Before the sun had fully risen, Tobirama Senju finally returned to the Hokage Office.
Sure enough, when he pushed the door open, his older brother, Hashirama Senju, was waiting inside.
Hashirama Senju regarded Tobirama Senju solemnly. "Where did you go last night?"
By now, Tobirama Senju had composed himself. "I went to the Memorial Stone," he said calmly.
"For that long?" Hashirama Senju sighed.
"Yes. I walked back." Tobirama Senju thought to himself that he had known he could never completely hide his scheme involving the Princess Mausoleum from his older brother.
It wasn't necessarily one of his subordinates who had betrayed him. It could also have been Cherry Ink, that petty old rat.
Over the years, Tobirama Senju had grown used to Cherry Ink finding fault with him.
Still, because of Yanbai, Tobirama Senju was remarkably tolerant of Cherry Ink, the sole remaining "spirit pet."
Just as Konoha Shinobi Village was tolerant of the tailed beasts.
That was why Tobirama Senju hadn't immediately used Flying Thunder God to return yesterday. Even if he had hidden the scroll to read later, Hashirama Senju's endless questions would have delayed him.
Unless he read it immediately, something was bound to get in the way.
"Tobirama, how is Madara?" Hashirama Senju fixed his gaze on Tobirama Senju.
Tobirama Senju sighed inwardly and said mildly, "He seemed to be doing very well. He even learned your and Yanbai's Wood Release."
As he spoke, the terrified expressions Qingyan and Longkuan had worn last night surfaced in his mind. His mistaken judgment had caused the deaths of quite a few Anbu members. Now he had to consider compensation and burial arrangements for his fallen subordinates.
Whether to repair the damaged barrier around the Princess Mausoleum or bury his dead subordinates, Tobirama Senju would have to visit