After staying in Takigakure for a few days, Sasuke's high fever had subsided. However, the long period of torture had left lasting effects on his body. He remained unconscious for now, but slowly healing—only time would tell when he'd wake up.
Naruto and Sakura headed out to carry out an intelligence-gathering mission. Along the way, they clashed with Zero Organization members sent to ambush them by Anya, managing to collect some scattered information about the Akatsuki.
At this point, their trip to Takigakure was completely over. On the return journey, one extra passenger had joined them on the carriage—Mikoto.
Looking curiously at the unexpected addition, Naruto asked, "Hey Uncle, why'd you bring a stranger along?"
Sakura was also puzzled. And she quickly noticed that this woman seemed especially concerned about the unconscious Sasuke. Could it be…?
"Stay out of grown-up stuff, you two. Focus on organizing the intelligence we collected—it's useful for the village."
With those words, Anya immediately silenced the two.
The trip back to Konoha was completely trouble-free. As soon as they arrived, Anya placed a wide-brimmed hat on Mikoto's head. The four of them headed together toward the Hokage's office.
As soon as they walked in, Naruto shouted, "Lady Tsunade, quick! Sasuke is injured and needs your treatment!"
Tsunade's expression shifted from joy to surprise. Wounds even Anya couldn't heal?
From the surgery they'd done together on Lee, Tsunade clearly recognized that Anya's medical skills were extremely advanced—perhaps even surpassing her own. So what kind of injury couldn't he heal?
Meeting Tsunade's questioning gaze, Anya shrugged casually. "Nothing too serious. Don't mind Naruto shouting like that. Maybe in a few days, Sakura can bring Sasuke around."
Hearing Anya mention her name, Sakura stepped forward confidently. "Hokage-sama, I've already learned Medical Ninjutsu. I can sense that Sasuke's body is slowly recovering. Let me take care of him at the hospital during this time."
Upon hearing Sakura's words, a flash of sadness passed through Naruto's eyes, and he fell silent.
Everyone else noticed the emotions between the two. Eventually, Tsunade nodded. "Alright then, Sakura. You go ahead. As for Naruto, report the details of this mission to me."
Once Naruto finished reporting, Tsunade had Shizune shut the door to the Hokage's office. She stood up and approached Anya, asking, "Who is this woman? Important enough for you to personally bring her here to see me?"
"It's been years, but Tsunade-sama still looks just as young and beautiful as I remember." Smiling politely, Mikoto voluntarily removed her hat.
"You are…?" Tsunade vaguely remembered something but couldn't place her name.
"I am Mikoto Uchiha."
At hearing that name, Tsunade was greatly startled. "You're not dead?"
Immediately after saying that, Tsunade's gaze shot toward Anya as realization dawned.
"That night of the massacre, Anya saved you."
"Yes. I never expected to survive back then either. These years, I've only been barely surviving outside the village," Mikoto sighed.
Anya fixed Mikoto with an intense gaze. "Back then, how many did you save? Or perhaps..."
Anya answered plainly, "Back then my body was already failing. Saving Mikoto was already the limit of what I could do."
Tsunade spoke in a tone carrying strange undertones, "When I heard about the Uchiha massacre and that Sasuke was the sole survivor, something felt off to me. Now finally everything makes sense. With your personality, if Mikoto had been killed, it would've been impossible for you not to lose your mind completely."
Mikoto sensed something unusual between Tsunade and Anya but didn't dwell on it. Instead, she prepared to make her request: "Hokage-sama, I have something to say."
Seeing the serious expression on Mikoto's face, Tsunade became fully attentive herself. "Please proceed."
"Besides myself and Sasuke, there was actually one other Uchiha survivor—Anya. Back then he insisted on leaving the clan, so I concealed this fact for him. Now he has decided to reclaim the Uchiha name. Therefore, I want our clan district returned."
Caught off guard by Mikoto's request, Tsunade shot a sharp glance at Anya. "Is that so? This is truly what you desire?"
Though Tsunade's expression betrayed neither pleasure nor anger, Anya could faintly sense her displeasure. He turned to Mikoto and said, "Could you allow me to speak privately with Lady Tsunade?"
At this moment, Mikoto finally sensed something amiss. She gave both of them a meaningful look before silently putting on her hat and exiting the office.
As soon as Mikoto stepped outside, Tsunade smirked coldly and sneered, "Fine then! Anya, tell me—who was it that once desperately gambled away everything, recklessly exposed their identity, and begged me on bended knee not to reveal the truth? Now suddenly you're eager to publicly admit who you are? Oh right, almost forgot—you're also her son's foster father. Tell me, do you have any ulterior motives?"
Anya sighed bitterly. "Ah, Mikoto's heart was already broken beyond repair while she wandered abroad, her body and soul teetering on the brink of complete collapse. Without my treatment, her flame of life was on the verge of dying out at any moment. So I simply couldn't refuse her demands."
Tsunade snorted twice. "So her requests don't end here, do they?"
"That's correct," replied Anya with obvious reluctance. "She hopes for me to revive the Uchiha Clan. Truthfully though, the concept of family never meant much to me personally. Whether the Senju or the Uchiha—it makes no difference to me. Both are just components making up this world."
Upon hearing these words, Tsunade softened slightly in expression. "My grandfather felt similarly. That's why he integrated the entire Senju Clan into the village. Actually, there's nothing wrong with you reclaiming your family name. But have you really thought this through? The Uchiha certainly have a great many burdens to carry."
Wasn't the whole reason so many big names showed up at the Chunin Exams because of Sasuke Uchiha in the first place?
Now Anya alone stepping forward to revive the Uchiha Clan would surely draw attention from all nations. Assassination attempts were very possible. Even within Konoha itself, opposition might arise.
Not a single soul in Konoha lifted a finger to help the Uchiha when they were wiped out—no one stepped in to plead for mercy. Their isolation speaks volumes about how deeply disliked they were.
Anya gave a casual smile and said, "You're right behind me, aren't you? What exactly should I be afraid of?"
Tsunade's face reddened slightly before she snapped back, "Figure it out yourself. At most, I'll let you have that clan district."
"Fair enough. Thanks."
With the serious talk over, Anya stepped forward and tried to pull Tsunade into a hug, hoping to make up for the closeness they had missed.
Tsunade gave him a sour look and said, "None of that. Tell me, what's going on with Sasuke? With your Medical Ninjutsu, how come he's not healed yet?"
"Uh, I kinda burned out healing Miss Mikoto. I seriously need to recover."
Seeing the suggestive look in Anya's eyes, Tsunade knew exactly what he meant by "recover." She scoffed and snapped, "Recover on your own. Beat it."
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