Tsunade took a deep breath, and the coldness in her eyes became even more pronounced.
The Chakra fluctuations around her grew even more intense.
Staring at Danzō, Tsunade said coldly, "Since you don't know what's good for you, I'll drag you before the Old Man and make you confess everything in front of him. No, in front of everyone!"
"You want to downplay the situation? You want to minimize the impact of this affair? You want to wash your hands of it?"
"Do you really think I'll give you that chance?"
Tsunade understood Danzō's intentions after only a moment's thought.
He wanted to downplay the situation!
Given his past achievements and his friendship with the Old Man, the Old Man would often turn a blind eye to many of Danzō's actions!
This was a common tactic used by politicians.
But he intended to use that tactic on her.
Too bad.
She wasn't buying it!
After spending so much time with Seiryū, she had more or less picked up some of his temperament.
"Staying in that position for too long has made you think everyone has to obey your orders? Who do you think you are? Konoha is not your Konoha, Danzō!"
"Sage Art: Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence!"
Tsunade couldn't be bothered to waste any more words.
She began forming hand seals, and her Chakra fluctuations surged to their absolute peak in that instant!
Rumble!
As the hand seals were completed, the earth all around began to tremble.
Thick, massive tree vines erupted from the ground, quickly transforming the area into a forest!
Swish, swish, swish!
Under Tsunade's control, thick tree vines, each as massive as a giant python, slithered along the ground.
They seemed intent on swallowing everything in their path as they surged straight toward Danzō.
Wood Release, enhanced by Senjutsu Chakra, became even more formidable.
The two complemented each other perfectly!
"Wood Release!?"
Upon seeing Tsunade use Wood Release, Danzō's expression changed completely in that instant!
Tsunade.
Not only had she mastered Senjutsu, but she had also awakened Wood Release!?
When did this happen?
"Damn it!"
The encroaching tree vines made Danzō's expression turn grave.
This was the First Hokage's ultimate power, the strongest Kekkei Genkai of the Senju Clan.
Now, it had reappeared in Tsunade, a member of the Senju Clan.
He had every reason to be vigilant!
Danzō did not even pay attention to "Kinoe." Concerned only for his own safety, he flashed backward.
At the same time, he formed hand seals and expanded his chest. "Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
As an Advisor, Danzō's strength was not weak.
Although he was not as strong as Hiruzen, he was still a Kage-level powerhouse.
His specialty, Wind Release Ninjutsu, unleashed its formidable power. He spat out a violent hurricane from his mouth, blasting toward the approaching Wood Release vines!
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The storm condensed into a sphere, sweeping through everything in its path and holding back the incoming tree vines.
The storm acted like sharp blades, cutting into the Wood Release and leaving behind gashes.
Yet it could not do much to stop them.
The vines raged wildly, tearing through the storm with their momentum undiminished as they swept toward Danzō.
"Wood Release enhanced with Senjutsu."
Seeing that his Ninjutsu could not even halt the advance of the Wood Release, Danzō's heart sank to the bottom.
Tsunade's strength was already formidable.
Even in her normal state, he was not certain he could defeat her.
Now, with both Senjutsu and Wood Release, her power was likely even greater than Hiruzen's.
As he was now, he was no match for her!
But he would not just sit idly by and wait for defeat.
If he were beaten and dragged before Hiruzen.
Where would he put his face as an Advisor and a high-ranking official of Konoha!?
"Wind Release: Vacuum Great Sphere!"
Gritting his teeth, Danzō wore a determined expression.
That situation absolutely could not be allowed to happen.
He formed hand seals again, spitting out an even more powerful storm from his mouth!
Swish! Boom!
He briefly managed to hold back the advancing Wood Release vines!
"Stop her!"
Danzō flashed backward again and shouted in a low voice to those around him.
Swish, swish, swish!
The Root shinobi appeared in a flash and charged straight at Tsunade.
The Root shinobi only obeyed Danzō's orders.
Even if the Hokage were standing there, they would attack without hesitation.
Danzō's orders were above all else!
"Get lost!"
A cold glint flashed in Tsunade's eyes as she raised her right leg and stomped down.
Boom!
The earth cracked under her Monstrous Strength, and stone pillars erupted from the ground, attacking those who approached like spikes.
This forced the Root shinobi to keep their distance!
Swish!
Tsunade flashed forward, locking her sights directly on Danzō as she pursued him. "Having your subordinates attack me? It seems you really don't take me seriously, Danzō!"
Swish, swish, swish!
