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Chapter 255: Tsunade's Regret
Konoha Gate.
In the open space outside the gate.
As the crowd dispersed, only Tsunade, Orochimaru, and a few others remained on the field.
"Lady Tsunade..." Shizune supported Tsunade with a worried look.
She had never seen Lady Tsunade so dejected and powerless.
Her spirit was extremely poor.
Even if she had accepted her fate, the blow of Konoha vanishing in the hands of her, the Fifth Hokage, was unimaginable.
Tsunade waved her hand, signaling Shizune not to worry.
She looked at the Hokage Rock in the village.
The giant heads of the Four Hokage had stood there for decades.
As Konoha's spiritual totem, they had always watched over the village below.
But in the future... Konoha would cease to exist.
Everyone in the village would move to Amegakure to live.
The village below the Hokage Rock would disappear completely, leaving only the four lonely Hokage heads.
The village they had guarded with their whole lives, even their lives, was ultimately going to end in the hands of her, the Fifth Hokage.
First, Second, Third, Fourth...
Tsunade's eyes were filled with guilt and self-blame. She even dared not look at the Hokage Rock of the Four Hokage anymore...
She took a deep breath, suppressing the various thoughts in her heart, and her expression returned to normal.
Although Konoha was disappearing, the villagers were still there.
The future in Amegakure was uncertain. She, the former Hokage, couldn't just fall like this.
She must ensure the safety and livelihood of the villagers.
Tsunade looked at Hinata. "Hinata, you were also a Konoha companion."
"I hope that after the villagers go to Amegakure, you can look after them a bit. Please..."
Hinata was silent for a moment, then said calmly, "Lady Tsunade, from now on, there will no longer be distinctions like Konoha, Kumogakure, or Kirigakure."
"Everyone is a citizen of the Nation of Dawn. Lady Konan and Lord Alex will treat everyone equally."
"Please rest assured, Lady Tsunade. The ninja world is thoroughly at peace from now on. As long as they live peacefully and don't commit crimes, there will be no danger to their lives."
"Is that so..." Tsunade's mouth was bitter. "After the unification of the ninja world, it is indeed thoroughly peaceful. There won't be any more wars..."
She turned around, somewhat dispirited. "Shizune, let's go back and pack too..."
Failing to get a guarantee from Hinata, continuing to speak wouldn't yield any results.
Perhaps the villagers' safety didn't need worrying about, but there would definitely be differences in standards of living between people.
As for equal treatment?
At most, it would ensure things looked roughly the same. But as long as they were human and had emotions, they would inevitably have their own likes and dislikes.
She only hoped those two Akatsuki leaders would be qualified rulers and not let their ego run too wild...
"Orochimaru..."
"You left Konoha many years ago and have no home here anymore; how about coming back to the Senju grounds with me?"
Tsunade looked at this old acquaintance who was both friend and foe.
The first half of their lives were as intimate Konoha companions; the second half were as enemies facing each other in life and death.
And now... they stood on the same side again.
On his aged face was a peace she hadn't seen in years.
No longer gloomy and evil like before; it seemed he had seen through and let go of many things.
This Orochimaru looked pleasing to the eye. This was the companion in her memories.
A ninja world war had changed too many people and relationships.
The Five Great Ninja Villages were gone. The grudges and grievances of the past didn't need to be dwelled upon anymore...
What a twist of fate...
Tsunade thought of that white-haired figure again.
Jiraiya...
If you were still alive, perhaps you would also be happy about your good friend Orochimaru's return...
I just don't know, facing the unification of the ninja world, thorough peace, and the disappearance of Konoha, what would you choose?
To surrender and accept fate like me, or to fight to the death...
Probably the latter...
Tsunade recalled the words Jiraiya said when he found her to become Hokage:
'Listen, Tsunade. You are the Third's disciple, my good friend, and one of the legendary Sannin.'
'That's why I'm entrusting Konoha to you. But! If you dare to harm Konoha or even betray Konoha, even if I have to chase you to the ends of the earth, I will kill you!'
At that time, she was tempted by Orochimaru to resurrect her loved ones, causing Jiraiya to state that warning very solemnly.
Tsunade's impression was very deep. Jiraiya wasn't joking.
That cold expression and chilling killing intent were something she had never seen before.
It was as if he had changed faces, no longer the lecherous, alcohol-loving, happy-go-lucky Gallant Jiraiya of the past.
His feelings for Konoha might have even exceeded hers.
Willing to give everything for Konoha. Anyone who dared to betray or harm the village would be killed.
Even relatives, children, or lovers.
That resolve was just like Grandfather's...
Facing Tsunade's invitation, Orochimaru didn't speak for the time being.
He just looked curiously at the Teleportation Paper in Hinata's hand.
His attention was completely attracted by this simple piece of paper.
To be able to teleport tens of thousands of Konoha ninjas back to Konoha in an instant relying on just this palm-sized paper...
Simply incredible.
He really urgently wanted to know the principles within, exactly how it was achieved.
Having experienced being sealed by Itachi Uchiha, and witnessing the changes in the ninja world from within Kabuto's body, Orochimaru had long changed a lot.
But only his thirst for ninjutsu and the truth of the world remained.
"Orochimaru?" Tsunade spoke again. "Are you coming with me to the Senju residence or not?"
Orochimaru retracted his gaze, thought for a moment, and was about to nod.
But Anko, who had been staring at him with extremely complicated eyes from behind, suddenly said:
"Orochimaru, your previous residence was taken over by me, but I didn't touch your things. You can go back and check."
Anko tried hard to pretend she didn't care, acting careless.
Towards this former teacher, her emotions were very contradictory.
How much she respected and loved him as a child was how much she hated him the moment Orochimaru defected.
She had never let it go in her heart, hoping one day she could personally resolve this traitor for the village, perishing together.
But unexpectedly, the end would be like this...
The ninja world changed suddenly, and Orochimaru seemed to have changed a lot too.
As for past sins, even Lady Tsunade seemed to have let go and didn't mention them anymore.
It seemed that compared to the current situation, many things from the past weren't important and should be let go...
"Kukuku!" Orochimaru suddenly laughed his signature laugh, looking at Anko gloomily.
"So my disciple still cares about her teacher so much."
"Facing my disciple's filial piety and request, how could I, the teacher, bear to refuse..."
"Tsunade, I won't go to the Senju grounds with you. I still have Anko, this filial disciple, in Konoha—"
"Shut up!" Anko's face flushed red, and she grabbed Orochimaru's arm. "If you're going back, go back. Don't say those words that make people feel unpleasant!"
"Anko, an attitude like yours is called being a Tsundere."
"Shut up!!"
The two disappeared at the end of the view, cursing all the way...
"Perhaps this is good too..." Tsunade retracted her gaze with complexity. "Shizune, let's go back too..."
"Hinata, let's go home too..."
"Mhm, go home. Hanabi must be waiting anxiously."
Hinata and Hiashi Hyuga stepped into the Konoha Gate together...
.....
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