problems. Especially since the Uchiha were so uncontrollable. Although he was not as hostile toward them as Danzō was, he was still wary and on guard. After all, the Uchiha clan had once even betrayed their own clan head, Madara.
So, for Hiruzen, he had to both use and guard against the Uchiha. And in the original timeline, because of the Nine-Tails attack, the rift between the Uchiha and Konoha grew wider and wider, and the mistrust became more and more serious. As the Uchiha's strength recovered after the war, the hardliners became more and more dissatisfied with the status quo. Hiruzen had wanted to resolve the issue in a more gentle way, but unfortunately, he couldn't find a good method, because he himself found it difficult to trust them. This was not something that the loyal Uchiha like Shisui and Itachi could change.
So, in the end, it was as if he had done nothing. Because he couldn't come up with a good solution, and Shisui had died because of Danzō, the last peaceful solution was gone, and he could only choose to eliminate the Uchiha. He couldn't suppress Danzō internally, and externally, he didn't have enough courage to change and suppress the Uchiha who were on the verge of a coup.
Tsunade didn't know the future, but in the time she had spent handling official duties with Hiruzen, she had come to deeply understand the internal rifts within Konoha. The Uchiha, the Hyūga, all of them. Except in times of a Great Ninja War, the strength of these two clans could not be properly utilized.
And now, with the great thundercloud of Madara looming, if it was not handled properly, Tsunade felt that Konoha might follow in the footsteps of the Mist Village. Either a bloody internal purge or an external war to resolve internal conflicts. Neither was what she wanted.
Since she had become the Hokage, she wanted to make the treasure her grandfather and the others had left behind even better. So she had to try. It didn't matter if she was a bit radical, because she had Kinoshita Genichi. Even if there were problems, she believed he could keep the situation under control.
If the Uchiha cooperated with her, accepted her trust, and reciprocated it, then that was good. They could slowly build trust and mend the rifts. She didn't mind Uchiha entering key departments. If they remained stubborn, then she was already prepared to cut the knot and use military force to eliminate the internal threat. She would not give Madara an opportunity to exploit them.
So, Tsunade noticed Hiruzen's expression, but pretended not to see it. She had already discussed this matter with Genichi beforehand, and had even sought the opinions of Jiraiya and Orochimaru. To break the rift of trust, she chose to take a big step forward herself.
As for the Uchiha's clan selfishness, who didn't have selfish interests? Tsunade considered herself to have them too. As long as she could suppress them, then she would use the Uchiha and the Hyūga to their fullest. As Genichi had privately said to her: "The Uchiha and the Hyūga are top-tier workhorses. How can you not use them? And if you're going to use them, you have to give them some grass to eat."
You want to enter the core of power? Come, come, you're welcome. Now work for me until you drop dead.
After Fugaku left, Hiruzen quickly said, "Tsunade, isn't this a bit too radical?"
"We can't afford to worry about that now," she said with a serious face. "I know the Uchiha prioritize their clan's interests, but every ninja clan is like that. That's why my great-uncle disbanded the Senju clan."
Hiruzen had nothing to say. It was the truth. During his reign, the Sarutobi clan had grown the fastest and had naturally gained the most benefits.
"Everyone has selfish interests, every clan has them, and I have them too," Tsunade said, cutting him off. "But as long as the overall interests of the village are greater than the selfish interests of every individual and every clan, and can suppress them, then it's fine."
"This is too dangerous," Hiruzen sighed.
"Is it more dangerous than Madara?" she retorted. "And, Sensei, I have Genichi, I have Jiraiya, I have Orochimaru, and I have your support. I believe I can stabilize the situation. The worst-case scenario is just wiping out the Uchiha clan and completely eliminating this hidden danger." The last sentence was filled with a murderous aura.
Hiruzen was a little stunned, and his face turned a bit bitter.
Genichi watched with a grin. Tsunade's personality had an impulsive and fiery side. And as a woman, don't be fooled by her being a medical-nin. In the war, she had killed quite a few people. In terms of soft-heartedness, among the Sannin, she was second. Jiraiya was the softest. If you thought she wouldn't be able to bring herself to do it because she was a woman, you were completely wrong. Hiruzen had thought that this Fourth Hokage's methods would be relatively gentle, but he had never expected this. The young and spirited Tsunade was a radical within the conservative faction.
I'm getting old… Hiruzen sighed to himself. The successive deaths of Danzō and the other two had been a great blow to him. Of his old comrades, only he and Akimichi Torifu were left. But Torifu's health was not good, and he was in a semi-retired state.
Looking at Tsunade and the Genichi standing beside her, he suddenly felt a sense of gratification. Tsunade was his student, and although Genichi was not, he was someone he had valued and had nurtured step by step.
"Then let it be so," Hiruzen said. "If you need anything, let me know at any time."
"I'm sure I'll be troubling you a lot in the future," she nodded.
Hiruzen nodded, then turned and left.
After he was gone, Tsunade took out a document and gave it to Genichi. He took it and saw that it was a personnel arrangement.
Kakashi to the Anbu.
Kinoshita Genichi, Hokage Advisor, Captain of Root.
Nara Shikaku, Jonin Class Leader, concurrent Hokage Advisor.
Minato Namikaze, Hokage Advisor, concurrent Hokage Assistant.
Jiraiya, Hokage Advisor.
Orochimaru, Hokage Advisor.
Sakumo Hatake, Hokage Advisor.
Hyūga Hiashi, Hokage Advisor.
Fugaku Uchiha, Hokage Advisor.
Akimichi Torifu, Hokage Advisor.
