In the Land of Hot Springs, after Hiruzen Sarutobi and Tsunade recognized each other, they stayed in the hot spring town.
In a guest room at a hot spring hotel, Hiruzen Sarutobi sat on the tatami, head bowed as he smoked. The entire room was thick with smoke.
The wooden door was suddenly shoved open. Tsunade strode into the room and frowned at the smoke filling it.
"Are you trying to smoke yourself to death, old man?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi stubbed out the cigarette in the mountain of ash in the ashtray and said with a chuckle, "It's Danzo's body, anyway."
Tsunade frowned at her former teacher. There were some unpleasant things she couldn't bring herself to say and upset him with.
"What do you need me for?" Tsunade went over to the table, sat down, and looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi across from her.
Hiruzen Sarutobi took a scroll from inside his robes and held it out to Tsunade.
"Yesterday morning, a shinobi from Amegakure came to see me. This is a letter Hanzo sent me."
"That old bastard Hanzo!" Tsunade grumbled irritably as she reached out and took the scroll.
"The leader of the Akatsuki has the Rinnegan, one of the legendary Three Great Dojutsu, said to stand alongside the Sharingan and Byakugan. Hanzo invited me to join him in taking on the Akatsuki, and he's willing to share the secrets of the Rinnegan with me."
As Tsunade lowered her head to read the letter, Hiruzen Sarutobi briefly summarized its contents.
After quickly reading it, Tsunade lowered the scroll and looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi again.
"Old man, you're not planning to join forces with Hanzo, are you?"
"When I was with Root, I learned some things about the Akatsuki. They're a group founded by young Amegakure shinobi who love peace,