Tsunade Returns

Oguri Hayashi said a great deal, but Zetsu could only catch fragments of it.

He had actually been watching Orochimaru all along. Orochimaru was one of Uchiha Madara's primary concerns; Uchiha Madara considered Orochimaru a genius second only to himself. So Orochimaru's eventual expulsion from the village had not merely been the work of the Third Hokage and Danzo—Uchiha Madara had also exerted himself. It could be said that many parties had worked together to drive a genius like Orochimaru out of the village.

And the surveillance of Orochimaru had begun now.

Of course, Zetsu's duties were quite burdensome. That genius Kakashi's teammate, the idiot Obito, also needed his constant attention.

Because he was so stupid, he was easier to control, and thus more likely to awaken his eyes.

But he knew that what was happening to Tsunade, Orochimaru, and Oguri Hayashi right now could indeed affect the entire shinobi world.

Leaving aside anything else, merely hearing that "Tsunade will return to Konoha and preside over the war against the Land of Wind" was already a major event.

When it came to poison, Chiyo of the Land of Wind, Orochimaru of the Land of Fire, and Hanzo of the Land of Rain were all masters. But when it came to Medical Ninjas, no one in the entire shinobi world could avoid Tsunade's name.

Once Tsunade returned to her position, the entire Land of Wind would tremble three times over. Once the Land of Wind, which relied on poison to inflict casualties, lost poison as its trump card, its overall quality would in fact be far inferior to Konoha's ninja.

If a medical unit led by Tsunade was active on the front lines, the Sand ninja would gain no advantage at all.

Perhaps the entire Third Shinobi World War would not even break out.

This was crucial intelligence.

Yet Oguri Hayashi knew that even later, when Tsunade endured her hemophobia and remained in the rear as a doctor and commander, the war had still begun.

War was unavoidable. Everyone had grudges and conflicts of interest. If the Land of Wind did not declare war on Konoha today, then the Land of Earth would declare war on the Land of Thunder tomorrow. The landmines buried by the Second Shinobi World War had not become ineffective just because the war ended; instead, they exploded at a certain point in time, sweeping across the shinobi world.

And that point in time was now. Even if Oguri Hayashi joined forces with the Three Sannin, or even added the Hokage to make five Kage-level powerhouses, what then?

They needed survival, land, benefits, missions, and fame. To obtain them, they needed war and the deaths of others.

The Land of Wind's war against Konoha was irreversible. What Tsunade needed to do was lead Konoha's ninja to victory in this war.

"Orochimaru... sir." Wuying had listened from the side, occasionally being used by Orochimaru as a rubber stamp to verify Oguri Hayashi's authenticity. After the Three Sannin finished their discussion, he could only swallow his anger and speak. "Could you let me remain in the Impure World Reincarnation state permanently?"

"If it were me, I could certainly help Orochimaru... sir avoid many detours."

Orochimaru glanced at him, a faintly mocking smile appearing on his face.

Even now, was this man still maintaining that lofty attitude of an outsider?

Help him, Orochimaru, avoid many detours?

Who did he think Orochimaru was? Orochimaru would never take the wrong path. Even a mistaken road would be the right and suitable road for him.

If Orochimaru truly acted according to the "advice and truth" he offered, then he would not be Orochimaru!

"You may remain in that state." However, Orochimaru did not voice those thoughts. Wuying possessed very good intelligence, and Orochimaru still needed it.

"Then, Orochimaru-sama, Tsunade, we will proceed as we discussed earlier." Oguri Hayashi took two steps back and smiled at them.

Ever since he had become stronger, he loved smiling. Tsunade looked at Oguri Hayashi and could not help recalling the solemn young man who had served under her three years ago. But... "Why is he 'sir,' while I am just Tsunade?" Tsunade asked darkly.

"Because Tsunade is Tsunade." Oguri Hayashi smiled and formed a hand seal. "Then, see you both then."

"Remember our agreement. You can tell the Third Hokage, but do not tell Danzo."

Oguri Hayashi vanished from before them in an instant.

The Flying Thunder God Technique! Orochimaru, Wuying, and Zetsu all stared in shock at the spot where Oguri Hayashi had disappeared. For them, having a genius like Minato Namikaze who could reproduce the Second Hokage's ultimate technique was already astonishing enough, but Oguri Hayashi's talent shocked them even more.

Not only was this man's talent in taijutsu exceptional, but his attainments in Space Ninjutsu were also extraordinary. Was it not too hasty for Konoha to judge that, merely because his Chakra reserves were insufficient, his limit was jonin?

Thinking of the system Oguri Hayashi had implemented in Takigakure, Tsunade could not help revealing a thoughtful expression.

"Then I'll take this fellow away. Tsunade, you should return and report to the old man as well. After all, you have not taken action for three years," Orochimaru said to Tsunade.

Tsunade nodded. "I will return and report to the old man."

The two nodded to each other and went their separate ways.

Not only did Tsunade need to report to the Third Hokage, she also needed to gather Jiraiya and the Third Hokage for a meeting.

About the future of the shinobi world, and Konoha's future.

For these futures, would it be better to let them remain as they were, or defy fate and change them?

Since Oguri Hayashi had told Tsunade and Orochimaru these things, he had never intended to hide them from the Third Hokage.

As for matters of the future, the strong would not blame or resent their subordinates over something that had yet to happen. "The future" could only serve as a reference, never as the basis for a decision.

Orochimaru was still a diligent, devoted genius ninja who loved Konoha, the Western Front Commander.

Tsunade was still Konoha's medical goddess, the founder of Medical Ninjas.

Jiraiya... well, he was still that perverted sage.

But no matter what, they were thoroughly the favored children of this era, unquestionably extraordinarily gifted ninja. When Tsunade returned to Konoha, the entire village was shaken.

As ninja, they understood the unrest in the Land of Wind better than anyone.

Although Orochimaru, one of the Three Sannin, was stationed in the west, the only person who could truly reassure them—the only one everyone could entrust their lives to—was Tsunade.

When Tsunade entered through Konoha's gates,

countless ninja came rushing over upon hearing the news. Yet they did not crowd forward. Instead, they lined both sides of the road, gazing eagerly at Tsunade.

"Tsunade-sama."

"Tsunade-sama!"

"Tsunade-sama!"

"Princess Tsunade!"

"Tsunade-sama has returned!!"

The entire village of Konoha erupted in fervent cheers, as though welcoming the return of its master.