Tsunade Awakens

Outside the intensive care unit of Konoha Hospital, the smell of disinfectant mingled with a tense silence in the corridor. Kakashi Hatake leaned against the cold wall, his usually lazy, half-open eye now unusually alert as he stared at the ward door. His fingers unconsciously traced the edge of his ninja tool pouch—containing a specially made Kunai, bearing the Flying Thunder God mark left by "Sake".

Three hours earlier, he had just left the Hyuga Main House's secret chamber when the messenger frog sent by Shizune hopped onto his shoulder. The message was brief, containing only five words: "Lady Tsunade has woken up."

Kakashi arrived at the hospital almost Body Flicker Technique, but was greeted by a closed door and a Shizune, apologetic look. "Lady Tsunade said... she needs to eat something first."

The phrase "have something to eat" was clearly too mild. Through the door, Kakashi could hear the terrifying sounds of chewing, clattering dishes, and occasional satisfied sighs coming from inside. The nurses from the medical team pushed food carts in and out, each cart piled high with empty bowls and plates. This one-sided "eating war" lasted for a full hour.

When the hospital room door finally opened, Kakashi saw a radiant Fifth Hokage. Tsunade sat on the hospital bed, her long golden hair cascading over her shoulders, her skin regaining its healthy glow, and her eyes, which were always filled with domineering power and wisdom, were as bright as ever. If one hadn't witnessed her being in a coma for months, anyone would have thought she had only taken a short nap.

"Kakashi." Tsunade's voice was still a little hoarse, but her tone had regained its usual authority. "Why isn't Jiraiya here?"

Kakashi entered the ward and closed the door behind him. The room was filled with the aroma of food and a peculiar, faint smell resembling Katsuyu slime—the scent of Tsunade's summoning beast. Clearly, the Katsuyu had been maintaining her vital signs while she was unconscious.

"Lord Jiraiya took Naruto to Kirigakure to return the Ninja Blade Samehada," Kakashi reported truthfully, while observing Tsunade's reaction.

Tsunade raised an eyebrow slightly. "Return Samehada? It seems a lot happened while I was unconscious." She cracked her wrist, the joints making a slight clicking sound. "Kakashi, sit down and tell me everything that happened during this time, in detail, starting from when I fell unconscious."

Kakashi pulled up a chair and sat down, pulling out a small notebook from his pocket—notes he had kept during his time as acting Acting Hokage. He knew Tsunade didn't want a briefing, but every single detail.

He began his narration, his voice steady and methodical: Six Paths of Pain invading Konoha, Naruto's crisis at the Blacksmith's, Nagato's successful talk-no- Nagato, Nagato's use of the Reincarnation Heavenly Life Technique to revive the Konoha Ninja... and then the subsequent chain reaction—the suspicion and secret alliance between the Cloud Village, Iwagakure Village, and Mist Village, the forced choice of sides by the Sunagakure, Jiraiya's appointment as the acting Sixth Hokage in a time of crisis, and that secret meeting known only to a very few.

"Sake?" Tsunade Teuchi Kakashi upon hearing the code name. "Jiraiya called him back?"

"Yes." Kakashi paused, "The Akatsuki member 'Sake' can use the Flying Thunder God Technique. He made an agreement with Lord Jiraiya."

"What agreement?"

Kakashi turned a page of his notebook. "Lord Jiraiya provided detailed information on Elder Danzo's recent actions. He promised Sasuke Uchiha that he would not seek revenge against Konoha after killing Danzo."

"Danzo..." Tsunade coldly continued, "He actually sent Sasuke Uchiha to deal with him."

A few seconds of silence filled the ward. Sunlight streamed in through the window, casting a halo of light on Tsunade's long, golden hair. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and when she opened them again, her eyes were devoid of emotion.

"Go on."

Kakashi continued his report: Naruto, on his way to Sunagakure, teamed up with Might Guy to kill Kisame Hoshigaki and obtain Samehada. Jiraiya then detailed Jiraiya's strategic considerations in taking Naruto to Kirigakure, Shikaku Nara's elaborate schemes, and the special role of "sake" in the overall game. He spoke in great detail, including the time, place, key points of each secret meeting, and even the expressions and tones of each person.

As the last word fell, only the rhythmic beeping of the medical equipment remained in the ward. Tsunade leaned against the headboard, her hands folded on her knees, a thoughtful posture.

"Kakashi," she suddenly asked, looking directly at her former subordinate and now Acting Hokage, "Have you guessed 'Sake's' true identity?"

Kakashi's body stiffened almost imperceptibly. He raised his hand, instinctively wanting to pull down his mask, but remembering he was in front of Tsunade, he lowered it again. His exposed right eye shifted to the window, his tone deliberately relaxed. "I just... have some personal speculations."

"Explain."

"... Neji Hyuga"

The four words, spoken softly in the hospital room, seemed to carry a thousand pounds of weight.

Tsunade showed no surprise. She simply nodded, as if the answer had been expected. "How did you guess?"

"Two details," Kakashi's voice regained its composure. "First, he Flying Thunder God Technique. Throughout the entire Shinobi World, only a handful of people possess this technique. Neji joined Orochimaru, Orochimaru spent a long time researching forbidden techniques and S-rank Ninjutsu, and took a large number of confidential scrolls with him when he defected. Second," he paused, "He met with me at the Hyuga Main House. If there wasn't absolute trust and blood ties, the Hiashi clan head wouldn't have allowed an Akatsuki member to be there."

He spoke cautiously, without mentioning deeper speculations—such as the real reason Neji joined Orochimaru, or whether this was a scheme orchestrated by Jiraiya and Tsunade.

