Chapter 294 – Tsunade and Mito
"Thank you, Yusuke," Guy said seriously. Even for Might Guy, his attitude at this moment was unusually solemn.
"Ah, it's just a small matter. Guy, even though I've healed your injuries, your stamina is completely depleted. Let Kakashi handle things here," Yusuke said.
"It's fine, right, Kakashi?" Hatake Yusuke asked, looking at his younger brother whose fighting spirit was burning brightly.
"Don't worry. Even if I can't win, at the very least, I can hold him back," Kakashi replied.
As he spoke, his gaze drifted toward Naruto and Sasuke. He could now clearly feel an awakening power within both of them—something so overwhelming that even he felt shocked by it.
He finally understood why his older brother hadn't appeared to save Naruto and Sasuke earlier. Sasuke might not necessarily have been saved by his brother, but Naruto definitely would have been.
"Your instincts are sharp. Kakashi, I'll leave this place to you. Don't disappoint me again," Yusuke said.
"You're really naggy, Nii-san. Don't worry, I'm strong," Kakashi replied, deliberately mimicking Yusuke's tone.
"In that case, I can rest easy," Yusuke said, patting Guy on the shoulder.
"Hatake Yusuke, since you're already here, don't leave just yet," Madara said.
At this moment, the person he most wanted to face was Hatake Yusuke. Even if he, Uchiha Madara, could accept defeat, he would never allow himself to be toyed with like this.
"Not yet. You're still not qualified. Wait until your other eye recovers—then we'll talk," Yusuke replied with a faint smile. With that, he took Guy and Mito and vanished from the battlefield.
"Yooo, Minato-nii, long time no see. You look pretty miserable. You even lost an arm," Hatake Yusuke said with a mischievous grin as he looked at Minato.
"You really are… I didn't expect you'd still be wearing that eyepatch," Minato said, looking at his old friend with a joyful expression.
"Want me to help you recover?" Hatake Yusuke asked.
"Then… sorry to trouble you," Minato said. He knew this kind of thing was effortless for Hatake Yusuke, and the situation didn't allow him to be overly polite.
"If you know it's troublesome, then don't say it," Yusuke replied.
Minato only smiled and shook his head.
"You really haven't changed at all, Yusuke," Minato said. Time-based chakra gathered in Hatake Yusuke's hand, and not long after, Minato's arms were fully restored.
"That… Mito, you've been resurrected too? Yusuke-kun, could you help me as well? Being stuck like this is really uncomfortable," Hashirama said.
The black rods embedded in his body were not something just anyone could touch, let alone remove. On top of that, seeing Mito made him feel a little nervous.
"Alright," Yusuke said. He slightly raised a finger, and several black rods lifted out of Senju Hashirama's body.
"Oh, now I can finally move. Amazing," Hashirama said as he stretched his body.
"Um… could you help me too?" Senju Tobirama said somewhat awkwardly. With his stubborn personality, he never imagined he'd have to ask for help from someone of a younger generation.
Hatake Yusuke didn't tease Tobirama. Normally, with his personality, he definitely would have cracked a joke. But Tsunade was approaching, and he was afraid she'd get angry. If that happened, things would become troublesome.
"Mito…" Hashirama scratched his head, wearing a foolish smile.
Mito glanced briefly at Senju Hashirama, then withdrew her gaze and turned to look at Tsunade, who was approaching. Her Kagura Mind's Eye had already sensed Tsunade's presence.
"Do you still blame me?" Senju Hashirama asked.
"Hmph," Mito snorted coldly.
"But I was the Hokage. That wasn't something I could avoid," Hashirama said.
"Hokage? Was the Uzumaki Clan's aid to Konoha still not enough to be considered part of Konoha? If it weren't for the Uzumaki Clan back then, what would you have used to build Konoha?" Uzumaki Mito said sharply.
"Sister-in-law, this is all my fault," Senju Tobirama said as he stepped forward.
