Digging Up Hashirama's Grave!

"Hey, hey, hey! My grandfather's already dead!"

Tsunade stared at Orochimaru, her eyes wide with disbelief.

Orochimaru said nothing.

His golden, slit-pupiled eyes simply watched her.

There was no flicker of emotion in them, only a faint calm.

"You... You're not asking me to..."

Tsunade stopped mid-sentence.

Orochimaru remained silent.

There were things he hadn't said and couldn't say.

But he was sure Tsunade understood.

Two words flashed through her mind:

Dig him up!

The man was dead, but his body was still there.

They wanted cells from Hashirama Senju, the First Hokage?

Easy.

Open the grave and take a tissue sample from the corpse.

To be honest, Tsunade didn't feel particularly troubled by the idea.

She hadn't been in this world long—barely more than a month.

She had never even met this "grandfather" of hers, Hashirama Senju.

She hadn't so much as looked closely at his photograph.

Digging up a grave...

It wasn't entirely out of the question.

But if anyone found out...

The First Hokage's own granddaughter had secretly dug up her grandfather's grave with a teammate, just to get cells for an experiment?

As the princess of the Senju and the face of Konoha, she would become a public disgrace overnight!

Everyone would curse her!

Still...

Tsunade hesitated, her mind racing.

Orochimaru had Hashirama's cells later on.

That scheming bastard Danzo had an arm full of them.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was the Third Hokage and had run Konoha for years.

He might well have samples of his own.

As for her grandfather's grave...

Who knew how many people had already visited it?

One more visit from me shouldn't hurt, right?

I'll just pay my respects at Grandpa's grave and "borrow" a little something while I'm there.

But as soon as that thought arose, a more practical problem struck her.

Hashirama's cells only came to light later.

Orochimaru couldn't have dug up the grave yet at this point.

If he had a sample, he would already be studying it.

He wouldn't be asking her for one now.

She had no idea whether Danzo had done it.

But what if... what if Danzo hadn't either?

Would that make me the first grave robber?!

If anyone caught her, Tsunade's reputation would be ruined for good!

Forget becoming Hokage. People would sneer at her whenever she walked through Konoha!

But...

Tsunade's brow furrowed as she wrestled with the choice.

Even by the most generous reckoning, the Second Great Ninja War was less than two years away.

In the original story, even Hanzo had beaten her into the ground.

If she didn't take a chance and get stronger fast...

How was she supposed to unite the Shinobi World?

How was she supposed to beat up the Uchiha and kick the Hyuga into line?

How was she supposed to achieve her grand dream of "bringing every beauty under heaven to Konoha"?

Wait until the Third Shinobi World War?

Wait until she was in her forties or fifties, an old woman, before slowly building her strength?

Tsunade had no interest in waiting that long.

Youth was fleeting. Enjoy it while you could... No, getting stronger while she could was what mattered!

In that case...

Tsunade drew a deep breath, and the conflict slowly faded from her face.

In its place came a reckless resolve.

"Let's do it!"

She slapped her thigh. Her voice wasn't loud, but it was decisive.

Orochimaru had been watching her expression the whole time.

He saw her go from shock to hesitation, from hesitation to turmoil, and finally from turmoil to resolve.

A trace of excitement showed on his pale face despite his efforts to suppress it.

Even his golden eyes seemed brighter.

"You... agree?"

Orochimaru spoke a little faster than usual.

His tone was still flat, but anyone who knew him could hear his impatience.

"When do we do it?"

Tsunade frowned and thought for a moment.

With something like this, the sooner the better.

Waiting would only invite trouble.

"As soon as possible!"

Orochimaru nodded at once, almost before she had finished speaking.

Tsunade's mouth twitched at the sight of his eagerness.

This guy... His obsession with research really was in his bones from childhood.

"Tomorrow, then."

Tsunade made the decision.

"Come to my door tomorrow morning, before sunrise, and wait for me."

"And remember, wear something ordinary. Keep a low profile, got it?"

Orochimaru nodded. "Got it."

Two kindred spirits had found each other in unlikely circumstances.

They agreed at once.

No unnecessary talk, no sentimental hesitation.

They didn't even discuss details like how they would do it or what would happen if they were caught.

Just like that, they had a plan.

Orochimaru turned and left.

He walked much faster than usual, his long black hair streaming behind him.

Tsunade watched him disappear around the corner, then let out a long sigh.

"Ugh..."

She rubbed her temples. Her head was starting to hurt.

"I have no choice. For the future of the Shinobi World, for the peace of Konoha, for..."

She paused, then added under her breath:

"So I can become Hokage sooner and lead Konoha to prosperity..."

"Grandpa Hashirama, I'm afraid I have to put you through this."

"You've been dead for years anyway. Your body's just lying there, so you won't mind lending me a few cells, right?"

"If you want to blame someone, blame your granddaughter for not inheriting enough of your talent. I have to make up the difference with a little underhanded help..."

Tsunade muttered to herself as she walked home.

She was already planning tomorrow's operation in her head.

Where was the graveyard again...?

She searched the memories of the body's original owner.

The Senju Cemetery lay deep in the hills behind Konoha, in a quiet, secluded spot.

Hashirama Senju's grave stood in the most prominent position, the largest and grandest of them all.

Going at night won't work. We'd stand out too much, and the patrols might spot us.

Just before dawn would be best, when the sky's barely starting to lighten. There'll be fewer people around, and visibility will be poor.

Tools... Orochimaru will probably bring those, right? A scalpel, tweezers, petri dishes...

Oh, and we'll need something to mask the smell in case there's blood...

The more Tsunade thought about it, the more it felt like she was planning a theft.

No.

She was planning a theft.

A thief stealing from her own grandfather's corpse.

"Tch. My life in this world is getting more and more likely to land me behind bars."

She gave a self-mocking laugh.

Then she slowed to a stop.

"But before that, I need to get a few things ready."

Tsunade pondered for a moment, then changed direction.

She headed toward another part of the village.