Tsunade's sudden outburst startled Namikaze Minato.
But at that moment, Tsunade was in no mood to pay him any attention.
In that instant, she felt intensely as if she'd been played, and fury consumed her.
Thinking of how much effort she'd put into Uchiha Dan, how much guilt she'd borne, only to learn that he'd been putting on an act the whole time—her anger simply wouldn't fade.
Her thoughts were like a Pandora's box that had been opened; she couldn't stop them.
He'd been lying to her all along, about so many things.
Why had he lied to me?
To stay alive?
All right, Tsunade truly understood how hard the past seven years had been for Uchiha Dan.
Even now that she'd belatedly realized some things, she didn't blame him for scheming to survive, even when it meant pulling her into his plans and deliberately using certain tactics to get her to help him escape danger.
In truth, that wasn't what bothered Tsunade most. Some things she could understand.
What she really cared about was whether Uchiha Dan's growing concern for her, his acceptance of her, the change in his attitude, and the moments of intimacy that sometimes made her heart race had all been genuine.
If they had been genuine, and Uchiha Dan had already made it through the danger, why was he still lying to her?
If they were all fake...
Just that thought flashed through her mind, and Tsunade's thoughts went blank. She could barely stay on her feet.
All fake?
Had all of Uchiha Dan's feelings for her been fake?
Had everything been nothing but lies and manipulation?
And if she hadn't suddenly gone to see Namikaze Minato today and coaxed some things out of him, she still wouldn't have known any of it.
Some things were like a thin sheet of paper. Tsunade had suspected the truth for a long time, but had kept deceiving and comforting herself.
But now that the paper had been pierced, she couldn't even pretend anymore. Her mind was in complete disarray.
"Sister Tsunade, are you all right?" Namikaze Minato asked cautiously from beside her.
Tsunade's head was spinning, and suddenly so was his.
He'd realized he might have said something wrong.
Or, rather, let slip some information his older brother had deliberately kept from Sister Tsunade, making her jump to some terrible conclusion.
I'm screwed! I've really messed up!
At Konoha Hospital, Uchiha Dan had finally finished work.
He glanced again at the empty desk across from him, vacant all day, and for some reason felt uneasy.
What was wrong with me? What could possibly happen?
Was I missing Tsunade?
Impossible. Absolutely impossible!
Besides, I'd see her tonight. What was there to worry about?
After filing away some documents and steadying himself, Uchiha Dan happily headed home.
But when he got there, Namikaze Toneri told him that Namikaze Minato was staying over at a classmate's house tonight and wouldn't be coming home.
Uchiha Dan couldn't help laughing.
Had the little guy gotten into trouble? Was he afraid I'd scold him?
Seriously, is that really how your older brother seems to you? When have I ever actually gotten angry with you?
Uchiha Dan didn't bother with Namikaze Minato's little schemes.
Kids had their odd moments.
A little after nine that evening, Uchiha Dan prepared, as usual, to be reverse-summoned to Shikkotsu Forest.
But no matter how long he waited, Sage Katsuyu didn't summon him.
Puzzled, Uchiha Dan furrowed his brow. He extended his sensory range and detected Tsunade's Chakra by the little river where he'd once spoken with her in private.
Unsure what was going on, Uchiha Dan hurried out into the night and appeared beside Tsunade.
But before he could speak, he was met with Tsunade's murderous expression and eyes red from crying.
Uchiha Dan was clever enough to realize at once that Tsunade had found something out. His heart clenched.
But he quickly collected himself.
Why am I panicking? It was only a matter of time before she found out.
Besides, this way I can leave without feeling so guilty, can't I?
Then why the hell did my heart suddenly hurt?
This makes no sense!
Tsunade spoke angrily.
"You're leaving?"
Uchiha Dan froze. His eyes darted away involuntarily as he tried to think of a way to bluff Tsunade.
At the same time, he cursed Namikaze Minato a hundred times in his head.
At this point, how could he not know who'd let the cat out of the bag?
No wonder Namikaze Minato suddenly didn't dare come home. He really had been afraid I'd get angry!
I'll make sure you never sit comfortably again!
