Intimate Apparel

The ninjas who had injected the Life No. 3 Wood Release Potion could not only awaken Wood Release themselves, but their descendants also had a certain chance of producing powerful individuals with the Wood Release bloodline limit.

Such a precious bloodline limit represented enormous political value.

This left some of the higher-ups faintly worried, but at the same time, they saw the possibility of Konoha growing even stronger because of it.

With Minato vouching for Hiruko, everyone able to purchase the Life No. 3 Wood Release Potion had been strictly screened by Minato.

Those old men could not interfere recklessly either. At most, they could grumble a little.

Otherwise, they would be openly defying the current Hokage's decision, which would have a negative impact on Konoha.

Other than Danzo, the Third Hokage and the elderly advisers were, at their core, still on Minato's side.

Though they certainly had selfish motives, they would spare no effort when it came to Konoha's prosperity.

"Hmph, Hiruko is getting awfully close to the Uchiha Clan. Who knows what he's really thinking?"

Danzo said unhappily, "Can't he see the Uchiha Clan's wolfish ambitions? That fool is too naive!!"

Danzo did not have the slightest favorable impression of the Uchiha Clan.

Hiruko and the Uchiha Clan might indeed have some dealings, but that did not mean Hiruko had become one of their people.

Danzo had been in relatively close contact with Hiruko lately.

But as long as Hiruko had not put on his dog collar, Danzo would never fully trust him.

What was more, that brat had gone behind his back and directly handed the Wood Release bloodline potion to Kushina together with Minato.

In Danzo's eyes, Hiruko had blatantly betrayed him.

"Enough of this nonsense."

Hiruzen Sarutobi cut him off. "Minato and Hiruko's contributions to Konoha are undeniable, and the Uchiha Clan has not done anything out of line so far."

"Suspecting Konoha's heroes for no reason is not something we should be doing!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi shot Danzo a fierce glare, forcing him to lower his head like a criminal admitting guilt.

In Hiruzen Sarutobi's view, Danzo always dragged the Uchiha Clan into everything, completely ignoring the tremendous effort Minato had put into improving relations with them.

It was a good thing that there was finally a Hokage who did not reject the Uchiha Clan and who, by chance, had been acknowledged by that proud clan.

By the time Minato Namikaze stepped down, the Uchiha Clan might already have fully integrated into Konoha.

Konoha's strength would then be greatly enhanced as well.

And Minato's efforts had not been in vain.

Fugaku Uchiha's attitude toward Minato had changed from cautious investment at the beginning to going all in now.

The Research Department was currently operating smoothly, and the Uchiha Clan as a whole had become much more grounded, no longer as arrogant and domineering as before.

At the same time, they had shared a large portion of their benefits with other ninja clans, civilian ninjas, and ordinary villagers. This was also an explanation Minato had given.

In addition, the Uchiha Clan's work focus had gradually shifted from the Police Force to the Research Department, and large-scale personnel transfers had taken place within the clan.

Most of them had been scattered throughout the majority of the Land of Fire, helping maintain traffic order.

They were somewhat overwhelmed by the village's security duties, so they had handed many important Guard Department positions over to other ninja clans.

Minato had also allowed the Hyuga Clan, other clans, and civilian ninjas to take part in the Uchiha Clan's work.

This caused the friction between the Uchiha Clan and ordinary villagers to decrease, and their relationship grew increasingly harmonious.

In Hiruzen Sarutobi's view, the Uchiha Clan's problems might be perfectly resolved within a few years.

They might even become staunch supporters of the Hokage, like the Ino–Shika–Cho clans.

He would never allow Danzo to ruin this excellent situation.

Therefore, he emphasized once again that as an elder from the Fourth Hokage's era, all Danzo needed to do now was show the proper respect to the new Hokage, Minato.

"Since old people like us have already stepped down, we should leave the future to the young."

Hiruzen Sarutobi said slowly, "We can offer some advice based on our extensive experience and help Minato avoid a few detours, but we absolutely do not need to interfere excessively with his decisions."

He looked at Danzo again, his tone firm. "Danzo, you must face reality. This is Minato's era now. It is no longer your era or mine!"

"Stop always trying to interfere in the new Hokage's affairs!!!"

"Hiruzen, you'll regret this!"

"Hmph! Minato is the Hokage!" Once again, the two parted on bad terms.

After returning from Hiruko's place, Hiruzen Sarutobi thought about many things.

He became more and more convinced that pushing Minato into the position of Hokage had been the right choice, and he looked forward to Minato creating an even more glorious future for Konoha.

The morning sunlight gently fell over her face.

Tsunade frowned slightly. The dizziness from her hangover still swirled inside her skull, and her throat was as dry as though it had been scorched by fire.

She instinctively threw back the covers, stepped barefoot onto the cold floor, and staggered toward the door.

In the kitchen, a bowl of steaming rice porridge sat quietly on the table, as if it had long anticipated her needs.

She lifted the bowl and tipped her head back, gulping it down. The sound of her swallowing was especially clear in the silent room.

The warm millet porridge slid into her stomach and finally drove away some of her discomfort.

She narrowed her eyes and swept her gaze across the empty room—there was no sign of that familiar figure.

A covered breakfast sat on the table, with a note pinned beside it.

She curled her lips and picked up the slip of paper. It bore someone's messy handwriting: "Went out for morning training. Remember to eat breakfast."

She gave a soft snort and casually crumpled the note into a ball, yet when she loosened her grip, she could not help smoothing out the wrinkles.

With no one else watching, she simply let herself indulge.

After devouring the breakfast like a whirlwind, she strolled over to the wardrobe. Her fingers lingered over a row of clothes before finally hooking out an oversized shirt.

Only then did she slowly find her intimate apparel and a towel.

Since Tsunade often went to Hiruko's house to visit, she naturally had a bedroom of her own there, along with her own clothes.

Humming a tuneless little song, she headed toward the bathroom.

As she passed the master bedroom, faint, fragmented whimpers came through the crack in the door.

Her steps paused. She listened for a moment, then suddenly shook her head and continued onward.

Hiruko's affairs were not for an outsider like her to meddle in.

She was not anyone special to him!

Everyone in Konoha said she had psychological issues, that she could not stand the sight of blood and suffered from hemophobia.

But in truth, she felt that Hiruko's psychological problems might be far more serious than her own, and far more extreme.

Though Hiruko wore a gentle smile all day long, once he revealed his chakra, he gave off an extremely cold and sinister feeling.

Even Orochimaru was only this chilling, except...