"The students you raised are truly remarkable, Tobirama. I never imagined our Uzumaki Clan would be reduced to just a handful of people. Heh," Mito said, offering Tobirama no warmth at all.
"Our Senju Clan isn't left with many either," Hashirama said quietly.
"You deserve it. And you still dare say that? Is this the Konoha you built for peace? You couldn't even save your own allies?" Mito sneered coldly.
"Mito, I know I was too naive. If I had still been alive back then, I definitely wouldn't have let this happen," Hashirama said.
Hearing those words, Mito's heart softened slightly. She knew Senju Hashirama was overly naive. Still, the destruction of a nation was not something easily forgiven.
The Land of Uzumaki had helped Konoha with all their heart, even to the point of damaging their own foundations. But what did Konoha do? They stood by and watched as it was destroyed.
"Hmph. I'm already a dead person. I don't want to argue about this with you any further," Mito said.
At that moment, Tsunade arrived.
"Grandma? Grandma!" Tsunade cried out joyfully as she ran toward Mito. Mito gently stroked Tsunade's head.
"Tsuna-chan, how has your life been all these years?" Mito asked with a loving expression.
"Very good. I've been really happy these past few years," Tsunade replied. The corner of her eye glanced at Hatake Yusuke beside her, then returned to Mito.
"Then I can rest easy."
"I've already become Hokage," Tsunade said happily, like a child seeking praise.
On the other side, Senju Hashirama wore a gloomy expression as he thought to himself, "Konoha is still doing fine, right? They haven't completely fallen, right?" But in front of Mito, he didn't dare say it aloud.
Tsunade's habit of gambling came from him. Back then, Senju Hashirama had nearly been scolded half to death by Mito and was forced to sleep on the floor for a full month, with nothing but a mission mat beneath him.
"Grandpa, Grandpa Tobirama."
"Tsunade, not bad at all. I've already seen your strength. You're close to surpassing Grandpa Tobirama," Senju Tobirama said with satisfaction.
"That's right. Tsunade, keep working hard. Maybe one day you'll even surpass me," Senju Hashirama said with a foolish smile.
"If it weren't for how busy Hokage work is, and if I had time to train, I would've surpassed Grandpa long ago," Tsunade complained.
Senju Hashirama knew well just how exhausting the position of Hokage was. If not for Tobirama's help, he would have stepped down long ago.
Back then, Senju Tobirama had feared the Uchiha Clan gaining power, so he centralized all authority in the Hokage's hands.
Even with Tobirama's assistance, Hashirama's workload back then was far heavier than Tsunade's now—especially since Konoha had just been founded and had countless matters to deal with.
"That can't be helped. Tsunade, have you already decided on the next Hokage?" Tobirama asked as he looked at Tsunade, then glanced at Hatake Yusuke.
He had already witnessed Hatake Yusuke's strength. Even the Ten-Tails Jinchūriki was no match for him, and Uchiha Madara had been suppressed with ease. Moreover, from his observations, Hatake Yusuke also possessed extremely high intelligence.
Although Tsunade herself was capable—almost flawless in his eyes—she was still a woman, and in terms of authority, she was instinctively at a disadvantage compared to men.
This wasn't meant to belittle women. It was simply the feudal mindset ingrained in those from an ancient war era.
"It's already decided. It's my younger brother, Kakashi," Tsunade said.
"Oh? Kakashi?" Senju Tobirama looked at Kakashi, who was holding Madara at bay in the distance, and nodded in satisfaction.
"So that's how it is, Lady Tsunade. I didn't expect the next Hokage to be Kakashi," Minato said happily.
"If I'm not mistaken, Fourth Hokage, he's your student," Tobirama said.
"Yes, Lord Second Hokage," Minato replied.
Hearing this, Tobirama became even more satisfied. In his heart, he thought, "Kakashi is not only Tsunade's younger brother-in-law, but also the student of the Fourth Hokage. On top of that, his strength is outstanding—he's even surpassed his own older brother. Truly a pure and worthy lineage. The position of Hokage suits him perfectly."
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