Ten seconds later, Uchiha Dan let out a long breath and nodded. "Could you not be so perceptive? It puts me under a lot of pressure, you know!"
He didn't know that Namikaze Minato had later used this tactic to divert Tsunade's anger.
He'd told her that Uchiha Dan was leaving so she wouldn't have time to focus on the fact that Uchiha Dan had lied to her.
But Tsunade naturally wouldn't betray Namikaze Minato. She could only ask unwillingly, "Why?"
"What else could it be?" Uchiha Dan said with a bitter smile. "For you, Konoha is home. It's where you belong. For me, it's a cage. I've wanted to leave for a long time."
"I didn't leave before because I didn't have the chance. Now that the opportunity has come, why wait?"
"So once you've completely mastered the Flying Thunder God Technique, you'll leave?" Tsunade asked again.
"That's the plan." Uchiha Dan sighed, making no attempt to hide it. "When the time comes, I'll fake my death and slip away."
"Because I'm not a ninja. I'm just a doctor."
"Even if they suspect I faked my death, they'll only investigate in secret. They won't make it public. So all you have to do is act as if you know nothing."
"But things have changed now!" Tsunade practically shouted. "You can defend yourself now, and I'll protect you with everything I have. Why do you still want to leave?"
"Because I don't want to lose control one day and kill Utatane Koharu, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and Shimura Danzō. Is that reason enough?" Uchiha Dan said with a bitter smile.
"No! You're not that impulsive. Are they planning to do something to you again?" Tsunade asked urgently.
"No!" Uchiha Dan shook his head and sighed. "Utatane Koharu still wants me to keep working for her for free, but I don't want to anymore."
"Hiruzen Sarutobi still wants to get his hands on the Medical Ninjutsu I developed myself, but I don't want to give it to him."
"As for Shimura Danzō, he's constantly telling Hiruzen Sarutobi that they need to kill me, the evil Uchiha, as soon as possible. Five years ago, Hiruzen Sarutobi changed his mind because that guy and Utatane Koharu took turns trying to convince him."
"Even Mitokado Homura, who's always tried to smooth things over, thinks I shouldn't be allowed to stay. His reason is that my presence will undermine unity among the village's High-Ranking Officials."
"Everything seems peaceful now, and I have indeed made it through this crisis. But a confrontation is inevitable."
"Once tensions escalate, they'll definitely come after me."
"And I definitely won't just sit back and take it."
"Why stay and face a terrible future I can already see?"
"Is it because of me?" Tsunade suddenly interjected.
"What?" Uchiha Dan asked in surprise.
He was genuinely startled. Why was Tsunade so perceptive today? How was nothing getting past her?
"Did you give up on revenge because of me?" Tsunade had talked with Namikaze Minato for a long time that day. Combined with what Uzumaki Mito had hinted at before, she'd pieced together many details.
Uchiha Dan might not be a bad person by nature, but he wasn't especially forgiving either. He'd wanted to kill Utatane Koharu for a long time.
Given the strength, he would absolutely do it.
But why had he suddenly changed his mind?
Tsunade couldn't think of any reason other than that he was taking her feelings into consideration. Namikaze Minato had said the same.
With Tsunade having seen through him, Uchiha Dan fell silent for a long time.
That was right. He no longer wanted to keep swallowing his anger, and that meant he was bound to come into conflict with Konoha's High-Ranking Officials.
But he didn't want to put Tsunade in a difficult position, so sticking to the original plan was the best option.
"I won't let you leave!" Having gotten the answer she wanted, Tsunade stepped forward and grabbed Uchiha Dan's hand. Her tear-filled eyes had grown blurry. "You're so clever. There must be another way, right? Tell me, what should I do?"
Uchiha Dan shook his head. "Why put yourself through this?"
"Tell me!" Tsunade insisted, utterly resolute.
"There is a way, but it's too difficult. It'll be hard on you too. It's really not necessary."
"I want to know!" Tsunade insisted again.
"Ah..." Uchiha Dan sighed, then asked, "Tsunade, do you want to be Hokage?"
"What?" Tsunade froze, wondering if she'd heard him correctly.
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