Tsunade Returns

In Konoha, there exists a place that makes every ninja shudder: Root.

It is said to be a department established by Shimura Danzō, the Hokage Assistant to the Third Hokage. Any ninja who enters that department vanishes from Konoha entirely; even their closest family members can never see them again...

Deep within the Root base, Shimura Danzō sits in a room that has been transformed from its former gloom into a brightly lit space, his single eye fixed on a map hanging on the wall. The map marks the borders of the Five Great Nations, the locations of the hidden villages, and several spots circled in red ink.

He has been sitting here for two hours, motionless.

Since when did the situation begin to slip from his control? The Uchiha Clan was wiped out, his own hands and eyes were sealed, and Root suffered a grievous blow.

Shimura Danzō had assumed that with the Uchiha Clan eliminated, no one in Konoha would dare challenge the Hokage faction, and he could take the opportunity to expand the ranks of Root once more. However, someone later leaked the secret of the Hyuga Clan's Caged Bird, and the Hyuga retreated into their compound like frightened birds.

In Shimura Danzō's view, this was not necessarily a bad thing; at the very least, the Hyuga Clan was now meat on Konoha's chopping block. Since they dared not leave Konoha, they were at the mercy of the village's commands. He intended to exploit their fear and retreat to infiltrate their ranks, recruiting a large number of Hyuga clansmen into his Root.

As it turned out, Sarutobi Hiruzen not only refused to support him but suppressed him instead, even transferring away the jonin under his command who were proficient in sealing techniques. Immediately following that, a battle over a jinchuriki erupted in Takigakure, and the jinchuriki of Iwagakure and Kumogakure also vanished simultaneously. Since when had jinchuriki become so fragile?

However, the fact that both villages pointed their fingers at Konoha actually brought a hint of glee to Shimura Danzō's heart—he saw an opportunity to ascend to the position of Fifth Hokage.

"Is there still no reply from Orochimaru?" Danzō's voice was hoarse, like sandpaper rubbing against an iron plate.

"None." The Root member kneeling behind him kept his head bowed. "The people we sent out could not find Orochimaru. He seems to be deliberately ignoring us; he has relocated his base, and there has been no response from any of our contact points."

Danzō's single eye narrowed slightly, a flicker of rage brewing within. He felt he was already the presumptive Fifth Hokage, and he was quite displeased by Orochimaru's lack of respect. "Keep looking. Dig three feet into the earth if you have to, but find him."

"Yes." The Root member acknowledged the order but did not immediately withdraw.

"Is there something else?"

"Lord Danzō, there is news that—"

His words were interrupted by the sound of hurried footsteps. Another Root member came running from the end of the corridor and knelt on one knee at the doorway.

"Lord Danzō, Tsunade has returned to the village."

Danzō's body stiffened. "What did you say?"

"Lord Tsunade returned to Konoha this morning. She entered through the main gate without concealing her tracks. Many people saw her, and our Root members reported it as soon as they witnessed it."

Danzō fell silent.

Tsunade returned to the village? Previously, Jiraiya had searched the world for her, saying that Sarutobi Hiruzen had invited her back to help. She had agreed, but she had never shown her face. Danzō had assumed the news Jiraiya brought back was just Tsunade lying to him; after all, she hadn't returned once in all the years she had been away from Konoha.

Yet now she had actually returned, without prior notice, without fanfare, just walking quietly through the gates of Konoha.

"What did she say to the Third?" Although Tsunade had returned, Danzō knew she suffered from hemophobia, so he was not worried that she could threaten his position.

"She..." The Root member hesitated. "She did not go to the Hokage Building."

Danzō's single eye narrowed, a trace of impatience appearing as he looked at the Root member.

"She returned to the Senju Compound."

The corners of Danzō's mouth twitched, though it was unclear if it was a smile or something else.

The Senju Compound—that place had been abandoned for many years. The members of the Senju Clan had either died or scattered, leaving only Tsunade behind. After she left Konoha, the compound had been completely deserted; the locks on the gates had rusted, and the courtyard was overgrown with weeds.

Tsunade returned to the village, but instead of seeing the Hokage, she went back to that desolate home.

"Also, just before she entered the gate," the Root member continued, "my subordinates sent the latest news—after Lord Tsunade returned, she sent people to contact several individuals."

"What kind of individuals?" Shimura Danzō's voice grew much colder.

"Descendants of the branch families that split from the Senju Clan. The Kazamatsuri Clan and several other small, fallen families—those who lived independently after the Senju declined."

