Hyuga's Dilemma

Konoha Hospital.

If Tsunade hadn't been absolutely certain that the person in front of her was Tsunade herself, she would have thought the Sun Barrier had risen in the west after Shizune's righteous and stern admonition.

This is unbelievable! Lady Tsunade is actually teaching her to fight for Konoha?!

That evening, Shizune moved another chair and silently stayed by Tsunade's side, gazing at the bright moon together.

Under the Gekko, Tsunade's profile appeared somewhat soft, yet also somewhat aloof.

Shizune couldn't help but wonder: Could it be that Taiichi's sudden departure to carry out such a dangerous mission had dealt such a huge blow to Lady Tsunade that her personality had completely changed?

Have I become someone who uses work to numb myself?

As if reading Shizune's thoughts, Tsunade suddenly spoke, her voice calm and even. "Don't overthink it, Shizune. Everyone is working hard for Konoha's strength. As the granddaughter of the First Hokage and one of the Konoha Sannin, what reason do I have not to do my utmost? Seeing the village improve day by Tenten is the greatest comfort."

The more righteous and dignified she sounded, the more Shizune's heart sank.

If Tsunade had said these words ten years ago, when Tsunade had just returned from the battlefield, Shizune might have been moved to tears.

Can it be placed now?

Could this be placed on Tsunade, who has just been enraged because the Nine-Tails stole all her treasured wines, is a gambling addict, and has been shirking responsibility for years?

This stark contrast left Shizune feeling a sense of dread and utter bewilderment.

Her mind was filled with all sorts of terrifying speculations that seemed to run wild.

I observed her silently for another two days. Tsunade remained the same. Her routine was as regular as a clock, and her silence as still as a stagnant pool.

Shizune tried every method she could think of: subtle probing, careful observation, and even secretly checking Tsunade for signs of injury or poisoning, but to no avail.

Tsunade seems to be in good physical health, but her mental state is...

Shizune was completely panicked. This kind of "illness" with no identifiable cause is the most terrifying.

Tsunade's identity is special and her strength is formidable; any unusual behavior from her is enough to shake the Konoha High Command.

Desperate for a cure, Shizune couldn't care less about anything else; she had to report it!

Thus, the report about Princess Tsunade's "sudden change in temperament and abnormal behavior" was directly handed to the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze.

Minato looked at the report, his brows furrowed deeply.

He had heard about Tsunade's Senior behavior, but he hadn't expected it to be this serious. He immediately sought out the Third Kazekage Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, Hokage discuss the matter.

"Oh? Shizune thinks so too?" Hiruzen Sarutobi on his pipe, a solemn expression appearing on his old face amidst the swirling smoke.

"Actually, I'm also puzzled. The Tsunade I've seen through the Telescope Technique lately has been incredibly well-behaved. She goes back and forth between the hospital and home, and I haven't seen her at the casinos or taverns at all. I'm actually quite relieved; after going through so much, this girl has finally recovered."

He gave a wry smile and exhaled a thick smoke ring. "Now it seems that this 'sensible' attitude—is probably not what it seems."

As a junior, it was inappropriate for Minato to directly interfere in Tsunade's "private affairs." This hot potato naturally fell back to Tsunade's teacher, Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Hiruzen Sarutobi felt utterly overwhelmed. Tsunade was no longer the little girl who would obediently listen to his scolding. She was a renowned Legendary Sannin, one of Konoha's top combatants, and a powerful figure who dared to slam his fist on the table in his face.

Using Telescope Technique to secretly observe was already the limit; how could an old man possibly ask about such a clearly personal and private matter?

Could it be that you're saying, "My disciple, I've heard you haven't been drinking or gambling lately and have been working incredibly hard. I'm worried you might have gone mad"?

After much thought, Hiruzen Sarutobi suddenly remembered someone.

He immediately set off and personally went to the research institute to "invite" Orochimaru, who spent all his time in the laboratory and was almost completely isolated from the world, out of the research institute.

Orochimaru, whose research had been interrupted, initially looked gloomy and impatient. However, after Hiruzen Sarutobi explained Tsunade's situation in detail, a strong interest instantly ignited in his golden snake eyes.

"Oh? Tsunade —has become a model worker? And has developed a fondness for the moon?" Orochimaru's hoarse voice held amusement. "Heh—that's quite interesting."

He licked his lips, as if he had discovered some excellent experimental material. "I understand, teacher. I'll go check on this 'reformed' classmate."

That night, the moon was bright and the stars were few. Orochimaru, carrying an antique wine jar, stepped into Taiichi's house for the first time.

Looking at the large and elegantly furnished courtyard mansion before him, even he couldn't help but raise an eyebrow slightly.

The "gift" Tsunade gave that brat back then was quite extravagant.

In the courtyard, Tsunade was indeed lying on her personal recliner, bathed in Gekko.

Orochimaru Earth Flow silently without greeting anyone, dragged a wooden chair from the corridor, placed it next to Tsunade's recliner, and sat down casually.

