As Xuanye leisurely headed down the mountain to go home and bathe, the streets and alleys of Konoha had already erupted into an uproar.
Since the Third Shinobi World War had ended, and the Nine-Tails incident three years ago had been quelled, the village had gone a long time without any major disturbances.
Yet the sun had barely risen today before two explosive pieces of news spread through the entire village as though on wings, leaving the villagers stunned.
The first concerned the delegation that had traveled all the way from Kumogakure.
Word had it that, in the middle of last night, a Kumogakure ninja had slipped into the Hyuga Clan Compound under cover of darkness, intending to abduct the Hyuga Main Family's little princess, only to be discovered by the Hyuga Clan Head and killed on the spot with a single palm strike.
Even more outrageous, the Kumogakure delegation had actually accused their victim first, bringing the Third Hokage to the Hyuga Clan to demand answers and pressure him into punishing Hyuga Hiashi.
At the critical moment, Uchiha Genya had arrived with the Konoha Military Police Force, forcefully suppressed the Kumogakure delegation, and saved the Hyuga Clan's dignity!
The police force under Xuanye's command had once again stood firm against an outside enemy's provocation on Konoha's behalf.
By comparison, the Third Hokage's performance last night had been truly disheartening.
When the villagers gathered to chat over their meals and tea, they inevitably compared Captain Xuanye, who stood tough and protected his own, with the Third Hokage, who could only smile ingratiatingly at foreigners. The difference was plain.
As for the second piece of news spreading today, it was even greater cause for celebration throughout Konoha!
Princess Tsunade, one of the legendary Konoha Sannin, the granddaughter of First Hokage Hashirama Senju and Second Hokage Tobirama Senju, whose name commanded awe throughout the Shinobi World, had actually returned to the village!
The whole village cheered when the news broke!
After the Second Shinobi World War ended, the Senju Clan's numbers had dwindled, and a disheartened Tsunade had left the village with Shizune, staying away for years.
Even though she had spent years away, everyone in Konoha knew Tsunade's illustrious name.
Compared with Orochimaru and Jiraiya, Tsunade, who carried Senju blood, was nothing short of an unshakable spiritual pillar in the eyes of Konoha's villagers!
Apparently, upon returning this time, Lady Tsunade had immediately taken a position as Medical Squad Leader in the Konoha Military Police Force.
The people on the streets were all filled with eager anticipation, convinced that Princess Tsunade's return was a sure sign that Konoha would rise again!
Many young ninja were even rubbing their hands in anticipation, asking everywhere about Lady Tsunade's whereabouts, hoping to witness this legendary figure's peerless presence for themselves.
However, just as everyone in the village was imagining how imposing Lady Tsunade must be...
"Bet big or small! Once your bets are down, hands off!"
A loud, boisterous voice suddenly rang out from the village's largest luxury gambling den on Konoha's bustling Central Commercial Street.
The gamblers around the table stared dumbfounded at the beautiful blonde woman throwing money around, their eyes nearly popping out of their heads.
"Am I seeing things? Is that really the legendary Lady Tsunade?!"
"Good grief, the sun's barely up, and she's already here at the gambling den getting to work?"
"As expected of Lady Tsunade, one of the Sannin! We couldn't hope to match the way she throws money away!"
Indeed, Tsunade, who loved gambling as much as life itself, was now glued to the gambling table with shining eyes, completely caught up in the frenzy.
Having just experienced the ecstasy of her little brother returning from the dead last night, how could she possibly hold back after receiving the free chips Xuanye had approved this morning? She had charged straight into the gambling den to indulge herself.
As for investigating her brother's death and settling accounts with Konoha High Command?
That could wait!
Today, she just wanted to enjoy a few hundred rounds of gambling to her heart's content!
Besides, digging up old scores everywhere on her very first day back in Konoha would only alert the enemy. Spending a few days at the gambling den to lull outsiders into complacency was a perfectly reasonable tactic.
Tsunade happily found herself an excuse.
Meanwhile, beneath a window outside the gambling den's entrance.
A hunched little old man was secretly peering inside through a gap in the window.
Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi was utterly dumbstruck, staring blankly at the blonde woman inside, her face flushed as she slapped the table in excitement.
The woman sitting inside really was Tsunade!
Why had she suddenly come back to Konoha?!
Hiruzen Sarutobi's mind was a complete muddle.
Honestly, when the Anbu reported Tsunade's return early that morning, his first reaction had been that his subordinates had mistaken someone else for her, or that someone was playing a prank.
Then he had hurried over to see for himself, only to be left utterly flabbergasted.
Not only had Tsunade really returned, but she had somehow joined the Konoha Military Police Force, which was currently his biggest headache!
What shady agreement had his perpetually unruly female student reached with Uchiha Genya outside the village?!
If there was anyone in the village who feared Tsunade's return most, it was Hiruzen Sarutobi.
The reason was simple.
Why had he, an old man who had stepped back from power, been able to return so naturally to the Hokage's seat after Fourth Hokage Minato Namikaze died three years ago?