Danzō's gaze flickered as he pondered Tsunade's actions. Tsunade was gathering the branch families of the Senju? What was she planning? She had never proactively contacted those people in the past...

"Keep men watching her." Danzō's hoarse voice betrayed a hint of agitation. "Report any movement immediately."

"Yes."

The Root member withdrew.

Danzō sat alone in the dim room, the light in his single eye flickering uncertainly.

The issue with Orochimaru remained unresolved, and now Tsunade had returned at such a time, behaving in a manner far more complex than he had anticipated.

He had expected that upon her return, Tsunade would go straight to Sarutobi Hiruzen to help him deal with the mess, and then, like Jiraiya, prepare for battle within the village, should the disappearance of the jinchuriki lead to war.

Instead, she had not gone to see Sarutobi Hiruzen, but had returned to the Senju Compound and summoned those branch family descendants who had long since severed ties with the main house.

What exactly is this woman trying to do?

Danzō stood up, walked to the wall, and looked at the map. The red circles looked like drops of blood, dense and numerous.

"Tsunade..." he muttered to himself, "you had best not ruin my plans."

In the Hokage Building, the tallest structure in Konoha, smoke rose from Sarutobi Hiruzen's pipe, drifting in the afternoon sunlight like a thin veil.

Sarutobi Hiruzen sat behind his desk, the paperwork piled as high as ever, but he hadn't managed to read a single word today. His gaze remained fixed outside the window, as if waiting for someone to appear on the road leading to the Hokage Building, kick the door open, and say, "Old man, I'm back."

Jiraiya sat in the chair opposite, his legs crossed, holding a copy of Icha Icha Paradise he had written himself. He flipped a few pages, closed it, then flipped it open again. His mind was clearly not on the book, and his eyes occasionally darted toward Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression.

"Sensei, don't be anxious." Jiraiya used the book to hide his curling lips, breaking the silence in the office. "Tsunade will come back if she promised. You know her—she keeps her word."

Sarutobi Hiruzen took the pipe from his mouth and tapped it against the ashtray.

"I know. I just..."

"But what?"

"I am just wondering how to arrange things once she returns." Sarutobi Hiruzen hesitated for a moment before speaking. He knew he was using his own student, but he had no other choice now, just as he had once used another of his students.

"You are well aware of the current situation in the village. The Hyuga Clan needs someone to negotiate with, and the other ninja clans need to be appeased. Tsunade's status speaks for itself: granddaughter of Senju Hashirama and one of the Sannin. A single word from her carries more weight than ten from me. With her help, the situation will surely stabilize."

Jiraiya nodded. His teacher was right; Tsunade was indeed the most suitable candidate.

But the problem was, would Tsunade be willing? He had never mentioned to Sarutobi Hiruzen what Tsunade had said to him in the forest near the Land of Whirlpools—that she would not simply be a tool.

He hadn't paid much attention to it at the time, thinking it was just an excuse Tsunade made because she didn't want to return. Now, it seemed, perhaps it wasn't an excuse.

Footsteps echoed from the end of the corridor, growing closer. Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes brightened. He set down his pipe and straightened his collar, trying to appear less eager.

A knock sounded at the door—it was actually a knock! Both Sarutobi Hiruzen and Jiraiya were stunned; Tsunade had actually learned to be polite!

"Come in."

An Anbu pushed the door open and knelt on one knee before the desk.

"Lord Hokage, there is news."

The anticipation and shock on Sarutobi Hiruzen's face vanished—it wasn't Tsunade, which explained the knocking. He picked up his pipe again to mask his disappointment.

"Speak."

"Lady Tsunade has returned to Konoha. She entered through the main gate, and many villagers saw her."

The corners of Sarutobi Hiruzen's mouth lifted slightly. It was the first time he had smiled in days, and he asked impatiently, "Where is she? Why hasn't she come here yet?"

The Anbu remained silent for a moment, bowing his head lower, and braced himself to answer: "Lady Tsunade... did not come to the Hokage Building. She went directly to the Senju Compound."

Sarutobi Hiruzen's smile froze on his face.

"Furthermore," the Anbu continued, "as soon as Lady Tsunade returned to the village, she sent people to contact the heads of the branch families that had split from the Senju Clan. Those people are all heading toward the Senju Compound now. The Anbu did not receive orders, so we did not stop them for the time being."

The air in the office grew heavy.

Sarutobi Hiruzen's smile vanished completely, replaced by an indescribable expression: not anger, not disappointment, but something more like... unease. He picked up his pipe again, his fingers tightening until his knuckles turned white.

