In the forest, two Chunin wearing Konoha forehead protectors stood one before the other, sharing an amusing story.
"Tut, tut. Do you know why that brat from the Uchiha Clan rarely shows his face?"
"Why, Brother Ida? The Uchiha Clan acts so proud. Could they really have something so shameful?"
"Hmph, Kogame Saburo, since you're new and don't know, I'll tell you. The rumors going around are all true."
"Impossible!"
In the forest, a sixteen- or seventeen-year-old Chunin stared in shock at the clearly more seasoned Chunin beside him.
"The Uchiha Clan's pride is famous!"
"Bullshit!" The rough-looking Chunin gave a disdainful sneer.
"What proud Uchiha? Lady Tsunade trained him into an obedient little puppy. Everyone talks about it behind their backs."
"Our Princess Tsunade commander trained the Uchiha's little wolfdog into an obedient little puppy. You haven't seen how obedient that little puppy is, serving Captain Tsunade day in and day out.
"Officially, he's compiling supply reports, but really? Heh heh! Who doesn't know?"
As he said this, the Chunin's eyes reddened with intense jealousy.
"Look at those Uchiha in camp. Every single one avoids people. Isn't it because they're ashamed?"
The newly arrived Chunin beside him widened his eyes as he listened to this huge piece of frontline gossip.
Tsunade, standing before the distant waterfall, heard every word clearly. Her face immediately darkened, and just as she was about to reprimand them, a hand covered her mouth.
At the same time, an arm wrapped around her waist. Without hesitation, Uchiha Yoru took Tsunade and vanished into the forest to one side.
"You brat!"
Tsunade had not resisted. Otherwise, how could she possibly have been taken away?
After entering the forest, Uchiha Yoru merely smiled calmly and shook his head.
"They're just rumors. Captain Tsunade, surely you're not going to take this little matter out on the lower-ranking shinobi?"
The seemingly teasing smile on Uchiha Yoru's face made Tsunade's heart tremble. She was not moved—she simply felt a little guilty.
It seemed that she had not considered this brat when she had done that.
With the Uchiha's pride ingrained into their bones, this brat had already been crushed beneath the pressure from his clan. And now there were these rumors as well!
Back then, she had only thought of using the Uchiha to send a signal to the village.
The result had been just as she expected: the Uchiha had been pushed to the forefront.
At the same time, the Uchiha had gained the opportunity they wanted, an opportunity to ease relations with Konoha's Major Clans.
It seemed everyone had come out happy, yet only the brat before her had become a chess piece in every side's game, bearing everything!
"Brat! I..."
Just as Tsunade fell silent for a moment and prepared to apologize, Uchiha Yoru smiled and directly stopped Princess Tsunade from apologizing.
"Captain Tsunade, I have gained everything I never even dared dream of. The clan has opened all its cultivation resources to me. While still at One-Tomoe, I enjoyed the resources meant for the three-tomoe Sharingan.
"The clan has even taken on all the medical expenses for my Bloodline Disease. Clan Ninjutsu, secret techniques—I now have everything, even status!"
The more Uchiha Yoru said, the more Tsunade's heart was stirred.
"So, Captain Tsunade, don't overthink it. Besides, let me tell you a little secret."
At that, Uchiha Yoru revealed a mysterious yet sincere smile and softly teased her.
"I did all of this willingly. And Captain Tsunade, you're not merely Konoha's princess—you're also the Land of Fire's princess."
That teasing remark left Tsunade silent. Then, the next moment, she raised a brow and wore a teasing expression.
"Is that so? So it was all voluntary on your part, brat."
Did she believe that?
Uchiha Yoru only smiled without answering.
People were like that. They only ever believed what they saw and what they deduced to be the truth. Even if you personally told them the truth, they still would not believe it.
More importantly, voicing an apology and keeping it buried in one's heart were two entirely different things.
As long as that guilt and remorse remained pressed in Tsunade's heart, fermenting with time until it finally erupted, that would be the time for him to reap the rewards.
No one understood Naruto better than he did!
Just then, rustling sounded in the distant forest, and the two shinobi who had been gossiping emerged.
"Why are there clothes by the waterfall?!"
The newly arrived Chunin looked astonished. Beneath the distant waterfall, clothing marked with the Uchiha crest hung from a sword.
"Leave, now!"
The experienced Chunin beside him immediately realized something and hurriedly dragged him away.
"What's wrong?"
"Shut up. Think about it. There are clothes by the waterfall, and someone said Captain Tsunade came toward the back mountain. Use that pig brain of yours—at a time like this, they must be underwater!"
Rustle!
The sound of their hurried departure came from the distant woods, while Tsunade's face darkened with fury.
"What a bunch of pig brains!"
She had only just suppressed her anger, yet those words immediately ignited it again.
What did they mean, saying that she had come to the back mountain to find the Uchiha?
And underwater? What would they be doing underwater?
Uchiha Yoru was equally stunned. He had deliberately left behind the sword and clothes only to warn outsiders that someone from the Uchiha was training here.
Good heavens, those two idiots really dared to imagine that!
"Brat! You!"
Tsunade had wanted to lose her temper, but when she saw Uchiha Yoru's youthful face, she could not help but swallow her anger once again.
This brat was the one bearing the greatest pressure!
"Return to camp. I'm going to inspect your body, as well as your training progress in Summoning Jutsu and Medical Ninjutsu!"
Tsunade glared fiercely at Uchiha Yoru and said irritably.
"The first A-rank Ninjutsu you learned actually wasn't Medical Ninjutsu!"
Faced with Tsunade's questioning, Uchiha Yoru lightly shook his head. Then he slowly raised his left hand. Under Tsunade's astonished gaze, pale green Medical Ninjutsu Chakra appeared in his palm.
"The first A-rank Ninjutsu I learned was the A-rank Medical Ninjutsu Captain Tsunade taught me: Mystical Palm Technique."
As he said this, a sincere smile appeared on Uchiha Yoru's youthful face. The sight made Tsunade's pupils contract.
She seemed to remember the first time this brat had come to her to learn Medical Ninjutsu.
That Uchiha brat had looked determined as he solemnly declared his childish dream of learning the strongest Medical Ninjutsu and saving the Shinobi World.
At that moment!
It seemed this brat had never changed. He had always remained true to his heart!
"Tch! There's something wrong with every Uchiha's brain."
Tsunade came back to her senses and gave a disdainful laugh, but she did not notice that the word "brat," which she had once used so easily, had suddenly become difficult to say.
Before her stood the Uchiha brat who had once been pure and stubborn, dreaming foolishly of learning Medical Ninjutsu and saving the Shinobi World.
Yet because of the darkness of both his clan and the village, that brat had been forced step by step into bearing so much pressure.
She had thought that childish dream would have vanished with the wind, never realizing it had always been buried deep in his heart.
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