Returning to the Village with Tsunade! The Village is Shaken, Hiruzen Sarutobi Bows

What does this mean...

This is...

Tsunade murmured to herself.

The ability to recover her body without needing to perform any ninjutsu.

This was a state that had only appeared in her grandfather before. She possessed it too, but it shouldn't be as strong as his.

This was a manifestation of life force reaching a very high level.

Under normal circumstances, while the Senju and Uzumaki constitutions boasted strong vitality, their expression of it wasn't usually this exaggerated.

In other words.

Although Senju Gō hadn't awakened Wood Release.

His Senju bloodline concentration was very high.

No path to chasing a dream is smooth.

Tsunade had no dream.

But.

Someone gave her one.

She followed Senju Gō back to Konoha, and as she looked at the thriving village, she felt a momentary daze.

At that moment.

Hiruzen Sarutobi had already learned of this.

And when he first heard the news, the pipe in his hand nearly slipped.

Tsunade was actually willing to return to the village?

Hiruzen Sarutobi felt both joy and worry.

Tsunade was one of the Sannin, formidable in strength.

Moreover, she was a top-tier Medical Ninja, undoubtedly a powerful asset for Konoha, which was currently mired in the quagmire of war.

But she was also the only publicly known bearer of the Senju bloodline.

"Ogawa Gō...? How did he leave the village? This..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's heart skipped a beat.

He knew this ninja.

A Jonin, Danzo's Wood Release test subject, possessing the Senju bloodline, whom he had personally ordered released after being rescued.

In the past month, he had shone brilliantly on the battlefield. With his Black Stone Armor paired with Water Release, his mobility was maximized, inspiring many ninjas. Perhaps armor-based combat wasn't completely exiting the Shinobi World, but could instead compensate for its lack of mobility.

"I see..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi slumped into the Hokage's chair.

He quickly understood why Ogawa Gō had gone to find Tsunade.

It was like a child bullied at home, running to an elder to complain first.

"Tsunade... she's really willing to come back?" Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at the Anbu who had come to report and asked again.

The Anbu ninja replied, "Yes, Lord Hokage. We've received word that Ogawa Gō has changed his name to Senju Gō and successfully persuaded Lady Tsunade to return to the village."

"Changed his name to Senju Gō, huh..." Hiruzen Sarutobi fell silent.

Openly defying the First Hokage's orders...

Ogawa Gō, what exactly are you trying to do?

At the same time.

Namikaze Minato received secondhand news, getting it around the same time as his teacher, Jiraiya.

On his end, it was already confirmed: he would head to the battlefield tomorrow and launch the operation targeting Kannabi Bridge the day after.

"Tsunade's actually willing to come back. That guy really does care about the village." Jiraiya scratched his head with some delight.

That meant...

Ogawa Gō, no, Senju Gō had succeeded.

Namikaze Minato clenched his fist.

Fighting spirit surged within him.

"That's great, sensei. Even if Lady Tsunade can't fight after she returns, Konoha's medical capabilities will see a huge boost." Namikaze Minato said to Jiraiya.

"That's right!"

Jiraiya nodded, a relieved smile spreading across his face.

With that, he couldn't wait any longer and hurried out to go see Tsunade.

Namikaze Minato followed right behind Jiraiya.

But inwardly, he mused.

It's not just the medical capabilities that will improve.

This time, Tsunade's return to the village will have a massive impact.

Tsunade coming back means the "core" of the New Senju has arrived!

The righteous cause is already in hand!

On the training grounds of the Uchiha Clan and the Hyuga Clan.

Uchiha ninja were sparring with Hyuga ninja.

In the youth group, Uchiha Aoi and others could be seen exchanging blows with the younger generation of ninja, the scene quite chaotic.

The news spread quickly, reaching Uchiha Miya and Hizashi Hyuga first.

"Tsunade's back too, huh." Uchiha Miya remarked with a sigh, then fell silent.

"Mm... Tsunade's return—she's the Princess of the Senju. Let's go." Hizashi Hyuga tugged at Uchiha Miya.