With a single thought from Tsunade, the surrounding Wood Release vines transformed into giant pythons, slithering toward Danzō's location with formidable momentum!
"Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!"
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
Several Root shinobi flashed in front of Danzō, forming hand seals and unleashing Ninjutsu to block her.
Their combined Ninjutsu destroyed the approaching Wood Release vines, preventing them from getting any closer.
"You've gone too far, Tsunade. If you retreat now, I can overlook your insubordination!"
Danzō stood behind the group of Root shinobi, his face gloomy as he spoke.
"As expected, you've been in the position of Advisor for too long. You've grown used to standing above everyone else. Even now, you still want to put on airs as an Advisor?"
Tsunade snorted coldly.
She stomped her foot on the ground again, causing a massive boulder to erupt from the earth.
Boom!
Tsunade threw a heavy punch, and her Monstrous Strength turned the boulder into a projectile that whistled through the air!
Boom!
The boulder was destroyed by Ninjutsu, and the fragments shattered and scattered in all directions like a shower of debris.
"Block her! I need time. If necessary, you may die!"
Danzō ignored Tsunade's words and instead issued a low command to the Root shinobi at his side.
Matters had reached a point where they could no longer be easily resolved.
Danzō was also thinking about how to handle this.
He thought it over again and again.
The only option was to first explain the general situation to Hiruzen, the Hokage.
Only Hiruzen could make Tsunade restrain her anger and suppress the matter.
As for how to handle it afterward, that would depend on Hiruzen's intentions.
Danzō had not expected to encounter such a situation. It was truly troublesome.
If it was not handled well, his standing in Konoha might be compromised.
This was terrible!
If anyone else had discovered it, he could have silenced them or taken them into custody.
It would not have had much of an impact on him.
But it had to be Tsunade, someone whose identity and status were extremely special.
Of course, he would still make some preparations.
"Hmph!"
Taking one last look at Tsunade, Danzō snorted coldly, flashed away, and retreated toward the rear. His destination was the Hokage Office.
Swish, swish, swish!
The Root shinobi began to move, lunging at Tsunade.
They unleashed various Ninjutsu one after another, delaying Tsunade's advance.
"Get out of the way!"
Tsunade's eyes turned cold.
With a burst of speed, she dodged and appeared before a Root shinobi.
She threw a punch, sending him flying and crashing into a large tree, knocking it over.
He was not dead.
After all, they were shinobi of the village. Even if they were Root shinobi, Tsunade would not kill them.
But what Tsunade did not notice was that this heavily injured Root shinobi, realizing he was incapacitated and unable to move, actually formed a hand seal with an expressionless face.
Afterward, his breathing grew weaker and weaker.
Finally, he lost all signs of life.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The Root shinobi unleashed various Ninjutsu in succession, blocking Tsunade's pursuit.
Boom!
With another punch, she sent a Root shinobi flying.
Tsunade's expression grew grim.
These Root shinobi did not care about their own safety at all. Even if they were attacked by her, they would block her path without hesitation.
To stop her, they did not even care about their own lives!
Root.
It had become a death squad that only obeyed Danzō's orders.
They disregarded everything, living only to complete their mission, to complete Danzō's mission!
"Hmm? The Chakra fluctuations disappeared?"
After activating Sage Mode, Tsunade's perception was extremely powerful, allowing her to capture every Chakra fluctuation in the vicinity.
But now, she discovered that the few Root shinobi she had struck and critically injured earlier had suddenly lost their Chakra fluctuations.
They were dead!
"Could it be."
Tsunade's expression grew even uglier.
She had been very measured in her attacks, intending only to leave them severely injured, not to take their lives.
Yet now, several of the Root shinobi she had attacked were dead!
Suicide!
They had committed suicide for Danzō!
No, it should be said that Danzō had ordered them to die at her hands.
To frame her for killing fellow shinobi of the village?
"To think he would do such a thing!"
Realizing this, Tsunade's expression sank completely.
Danzō. What exactly did he consider human life to be?
It was one thing to turn Root into his personal death squad, but to dare commit such a despicable act!
If she had been angry before because of the Wood Release Kekkei Genkai transplant experiments, then now Tsunade was furious at Danzō's actions!
To achieve his goals, he had issued such an order.
If he were allowed to remain in that position, who knew how much damage he would cause to Konoha?
As one of Konoha's high-ranking officials, to commit such an act that violated the Will of Fire!
This matter had to be thoroughly investigated!
Danzō had to be severely punished!
Hum!
Chakra flowed to Tsunade's fingertips, and she tapped her forehead, touching the Strength of a Hundred Seal.
