Internal Division

Kawafune's hand brushed beneath the table, utterly natural.

"I heard you've been working with Danzo?"

That single sentence instantly froze the atmosphere.

"What do you mean by that, sir?"

The Clan Head's face turned frosty. He assumed Kawafune had come seeking revenge.

"Danzo is an ambitious man with no goodwill toward the Uchiha Clan."

"Your actions are no different from seeking the tiger's skin."

Kawafune remained calm and even took a sip of tea.

"The Uchiha Clan has nothing to do with Danzo."

"Do not spout nonsense here, sir."

"Did you come all this way just to say that?"

"Then I'll have to see you out."

As he spoke, the Clan Head waved for Fugaku to escort them out.

Only when Fugaku rose did Kawafune let out a soft laugh.

"You could even lay hands on your own clansmen. You'll make quite the Clan Head someday."

Fugaku lowered his raised hand. Only then did he realize that Kawafune had witnessed everything he had done.

"When did I ever attack my clansmen? Keep talking nonsense, and don't blame me for being rude."

Fugaku refused to admit it, his embarrassment turning to anger.

"You lack composure. You need more training."

After saying that, Kawafune no longer looked at Fugaku and turned to the Clan Head.

"Danzo doesn't want my hospital built because I nearly killed him."

"What reason does the Uchiha Clan have?"

Kawafune knew the answer, yet his words had already intimidated the Uchiha Clan Head.

The Clan Head's expression darkened, but he said nothing.

Kawafune leaned slightly forward.

"Could it be because of the ancient feud between the Uchiha Clan and the Senju Clan?"

The Uchiha Clan Head had been completely suppressed in terms of presence.

"So what if it is?"

"By Second Grandfather's order, the Senju Clan has already integrated into Konoha."

"The Senju Clan no longer exists. Can't this old feud be laid to rest?"

Tsunade found it hard to understand the Uchiha Clan Head's thinking. Wasn't a peaceful village the greatest goal?

"State your purpose plainly."

The Uchiha Clan Head had yet to figure out what the two were after, but their words had provoked him enough to make him lose his usual wisdom.

"The Uchiha Clan merely wants to integrate into the village and receive the honor and recognition it deserves."

"I can help you."

"Or rather, the next Hokage can help you."

As Kawafune spoke, he pointed at Tsunade.

Rather than being pleased, the Uchiha Clan Head became even more agitated.

He did not dare imagine the Senju Clan producing another Hokage.

If the Second Hokage had not relocated them beside the prison to establish the Police Force, how could the Uchiha Clan have become so disliked by the villagers?

"You may leave now that you've said your piece."

At that moment, he thought the hospital absolutely could not be allowed to open. This was no longer merely about an old feud—it was about the Uchiha Clan's future.

"Don't overthink it. Putting aside whether I can even become Hokage..."

"Do you really think working with Danzo to stop our hospital from being built will benefit the Uchiha Clan?"

Tsunade's question calmed his mind again.

Indeed, aside from the old feud, there was no other reason and no tangible benefit.

Danzo, on the other hand, could use this to eliminate a threat to himself.

"If you are willing to work with us, I guarantee that the Uchiha Clan will be able to integrate into the village in the future."

"Even if Tsunade becomes Hokage, she will never turn on the Uchiha Clan."

"I came in good faith."

The moment Kawafune finished speaking, he appeared beside the Clan Head and placed a hand on his shoulder. The two instantly vanished from the Quiet Room.

Fugaku and Tsunade stared at each other, still unable to process what had happened.

"Where did he take my Uncle?"

Fugaku drew a kunai. Even if it was Tsunade, he had to be prepared.

"I'm still here. He'll bring him back."

Tsunade calmed down. She refused to believe Kawafune would leave her behind.

Fugaku's gaze grew solemn as he fell into thought, not yet daring to call the clansmen.

Otherwise, the news would cause a huge uproar.

Fugaku remained vigilant while Tsunade leisurely drank her tea.

That guy had not even warned her. It had been too sudden.

About ten minutes later, Kawafune returned to the Quiet Room with the pale-faced Clan Head.

The Clan Head kicked over the low table before him and abruptly saw the Senju Clan Emblem on its underside.

"So it really was the Flying Thunder God."

"I agree. I hope you can do everything you promised."

The Clan Head's complexion had recovered somewhat. He stopped Fugaku, who was about to come support him.

"See them out."

"No need. We'll leave on our own."

"Pleasure working with you."

Kawafune repeated the same trick, taking Tsunade with him and using the Flying Thunder God. In the next instant, they stood before the stone table in the Hatake Clan Training Hall.

"That far?"

Tsunade no longer cared about what had happened during those ten missing minutes. Kawafune's Flying Thunder God had already exceeded the limits of her understanding.

"Long-distance Flying Thunder God transportation consumes too much Chakra."

"This is about the limit of my sensing range as well."

Kawafune's face looked even paler under the moonlight. His act was as convincing as the real thing.

"Why show off like that? Couldn't we have just walked back slowly?"

Tsunade supported Kawafune as they headed toward the room.

"Wasn't it more convenient? I won't do it again."

Kawafune leaned against Tsunade. She was soft and comfortable.

"I don't believe you. We get it—you're handsome and impressive, all right?"

Tsunade shot him an irritated glare, then thought for a moment and pulled out one of her specially made Military Ration Pills from her pocket, stuffing it into Kawafune's mouth.

"Bite my hand, then."

Only after watching Kawafune swallow the pill with a cheeky grin did she withdraw her fist, now covered in saliva.

Otherwise, if that punch landed, Kawafune would probably extort her to death.

"You can't bear to hit me, can you?"

Kawafune pushed his luck, pressing his head closer against her.

"Ow!"

Kawafune cried out as Tsunade grabbed his hair with her free hand. The farther he leaned in, the more it hurt.

"Come closer, then."

"I was wrong!"

Kawafune's head was pulled back until he was staring up at the stars.

The two horsed around all the way back to the room, and Tsunade helped Kawafune onto the bed.

"I'm going back."

Yet Kawafune grabbed her hand.

"What else is it?"

Tsunade gave her hand a slight shake but could not free it.

"Have Koharu Advisor attend tomorrow's groundbreaking ceremony."

Kawafune put away his dirty thoughts. If this Monster Strength Cow really went wild, would the house even survive?

"Got it. Is this part of your plan too?"

Only then did Tsunade remember the question weighing on her mind, and she no longer wanted to leave.

She simply sat at the bedside and began chatting with Kawafune.

"How did you convince that old fox?"

"A stick and a carrot. Who knows which one I used."

"It worked."

Kawafune's words made no sense, and Tsunade could not understand them.

She gripped his hand in return and squeezed. "Speak properly."

"I just took him out for a little walk. I didn't hurt him."

"And once the hospital opens, you'll help the Uchiha Clan train doctors and Medical Ninja."

"Then he wisely agreed."

Kawafune made it sound simple, but Tsunade understood what lay beneath it.

The Clan Head had chosen life over death, and integration into the village over an old feud.

While the two sat here holding hands and talking,

the Uchiha Clan Head, after smashing the low table in the Quiet Room, was likely in for a sleepless night.