As he spoke, he cast another timid glance at Danzo, then quickly buried his head in Tsunade's embrace, as though even one more look was torture.
Those heartbreakingly "considerate" words and actions struck Tsunade's heart like a sledgehammer.
Her fury was instantly replaced by endless heartache and self-reproach.
Yes, what could I change by getting angry here? It would only frighten Chen even more. This child had already endured far too much.
Tsunade drew a deep breath, forcibly suppressing her surging killing intent. Holding Senju Chen tightly, she raised her head and swept an icy gaze over Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo.
"Fine. I can let this matter go."
A relieved smile appeared on Hiruzen Sarutobi's face.
But Tsunade's next words froze that smile in place.
"But I have one condition," Tsunade said, enunciating every word. "From today onward, I will take full responsibility for my little brother's safety. No Anbu, including your 'Root,' Danzo, may come within a hundred meters of the Senju residence without my permission! Otherwise, don't blame me for twisting your heads off, one by one!"
"And you, Danzo." Her gaze pierced Danzo like two icicles. "Remember what you said today. If this happens again, I won't care about the Hokage or the village. I'll make you and your 'Root' disappear from this world completely!"
Her words were filled with bloody threats, leaving no room for compromise.
Danzo's eyelid twitched almost imperceptibly.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression also turned somewhat ugly, but looking at Tsunade's resolute eyes, he knew this was already the greatest concession she would make.
"...All right. I agree." Hiruzen Sarutobi finally nodded.
Having secured that promise, Tsunade did not spare them another glance. Carrying Senju Chen, she turned and walked into the house, shutting the door with a bang and leaving the two unwelcome guests outside.
Only Hiruzen Sarutobi's sigh and Danzo's abyssal silence remained in the courtyard.
Inside the room, Tsunade gently set Senju Chen on the tatami, crouched down, and cupped his little face, her eyes filled with heartache.
"Chen, don't be afraid. Your big sister is here. No one will ever be able to hurt you again."
Senju Chen nodded obediently, wrapped his little arms around Tsunade's neck, and buried his face against it, his voice muffled. "Mm... I believe you, Big Sister."
Yet on his hidden face, all that "innocence" and "timidity" had faded away.
In their place was an icy calm, like ice frozen for ten thousand years.
Third Hokage, Shimura Danzō...
He silently repeated those two names.
Today, he had taken the initiative to speak and break the deadlock, giving these two members of Konoha High Command a way to back down. With this favor, when he made some request of them in the future, they would have a hard time refusing in light of today, wouldn't they?
As the victim, he would certainly make good use of those two favors. Hehehe.
He raised his head, his face returning to that endearing expression, and gave Tsunade a faint, dependent smile.
"Big Sister, I'm hungry."
"All right, I'll have Shizune make you something tasty!"
After Tsunade's initial whim had nearly left Senju Chen going an entire day without eating, she had given up on cooking altogether, and the household's meals had ultimately been left to Shizune.
Watching Tsunade leave, Senju Chen's gaze grew deep once more.
For now, he had won the political game. But he had also come to understand more deeply that without absolute strength, so-called "safety" was merely a castle built on sand, liable to be shattered by a wave at any moment.
He needed power, more power, greater power!
Big Brother Minato... you'd better hurry and take me to meet that 'friend' of yours...
He was already growing impatient.
The gloom Danzo had brought did not linger over the Senju residence for long.
Or rather, Tsunade forcibly dispersed it in an almost overbearing fashion.
From that day onward, any unfamiliar face attempting to come within a hundred meters of the Senju residence would immediately feel a terrifying surge of killing intent shoot skyward. It was almost tangible, like an ancient ferocious beast poised to strike, looming over the residence and coldly watching every potential threat.
Two days earlier, an unlucky newly appointed postman had merely wanted to take a shortcut, only to be scared shitless by that killing intent the moment he crossed the perimeter. He had scrambled away on all fours and reportedly suffered nightmares for three days afterward.
From then on, the Senju Clan's grounds became an unofficial forbidden zone in Konoha.
And the instigator of it all, Senju Chen, was enjoying that utmost protection without a qualm.
He understood better than anyone that his sister's assertiveness rested on the Third Hokage's compromise. This seemingly impregnable "safety" was nothing more than a temporary balance on the political scales. Once those scales tipped, every promise would vanish into thin air.
Shizune had secretly told him that his sister had not visited a gambling house in ages, and people outside even thought she had quit gambling.
But he knew Tsunade had not taken a single step outside the clan grounds because she was protecting him. Even her official business was now handled within the grounds.
That was why he craved power more than ever before.
The days quietly passed in peace.
Minato Namikaze remained a frequent visitor to the Senju residence. But now, beyond his usual warmth and appreciation, his gaze held a little more scrutiny and anticipation when he looked at Senju Chen, like an experienced jade carver studying an unparalleled piece of uncut jade, considering where to make the first cut.
At last, one clear afternoon, after finishing his routine "report" to Tsunade about the village's recent situation, Minato approached Senju Chen, who was practicing chakra control in the courtyard.
"Little Chen."
Minato's voice was gentle, carrying his own distinctive sunshine.
Senju Chen stopped what he was doing, and the leaf held to his forehead with chakra fluttered gently down as he raised his head.
He tilted his little face upward, the purest anticipation and excitement a child should have blooming in his eyes at just the right moment, and nodded vigorously. "Big Brother Minato!"
Seeing him like this, Minato smiled even more brightly and crouched down to meet Senju Chen's eyes.
"Are you ready?"
He winked with an air of mystery.
"Today, I'm taking you to meet that friend of mine who's good at Sealing Jutsu."
Senju Chen's heart gave a sudden leap.
Finally!
He could barely contain the excitement churning inside him, but his face remained innocent, even carrying just the right hint of nervousness and curiosity.
"Really? We're going right now?"
"Right now." Minato smiled and ruffled his hair. "But we're going to meet an impressive teacher. We can't go empty-handed."
As he spoke, he produced an exquisite food box from behind his back as though by magic.
"I know her tastes. I bought these especially at the dango shop-three-color dango and red bean soup. They're her favorites."
Looking at the food box, Senju Chen's mouth twitched slightly.
Kushina Uzumaki...
Of course he knew whom Minato was taking him to meet.
He simply had not expected this future Fourth Hokage's methods of courting his wife to be so... plain and unadorned.
"Let's go."
Minato took Senju Chen's little hand, his palm warm and strong.
Senju Chen followed obediently, but his heart was already churning like turbulent waves.
Kushina Uzumaki... Konoha's Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, princess of the Uzumaki Clan... here I come.