Tsunade was about to keep trying to persuade him, but before the words could leave her mouth, Naruto raised a hand and cut her off.
His expression was calm, his tone earnest and respectful.
"Granny Tsunade, I've always respected you."
"You helped me many times back then. You also stood up to immense pressure to protect Hinata, and you've helped so many of us. I've always been grateful."
"That's why I honestly don't want to argue with you or let things turn ugly between us."
"You little bastard! Do you think I want to argue with you?!"
Tsunade erupted in fury, her chest heaving. Angry and anxious, she stared hard at Naruto.
"You know perfectly well! The Sarutobi, Utatane, and Mitokado Clans have countless members between them! They have enormous numbers of shinobi who've held high positions for years and wield real power!"
"If you really burn every bridge with them, do you have any idea how much unrest they could stir up, how much damage they could cause?!"
"I admit that you and Sasuke are now the strongest fighters in the Shinobi World. Together, even if all three clans rebelled, you could crush them by force and kill every last one of them!"
"But have you thought about the consequences?!"
"Massive internal strife, clansmen killing one another, great clans slaughtered! How deeply would that wound Konoha? How much terror would it instill in ordinary villagers? The entire village could lose all unity! Don't you understand any of those consequences?"
Faced with Tsunade's furious tirade, Naruto showed no anger at all. Instead, he gave a soft chuckle.
He answered calmly, his tone mild.
"Granny Tsunade, you've had it wrong from the start."
"I'm Konoha's Seventh Hokage, the sun in the hearts of most people in the Shinobi World."
"I'm devoted