Tsunade's Division

Chapter 2: Dividing Tsunade

The scroll given to Tsunade—the so-called Elder Uchiha Setsuna—was merely part of his scheme.

Tsunade was about seventy percent likely not to go see him, after all, she understood the consequences of this matter all too well.

Even if she did go, what would it matter whether that elder admitted it or denied it? Either way, slapping the blame onto the Uchiha in Konoha was never wrong.

After all, the "Evil Uchiha" wasn't called that for nothing.

As long as the intelligence in this scroll actually came to pass! Then there would be a problem.

No one would suspect a brat who had just graduated from the Ninja Academy a little over a year ago, since this was simply not something he could orchestrate.

"Brat!"

Inside the tent, Tsunade's expression gradually softened, as if she felt a trace of regret for her earlier outburst.

That was Tsunade's nature—her anger flared quickly, but it faded just as fast.

Yet Uchiha Yoru wore a resolute expression.

"Captain Tsunade, trust the village. That old fiend still hasn't given up!"

At this moment, Uchiha Yoru was cursing his own clan's elder like this, clearly nothing more than a brat thoroughly brainwashed by the Will of Fire.

Tsunade let out a tsundere snort.

"I don't need you, brat, to tell me that. In two days, Hatake happens to be coming to the front lines to take over here. You'll return to the village with the squad and rest for half a month."

The battlefield in the Land of Rain hadn't fully erupted yet, so Konoha still had ample manpower.

Hearing this, Uchiha Yoru was about to say something, but Tsunade immediately warned him in a stern voice:

"You brat, don't forget my warning. The intelligence on that scroll is top secret!"

"Yes, Captain Tsunade!"

The young Uchiha Yoru took a deep breath, showing a look of determination.

Then, at Tsunade's dismissive gesture, Uchiha Yoru respectfully returned the scroll and withdrew.

When only Tsunade remained in the tent, she frowned, staring at the contents of the scroll.

"Is this old geezer not giving up? Or is it real?"

The scroll contained only a simple piece of intelligence, yet it was enough to shock any Konoha shinobi who saw it.

[The bloodline grandson of the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju—Nawaki—was assigned by the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, to the squad of his disciple Orochimaru, with a mission arranged for the day after his birthday...]

The first half of this intelligence didn't surprise Tsunade; after all, anyone with a bit of investigation could find that out.

But the problem was the second half!

It directly stated that the mission had an ambush, and the target was Nawaki!

Though it didn't specify whose ambush, the implication clearly pointed at the Third Hokage's faction.

That was the crux of it!

"This old geezer!"

Tsunade squinted. This intelligence was essentially telling her that the current Hokage's high-ranking faction wasn't just wary of the Uchiha, but also of the Senju.

It even pointed out certain shady schemes!

Meanwhile, Uchiha Yoru, who had walked out of the tent, put on his cloak hood with some distaste as the steady patter of rain fell.

The miserable weather at the border of the Land of Rain.

But!

A faint smile curled at the corner of Uchiha Yoru's lips, and a glint of amusement flashed in his eyes.

The Uchiha were weak and isolated. If they wanted the position of Hokage, they needed to make more friends.

This intelligence of his wasn't fabricated at all. Nawaki was his classmate, with a birthday on August 9th.

Based on his calculations from the original story, Nawaki's birthday fell when Tsunade was in the village, which perfectly matched her return this time.

More importantly!

In the original story, Nawaki celebrated his 12th birthday, and Tsunade gave him the First Hokage's necklace as a gift. The very next day! He went out on a mission and died!

Tsk, tsk, it was quite sudden.

A mission that could be completed and returned within a day from the village, under the protection of Orochimaru, a Konoha Elite Jonin, and yet he was gone just like that.

Without this intelligence, the blame could naturally be pinned on Orochimaru. But what if Tsunade knew about it in advance?

"Whether there's a conspiracy here or not doesn't matter. What matters is that Tsunade knows ahead of time. Even if it's clean, will anyone believe such a coincidence?"

