"This is the Will of Fire..."
After a long silence, a smile appeared on Tsunade's face instead. But it quickly faded as she said calmly, "You have no reason to go. I do. If you won't go, then I will."
"However, I hope some of you won't regret the choice you made today when you think back on it in the future."
She first said this to the clan heads present, then turned to Danzo and her teacher with a smile.
"As a Ninja, I have no reason to blame you. But I hope you can remain like this when you face Grandma Mito."
With that, under the indifferent, mocking, or uneasy gazes of the crowd, Tsunade stood up and left the meeting room without looking back.
"Old man, you..."
Jiraiya-sensei looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others with a complicated expression, stopping himself before he could finish.
He could understand their difficulties, but he felt that something was wrong. Yet he could not figure out what it was.
In the end, at Hiruzen Sarutobi's glance, he sighed, rose to his feet, and chased after her.
"Tsunade! Wait for me!"
After Tsunade and Jiraiya-sensei's figures vanished from sight one after another, Hiruzen Sarutobi was about to say something when a figure suddenly stood up in the corner of the meeting room.
"Excuse me, seniors, and Third Mizukage."
The man bowed slightly to the baffled crowd and explained apologetically in a gentle voice, "I suddenly remembered that I have something urgent to deal with. May I take my leave for the moment?"
Hearing that, Hiruzen Sarutobi narrowed his eyes and recalled the man's information.
A newly promoted jonin, Dan Katō?
He seemed to have had a younger sister, but she had unfortunately died in the war, leaving him all alone.
"...Go.