Jiraiya's expression also soured. He had wanted to put in a good word for Tsunade, but the words died in his throat. Tsunade hadn't even come to the Hokage Building, returning straight to the Senju Compound and summoning the branch families—this could not be explained away by being "tired from the journey."

Sarutobi Hiruzen glanced at Jiraiya, his gaze filled with both inquiry and reproach. Jiraiya lowered his head, avoiding the look. He had known in advance that Tsunade would return, but he hadn't known she would do these things.

"Teacher, Tsunade might..." Jiraiya began with difficulty, "she might have her own considerations."

"Her own considerations." Sarutobi Hiruzen repeated the phrase, his tone impossible to read as either approval or sarcasm. "Yes, she has grown up and has her own considerations now."

He stood up and walked to the window, turning his back to Jiraiya.

The view of Konoha lay beneath him. There weren't many people on the streets, though a few pedestrians could be seen moving about, and occasionally an Anbu darted across the rooftops. The Senju Compound was in the northeast corner of the village and couldn't be seen from this angle, but Sarutobi Hiruzen's gaze remained fixed in that direction.

"Jiraiya."

"Present."

"Tell me, is Tsunade returning this time to help me, or to do something else?"

Jiraiya was stumped by the question. He opened his mouth, wanting to say "Of course she is here to help you," but the words stuck in his throat.

He had already guessed some things; what Tsunade said near the Land of Whirlpools hadn't been idle talk. She said she wouldn't be a tool, that she wanted to change Konoha—and the "change" she spoke of might not be the same as what his teacher intended.

"Teacher, Tsunade would never do anything detrimental to Konoha," Jiraiya finally said.

"I know." Sarutobi Hiruzen turned around and walked back to sit behind his desk. "She bears the name Senju; she would never do anything detrimental to Konoha."

Jiraiya had no response.

Sarutobi Hiruzen picked up his pipe, lit it, and took a deep drag, the smoke slowly exhaling from his mouth and obscuring his face.

"Let her do it," his voice was unnaturally calm. "As long as she is back. As long as she is back."

The news spread quickly. By noon, the word of Tsunade's return had reached every corner of Konoha.

The Hyuga Clan was the first to know. Although they had barely left their compound during this period, Hyuga Hiashi had kept people using their Byakugan day and night, constantly observing the surroundings of the Hyuga Clan and all outsiders in Konoha to ensure they wouldn't be caught off guard.

This morning, someone with a massive amount of chakra suddenly arrived in Konoha. As soon as Hyuga Hiashi received the report, he led his men to investigate. Seeing that it was the familiar Tsunade, he felt relieved and returned to the compound.

"Tsunade is back?" The Main Family elders were very pleased to hear the news.

Their progress on developing a new Caged Bird seal was slow. If they had Tsunade's involvement, it would surely speed up. Moreover, in Konoha, they currently only trusted Tsunade—and could only trust her. After all, she alone bore the name Senju.

"Yes. She returned this morning, but she went straight to the Senju Compound."

"She didn't go to see the Third?"

"No."

Hyuga Tendou frowned, then relaxed. He said nothing; he couldn't guess Tsunade's intentions for the time being.

Hyuga Hiashi had guessed a few things, but he couldn't voice them. The fact that Tsunade didn't see the Hokage first upon returning spoke volumes.

The Hyuga Clan was currently hunkered down in their compound, hyper-sensitive to the situation outside. Tsunade returning at this time, and in this manner—not as a helper to the Hokage, but as an independent force—was something he couldn't yet judge as good or bad for the Hyuga.

But at least, the situation in Konoha would no longer be as one-sided as before.

The Ino-Shika-Cho trio, who had always claimed to be of the Hokage's faction, received the news almost simultaneously.

Nara Shikaku was at home organizing intelligence from the recent period. Hearing the news of Tsunade's return, his pen paused, and a drop of ink fell onto the scroll. He set the pen down and watched the ink slowly spread, like a black flower.

"Has Tsunade returned?" he asked.

"She has," his wife said while pouring him tea. "I heard she went straight to the Senju Compound and didn't stop by the Hokage Building."

Nara Shikaku gave a grunt of acknowledgment and said nothing more.

He picked up his pen to continue writing, but the drop of ink had already dried, leaving an irregular dot on the scroll. He thought for a moment, but decided not to wipe it away, leaving it just as it was.

On the other side, Yamanaka Inoichi had been busier than usual lately. After all, with the Hyuga Clan retreating inward, many posts were left vacant. As someone from the Interrogation Department who usually didn't have much to do, he had been pulled in to fill the gaps left by the Hyuga.

He had been forced to work overtime again last night and had only just finished. He had managed to return home to rest, but before he could even change his clothes, he heard the news.