The diamond shape on her forehead was not just the Strength of a Hundred Seal.
Seiryū's Flying Thunder God Seal was also superimposed over it.
She could trigger Seiryū's Flying Thunder God Seal with her Chakra, allowing him to perceive it.
Swish!
In just two seconds, a figure appeared out of thin air beside Tsunade.
Naturally, it was Seiryū, who had sensed the fluctuation of the Flying Thunder God Seal on Tsunade and arrived using the Flying Thunder God Technique!
Upon appearing, Seiryū's perception immediately swept across the surroundings, assessing the situation.
Only then did he look at Tsunade, raising an eyebrow as he asked, "What's going on? These are Root shinobi, right? Did they provoke you? You actually resorted to killing?"
"Eh, why is this guy here too?"
Spotting the young Yamato bound by the Wood Release vines, Seiryū recognized him at a glance.
Isn't this Yamato when he was a child?
Why is he here too?
His perception expanded again, and Seiryū also sensed Danzō farther away.
After turning this information over in his mind, Seiryū already had a rough guess and could not help but click his tongue. "Did you stumble upon Yamato, this Wood Release shinobi, by coincidence, and that triggered this conflict?"
"But what exactly did Danzō and the Root shinobi do to make you resort to killing? And you called me over. Don't tell me you want me to clean up your mess?"
Danzō, Wood Release Yamato, Root shinobi, and some dead Root shinobi.
It was likely that Danzō had just been unlucky enough to be caught red-handed by Tsunade while training Yamato in Wood Release.
Then this series of events was triggered.
Seiryū knew.
Tsunade, that bad woman, was very devious. During the Dragon Vein mission, her memory had not been wiped.
She had likely guessed some things about the First Hokage's cell transplant experiments.
But Tsunade had actually resorted to killing?
"Yamato?"
Hearing Seiryū's words, Tsunade's pupils shrank slightly.
She turned to look at Seiryū, her gaze sharp. "How do you know that name?"
Why did this kid know about the Wood Release shinobi Yamato?
Could it be that this kid's memory had not been sealed either?
Seiryū: "."
Damn it!
I spoke too fast and let it slip!
Since he had let it slip, Seiryū did not bother hiding it anymore.
He spread his hands and said, "Just like you, I didn't have my memory sealed at the time."
Tsunade: "..."
So you were also meddling back then, huh?
What a brat!
Tsunade's mouth twitched. "You kept saying that memories needed to be sealed, otherwise it might affect both timelines or even cause the two timelines to merge, yet this is how you acted?"
Seiryū curled his lips and gave Tsunade a disdainful look. "I'm different from you. I was severely injured at the time. I couldn't even mobilize my Chakra."
"I don't know why my memory wasn't sealed or blurred either. It's highly likely that my talent for Genjutsu is top-tier, so my resistance was higher?"
His situation was different from Tsunade's.
Tsunade had resisted, while he had been unaffected.
Tsunade: "..."
At that time, Seiryū had been severely injured because of the Dragon Vein Chakra.
He could not have had the power to resist.
In other words, was it really because of his talent that his resistance to Genjutsu was higher?
Tsunade remembered another question and stared at Seiryū. "Wait, how did you know my memory wasn't sealed? Since when?"
When had this kid known that her memory had not been sealed?
She clearly had never mentioned it!
Seiryū said noncommittally, "Didn't we discuss transplanting Kekkei Genkai to others once? I judged it from your words and expressions back then."
Tsunade: "..."
It was at that point?
Not long after the Dragon Vein mission!
This kid had already known that her memory had not been sealed back then?
"Let's not talk about that for now. What are we doing now? Finishing them off?"
Seiryū did not continue the topic.
Instead, he glanced at the Root shinobi, who had stopped moving the moment he appeared.
He curled his lips. "Taking action against the Advisor's forces. Are you trying to use this opportunity to suppress your rivals and clear the obstacles to becoming the Fourth Hokage?"
"You're finally starting to show some ambition!"
"When the time comes, we'll join forces. You'll be the Fourth Hokage, and I'll be the Fourth Hokage Assistant. Rebuilding Konoha's glory will be our generation's duty!"
Seiryū was more than happy to deal with the potential threat that was the "Nabekage," Danzō.
The current situation in the Ninja World was unstable. Even Madara had personally come out to make trouble.
Danzō, that scourge, might very well come up with some scheme.
His ability to stir up trouble was something countless Naruto fans recognized.
(To be continued.)
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◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 200 Power Stones.
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