Why could he suppress the Hyuga without restraint, allow Danzo to scheme against the Uchiha, and leave the village plagued by troubles both within and without, yet still sit securely in his position?
Put plainly, it was because Konoha now had a gap between generations. The younger generation had yet to mature, and even someone as renowned as Kakashi lacked anywhere near the experience and prestige needed to succeed him!
Then the question was, how had the foremost ninja village, once brimming with talent, gradually ended up with no one capable of taking over?
Hatake Sakumo had been driven by rumors to take his own life with his blade;
Tsunade had left for distant lands in despair;
Minato Namikaze had died fighting on the Night of the Nine-Tails;
Orochimaru had defected from the village, while Jiraiya spent year after year traveling abroad without returning.
Counting them all, every top fighter in the village with the ability and prestige to threaten the Hokage's seat had either died or left. Not a single one remained!
Even the stray dogs at the village entrance would not believe that Hiruzen Sarutobi had no hand in any of it.
But now, the legitimate successor who posed the greatest threat to his power had suddenly come charging back!
Of all the times Tsunade could have returned, why had she chosen this critical moment? What exactly did she want?
Hiruzen Sarutobi knew perfectly well that, after this recent string of disasters, his prestige as the Third Hokage had hit rock bottom among the villagers.
Especially last night at the Hyuga Clan Compound, the final look Hyuga Hiashi had given him had held none of its former reverence, only a bone-chilling coldness.
His original plan had been so good: use the Kumogakure delegation to put pressure on the Hyuga Clan and force them to hand over someone's head to settle the incident.
It would both weaken the Hyuga Clan and make an example of them to intimidate the restless Uchiha. A brilliant plan to kill two birds with one stone.
Then Uchiha Genya had come out of nowhere and overturned his carefully arranged game with a single slap!
If the Hyuga Clan lost all faith in the Hokage's faction and used Tsunade's return as an opportunity to join other clans in backing her as the Fifth Hokage, he, Hiruzen Sarutobi, would be finished!
Bang!
Just as Hiruzen Sarutobi stood outside the window, his expression shifting as he racked his brains for a countermeasure, a sudden crash from the gambling den interrupted his thoughts.
"Lady Tsunade really is something! It hasn't even been an hour, and she's already lost all eight million ryo!"
"What a thrill! I've gambled half my life, and this is the first time I've seen anyone lose money so decisively!"
"You're so generous, Lady Tsunade! Be sure to come back tomorrow!"
The gamblers erupted in cheers, their flattery coming one remark after another.
At the gambling table, veins throbbed on Tsunade's forehead in anger. She rolled her eyes, slammed the dice in her hand onto the table, and turned to stomp toward the entrance.
Eight whole million ryo!
She had lost every last bit before she could even have finished breakfast!
Tsunade gritted her teeth in anger.
When Xuanye had told her last night that she would receive eight million ryo in gambling money free every day, she had thought it would last her from morning to night. Who knew it would disappear so quickly!
Actually, she could hardly be blamed.
Xuanye had personally remodeled this gambling den. As a transmigrator, he had packed it with far too many novel gambling games from his previous life, ones Tsunade had never even seen before.
Coupled with her rotten luck that made her lose every time she gambled, never mind eight million ryo-even eighty million would not fill this bottomless pit.
Reaching the gambling den's entrance, Tsunade stretched luxuriously in the sunlight.
She knew perfectly well that the dealers who had played with her at the table were all seasoned professionals arranged by Xuanye.
But they had run the games properly, without the slightest sign of cheating, and won all her chips through genuine skill. She could find no fault with them.
Forget it. I had plenty of fun gambling this morning anyway. I'll come back to win it back once I collect tomorrow's free chips!
Glancing to the side out of the corner of her eye, Tsunade suddenly spotted Hiruzen Sarutobi standing by the street. Her lips immediately curled into a sneer as she shot him a sidelong look.
The old bastard looked even older than he had a few years ago.
Since he was already this old, why didn't he hurry up and die in the Hokage's seat?
"Tsunade, you're back."
Hiruzen Sarutobi immediately tucked away all his schemes and calculations, put on a kindly, gentle smile, and approached to greet her:
"As it happens, I have some time right now. Why don't you come sit with me at the Hokage Building, so we can catch up as teacher and student?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi had calculated everything shrewdly.
With so many villagers and ninja watching in public, as long as he presented himself as a kind, approachable teacher, then no matter how angry Tsunade was, she would surely be too embarrassed to reject him openly, for the sake of preserving the Senju Clan's dignity.
Unfortunately, he had completely underestimated how much Tsunade despised him.
Faced with Hiruzen Sarutobi approaching with a smile, Tsunade barely spared him a direct glance. She swept back her brand-new white police force cloak with one hand and strode straight past him.
"Quit acting like we're close. I don't have time for you! It's time to clock in at the police force. Our Captain Xuanye said even being one minute late means a pay deduction!"
Before you continue