Ruthless Infighting

"Tsunade, the mission I'm issuing is to kill Uchiha Nara. Can you do it?"

After the Third Hokage finished speaking, he stared intently at Tsunade, watching the expression on his prized disciple's face.

Having served as Hokage for many years, Sarutobi Hiruzen was naturally not going to be led by the nose by Sarutobi Hiruzen Shimura Danzō; he had his own alternative plans.

A simpler and faster solution would be to complete the task by oneself if one still has influence among the apprentices, without needing Shimura Danzō's elaborate and complicated arrangements.

Sarutobi Hiruzen was confident in his standing among the Sannin, who were all ninjas carefully trained by the Sannin Third Hokage he became Hokage.

After Sarutobi Hiruzen succeeded Tobirama Sarutobi Hiruzen Hokage Position Senju Tobirama, his three beloved disciples became his key advisors in consolidating his Hokage Position.

Although the Sannin have been famous for a long time, and their reputation and fame are becoming more and more renowned, and even he, their teacher, cannot see the depth of their strength, they are still the three disciples he has watched grow up. Sarutobi Hiruzen believes he understands his disciples' psychology very well.

The Sannin all deeply loved their village. Uchiha Nara was a threat to the village. If you explain the greater good to them, the Sannin will understand.

"Why?"

Tsunade recovered somewhat from her initial shock. Her relaxed attitude towards her teacher was now tense, and she asked in a deep voice.

"Tsunade, Konoha is the village entrusted to me by my teachers, the First Hokage and Second Hokage. It must not be given to the Uchiha. Besides, the Uchiha are the Senju's nemesis. Have you forgotten that?"

The Third Hokage calmly recounted the reasons. The village that the Second Hokage had entrusted to the Third Hokage, although the Third Hokage was relatively open-minded towards the various ninja clans of Konoha, he never dared to forget the research materials on the Second Hokage.

According to the Second Hokage's research on the Uchiha, the Uchiha secretes a special Chakra when they lose love, thus awakening the Sharingan. The more love they lose, the stronger their Sharingan becomes.

Uchiha with the Three-Tomoe Sharingan might still be able to control and guide it.

For Uchiha at the Mangekyō Sharingan level, awakening the Sharingan often involves extreme pain. Furthermore, due to the painful experiences of the Uchiha, strong Mangekyō Sharingan users are often extremely dangerous and erratic.

"Teacher, as the heir of the Senju Clan, I have not rejected the Uchiha. You are also someone who inherited the ideals of the First Hokage and Second Hokage, so why are you so narrow-minded?"

Tsunade looked at her teacher, Sarutobi Hiruzen, and asked in return.

Tsunade recalled the teachings the person before her had given her when she was young, and was surprised to find that the person before her still held such thoughts. She then said:

"Fifty years have passed since the founding of Konoha, Senju Clan has also declined and retreated. In these fifty years, the Uchiha Clan of Konoha seems to have never committed any heinous acts of cruelty."

"Teacher, your arbitrary criticism of the Uchiha and your plot to assassinate Uchiha leader—is this the Will of Fire you advocate?"

Tsunade's questioning was not only because Naraku was her lover, but also because Tsunade understood Naraku's character and thoughts; Naraku was a ninja with the Will of Fire.

Furthermore, Tsunade could not understand Sarutobi Hiruzen's actions, such as assassinating the leader of the Konoha Security Department within Konoha.

Sarutobi Hiruzen's originally serious face revealed a hint of bitterness.

"Tsunade, the Sharingan of the Uchiha. The Second Hokage researched it; the deeper the hatred of the Uchiha, the stronger the Sharingan becomes. Perhaps Uchiha ninja with Three-Tomoe Sharingan could be somewhat subdued."

The depth of malice hidden within the Mangekyō Sharingan is unimaginable. I suspect that Uchiha Nara awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan long ago.

As the previous Hokage, I cannot ignore such a threat.

Sarutobi Hiruzen paused here, staring into Tsunade's eyes, and said in a deep voice:

"For the sake of Konoha, Tsunade, I hope you can carry out this mission. At present, perhaps only you can eliminate Uchiha Nara."

Sarutobi Hiruzen's reference to the Second Hokage's Sharingan data and scientific theories applied to some Uchiha members, but as the Hokage, using this kind of thinking to judge an entire clan was clearly unfair to them.

"Teacher, I know Naraku's strength very well. He doesn't have the so-called Mangekyō Sharingan. Moreover, Uchiha Nara is the inheritor of the Will of Fire."

"Is it because Naraku is revered by the Konoha Jonin and respected by the villagers, posing a threat to your Hokage Position, that you want to eliminate him?"

At this moment, Tsunade was extremely disappointed in Sarutobi Hiruzen. Instead of improving his own character, Sarutobi Hiruzen was thinking of physically eliminating his political rival.

"It seems you haven't listened to anything I've said. Tsunade, you've made me very sad, and I'm very disappointed in you."

Sarutobi Hiruzen felt a pang of sadness. He had been so devoted to Konoha, yet his prized disciple had so distorted his intentions.

"Grandfather and second grandfather, they definitely didn't have such narrow-minded ideas, otherwise they wouldn't have joined forces with the Uchiha Clan to establish Konoha. Teacher, I think you've misunderstood their thinking."

More importantly, Naraku was a ninja with the Will of Fire, as evidenced by his ability to gain the support of the Jonin and the respect of the villagers.

I'm not blindly supporting Naraku just because he's my lover. Naraku has the potential to become Hokage...

"Alright, shut up!"

Tsunade Sarutobi Hiruzen before she could finish speaking.

"Tsunade, I know Uchiha Nara's character very well. I used to admire him and even considered passing the Naraku title to him."

However, I have intelligence proving that Uchiha Nara has awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan. The Mangekyō Sharingan is an eye that can only be born after undergoing extreme stimulation.

Such a ninja is extremely dangerous, and Naraku's concealment of the Mangekyō Sharingan's abilities is so profound; he must be plotting something. I must eliminate this threat completely! Tsunade, do you understand?

Sarutobi Hiruzen shouted loudly. At this moment, Sarutobi Hiruzen realized that it was no use for him to use his teacher's authority to control Tsunade, and that his words were more false than true.

With his solemn and serious expression, one might think that although the Third Hokage's methods were despicable, he was someone who would stop at nothing to protect Konoha.

"I understand your decision, teacher. I am not capable of this task. Please find someone else."

Furthermore, this kind of behavior disgusts me; I'm going to take a vacation outside the village. Teacher, I'll keep today's conversation a secret; you two can fight it out yourselves."

Tsunade firmly refused the mission, but Sarutobi Hiruzen's words tormented Tsunade, torn between her lover and her teacher and village.

Tsunade wanted to Naraku to improve Konoha, but she didn't want to drag her teacher into the mess by siding with Naraku.

The teacher regarded Konoha as his home. If he were to be disgraced in his later years because of her, Tsunade knew that it would be worse than killing him.

Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at Tsunade and sighed softly:

"My leave request has been approved, Tsunade. I hope you can understand."