Then, he did something that almost made Shizune Mizuki, who were hiding in the shadows watching, scream out loud—he slapped open the clay seal on the wine jar in his hand!

In an instant, an extremely rich and mellow aroma of wine burst forth, permeating the entire courtyard as if it were a tangible thing!

This aroma is domineering and alluring; it's a top-quality brew that Orochimaru has treasured for many years, one he himself is reluctant to drink more than a little of.

Orochimaru seemed oblivious to Tsunade beside him, picked up a small bowl, and poured himself a full bowl. The clear liquid gleamed alluringly in the Gekko.

He slowly picked up the bowl, brought it to his nose and took a deep sniff, letting out a satisfied sigh, before taking small sips of his drink, his posture leisurely.

Throughout the entire process, Orochimaru's golden snake eyes were constantly fixed on Tsunade on the Tsunade.

Time passed by, minute by minute. Orochimaru ate bowl after bowl, occasionally using his distinctive hoarse voice to ramble on about trivial matters, such as the progress of the recent experiment, trivial matters in the village, and even a few reminiscences of the three of them's carefree adventures in their youth.

Tsunade remained silent most of the time, occasionally offering a brief response of one or two words in a flat tone.

However, Orochimaru still keenly noticed some details: whenever he was pouring wine, when the aroma was at its strongest, Tsunade's throat would often move uncontrollably!

It's not that I don't want to drink. It's that I can't drink? Or rather, I'm forcing myself not to drink?

Orochimaru's golden vertical pupils flashed with a knowing light, and he instantly had a clear guess in his mind. But he didn't say anything, and continued to drink his wine at a leisurely pace, chatting about unimportant topics.

The jar of fine wine was empty. Orochimaru put down the empty bowl, let out a satisfied sigh, and stood up. "The night was nice, and the wine was nice too. I'm off."

He spoke to Tsunade, who was still gazing at the moon, in a tone as calm as if he were discussing the weather.

Tsunade then slightly turned her head, glanced at him, her face expressionless, and simply gave a faint "hmm" in response.

Orochimaru, carrying the empty wine jar, disappeared at the courtyard gate.

The next day, when Hiruzen Sarutobi eagerly inquired about Orochimaru's "diagnosis," Orochimaru merely smiled vaguely, "Heh—Sensei, don't worry. Tsunade —she's probably just 'abstaining from alcohol' and 'reflecting,' right?"

After saying this meaningfully, he said no more and went straight back to his research institute, closing the door that isolated him from the outside world once again.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was completely confused and even more frustrated. "Quit drinking? Reflect on your actions?"

The reason sounded utterly absurd! But Orochimaru's cryptic demeanor made him feel that things weren't so simple.

He tried several times to have a deep talk with Tsunade in person, but he was either turned away at the door because he was "busy with work" or "politely" asked to leave by Tsunade with a pile of urgent documents.

"Sigh----" Hiruzen Sarutobi stood on the Hokage Rock, gazing at the twinkling lights of Konoha, and sighed deeply, feeling more powerless than ever before.

What's wrong with Tsunade?

Fortunately, this period of anxiety that plagued the entire Taiichi residence and even the Konoha High Command did not last long.

Because Minato had already received news that Taiichi had not only completed his mission, but had also brought back the entire Moon Otsutsuki Clan. Now, they were almost at Konoha.

On the road to Konoha, a group of people were making their way forward with difficulty.

This was the Moon Otsutsuki Clan, led by Taiichi, heading to Konoha.

Taiichi walked at the front of the group, followed by the silent and somewhat disheveled Katsuya Otsutsuki, and the even more wretched Otsutsuki members.

Their pride had vanished after the battle at the Moon Temple Plaza, replaced by a heavy sense of loss and despair after surviving a catastrophe.

Groans and suppressed moans of pain rose and fell throughout the ranks; the number of the wounded far exceeded that of the healthy tribespeople who were still able to move on their own.

If it weren't for the Ōtsutsuki Clan's exquisite Puppet skills, this team would probably have had trouble even moving.

When the group finally crossed the passage and officially set foot on the land of the Ninja World, a completely different feeling struck the senses of every Otsutsuki clan member.

Compared to the moon, a densely forested but desolate environment, the Ninja World is teeming with life.

"This--this is the Ninja World?" A young clansman, carried by Puppet, struggled to prop himself up, greedily inhaling the air, a blush rising on his pale face from excitement. His gaze was fixed on a bird that darted across the treetops, trailing a magnificent long tail.

"Life—life is everywhere—" he murmured, his voice filled with awe.

Bees and butterflies flutter among the flowers, and the faint sounds of deer calling and monkeys howling can be heard in the distance. A gentle breeze sweeps through the forest, creating layers of green waves and producing Yamato.

All this vibrant and bustling scene of life is worlds apart from the Moon Core World.

Perhaps back when Hamura Otsutsuki was still alive, the Moon Heart Small World was full of life.

