Afternoon.
A deafening boom rang out from a deserted area northwest of Konoha, followed by violent tremors that shook the entire village and plunged it into panic.
"Enemy attack!"
Ninja raced toward the area in streaks of motion. The enormous disturbance loomed over everyone like a dark cloud.
Some wore frightened expressions, their thoughts seeming to drift back to that night two years ago...
Fortunately, the fighting didn't seem to last long.
Before long, the ninja who had rushed to help returned with the latest news.
The village had been attacked by an unknown rogue ninja, triggering a massive sinkhole. Luckily, Lord Tsunade and Lord Jiraiya arrived in time, minimizing the damage.
"As expected of Lord Tsunade!"
"Long live Lord Jiraiya!"
"The Legendary Sannin are truly powerful!"
Cheers erupted throughout the village.
Meanwhile, in the meeting room of the Hokage Building, the Third Hokage sat silently puffing on his pipe, flanked by the two Hokage advisors.
Through the drifting smoke, Shimura Danzō's battered body lay in ruins.
His face was pale, and he was covered in blood. His entire left arm had been torn off by force. Though he'd received treatment in time, he still looked utterly miserable.
Jiraiya held back a furious Tsunade, his expression grave. Not far from them stood an unexpected figure—Senju Nawaki.
The one who had torn off Danzō's left arm was Nawaki.
The supposed disgrace of the Senju Clan, as Qing Xuan had called him, wore a dark expression. The murderous intent in his eyes made him seem like a different person from the warm, dejected man he'd been before.
The Third Hokage kept his head down, smoking as he studied the two sides, locked in a standoff.
Danzō, who had always gotten his way, had finally bitten off more than he could chew.
He'd still treated Uchiha Qing Xuan like the timid Uchiha of old, forgetting the boy had another identity—and never considering that the entire Senju Clan and two of the Sannin stood behind him.
No—he should say the entire Sannin.
Not long ago, Danzō had received a secret message from Orochimaru. For Orochimaru, who had only just defected, sending it was practically unthinkable.
Yet he had risked it to warn him: if Danzō so much as laid a hand on Uchiha Qing Xuan again, he would pay a price he couldn't bear!
Aside from that, Danzō looked toward the Third Hokage, who had been quietly smoking. Was it your doing, Hiruzen? Sarutobi Shin'nosuke's Anbu and the jōnin squad by Shikaku Nara had been slow to come to his aid.
At last, he saw the terrifying power hidden behind this child.
When his life was threatened, the people who had been quietly watching over him would appear without hesitation, raising one sturdy wall after another in front of him!
But! Had they all gotten something wrong?
Anger rose in Danzō's pale face. He hadn't sent anyone to assassinate Uchiha Qing Xuan!
That damned Tsunade hadn't even given him a chance to explain—she'd just started hitting him and even had Senju Nawaki break his arm. Neither of those siblings knew how to stay calm!
And Jiraiya, you bastard—was that your idea of breaking up a fight? Telling everyone to calm down while summoning toads and wrecking all of Root? Just you wait. I'll settle that score with you properly!
But for now, he had to stay alive!
"I never gave the order to assassinate Uchiha Qing Xuan," Danzō said, expressionless. "They were clearly impersona—"
Before he could finish, Tsunade rudely flung several bloodstained masks at his face.
The masks clattered to the floor, and the impact made his whole face ache.
But Danzō could no longer spare a thought for that. He recognized the familiar pattern on the masks.
His left eye fixed on them. After a long silence, he finally spoke, his hoarse voice like that of an old dog betrayed by its master.
"They're Liu Yun's subordinates..."
He raised his head, but before he could continue, a gust of wind rushed toward him. In the next instant, he could barely breathe—someone had grabbed him by the throat and lifted him off the ground.
Danzō struggled desperately. Tsunade's eyes met his, cold and murderous as the dead of winter.
Her slender fingers tightened slowly. Her gaze held nothing but merciless killing intent as she began to crush his throat.
"That's enough, Tsunade!"
The Third Hokage finally spoke, but Tsunade ignored him, intent on killing Danzō.
"Are you going to kill him in front of your own son?"
The Third Hokage's sigh fell like a hammer. The hand gripping Danzō's throat suddenly loosened, and he hit the floor hard, gasping for breath.
At some point, the meeting room door had opened. A hand reached out and took Tsunade's lowered left hand. The warmth, like summer sunlight, dispelled all the gloom in her heart.
"Let's go home, Mom!"
Tsunade shuddered and bent down to embrace Qing Xuan. Her powerful grip squeezed him so tightly he could barely breathe.
After a long while, a glistening tear fell. She raised her head with a smile, stroked Qing Xuan's hair, and clasped his hand tightly.
"All right! Mom will take you away right now!"
Her resolute tone stunned not only Qing Xuan but everyone present.
"Wait, Tsunade! Where are you taking him?"
Tsunade didn't even turn around as she answered the Third Hokage stiffly. "Obviously, I'm taking him out of the village!"
Two Anbu appeared silently at the doorway, blocking her path.
A hint of disdain crossed Tsunade's face. "You think you two can stop me?"
The Third Hokage massaged his temples, dreading this whole situation. "Why do you want to take him away?"
Tsunade didn't bother being tactful. "Don't play dumb. It's too dangerous for him to stay in this village."
That was practically a direct slap in the Third Hokage's face.
The village was supposed to protect everyone. How could anyone be in danger here?
The Third Hokage seemed to age all at once. He glared at Danzō, trying to figure out what to say, when Qing Xuan's voice rang through the meeting room.
"Mom, there's no way I'm leaving with you."
Everyone's attention immediately turned to him.
What was he thinking? He'd nearly won over the entire Uchiha Clan already, and with the goodwill of the Hokage faction, in two or three years he'd change everyone's fate. By then, he'd be unstoppable!
How could he just leave?
"But you'll be in danger if you stay here! Do you understand?"
At Tsunade's baffled look, Qing Xuan replied, puzzled, "But someone once told me that if a woman ever asks me to leave with her and live somewhere else, I mustn't say yes!"
"Why?"
Tsunade furrowed her brows, her gaze growing sharper. Nawaki, standing behind her, suddenly shivered, overcome by a bad feeling.
Why did that sound so familiar?
"He said if I said yes, I'd end up living a life on the run, and my whole life would be ruined!"
"Pfft!"
The petite Anbu on the right side of the doorway couldn't hold back a laugh.
The tense atmosphere began to loosen.
Only Tsunade grew more and more embarrassed and furious. Her eyes flashed with wild anger as she demanded, "Who told you that?"
Qing Xuan turned toward Nawaki, who was already trembling, and sold him out without hesitation. "Uncle Nawaki did!"
A tremendous roar erupted from the meeting room.
"Senju Nawaki! What on earth have you been teaching him?"
"Don't! Don't hit me! Just let me explain! Ow! That hurts! Not the face!"
"Tsunade! Calm down! Tsunade!"
Before you continue