Tsunade listened, a very faint smile playing on her lips. "As expected of Kakashi. If Konoha were to elect the smartest person, it would definitely be one of you, Shikaku, or Shikamaru. Shikaku probably doesn't know yet, not because he can't think of it, but because he has a sense of propriety—some things are more troublesome if you know them. But you're different; you're the one who had direct contact with them, so you have to know."

She paused, her tone turning serious. "So, according to 'Wine's' plan, where are we now?"

Kakashi was about to answer when there was a knock on the hospital room door. It was soft but rhythmic, a signal from the Anbu.

"Come in," Tsunade said, without telling Kakashi to leave.

The door opened, and an Anbu Ninja wearing a fox mask knelt on one knee. His uniform was covered in dust and rainwater, indicating that he had just returned from a mission.

"Lord Hokage, the latest information on Elder Danzo."

"Explain."

The Anbu's voice came through the mask, deep and clear. "We were ordered to follow Elder Danzo's route and discovered signs of battle in a forest 120 kilometers from Konoha. There were two corpses and a pile of ashes at the scene, identified as Sai, Fuu Yamanaka, and Torune Aburame. Sai's body had severe Water Release and slash wounds, Fuu Yamanaka died from a sword wound, and Torune Aburame... appears to have been burned to ashes by Fire Release."

Tsunade and Kakashi exchanged a glance. Sai's death was expected, but Fuu Yamanaka and Torune Aburame —those were Danzo's most elite guards.

"Continue."

"Continuing along the route, we discovered... a giant crater on the riverbank fifteen kilometers away." The voice of the Anbu showed an unusual fluctuation. "It's about fifty meters in diameter, its depth is immeasurable, the walls are smooth, and the edges are perfectly spherical. All matter inside the crater—soil, rocks, plants—has vanished, as if completely erased by some force. There are strong remnants of Sealing Jutsu around the crater; the preliminary assessment is... the Reverse Four Symbols Sealing Technique."

The air in the ward seemed to freeze.

The Reverse Four Symbols Sealing Technique is a forbidden technique that uses the caster's life as a price to absorb everything around them into the world of death. Danzo's last resort.

"Any other discoveries?" Tsunade's voice was calm, but her interlaced fingers were already white.

"No corpse, no bloodstains, no residue. But a slight spatial fluctuation was detected 300 meters outside the pit, suspected to be... a remnant of the Flying Thunder God Technique's teleportation."

"You've worked hard, you may leave now."

The Anbu Ninja bowed and left, the ward door closing once more. This time, the silence lasted even longer.

"What do you think?" Tsunade finally spoke, asking Kakashi.

Kakashi closed his eyes and reconstructed the entire scene in his mind: the three battles in the forest, the deaths of the guards, Danzo being driven to the brink of despair, and finally activating the Reverse Four Symbols Sealing Technique in an attempt to perish together with his opponent... Then, "Sake" used the Flying Thunder God to save Sasuke.

"Danzo dead," he concluded. "He died at the Sasuke Uchiha. The giant crater was a product of the Reverse Four Symbols Sealing Technique; Sasuke was almost dragged in, but 'Sake'— Neji— saved him in time with the Flying Thunder God. Everything was part of Sake's plan."

"As planned..." Tsunade repeated these four words, her tone complex, "So now the only remaining issues are the Akatsuki and the threats from the three villages of Cloud Village, Iwagakure, and Mist Village."

She got up and walked to the window, looking down at Konoha. The village was peaceful and serene under the sunlight. The shouts of young ninjas practicing came from the training ground, people came and went on the streets, and shops were open for business as usual. Beneath this peaceful facade, a crisis was brewing.

"If Konan can take care of Obito —or rather, Tobi," Kakashi stood up and walked to Tsunade's side, "Then the threat from Akatsuki will be greatly reduced. The core of the Eye of the Moon Plan is the Rinnegan and the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path. As long as Obito dies, the plan will fail."

"I hope so," Tsunade said, her tone lacking in expectation. "But Konan is facing a man with the Kamui Mangekyo Sharingan and the title of Madara Uchiha. Her chances of winning..."

She didn't finish her sentence, but the meaning was already clear.

Kakashi didn't reply. The two of them stood by the window, looking at Konoha. This was the place they had sworn to protect, the place coveted by many forces, the place where the final battle might soon take place.

"Kakashi," Tsunade suddenly said, "Go and inform Shikaku Nara, Utatane Koharu, and Mitokado Homura a high-level meeting will be held in one hour. Danzo's death needs an official explanation, the threat from the Sannin Villages needs a countermeasure strategy, and the Akatsuki's movements need to be reassessed."

"Yes."

"And one more thing," Tsunade turned, her golden eyes flashing with the long-lost decisiveness of Hokage, "Send someone to Kirigakure to deliver a message to Jiraiya. Tell him... I'm awake. With me here in Konoha, he can go ahead and do what he needs to do."

Kakashi bowed deeply. When he straightened up, he saw that Tsunade had changed into the green robe embroidered with the word "gamble"—her most frequently worn coat, and one of her trademarks as the Fifth Hokage.

Slug Princess had been in a coma for several days, has awakened. And the game of chess has entered its most crucial final stage.

Konoha outside the window remained tranquil, but Kakashi knew this tranquility wouldn't last long. The Anbu's report, Neji's plan, Jiraiya's schemes, the threat from the Sannin Villages, the shadow of the Akatsuki... all the clues were weaving together into a vast web, and at the center of this web was the blond boy still in Kirigakure researching how to control the Nine-Tails' power.

"Uzumaki Naruto..." Kakashi murmured the name silently as he left the hospital room.

The sunlight was just right at the end of the corridor.