However, with the passing of Hamura Otsutsuki, the Ōtsutsuki Clan lost not only its strongest fighting force, but also its most advanced technological resources.

Since then, they have only been able to maintain the Moon Heart Small World with difficulty, and the Moon Heart Small World has never regained its former glory.

Although these facts are not recorded in the Otsutsuki's scriptures, Taiichi deduced them from the traces and remains of animals he saw in many places during Taiichi research on the Moon Core World.

When this peculiar group finally arrived in Konoha, the trouble had only just begun.

The Chunin a chill run down his spine as he looked at the group of strangers before him, all with white pupils, possessing impressive auras but mostly bearing injuries, and Taichi Matsushita, who was leading them.

Registration, identity verification, explanation of purpose, risk assessment—the cumbersome and lengthy procedures for entering the village brought the entire team to a standstill.

The air was filled with the suppressed groans of the wounded and the tense atmosphere of high alert among the Konoha guards.

After all, bringing so many people from other villages into the village, especially those with considerable influence, requires going through these procedures even with Taiichi's current status.

Taiichi, knowing the rules, could still cross his arms and wait, but the Nine-Tails had already impatiently paced back and forth on his shoulder, its bushy tail irritably brushing against his neck. "Stop dawdling! Even going home is such a hassle!"

The cumbersome procedure was forcibly simplified only when an Anbu member wearing an animal mask appeared in Body Flicker, bringing with him an emergency pass personally signed by the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze.

The guards breathed a sigh of relief and respectfully made way. Under the curious gazes of the Konoha, the procession slowly crossed the street and headed towards the most magnificent Hokage Building in the center of the village.

The atmosphere in the Hokage's Office was exceptionally solemn.

Behind the enormous desk sat the current Hokage, Minato Namikaze. On either side of him sat the former Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi, and Advisor, Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura.

Hyuga Hiashi, as the only Clan Leader involved in the matter, was also invited and stood quietly to the side. His face was calm as water, but deep in his pure white eyes, there was an indescribable complex emotion surging.

All eyes were focused on Taiichi had just finished his report.

The mission objective was intelligence gathering, but the result was bringing back the entire intelligence source itself! This wasn't just exceeding expectations; it was practically wiping out the entire intelligence base!

The Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi, took a deep drag on his pipe, letting the pungent smoke swirl in his lungs before slowly exhaling, trying to suppress the shock in his heart.

Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura exchanged a glance, both seeing the lingering astonishment and a hint of helplessness at having their plans forcibly disrupted in each other's eyes.

One moment they were worried about a potential threat from the moon, mobilizing resources and formulating defense plans; the next, the culprits became "new villagers" needing Konoha's protection and resettlement.

This dramatic turn of events had an impact far exceeding mere joy.

Minato's sunny smile finally returned. He stood up, his gaze passing over Taiichi and landing directly on Katsuya Otsutsuki arm was wrapped in bandages. His voice was gentle yet powerful.

"Clan Katsuya, welcome to the Ōtsutsuki Clan of Konoha! Let bygones be bygones on the moon. From this day forward, Konoha is your home."

He paused, his tone shifting to concern. "The most urgent task is to treat your clan's wounded. I have ordered that Konoha Hospital will do everything in its power to receive and prioritize the treatment of all injured clansmen."

Minato's voice carried a powerful confidence. "Rest assured, with Konoha's current level of Medical Ninjutsu, even severe injuries involving missing limbs can be fully restored, without affecting your future combat capabilities."

"Restored to its original state?" Katsuya suddenly looked up, his one arm instinctively running to his empty sleeve, his eyes filled with disbelief and suspicion.

This promise was far more wonderful than Taiichi's previous assurances; it was almost like a dream.

He subconsciously looked at Taiichi in front of him, seeking confirmation.

Taiichi met his gaze, the corners of his mouth slightly turned up, and he nodded, his face showing a knowing look that said, "See, I didn't lie to you."

Although he didn't understand why Minato said that, Taiichi perfectly played the role of the emcee, not letting Minato's words have any real impact.

This silent affirmation, like a reassuring pill, instantly shattered the last doubts in Katsuya's heart.

A bittersweet feeling welled up inside him. He truly felt the young Hokage's sincerity and sense of responsibility. The future of his clan had been preserved!

His Adam's apple bobbed, and he bowed deeply to Minato, his voice trembling almost imperceptibly. "Hokage-sama —I cannot express my gratitude enough! The Moon Otsutsuki Clan are eternally grateful!"

"It was nothing." Minato gently helped him up. "Clan Chief Katsuya can first go with the Anbu to handle the clan members' admission procedures and begin organizing the scriptures and scrolls they brought. We'll discuss the specific arrangements later."

Katsuya bowed again in thanks and left the office under the guidance of the Anbu. The heavy door closed gently behind him.

The moment the door closed, the atmosphere in the office, which had just eased, became subtle again. The air seemed to freeze, and everyone's gaze, intentionally or unintentionally, eventually converged on Hyuga Hiashi Hyuga's expressionless face.