Goodbye Shimura Danzō (One more update tonight)

Watching Yusuke pack his things unhurriedly, Tsunade found herself calming down instead.

"Gulp, gulp."

After downing a glass of milk, Tsunade wiped the white residue from her rosy lips and asked with some confusion.

"Why aren't you the least bit anxious? Or did you foresee this all along?"

Yusuke calmly wiped the grease from his mouth and explained.

"Hanzo the Salamander will definitely declare war on the Five Great Nations; we have both seen the environment of the Land of Rain."

"It rains all year round, the conditions are harsh, and they rely solely on a few specialty products to sustain the economy of Amegakure."

"If their geographical location were better, they could have been self-sufficient."

"But they are situated at the borders of three nations, becoming a buffer zone for ninja warfare."

"In a place like this, it is rare for someone as powerful as Hanzo the Salamander to emerge."

"To escape this predicament, taking the initiative to strike back is the better choice."

"If he waits a few more years, when Hanzo the Salamander grows old and can no longer grip his blade, the future of Amegakure will be even more miserable."

Tsunade said with some irritation: "You seem to admire him."

Yusuke replied matter-of-factly: "From a personal perspective, yes, but from the perspective of the village, he is our great enemy."

"Hmph." Tsunade was fiercely loyal to protecting Konoha; it was the lifeblood of her Senju Clan.

If it weren't for the fact that it was Yusuke speaking, she would have already punched the person talking twice.

She could help people from other villages, just as she had helped Konan and her father back then, but only on the condition that they posed no threat to Konoha.

In contrast, Yusuke did not limit his perspective to the interests of Konoha alone.

Having experienced the war in the Land of Whirlpools, he knew deep down that if he wanted those around him to never face war again, he had to set his sights on the entire ninja world.

This was the reason behind Yusuke's words; he wanted to slowly shift Tsunade's mindset so she would no longer be confined to Konoha.

Just as Tobirama Senju had done back in the day, dissolving the Senju Clan to integrate into the whole of Konoha.

What he wanted now was a unified ninja world.

"Sharp-tongued as ever, I won't argue with you anymore. Hurry up and get to the Hokage building to assemble."

Tsunade tightened the Konoha forehead protector on her head and beckoned.

"Alright."

The two set off quickly, heading toward the Konoha building.

Inside the meeting room of the Konoha building, many jonin had already gathered.

Seeing the hurried Tsunade and Yusuke, the guard ninja let Tsunade pass but blocked Yusuke.

"This is a meeting place for jonin; chunin and below are to report directly to the training grounds," the guard ninja said expressionlessly.

Before Yusuke could speak, Tsunade explained: "His strength has already reached the level of a jonin; I will explain this to the Third Hokage myself."

The guard ninja shook his head: "I'm sorry, Lady Tsunade, these are the orders of the Third Hokage—only jonin may enter."

"I am merely following protocol."

"You!" Tsunade prepared to lecture this stubborn guard.

"Thump, thump." The sound of wooden sandals hitting the floor echoed.

Immediately after, a figure with a bandage wrapped around his right eye appeared in the corridor.

Upon seeing the figure, Yusuke narrowed his eyes: "Shimura Danzō... you really are hard to kill."

Shimura Danzō's single eye glinted with a cold light. He walked slowly to Yusuke and unleashed a wave of chakra pressure.

He said with killing intent: "Ji, we meet again."

"Indeed, Lord Danzō, what a coincidence."

"How is your right eye? I heard the wind is strong on the front lines; try not to squint." Yusuke didn't budge an inch, replying in a low voice.

"Hmph, just worry about yourself."

"There is no place for low-level ninja here; how unruly."

"Get lost and assemble at the training grounds below."

Shimura Danzō snorted coldly and walked directly into the conference hall.

He didn't mind causing Yusuke a bit of psychological distress, though in reality, his own heart was already churning.

This guy's aura has actually grown much stronger; he didn't retreat a single step when facing my chakra pressure.

