"You—"
Sasuke's expression turned icy in an instant. From childhood to now, when had he ever been so openly rejected?
That crazy woman!
He let out a heavy snort, turned on his heel, and stormed out without looking back.
Bang!
The Hokage's office door slammed shut, cutting off the inside from the outside.
Tsunade stared at the still-vibrating door and rolled her eyes in irritation—but deep in her gaze, a trace of gravity flickered.
Handing the blade of vengeance to that child was a gamble.
If she won, it might loosen the knots binding his heart and give him a chance at rebirth.
If she lost, she might unleash a revenge-driven demon that knew nothing but slaughter.
But she had no other choice.
This was the only possible way to untie the deadlock between Konoha and the last Uchiha survivor.
Jiraiya emerged from the side lounge, fatigue visible on his face—but his eyes were filled with approval.
"Tsunade, you did the right thing," he said as he walked up to the desk, his tone firm.
"Letting him end that grudge with his own hands is the best way to break the chains in his heart. It minimizes his hatred toward Konoha itself."
"If he's guided properly afterward, with his talent and this experience… he'll absolutely become a pillar of the village in the future."
"Ahhh! This is so damn annoying!" Tsunade snarled, clawing at her brilliant blonde hair before collapsing gracelessly into the Hokage's chair.
"I know all that! But I really want to punch that old dog Danzō Shimura into dust and be done with it!"
"Letting him live for a few more years is way too generous!"
Just thinking about the atrocities that old bastard had committed in Konoha's name made her fists itch.
"Hah… hahahaha…"
Jiraiya let out a low, complicated laugh. There was little amusement in it—more the sound of rage pushed to its limit.
"Funny you say that. I want to as well. That old bastard… really isn't human."
His laughter abruptly stopped. Jiraiya's face turned deadly serious as he lowered his voice.
"Tsunade… do you know what I found in Root's secret archives?"
He took a deep breath, as if summoning the courage to continue.
"Those experimental records… the hidden reports… they're beyond monstrous."
Flames of fury burned in Jiraiya's eyes as he revealed the darkness, word by word—enough to chill anyone's soul.
"It wasn't just the Uchiha's Sharingan…"
"He also conducted secret experiments using the First Hokage's cells—human trials for Wood Release."
"And even worse… he had plans to forcibly fuse the Byakugan and the Sharingan."
"The test subjects… many of them were Konoha shinobi. Some were… missing villagers. Even children."
Each word struck Tsunade like a sledgehammer.
Her pupils shrank violently as she shot upright in her chair. All irritation vanished, replaced by shock—and a towering, murderous rage.
"He… dared…?"
Danzō's crimes were far darker—far deeper—than she had imagined.
This was no longer mere political struggle.
This was a complete trampling of Konoha's foundations and the very bottom line of human morality.
Then Tsunade let out a cold, mocking laugh, sharp as frost.
"Of course he dared…"
"After all, no matter what he did, there was always that old man backing him—never willing to touch him. Time and again, indulging him. Time and again, hiding behind the excuse of 'for the sake of Konoha.'"
Her voice rose sharply, years of resentment pouring out.
"Konoha ended up like this because of self-righteous bastards like them—dragging the village down step by step with their filthy compromises and so-called 'balance'!"
Her anger flared further, even spilling onto the deceased Second Hokage.
"My grand-uncle…" she snapped bitterly. "He must've been blind back then—to promote two 'talents' like that!"
Jiraiya stood to the side, eyes lowered, utterly silent.
These were words criticizing the Second Hokage's decisions and the Third Hokage's failures—words he couldn't respond to, and shouldn't.
That very afternoon, an order personally signed by the Fifth Hokage, Tsunade, was issued at top speed.
It was formally announced to the entire village and spread rapidly through Konoha's highest circles of power.
Official Decree
Former Hokage Advisor Danzō Shimura is hereby charged with long-term abuse of authority, illegal human experimentation, and theft of the village's kekkei genkai.
The evidence is conclusive. His crimes are grave and unforgivable.
All titles and honors are revoked.
He is hereby designated a Konoha S-rank missing-nin.
Kill on sight.
The order struck Konoha like another thunderbolt.
Yet few noticed something unusual.
Although Tsunade issued the highest-level kill order, she did not immediately form a dedicated elite pursuit squad, nor did she place any bounty on Danzō in the Bingo Book or the underground bounty exchanges—as was customary for S-rank missing-nin.
Hiruzen Sarutobi entered the Hokage's office alongside Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu, their heavy footsteps laden with dissatisfaction and anxiety, as if coming to demand answers.
But before they could speak, Tsunade—seated firmly in the Hokage's chair—didn't even look up.
Her voice was cold, devoid of the slightest warmth, cutting off every word before it could be said.
"Old man. Don't say anything."
"I will not agree to any request concerning Danzō Shimura."
Hiruzen's face darkened instantly, as though he'd been slapped in public.
"Tsunade!" Utatane Koharu snapped, unable to restrain herself.
"No matter what, Danzō was the Second Hokage's student—your elder! How can you treat him like this?"
"Rescind the order immediately! How can Danzō be labeled a missing-nin? This is a disgrace to Konoha!"
Homura adjusted his glasses, his tone seemingly rational but laced with calculation.
"Danzō may have… made some mistakes. But his contributions to Konoha were real. Merits and faults should cancel out. He shouldn't be treated like this. What you're doing will chill the hearts of those who've bled for the village."
"Get out."
Tsunade didn't even bother arguing. She simply pointed at the door, issuing the dismissal without mercy.
"You—!" Koharu trembled with rage.
She hadn't expected Tsunade to be this ruthless—refusing even the bare minimum of decorum. Her face fully torn, she let threat creep into her voice.
"Tsunade! You'd better listen to us. Otherwise—"
"Otherwise what?" Tsunade laughed in fury, her sharp gaze cutting into Koharu like a blade.
"Are you threatening the Hokage?"
Her eyes then shifted to Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had remained silent throughout—hoping that, at the very least, her former teacher would say something fair.
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