"Thank you very much, Hokage-sama."
Shikamaru Nara bowed deeply to Tsunade, almost at a ninety-degree angle.
"It's nothing," Tsunade replied with a faint, tired smile.
"This mission was assigned under my authority as well. It's already late. You should go and rest. Chōji and the others will need ti to recover. You can visit them again in a few days."
She gently patted Shikamaru's shoulder.
"Yes, Hokage-sama."
Shikamaru bowed once more.
After casting one last glance toward the ergency ward behind him, he turned and left the corridor.
Compared to when he had rushed to the hospital earlier, his steps were noticeably lighter.
Knowing that his comrades were no longer in imdiate danger was the greatest relief he could have hoped for.
After Shikamaru departed, Tsunade walked out of the dical corridor and into the courtyard outside.
There, Shikaku Nara, Choza Akimichi, and Hatake Kakashi were already waiting.
Shizune had just completed another round of treatnt on Kakashi.
Tsunade's expression beca solemn.
"So… the situation is exactly as stated in the report?"
In the past, Tsunade had agreed to Naruto Uzumaki's request to pursue nma and Sasuke for several reasons.
Part of it was her trust and affection for Naruto.
Another part was her own judgnt.
Both Uzumaki nma and Sasuke Uchihawere still only twelve years old.
It was not unreasonable to assu that they had been influenced—perhaps even manipulated—by Orochimaru.
If they could be guided back onto the right path, there was still a chance to stop them.
Especially nma.
As the son of Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki, Tsunade had genuinely believed he could still be brought back.
If that happened, the issue of the Nine-Tails could also be resolved without resorting to harsher asures.
But now
It seed she had made a grave miscalculation.
If nma could go so far as to nearly kill Kakashi…
Could he really show rcy to Naruto?
"…Yes, Tsunade-sama."
Kakashi let out a quiet sigh and nodded.
"Everything happened exactly as written in the report."
Even now, he struggled to accept the reality.
If nma had killed him, Kakashi might have considered it understandable on a battlefield.
But the way nma had attacked Naruto…
It gave Kakashi the unsettling impression that the boy had already chosen a path with no intention of turning back.
"I see…"
Tsunade closed her eyes briefly.
Then she turned toward Shikaku.
"Imdiately send this information to Jiraiya."
"Tell him that ti is running out."
"Also, order the Anbu to reduce unnecessary external deploynts for the ti being."
Her voice hardened.
"And keep a particularly close watch on Root."
"I don't want a repeat of past incidents. If anything unusual occurs, I want imdiate reports."
At the very least, Tsunade hoped Jiraiya would be the one to make the final decision if the situation deteriorated further.
If events reached the worst possible outco
She did not want Naruto or Jiraiya to be the ones forced to bear that burden without preparation.
"Yes, Hokage-sama."
Shikaku nodded gravely.
"I will arrange it at once."
"Good. I'll handle the matter with the two village elders myself," Tsunade replied.
Then she looked back at Kakashi.
"By the way… how is Naruto's condition?"
Kakashi's visible eye darkened slightly.
"…Not good."
"This ti's shock was simply too great for him."
Naruto had chased nma with unwavering belief.
The outco had shaken that belief to its core.
"For now, let him calm down," Tsunade said after a pause.
"There are so obstacles a person must overco alone."
"No matter what the future brings."
As soone who had lost both her younger brother and her lover, Tsunade understood this truth all too well.
Words of comfort from others could only reach the surface.
True recovery had to co from within.
Moreover, she did not believe Naruto was weak.
If anything, she trusted his resilience more than anyone's.
"Yes… Tsunade-sama."
Kakashi nodded.
"Also," Tsunade continued, her tone softening slightly, "your injuries require proper rest."
"You are forbidden from taking missions for several days."
"In a few days, I will personally perform a surgical procedure to prepare a replacent eye."
"Until then, remain at ho and recover."
"Yes. Thank you, Tsunade-sama."
Kakashi bowed slightly.
Soon afterward, Kakashi, Chōza, and Shikaku each took their leave.
Tsunade remained standing in the courtyard for a long mont before finally turning toward the Hokage Tower.
What a troubleso period…
The conflict with Sunagakure had only just concluded.
Negotiations were still ongoing.
Sasuke had defected again.
And now nma's situation had worsened even further.
On top of that, the presence of the two elder advisors continued to restrict her authority.
As Hokage, she sotis found herself unable to act as decisively as she wished.
There were monts when Tsunade even considered resolving matters through sheer force.
But in the end, she always restrained herself.
Because this…
Was the fundantal political reality of Konohagakure.
At the sa ti
Deep beneath Konoha, within the hidden underground base of Root.
"What did you say!?"
Danzo Shimura's expression darkened as he glared at the subordinate reporting before him.
"The Root strike unit was completely wiped out?"
His voice was cold enough to freeze the air.
"Yes, Danzo-sama."
"The bodies were retrieved by Hatake Kakashi and Akimichi Chōza."
"The identities of all personnel have been confird."
The masked operative spoke in an emotionless tone.
"According to the mission reports…"
"All mbers were killed by the missing-nin Uzumaki nma."
"…Uzumaki nma?"
For the first ti, disbelief appeared on Danzo's face.
That had been an elite Root team led by a jōnin.
Every remaining mber had been among the most capable chūnin-class operatives.
Even considering nma's status as the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki
He was still only twelve years old.
Danzo found it difficult to accept that such a young shinobi could annihilate an entire Root unit on his own.
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