Sunlight streamed through the clouds onto the streets of the town, but it couldn't dispel the heavy atmosphere hanging in the air.
Uchiha Yan stood quietly, his black clothes fluttering gently in the breeze.
Kana stood behind him, her face full of unease, while little Karin stared around in bewilderment.
Not far away, Tsunade's expression shifted through a tangle of emotions, her heart full of doubt and wariness.
"An Uchiha can become Hokage? Are you kidding me?"
"What do you think? If I hadn't handled things in Konoha, do you think I'd be here?"
Yan's lips curled into a confident smile, but to Tsunade, it looked especially grating.
"Who knows whether what you're saying is true or not?"
Countless thoughts raced through Tsunade's mind. She didn't want to get caught up in Konoha's conflicts again, or face those filthy political struggles.
She snorted, trying to cover up her unease with a forceful attitude.
"Besides, so what if you're the future Hokage? I've been away for so long, and the old man never bothered me. What makes you think you can?"
Yan shook his head. "Tsunade, you're one of the Sannin, renowned throughout the Ninja World. You also made great contributions during the Second Shinobi World War!"
"But that doesn't give you the right to leave the village without permission and go missing for so long!"
"As the future Hokage, I can brand you a rogue ninja!"
"..."
Yan's voice was firm and powerful, like a thunderclap exploding beside Tsunade's ear.
"How dare you!" A fierce glint flashed across Tsunade's face, and a surge of anger rose within her.
She had been away from Konoha for a long time and wanted nothing to do with the village, but that didn't mean she was willing to become a rogue ninja.
Especially since