Visiting the Uchiha with Tsunade

No one else appeared until the Construction Team left at noon.

Kawafune's group also withdrew, then returned to the same spot after lunch.

"What are the Uchiha plotting?"

Tsunade kept pondering the script the Uchiha had written and acted out themselves, but she could not come up with an answer.

"No need to overthink it. I'll take you to find out tonight."

Kawafune's confident demeanor put Tsunade at ease, though she did not know that the boldness born of great skill might make that night quite different from what she expected.

Meanwhile, the place where the Root ninja had been stationed was already a complete mess.

Of the six Root ninja, only one remained, struggling on the verge of death and badly injured.

The other five lay on the ground, no longer breathing.

"You Senju Clan, acting like this..."

"Aren't you afraid Root will report this to the Third Hokage?"

This Root ninja still tried to threaten the Black-robed Person before him with words.

"Our land was approved by the Third Hokage as well. What are Root's intentions, skulking around like this?"

"Besides, if you don't make it back, who will know I was the one who killed them?"

As he spoke, the Black-robed Person moved in to deliver the fatal blow.

The sounds of a large group approaching gradually came from afar, and joy flashed across the face behind the Root ninja's mask.

He was saved.

"Damn it."

Uchiha Fugaku, possessed by the spirit of a master actor, cursed under his breath and immediately left without the slightest hesitation.

The Root ninja who had survived the disaster never considered that this Senju Clan member had had plenty of time to kill him before leaving.

As Fugaku departed, an Uchiha Jonin arrived with dozens of people.

He saw the corpses on the ground and the final survivor who still had a faint breath left in him.

"I heard the commotion over here and came right away. I was originally heading to the construction site."

"Who did you run into?"

The Jonin's words were full of holes. He was far too eager to explain himself, but fortunately, the survivor had no mind to think about it at the moment.

"I ran into someone from the Senju Clan."

"How hateful. I'll take you back."

Ignoring the bloodstains, the Uchiha Jonin picked up the Root ninja and left. The remaining Uchiha clansmen dispersed as well.

They had never planned to go to the construction site in the first place. It had all been nothing more than a grand performance.

Once the Root ninja had been delivered to headquarters, the Uchiha Jonin left with a smile.

"What Danzo? What Root? Aren't they all just toys in the Uchiha's hands?"

Danzo arranged for a Medical Ninja to keep him alive, his face filled with fury.

Six had gone out, yet only one had returned. Did he think cultivating these people was easy?

"What happened?"

The anger in his voice was no longer concealed.

"We encountered members of the Senju Clan. I was the only one left, and the Uchiha who arrived in time saved me."

"The Senju were frightened off by the large group."

"The Uchiha have invited you to question the Construction Team together tomorrow."

"The Uchiha clansmen were injured first, and Root lost five men."

"Even if this is brought before the Third Hokage, we have justice on our side."

Enduring the pain, the Root ninja recounted everything he had experienced, as well as every word spoken by the Jonin who had brought him back.

"Even if they are my teacher's clan, they cannot bully me like this."

Danzo harbored no further suspicions. He had already stepped completely onto the Uchiha Clan Head's chessboard.

If he went to the construction site tomorrow, he would likely find it difficult to keep himself out of the matter.

"Take him away to treat his injuries."

Danzo ultimately did not kill anyone to vent his anger. Every Root ninja had been painstakingly trained by him.

Tomorrow, he would surely kill to vent his rage. So what if they were the Senju Clan?

This hospital could also be dealt with once and for all by taking this opportunity.

Danzo could not help thinking of Kawafune again. The hooked claw at his throat still seemed vividly present before his eyes.

If he truly ran into him tomorrow, he would have to let the Uchiha take the lead.

By then, Kawafune no longer thought anything would happen that day, and his expression was languid.

If Tsunade had not been beside him, he would probably have already gone home.

After finally waiting until the Construction Team got off work, Kawafune stood and stretched.

"Time to clock out."

With a few leaps, he vanished from their sight.

After dinner, Tsunade and Kawafune sat facing each other in the Training Hall.

Sakumo and Nayuki had matters of their own and did not wish to disturb the two of them.

"Kawafune-kun, where are you taking me later?"

Tsunade could no longer wait. Kawafune had yet to tell her their destination.

"The Uchiha compound."

Kawafune sipped his tea and looked at the moonlight, as though he were discussing some utterly trivial matter.

"What?"

Tsunade rose to her feet in surprise.

"You can't just go to the Uchiha whenever you please. Do you know how many people there are in their clan?"

Tsunade clearly did not approve of this plan. Entering the Uchiha compound could easily cost them their lives.

Besides, the Uchiha had always been a sensitive subject among Konoha's upper ranks.

"Don't worry. If I'm taking you there, I have my reasons."

"With Flying Thunder God, we'll be perfectly safe."

Kawafune had that confidence. Uchiha without Mangekyo Sharingan could not stop him, even without Flying Thunder God.

Seeing how certain Kawafune was, Tsunade calmed down as well. With their safety guaranteed, there was nothing wrong with testing the Uchiha Clan's waters.

The moon climbed higher and higher, and Kawafune felt the time was about right.

"Let's go."

His right hand rested on Tsunade's shoulder, and the two vanished in an instant.

When Tsunade came back to her senses, they were already on the tree branch where they had kept watch during the day.

Seeing Kawafune's unchanged expression, she could not help but feel startled. What an enormous amount of Chakra.

"Let's go. We'll head straight in."

Tsunade had thought Kawafune intended to conceal themselves, but instead, he openly led her into the Uchiha compound.

They were even stopped by ninja.

"Hatake Kawafune and Princess Tsunade are here to visit the Uchiha Clan Head. Please inform him."

Before the Uchiha ninja could speak, Kawafune had already introduced them.

"Wait here."

The Uchiha ninja's expression was unfriendly. His gaze swept over Tsunade several times, unsure what their sworn enemy had come for.

Still, it was not something a minor lackey like him needed to worry about. He turned and went to report to the clan head's residence.

The clan head, who had not yet rested, was equally puzzled and summoned Fugaku.

The two discussed it in the Quiet Room. Refusing to see them would likely damage the Uchiha's prestige.

They prepared tea and instructed the ninja who had reported the matter to bring their guests in.

Kawafune and Tsunade remained silent throughout the journey.

Following the ninja who led the way, they went directly to the Quiet Room in the clan head's residence and met the Uchiha Clan Head and Fugaku.

"Oh, it's you?"

The moment Kawafune entered, he saw Fugaku glaring at him. He chuckled lightly as he spoke.

"Hmph. Uchiha Fugaku greets Tsunade-sama."

As the designated heir of a great clan, Fugaku possessed at least that much composure.

A strange glint flashed through Kawafune's eyes. This guy is Itachi and Sasuke's father?

His strength is pretty average.

"Tsunade greets the Uchiha Clan Head."

Tsunade maintained the proper courtesy.

Kawafune sat down directly and poured himself a cup of tea. The Uchiha were arrogant, but his actions now were even more arrogant.

The displeasure in the old fox's eyes was plainly visible, but he suppressed it.

Tsunade sat down beside Kawafune as well.

"May I ask what brings the two of you to visit the Uchiha so late at night?"

The clan head spoke first. Fugaku stared fixedly at Kawafune from the side, afraid that he might make some dangerous move.