Nono Yakushi, Medical Corps Leader, Hokage Assistant.
Well now, she was throwing out the title of Hokage Advisor like it was free. But this was different from the Aide. It was a think tank with no real power. This was also Genichi's suggestion, but she had used it more boldly.
There were also the Hokage Assistants: Kushina Uzumaki, Uzumaki Ina, Shizune, and Nono Yakushi.
The Hokage Guard: Captain Genma Shiranui, members Kurenai Yūhi, Aoba Yamashiro, Raidō Namiashi, and Obito Uchiha. Normally it was a four-man squad, but Obito had been squeezed in.
The assistant group was also his suggestion, to reduce Tsunade's workload so she would have time to train.
After reading the list, he looked up. "Have you already talked to Orochimaru?"
"I'm going to re-subordinate Root to the Anbu and restore its training function," she nodded. "That guy didn't want to be in charge of it anyway. He's obsessed with research now and can't be bothered to guide the younger generation. Of course, the funding for his lab won't be cut."
"As long as there are results, the funding doesn't matter," Genichi smiled.
"But," she said seriously, "the situation from before will absolutely not be allowed to happen again. Using enemies for human experiments is one thing, but absolutely not our own people. Especially not the Uchiha clan! I've already told that guy Orochimaru. If I find out, then he shouldn't blame me for being impolite."
"Of course," he nodded. He couldn't harm Konoha or the Land of Fire, but that didn't mean he couldn't harm other countries. Konoha couldn't stop him. And he didn't have the heart of a saint to care. His own bottom line had always been flexible, and he had done no small number of experiments on enemies himself. He didn't even plan to look into Root's books. He knew without even checking that Orochimaru had definitely embezzled a lot of money and had secretly set up labs outside the village.
"I'll have Chigetsu lead the guard for a while first," Tsunade instructed. "I'll leave Genma and the others to you to train for a period of time."
"Looks like I won't be getting any rest after all," Genichi sighed.
"This mission is already very easy," she huffed. "You only need to use a clone. It won't delay your training. As for the daily operations of Root, you can let your assistant handle it."
She knew, of course, that his strength was very important, so unless it was absolutely necessary, she would not send him on missions. And with Sakumo and Minato around, he usually wasn't needed anyway.
Genichi nodded, then asked, "What are you going to do with the other members of Root? If it's just a training department for the Anbu, you shouldn't need such a large scale." The size of Root was almost no less than the Hokage's direct Anbu. With Danzō's death, the curse marks on everyone had automatically disappeared.
"First, let them enter the Anbu and adapt for a period of time," she was long prepared for this. "Then, gradually return them to the ranks of ordinary ninja." Root had originally been established to cultivate talent for the Anbu. It was just that Danzō had gradually turned it into his own private army, transforming it from a simple training department into a violent organization that could independently carry out missions. Now, Tsunade wanted to return it to its original function, which was why she had removed Orochimaru.
Genichi had no intention of seizing power either.
"Regarding Kushina's protection, do you have any suggestions?" she asked. This was a very troublesome problem for her. Against an enemy like Madara, probably only he and Minato's protection would be effective.
"Actually, most of the time, there's no need to worry too much," Genichi reassured her. "Sister Kushina herself has considerable combat power. If Madara appears, there's naturally me and Minato-san and the others. On a daily basis, it should be the same as before. However…" he hesitated slightly.
"However what?"
"Perhaps we can have her try to control the Nine-Tails' power and use it in battle," he said.
"Like my grandmother?" Tsunade mused. "I've heard that she seemed to be able to control the Nine-Tails' power. But that probably won't be simple."
Genichi nodded. He didn't know to what extent Mito Uzumaki had controlled the Nine-Tails' power. He vaguely remembered that she had the same negative emotion sensing as Nine-Tails Mode Naruto. But it didn't matter. He roughly knew how to achieve the Nine-Tails Chakra Mode. For Kushina, the hardest part should be resisting the Nine-Tails' malicious will. As long as she passed this hurdle, she wouldn't need to be in sync with the Nine-Tails to be able to forcibly take its chakra and enter the Nine-Tails Sage Mode. He just didn't know if it would work with Minato's help.
"After the last battle, the Cloud's Eight-Tails jinchuriki and the Eight-Tails seem to have started cooperating," he said. "Their control over the Tailed Beast's power will likely increase dramatically. If a jinchuriki and a Tailed Beast are in sync, it can be foreseen that the jinchuriki's strength will be greatly enhanced, possibly exceeding the power of 1+1."
"In sync?" she frowned. "That would probably be very difficult. Kushina is very disgusted and wary of the Nine-Tails."
"So," Genichi said, knowing this, "we will take the second-best option: forcibly seize the Nine-Tails' power. From my understanding of Tailed Beast chakra, as long as one can overcome its malicious will, it's not a problem."
Tsunade completely trusted him. She slammed her hand on the desk. "First, we'll ask for Minato and Kushina's opinion. If they agree, then we'll give it a try." With Genichi's Wood Release, she wasn't afraid of Kushina rampaging.
"I'll go talk to them about this," he said, taking the initiative.
"You brought it up, so of course you'll go talk to them," Tsunade said as if it were a matter of course.
Just then, a knock came at the door. "Come in," she said casually.
The door was pushed open, and Ina and Shizune walked in, holding stacks of documents higher than their heads.
"Lady Tsunade," Ina said, "these are the documents that need to be approved today. Most of them are about missions."
Tsunade's face immediately darkened.
Genichi quickly waved his hand. "You all are busy. I'll be going now."
(End of Chapter)
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