Hokage Tower.
Akihara Kagura and the two Hokage Advisors were still in a meeting.
Tsunade, accompanied by Shizune, pushed open the office door. Her gaze swept lightly over everyone present, finally settling on Akihara Kagura, the one unfamiliar to her.
"You brat... Are you Akihara Kagura?"
Tsunade leisurely walked over to Akihara Kagura, reaching out to grab his collar: "Are you the one sending people to kill my creditors everywhere? Ruining my reputation all over!"
"I killed them."
Akihara Kagura nodded, placing a stack of files in front of Tsunade, a smile tugging at his lips: "You're Tsunade-sama, right? What a coincidence. My subordinates reported to me that Tsunade-sama wants to protect her creditors. Wouldn't you like to see what kind of scum the new Fifth Hokage of Konoha wants to protect?"
"What is this?"
Tsunade frowned unpleasantly.
However, when Tsunade picked up those files and saw the familiar names, her face couldn't help but change slightly. The files contained the crimes of those creditors.
In the Ninja World, those running casinos or loan sharks inevitably have blood on their hands. Their goal is to make money, using any extreme means necessary. Who would think they're innocent or that they are doing charity?
The files showed that those creditors lured ordinary villagers into gambling at casinos, then with high-interest rates, left these innocent villagers completely unable to repay their debts, forcing them to sell their wives and daughters frequently. Murder and abuse had become the norm.
This is quite normal.
Because certain industries in the Ninja World are legal.
Surrounding almost every casino, there are corresponding pleasure districts. These creditors have turned ordinary people living nearby into slaves they control.
Because the Ninja World's system still has feudal elements, the actions of these casino bosses are legal here, and no one can point out their illegalities.
However...
Tsunade could see from the files how harmful their crimes really were.
"...…"
Tsunade's expression became somewhat dark and complex.
"Tsunade-sama."
Akihara Kagura stood up, placing his hand on the table, directly confronting this soon-to-be Hokage: "As Hokage, you need to protect the villagers of Konoha, not the scum of the Ninja World. I killed them for the sake of your reputation..."
In fact.
Akihara Kagura was playing on words.
Because Tsunade was never trying to protect those creditors, but wanted to protect her reputation. Simply due to the issue of debt, those creditors became linked with her reputation, making it impossible for Tsunade to refute Kagura's direct attack.
"Do you want these things to spread out?"
Akihara Kagura's gaze was somewhat cold, appearing more like an authority figure than Tsunade: "Do you want the Ninja World to know that Konoha's Fifth Hokage colludes with these thugs, indulging their disregard for human life..."
"In that case..."
"Where is Konoha's reputation?"
Akihara Kagura stared at Tsunade, whose expression was somewhat troubled, and righteously questioned: "Tsunade-sama, the First Hokage founded Konoha to protect the peace of the Ninja World, not to let you protect these scum who harm civilians!"
"Tsunade-sama is not such a person..."
Shizune clutched a small pig beside her, trembling with fear.
"I understand..."
Tsunade sighed softly in her heart.
Even though she'd heard from Jiraiya that returning to Konoha might cause a conflict in style with Akihara Kagura, she never expected her future political opponent to be so difficult, hitting her right where it hurts.
These files...
Akihara Kagura had prepared them in advance.
This means that he'd anticipated being blamed for killing the creditors, so he prepared these files to counterattack.
The internal conflict in Konoha...
It never truly ends!
Tsunade couldn't help but sigh about the cycle of fate. Once it was Teacher Sarutobi and Shimura Danzo, now it's her and Akihara Kagura...
However...
She is the Hokage!
"Don't twist the truth!"
Tsunade set down the papers in her hand, looking up to meet Kagura's gaze: "I merely want to protect my reputation, not them. Even if killing them were possible, it should only happen after I've repaid my debts!"
"Moreover, the Fifth Hokage of Konoha owes money to creditors and then lets ninjas kill them? That behavior clearly damages the village's reputation, right?"
Tsunade stared at Akihara Kagura, questioning sternly: "In such a situation, who would dare to entrust Konoha with missions? If I inherit the position of Fifth Hokage and continue repaying debts, more people will trust Konoha's credibility..."
"You're making a good point."
Akihara Kagura seemed as if he'd been convinced by Tsunade, sitting down by himself, handing over a piece of paper and pen to her: "Then, please write down the list of your creditors, and I'll send Root members to repay the debts, and then kill them."
"...…"
Tsunade's forehead twitched.
On the way back to Konoha, she'd heard Jiraiya mention that his disciple Akihara Kagura was someone extremely radical, yet very persuadable...