Tsunade fell silent for a long time at those words.
She recalled that although the fighting on the front lines had ended, Sunagakure and Iwagakure had only withdrawn temporarily. What if they returned?
Although the Uchiha's declaration of a military alliance had deterred them, without the Uchiha's actual deterrent power, no one could guarantee they would not invade again.
At a time like this, a visit from the Uchiha could indeed consolidate peace and deter their enemies.
She sighed and said:
"Whatever happens, make preparations to welcome the Uchiha!"
Shizune quickly nodded and turned to leave to make the arrangements.
A month later.
Konoha, the Hokage's Office.
Documents were piled like mountains on the desk.
These documents concerned urgent postwar problems, as well as unresolved issues left over from Hiruzen's administration.
Tsunade sat listlessly behind her desk, looking at the report spread out before her.
Her brows were tightly furrowed.
Shizune stood behind her, holding Tonton in her arms, her face also full of worry.
"Lady Tsunade, the number of commissions has fallen again this month."
Shizune carefully opened a document.
"The number of commissions is down nearly forty percent from before the war. Several major clients we've worked with for years have switched to Hidden Xuan Village..."
Tsunade said nothing. She merely picked up the report and scanned the figures on it.
After a long while, she set down the report, leaned back in her chair, and closed her eyes.
The faces of those shinobi clan heads surfaced in her mind.
Shikaku Nara, Inoichi Yamanaka, Akimichi Chōza, Hyuga Hiashi...
Although they said nothing, she could see the dissatisfaction in their eyes clearly.
The war was over, but Konoha's troubles had only just begun.
The daimyo, nobles, and merchants who had once trusted Konoha now preferred to pay more