Conflict Erupts

The next day, Tsunade woke up at home. She had talked with Kawafune until late last night and had nearly failed to make it back.

Thinking of it still made her a little embarrassed. She had blurted out everything.

If he had not been so weak, Tsunade would have wanted to punch a few holes in him.

After getting up, washing, and composing herself,

Tsunade went to the Construction Company to notify them that construction would officially begin in full.

Then she headed to Utatane Koharu's home. The advisor had not started work yet.

After knocking and waiting, the door opened, and a maid appeared before Tsunade.

"Is Koharu Advisor home?"

"Tsunade-sama, please come in."

Tsunade entered and saw Utatane Koharu eating breakfast.

"Tsunade, what brings you here today?"

Utatane Koharu wore a kindly smile, without the sour expression she would have in her old age.

"It's like this. Construction on the hospital starts today, and I came to invite you to witness it."

"As the future vice director, you're part of the hospital too."

Tsunade smiled as well and sat across from Utatane Koharu.

"Fine. Once I finish eating, I'll go with you."

Utatane Koharu agreed without hesitation. As an advisor, she still had a certain degree of autonomy.

After Utatane Koharu finished eating, she headed toward the hospital construction site with Tsunade.

The site was already bustling with work, and Hatake Clan Samurai stood guard around the perimeter.

Kawafune and Sakumo stood at a high point, plainly visible to everyone.

Nayuki patrolled the construction site with the Ghost Mastiff.

Meanwhile, at the Uchiha compound, the Uchiha Clan Head and Danzo had gathered a large number of ninja and were about to head to the hospital site to demand answers.

With the Clan Head and Danzo taking the lead, the ninja behind them set off as well.

Tsunade and Utatane Koharu chatted as they walked.

They talked from Hashirama to Tobirama, then from Tobirama to the present.

In politics, Koharu Advisor gave Tsunade quite the lesson.

After all, she could not compare with Tsunade in Medical Ninjutsu.

When the two arrived at the hospital, Kawafune and Sakumo both came forward to greet them.

"Koharu Advisor, thank you for making the trip."

"Today is the first day of construction. We invited you here in the hope that you could offer some guidance."

"After all, you're a respected senior."

"Even Tsunade speaks highly of your Medical Ninjutsu."

Kawafune began with a string of flattery, leaving the middle-aged woman utterly delighted.

Why hadn't I met such a fine young man when I was younger?

"Guidance is too much. If I have any suggestions, I'll voice them."

Utatane Koharu smiled so broadly that the wrinkles on her face showed. What woman did not enjoy hearing compliments?

Tsunade secretly rolled her eyes at Kawafune. When had she ever praised Koharu Advisor's Medical Ninjutsu?

Next, led by Kawafune and the other two, Utatane Koharu inspected the various parts of the site with great seriousness.

With the three deliberately playing along, it really looked like a leader visiting the countryside for an inspection.

Before long, sounds of conflict came from outside the construction site.

Hatake Clan Samurai had clashed with the arriving Uchiha and Root.

A Samurai came over to report, and Kawafune said,

"I'll go deal with it. Koharu Advisor, please continue looking around."

Seeing this, Koharu instead felt that someone was challenging her authority just as she was feeling so invigorated.

"I'm also part of this hospital. We'll go together."

"How could we trouble you to come along?"

Kawafune spoke politely, but a sly smile flashed across his face. Everything was proceeding as planned.

"Let's go. I want to see who is causing trouble at a hospital that benefits the villagers."

Koharu refused to mention any clan conflict, placing the villagers' interests first.

Before she even arrived, she had already pinned a major accusation on the other side.

"Very well."

With Kawafune leading the way, the group arrived at the scene of the conflict.

By then, Clan Samurai had already been injured and were lying on the ground.

A sharp gleam flashed through Kawafune's eyes as he waved for the wounded men to be carried away.

The ones who had attacked were Root ninja brought by Danzo.

Danzo's heart tightened when he saw Kawafune, but seeing that the Uchiha were also present, he relaxed.

If anything happened, he might just turn around and run.

When he saw Utatane Koharu again, his eyes filled with confusion.

"Koharu, why are you here?"

"Danzo? I'm this hospital's future vice director."

"Is it strange for me to be here?"

Although Utatane Koharu and Danzo had studied under the same master, she did not think highly of him. People who lurked in darkness were generally unlikable.

Coupled with Danzo's ambition and cold-blooded way of handling matters, he left an even worse impression.

Her tone toward him was far from polite.

"You're the vice director?"

A nameless fire rose in Danzo's heart, yet he did not know where to vent it.

At that moment, the Uchiha Clan Head stepped forward and spoke.

"None of that matters."

"Today, the Uchiha and Lord Danzo have come only to demand that you hand over the culprit."

"He injured members of the Uchiha and even killed five Root ninja. Do you intend to shelter such a criminal?"

His attitude was terrible and his tone exceedingly stiff, as though he would attack the moment another word displeased him.

Under the Uchiha Clan Head's questioning, the atmosphere between both sides became even more tense.

Kawafune secretly thought that this old fox truly had the makings of a fine actor.

He kept a close watch on the Uchiha's movements.

"Let alone the fact that I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Even if I were sheltering him, what would you do about it?"

The hotheaded old man drew his blade at the slightest disagreement. His aloof persona was steadily fading away.

I may not be able to beat Kawafune, but I can still kill you rotten fish and shrimps.

"Hatake Sakumo, don't go too far."

Danzo could not help speaking out. He still remembered the Root ninja who had died at Sakumo's hands.

"So what if I am? You old bastard, a stinking bug from the darkness."

Sakumo cursed with great satisfaction, and Danzo's face darkened with fury.

"If there's a problem, talk it out properly. Don't resort to armed conflict at every turn."

Utatane Koharu spoke as she stepped forward to mediate.

As a Hokage advisor, she did not wish to see armed conflict break out between clans.

"Watch out."

"Protect Koharu Advisor."

Before the second sentence had even left his mouth, a Kunai with an Explosive Tag attached flew toward Utatane Koharu.

Kawafune struck the Kunai away at once. It landed in the distance and exploded with a tremendous boom.

"I didn't do it."

A warning flared in Danzo's heart, and he hurriedly spoke to explain.

But the situation was already beyond his control.

As Kawafune made his move, Sakumo charged into the crowd like a tiger among sheep. The Root ninja had their throats cut as easily as chopping vegetables.

Fortunately, Sakumo was alone, and most of the Root ninja quickly opened distance from him.

Hatake Clan Samurai and Uchiha ninja fought with blades, engaging in a purely taijutsu clash.

Kawafune had long since set his sights on Danzo.

The Eight-Faced Han Sword swept without hesitation toward Danzo's neck.

Last time, in the Quiet Room, the space had been cramped. This time, Danzo had already sensed that something was wrong and managed to evade it.

Kawafune's strike missed.

"Now this is getting interesting."

"This has nothing to do with me. The Uchiha made the move."

Danzo was still trying to explain himself, never realizing this had been a trap prepared specifically for him.

Under Tsunade's protection, Utatane Koharu had already withdrawn from the conflict. Her role was over.

Nayuki and the Ghost Mastiff rampaged through the Root ninja, with virtually no one able to withstand them for even a single exchange.

Could the woman Hatake Sakumo had taken a fancy to possibly be ordinary?