Uchiha Yoru sneered inwardly. He didn't believe the ambush was so precise that it could be set right outside the village gates.

Remember, this was during wartime! And the target who died just happened to be the crown prince of the Senju Clan.

"Yoru."

Just then, a familiar voice suddenly came from behind. Uchiha Yoru turned around and saw who it was, a smile naturally spreading across his face.

"Captain Fugaku."

A few years older but noticeably more weathered in appearance, Uchiha Fugaku, already a Special Jonin, rarely showed a smile.

"Yoru, how many times must I say it? There's no need for such formality between us."

The two were clearly close. After all, Fugaku was reserved and mature, and looking at his entire life, this man was utterly loyal to Konoha.

Thus, facing the bright and cheerful Uchiha Yoru, who always had the Will of Fire on his lips, the two naturally got along well.

Chatting and laughing, they arrived at a small waterfall near the Konoha Camp.

It seemed the Uchiha Clan had a habit of discussing matters atop waterfalls.

Watching this, Uchiha Yoru shook his head inwardly, but the sound of the cascading water made Fugaku let down his guard, adding a layer of exhaustion to his already aged face.

"Yoru, how do you think the clan can earn the village's trust?"

Good heavens!

Seeing the worry on Uchiha Fugaku's face, Uchiha Yoru was speechless inside. No wonder the Second Hokage said the Uchiha were extreme.

Here, the cream of the Uchiha Clan, playing with fire, had come to the Land of Rain battlefield. You're not worried about the war, not worried about your clansmen, not even about your own safety—instead, you're fretting over the village!

Indeed, the Uchiha were too extreme!

Uchiha Yoru let out a long sigh, putting on a troubled expression as he shook his head.

"Captain Fugaku, it's not about how the clan earns the village's trust, but how the village trusts the Uchiha."

Seeing Uchiha Fugaku's bewildered look, Uchiha Yoru knew this man's mind could still be saved.

Or rather, looking at Uchiha Fugaku's entire life, it was clear he was loyal to both clan and village, but loyalty and filial piety could not coexist!

He was also a man without decisive thought, lost throughout his life!

If the clan ever reached that point, all he had to do was choose one side! Choose the village, strike directly at the clan, kill off most of the rebellious elites.

Then, with a fallen Uchiha, would Konoha still wipe them out? At the very least, Konoha wouldn't be so hasty in its approach.

"Captain Fugaku!"

Uchiha Yoru's expression turned serious. He had to seize the chance before Fugaku walked into a dead end and pull this lost man back from his life's confusion.

This man was a rare combat asset!

More importantly, he was the clan leader's son—a force Yoru needed to unite.

Otherwise, if things went like in the original story, the Uchiha would just be a pushover. That wouldn't do!

Under his leadership, the Uchiha Clan had to learn to resist! To charge forward correctly!

"To earn the village's trust, look at how many elites our clan has sent to the front lines. Even you, the clan leader's son, are here. And remember, this is the Land of Rain—the terrain is extremely unfavorable for us!"

At this moment, Uchiha Yoru's expression was resolute, as if to say the clan had practically bared its heart this time, all to gain the village's trust.

Hearing this, Uchiha Fugaku rarely showed a smile and nodded.

"That's right. This time, the clan has sent out its finest."

They say the Uchiha are evil, but in truth, from the First War to the Third, the Uchiha's battlefields were either the Land of Rain or the Land of Water. What complaints did they ever voice?

It wasn't until after the Nine-Tails' Rampage, when they were treated like criminals under surveillance, that unrest gradually stirred.

Watching Uchiha Fugaku's smile, Uchiha Yoru's next words made his face change drastically.

"By the way, Captain Fugaku, why have I heard rumors in the village about the White Fang and the Fourth Hokage? Isn't the Third Hokage still in his prime?"

These words made Uchiha Fugaku's face turn pale, and a grave expression settled on his features.