Plum Blossoms Bloom Thrice

Half an hour later.

Tsunade pushed open the door to the Hokage's office and stormed out, looking furious.

Shizune, who had been waiting by the door, hurried to catch up and couldn't help but ask, "Lady Tsunade, what happened with the Third Hokage?"

"Little brats shouldn't meddle in adult affairs."

Tsunade ruffled Shizune's hair roughly. Recalling what the Third Hokage had said in the office, she could only sigh to herself.

The Uchiha problem had persisted since the founding of Konoha; even the Second Hokage, who had worked tirelessly to govern, couldn't solve it perfectly.

Now, in the hands of the Third Hokage, there was finally a glimmer of hope for a resolution.

Even if the process was filled with schemes, Tsunade understood one thing: if the Uchiha issue could truly be resolved smoothly, it would only benefit Konoha.

It would provide more self-preservation strength for the coming war.

There would be no need to worry about the dilemma of being bogged down on the front lines while the backyard caught fire.

Seeing Shizune's worried expression, Tsunade added, "The Old Man has his own plans; it's not our place to interfere."

"It's been a while since I've been to a Konoha casino. I wonder if there are any new games. Come on, let's go! I'll win you a whole building tonight!"

"Again?!"

Shizune's face instantly fell.

Ever since her uncle Dan Katō passed away, she had been taken in by Tsunade and had followed her ever since.

Having accompanied Tsunade in and out of casinos all over the ninja world, she knew all too well that not only did this woman have no luck, she also lacked any self-awareness!

Win a building...

It's over.

Lady Tsunade is definitely going to lose everything she has tonight!

"Lady Tsunade, why don't we forget it? There are plenty of other fun places in Konoha besides casinos, right?"

"I heard..."

"Aren't you curious about the new disciple Jiraiya has taken in?!"

Mentioning the name Jiraiya clearly piqued Tsunade's interest, but the next second, she cast it to the back of her mind. "That guy's disciple? How could that be more interesting than a pachinko machine?!"

"Come to think of it, I've never succeeded at the pachinko machines in Konoha. That's the one for tonight!"

With that, Tsunade marched off toward a nearby casino in a whirlwind.

Seeing this, Shizune wiped her face in resignation, thinking to herself that she was the one who had to shoulder everything in the end.

She stomped her foot and immediately followed.

Sitting in his office, the Third Hokage watched this scene with a faint smile in his eyes. "Tsunade's temper hasn't changed a bit. If only her condition could really be cured..."

"Forget it."

"No use thinking about it."

"At least it's quiet here now. If I don't finish these documents, I'll probably be working late again."

"Biwako has been complaining about this for a long time."

As he spoke, the Third Hokage took a puff from his pipe, exhaling a thin stream of smoke, and turned his attention back to the documents in his hands.

Just as he was about to focus on his work, he seemed to sense something and looked up.

Bang!

With another dull thud, the door to the Hokage's office was kicked open once again.

This time, the door, already hanging by a thread, finally gave way and collapsed with a loud crash.

The Third Hokage looked up at the figure in the doorway, his mouth twitching violently. "Orochimaru?"

"When did you learn to do this too?!"

Orochimaru, wearing his jonin vest, silently retracted his leg. He looked at the door lying on the floor, then back at the Third Hokage, and said, "It's not that I learned it. I just felt that if I didn't do it this way, something would be missing."

"I must have had the worst luck imaginable to have raised the three of you monsters!"

The Third Hokage nearly bit his pipe out of shape. Watching the empty office doorway, his eyelids twitched uncontrollably.

"You're paying for the repairs!"

"..."

Orochimaru didn't take the bait, walking over to the Third Hokage's desk and plopping himself down.

"Are you here to ask about Setsuna Uchiha too?!"

The Third Hokage spoke with irritation:

"Orochimaru, let me speak to you heart-to-heart."

"If there is anyone among the three of you most likely to inherit the position of Hokage, I favor you the most..."

"Save those tricks for that fool Jiraiya."

Orochimaru glanced at the Third Hokage's desk, where two deep handprints were incredibly obvious:

"Oh, and Tsunade, too."

"Besides, even if I truly wanted to become Hokage, would you really support me?!"

Before the Third Hokage could finish, Orochimaru cut him off directly.

Yet, a point even Orochimaru failed to notice was that his cold, viper-like face currently held a hint of a smile.

The Third Hokage took a puff of his pipe and said pointedly:

"At the very least, I wouldn't harm you."

Orochimaru paused, then immediately shook his head:

"The position of Hokage isn't that important to me. If I have it, fine, but I won't regret it if I don't."

"I came to see you this time to apply for research funding. Several of my research grant applications have been stuck with you, and I can't proceed."

"These studies are very important to the village."

At the mention of funding, the Third Hokage stiffened. Reluctantly, he rummaged through his drawer and pulled out the funding applications Orochimaru had submitted.

After reviewing them once more and confirming there were no issues, he finally signed his name.

"Thanks, Old Man."

"Heh~"

The Third Hokage's eyelid twitched:

"You call me Teacher Sarutobi before I sign, and Old Man after..."

Orochimaru ignored the Third Hokage's grumbling and turned to leave. He stopped abruptly at the door, looking back to warn him:

"Whether it's you or Danzo, you are both playing with fire right now!"

"Be careful you don't get burned!"

The Third Hokage did not respond, simply watching Orochimaru's retreating figure until he vanished from sight, his gaze turning complex.

Among the Third Hokage's three disciples, in terms of talent and intellect, Orochimaru should have been the first choice.

It was just a pity that he couldn't pass the most important test for becoming Hokage: conviction.

"Don't let me down..."

"Orochimaru!"

Uchiha Clan grounds.

Deep within.

The gates of an old residence were opened once again today.

The furniture inside had long since decayed over the decades; a light touch caused large amounts of debris to fall.

The air was thick with a damp, musty smell.

Toma Uchiha pushed the wheelchair, slowly walking into the large house.

"Lord Setsuna, ever since you were imprisoned, this place has been abandoned for a long time. If you wish to stay here, we can have someone clean it up first."

"The Clan Head has arranged a new residence for you; would you like to..."

"Cough, cough, cough--!"

Before Toma Uchiha could finish, he was interrupted by a fit of urgent coughing.

Setsuna Uchiha, sitting in the wheelchair, hunched over, his thin, withered body trembling uncontrollably.

Years of imprisonment combined with his advancing age meant he no longer possessed the aura he once had when he vied with the Third Hokage. Returning to his old home now, he truly carried the air of an old man in the twilight of his years.

"It is no matter."

"I have something that is still kept here."