Tsunade fell silent once more.
Such a matter would indeed make it very dangerous for Jiraiya to return alone.
However, Tsunade...
"Jiraiya, if I were to ask you to stay out of the village's affairs, could you do it!?"
Tsunade spoke slowly.
Her gaze revealed an inquiry.
"No."
"Whether you accompany me back to the village or not, I am going back."
Jiraiya picked up the wine flagon and poured himself another cup of wine.
The two of them fell silent once more.
Soon, the dishes were served.
After the meal.
Jiraiya looked at Tsunade, whose expression was somewhat cold, and said nothing more.
After paying the bill, he left the place.
He still needed to return quickly to understand the situation in the village.
As for Tsunade... Jiraiya had already told her the situation.
He would not force her choice, nor could he force it.
After all, Tsunade's punches still hurt quite a lot.
After Jiraiya left, Shizune finally came to the private room.
"Lady Tsunade, are we still going to stay here?"
Shizune had spent a very long time with Tsunade.
She could naturally understand Tsunade's thoughts right now.
"We aren't going back."
"If Jiraiya really cannot handle it, then he will come find me again."
After speaking, Tsunade rubbed her hair.
She stood up and left the place.
Two days later.
Within the barrier range of the village.
figures flashed through the dense forest.
"Asuma-sama, if we return to the village now, won't we be killed directly by the Uchiha!?"
"Besides, with only a dozen of us, what we should actually be doing right now is to go seek help from the Daimyo."
"You used to stay by the Daimyo's side, so you should be able to gain recognition!"
A shinobi looked at the man before him and spoke directly.
There was still a hesitant look on his face.
As for the shinobi in front, he was none other than Hiruzen Sarutobi's son-Asuma.
Because he was out executing a mission during the Night of the Eradication of the High Command.
When he heard the news, it was already the third day.
The reason it took him so long to return was because Asuma knew that with just himself, he simply could not complete the plan to oppose the Uchiha.
Therefore, Asuma had constantly been searching for other shinobi executing missions outside.
After a few days of effort, he found several squads.
Having successfully persuaded them, he brought these shinobi back.
Yet, at the thought of the Uchiha's strength, these shinobi still felt somewhat timid.
After all, that was the Uchiha clan that had eradicated the entire Konoha High Command!
As for why he chose to return now.
It was because Asuma knew that if the Uchiha were allowed to gain a firm foothold.
Then his return later would also serve no purpose whatsoever.
It was precisely at this moment.
Rustling sounds came from all around.
Soon, a dozen or so shinobi appeared and surrounded them.
"Inuzuka Gang?"
"Aburame Shijo?"
Looking at the shinobi who appeared before him, Asuma recognized the two leaders instantly.
After all, as shinobi of Shinobi Clans, Asuma had crossed paths with them before.
The two of them showing up with shinobi already indicated that Konoha's current defense system shinobi had completed their rotation.
They had been replaced by shinobi from these two highly perceptive Shinobi Clans.
"Asuma Sarutobi, you guys aren't even on the same mission, are you?"
"Now, what is the reason you're showing up here with people?!"
Aburame Shijo spoke in a stern tone.
Right now, they were responsible for protecting the safety of the village.
Regarding this son of Hiruzen Sarutobi returning with a dozen or so shinobi in tow.
His sharp instincts told him that Asuma Sarutobi definitely wasn't returning from a routine mission.
"Aburame Shijo, have you already become accomplices to the Uchiha!?"
"They launched a coup d'état and persecuted all of Konoha's higher-ups."
"Even you guys have betrayed the village now, preparing to seize Konoha alongside these traitors?"
Asuma grew somewhat angry.
These people were all shinobi who used to follow behind him.
Back when there were rumors that he would become the Fifth Hokage, peers from all the major Shinobi Clans had been very willing to interact with him.
Not quite hanging on his every word, but they were very close.
Yet now, they stood here questioning him.
How could the proud Asuma ever accept such a thing?
"The issues of the village's higher-ups aren't things we can meddle in."
"Right now, the village's Fifth Hokage is Lord Kazama Uchiha."
"Therefore, please come with me to see the Hokage right now."
"If you resist, you will be treated as missing-nin of the village."
"At that time, we will take hardline measures against you."
Aburame Shijo spoke calmly.
That lofty attitude of Asuma's, along with his unprovoked bossiness.
All of these things made Aburame Shijo intensely dislike him.
Back then, because Hiruzen Sarutobi was the Hokage, they had no choice but to endure it due to their clan connections.
But now... there was no need to keep coddling him anymore.
"It seems you guys are also people who are destroying the village."
"Since it's like this..."
"You want to make a move?!"
Just as Asuma angrily prepared to spout harsh threats, a mocking voice interrupted him.
"Uchiha Ryunen?!"
Seeing the shinobi who had appeared here, Asuma felt a shock in his heart.
Why did the Uchiha people show up so quickly!?
Moreover, besides Uchiha Ryunen, there was also Uchiha Roy.
Both of these individuals had been Asuma's peers back in the day.
They were also beings Asuma had never been able to defeat.
In the entire academy, only the Uchiha people would refuse to give him face as the Hokage's son.
In fact, on many occasions, they would target his actions.
This had also led to Asuma Sarutobi never having a favorable impression of the Uchiha.
Now that the two of them had appeared, coupled with the Uchiha shinobi behind them.
Asuma's anger also began to surge.
"Aburame Shijo, if you guys can choose your side again right now, I won't pursue the matter from before."
"Also, I've already contacted the Daimyo."
"The Daimyo also said that as long as I reorganize the village, the Daimyo will still support our Konoha."
"Konoha right now..."
Fire Release: Flame Dragon Song!
Before Asuma Sarutobi could finish speaking, Uchiha Ryunen had already unleashed a Fire Release technique at him.
At the same time, the surrounding Uchiha shinobi also drew their short swords and launched an attack against the dozen or so people.
Aburame Shijo hesitated for just a brief moment before joining the attack against Asuma's group.
Asuma, who had still intended to use "Talk Release," widened his eyes in fury.
He instantly leaped backward.
Ash Pile Burning!
As a massive cloud of ash was expelled from his mouth.
Click!
Boom!
The sound of the explosion and the cloud of dust instantly swallowed up everything before them.
Knowing that he had to secure victory in this battle if he wanted to rally the other shinobi to deal with the Uchiha together,
Asuma drew his two chakra blades and charged straight in.