Yamanaka Inoichi stood in the courtyard for a while, looking at the pots of flowers in the corner—the ones his wife had planted. They were in full bloom for autumn, their golden petals layered and overflowing, the fragrance drifting through the air, all so he could sleep more comfortably when he finally rested.

"Inoichi, what's wrong? Come and eat something, then get some rest." His wife walked out of the house wearing an apron. She knew Yamanaka Inoichi hadn't slept at all the night before, so she had sent their child to her cousin's house early, just so her husband could have a quiet sleep.

"It's nothing." Yamanaka Inoichi shook his head. "I heard on my way back that Tsunade is back."

His wife paused. "Isn't that a good thing?"

"Whether it's a good thing or not is hard to say right now." Yamanaka Inoichi walked into the house and took off his coat. "Her behavior upon returning is quite unusual."

"What do you mean?"

"She didn't go to see the Hokage." Yamanaka Inoichi briefly described Tsunade's actions. "She went straight to the Senju Compound and even summoned people from the Kazamatsuri Clan."

His wife understood a little of what Yamanaka Inoichi meant, but she only said "Oh," then pushed him into the house and toward the dining table. "Eat first, then go to sleep. You're a grown man, yet you don't know how to take care of yourself at all."

Yamanaka Inoichi yielded to his wife's insistence, sitting in the chair and picking up his chopsticks to eat the meal she had specially prepared. As he ate, he wondered what Tsunade's return at this time meant for Konoha.

The village was currently a powder keg, and Sarutobi Hiruzen was sitting on the lid, trying to keep it from exploding. Now that Tsunade was back, was she there to help Sarutobi Hiruzen keep the lid down, or was she there to throw another match into the barrel?

He didn't know. But he was certain the answer would be revealed soon, because a pack of wolves was circling the perimeter of this powder keg...

The air in the Akimichi Compound was always filled with the aroma of food, making everyone who stepped inside involuntarily salivate and feel their appetite grow.

Akimichi Choza happened to be off today, crunching on potato chips. When he heard the news, his hand holding the chips froze in mid-air. The chip hovered near his mouth for two seconds before he finally shoved it in. After chewing twice, he put down the bag, uncharacteristically losing his appetite.

"What's wrong?" His wife, not hearing the continuous crunching, came out of the kitchen in surprise and saw the departing figure of an Akimichi clansman.

"Tsunade is back," Akimichi Choza told his wife the news the clansman had just brought.

"That's a good thing."

"Yes, a good thing." Akimichi Choza stood up and walked to the door. "But a good thing isn't necessarily easy to handle."

He leaned against the doorframe, looking at the fruit trees in the courtyard that were already heavy with fruit. Everyone would know about Tsunade's return soon. Everyone would have their own opinions, and everyone would have their own guesses.

It had been a long time since Konoha had been this lively.

The three clan heads met at the Yamanaka residence. Both Nara and Akimichi knew Inoichi hadn't been home all night, so they intended to keep the discussion brief so he could get some rest. Sitting on the veranda of Inoichi's house with tea and snacks prepared by his wife in front of them, no one spoke first.

Finally, Yamanaka Inoichi yawned, took a sip of tea to wake himself up, and broke the silence.

"She didn't go to see the Third."

"Mm," Nara Shikaku replied.

"She summoned the Kazamatsuri people to the Senju Compound."

"Mm."

Yamanaka Inoichi looked at him, unable to hold back. "Can't you say more than one word?"

"I can." Nara Shikaku glanced at him and said cryptically, "But it wouldn't sound very pleasant."

Yamanaka Inoichi shut his mouth. It was true; some things were better left unsaid.

Akimichi Choza stopped snacking on the treats prepared by Inoichi's wife and couldn't help but voice his thoughts. "Shikaku, what do you think Tsunade is trying to do?"

"It's not entirely clear." Nara Shikaku looked at the tree in the courtyard; most of its leaves had already turned yellow, and autumn was nearly over. "But one thing should be certain—her purpose in returning might not be the same as what the Hokage intends."

"What do you mean?"

"The Hokage invited her back hoping she would help him clean up this mess. Pacifying the ninja clans, handling the Hyuga, and stabilizing the people's hearts. With Tsunade stepping forward, many problems could be suppressed. But..." Nara Shikaku didn't continue, but the other two understood. "Now that she hasn't even seen the Hokage, went straight to the Senju Compound, and even called for members of the branch family..."

Judging by the current situation, Tsunade and the Third were not entirely of one mind—at the very least, she wasn't here to simply act as a tool...