I failed to kill you in the last battle, but this time, you won't escape so easily.

Yusuke also made an assessment of Shimura Danzō.

This guy speaks with a full, resonant voice. Although his gait is slightly hesitant, the injuries he sustained should be healed by now.

He will be participating in this war as well. It seems I might be able to secretly finish off this old schemer this time.

To an outsider, it looked like a simple encounter, but the two schemers began calculating against each other through the micro-expressions on their faces.

Princess Tsunade, however, wore a foul expression, itching to let that guy Shimura Danzō taste the weight of her fist.

She, Princess Tsunade, was not the type to suffer bullying without striking back.

Seeing this "tigress" about to make a move, Yusuke immediately wrapped his arms around her slender waist just as she was about to charge forward.

"Calm down, calm down," Yusuke urged.

"Ahem~"

A voice drifted over, halting Tsunade in her tracks.

"Tsunade, the meeting is about to begin. What are you two still doing here?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen, draped in his Hokage robes and wearing the Hokage hat, walked over at a measured pace.

Yusuke thought to himself, You old fox, you've been watching the whole show from the sidelines—did you really think I wouldn't notice?

Outwardly, however, he smiled and said, "I was just chatting with the Hokage Assistant. Since this area is restricted to Jōnin, I'll head to the training grounds to assemble."

Sarutobi Hiruzen waved a hand dismissively. "There is no need for that. I have already reviewed your battle reports from the Land of Whirlpools."

"By all accounts, your merits have already reached the level of a Jōnin, but I have been quite busy lately and haven't had the chance to promote you yet."

"Furthermore, Shimura Danzō is no longer the Hokage Assistant. Some time ago, the Uchiha Clan confronted him to demand an explanation."

"They claimed he assassinated Kagami Uchiha and gouged out his eyes."

Sarutobi Hiruzen paused, casting a meaningful look at Yusuke.

Yusuke, however, maintained an expression of earnest attention, appearing perfectly humble and respectful.

"It was later confirmed that the eye had been entrusted to Shimura Danzō by Kagami Uchiha."

"Although his original intention for using that eye was to protect Konoha."

"He still violated village regulations, and his position as Hokage Assistant has been temporarily revoked."

"And you two," Sarutobi Hiruzen said, looking at the gate guards, "don't be so rigid. Learn to be flexible."

After offering a light, measured reprimand to the guards, he added, "Very well, follow me."

Sarutobi Hiruzen walked into the meeting room with his hands behind his back.

If Sarutobi Hiruzen had merely scolded the guards and brought the two of them inside, it would have been nothing.

But by explicitly mentioning that Shimura Danzō had been stripped of his position as Hokage Assistant, and then casting that meaningful look his way, it was clearly his way of saying, "I know you did it, but I won't punish you."

Combined with the reprimand of the guards and the promise of a promotion, it was clear that Sarutobi Hiruzen was a master of the carrot-and-stick routine.

He was clearly trying to win Yusuke over; it was even possible that these two guards had been arranged by Sarutobi Hiruzen himself.

Yusuke wore a wide grin, but inwardly he thought, The older the ginger, the spicier it gets. What an old fox.

He grew wary of Sarutobi Hiruzen. This man's depth of character is far greater than Shimura Danzō's.

Shimura Danzō is, at most, just a blade in his hand.

"Alright, let's go in too," Yusuke said to Princess Tsunade with a smile.

Princess Tsunade nodded with a grave expression.

After finding a spot and sitting down, Princess Tsunade suddenly looked quite indignant.

"What? Have you figured it out?" Yusuke asked.

Despite the lack of context, Princess Tsunade understood exactly what he meant.

"Not entirely, but I have a general idea. That's why I hate politics—the hearts of those who play it are all filthy."

She sighed.

Princess Tsunade was no fool; otherwise, she never would have become the Fifth Hokage in the original timeline.

It was just that, at times, she preferred to solve problems with her fists.

"It's alright, I'll help you," Yusuke said, taking her hand and smiling.