Uchiha Miya: "?"

Hizashi Hyuga explained, "As one of the Sannin, she's incredibly strong. With her here, we'll have more confidence on the battlefield. Let's go win her over."

"That woman has hemophobia—she's a complete waste. One of the Sannin, yet she conveniently vanished when the village was at war. I look down on someone like that." Uchiha Miya said coldly.

"Sigh, just come with me. She's the Princess of the Senju; by all reason, the other Ninja Clans have to show up. It's about giving the First Hokage some face."

"Why so many damn formalities... Fine, fine, I'll go."

At that moment.

Senju Gō and Tsunade had already headed straight to the Hokage Office.

At the entrance, Hiruzen Sarutobi was waiting with a large crowd, the scene quite grand.

"Tsunade, you've finally returned." Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Tsunade, his eyes filled with the relief of a long-awaited reunion.

"Teacher..."

Tsunade's heart was equally conflicted.

"Teacher, I'm back."

"Lady Tsunade's return is to seek justice for the Senju Clan." Senju Gō spoke calmly from the side.

In an instant, the atmosphere turned cold.

What the hell, a zero-frame opener.

Bastard!

Don't say that kind of thing here!

Hiruzen Sarutobi was growing irritated.

"What are you saying... Ogawa Gō." Mitokado Homura spoke up from the side, taking over to question him on Hiruzen Sarutobi's behalf.

"I'm saying: Tsunade is back to seek justice for the Senju Clan, and she's going to establish the New Senju Clan!" Senju Gō declared loudly. "And besides, I'm no longer Ogawa Gō—I'm Senju Gō!"

His voice was booming.

Instantly.

A flood of civilians and ninja turned their gazes toward him.

The scene was already big.

Now it was even bigger.

The civilians murmured among themselves.

"What? Seek justice for the Senju Clan?"

"Didn't the Senju Clan already integrate into the village?"

"What's going on..."

"Is this Ogawa Gō a member of the Senju Clan?"

"Lady Tsunade..."

At that moment.

Both Tsunade and the Konoha High Command, including Hiruzen Sarutobi over there, felt a bit unsettled.

Tsunade took a deep breath.

"Old man."

She spoke in as steady a tone as she could manage.

"I heard that Hokage Advisor Danzo kidnapped many ninjas from the village for human experimentation, including members of the Senju Clan, and subjected them to all kinds of torment."

Her voice was calm.

But the civilians and ninjas around were deeply shaken!

"The Senju Clan was being experimented on!"

"Then Lady Tsunade really should come back..."

"Sigh, the once-great Senju Clan has fallen to such a state."

Over here.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was sweating.

He finally let out a deep sigh.

"I have failed the Senju Clan and the villagers, unable to protect them properly."

"This was my oversight."

"And my dereliction of duty."

"I will support you in establishing the New Senju, Tsunade."

He had no time to ponder how Senju Gō could defy the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal and speak out.

But now there was no room left for retreat.

Hiruzen Sarutobi conceded, and directly gave Tsunade a slight bow!

The Hokage of the village, bowing to Tsunade!

Though the bow was small, it was full of sincerity!

And when Namikaze Minato, Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and the others arrived, they happened to witness this scene.

"Teacher, you don't have to..." Tsunade was deeply moved and started to step forward to help her teacher up.

Slap!

Senju Gō grabbed her hand, stopping her from moving.

Tsunade turned back in confusion, not yet understanding.

The next moment.

Senju Gō raised her hand high! And shouted to the surrounding crowd!

"The New Senju Clan is rebuilt as of today!"

"To restore the glory of the Senju is our duty without hesitation!"

"We will reclaim the bloodline scattered among the civilians. Please, any ninja who recognizes themselves as part of the Senju lineage and possesses strong Chakra, come to the Senju Clan Compound to register!"

"Then, Tsunade will lead the Senju Clan."

"And bear the responsibilities the Senju Clan must shoulder!"