A ten-day journey.
From Land of Hot Water to Land of Fire, Senju Chen has almost no slowdown at all.
The landscapes and scenery along the way no longer aroused his interest at all. What was swirling in his mind was Konoha's intricate network of relationships, and his sister Tsunade's eyes full of expectation and determination before leaving.
The leisurely and comfortable days are completely over.
When Konoha's familiar huge door came into view, Senju Chen slowed down. He straightened out his clothes, which were slightly messy due to the rush, and calmed down the sense of urgency from the dust on his body, and turned back into the gentle boy who looked harmless to humans and animals.
The guards at the entrance of the village are still the same two familiar faces, Izumo and Kotetsu.
"Stop." Izumo said in a formulaic manner. When he saw the face of the person clearly, he was obviously stunned for a moment.
"Senju Lord Chen...?" Kotetsu next to him also opened his eyes wide, with a look of disbelief on his face, "You... you're back?"
Their reactions gave Senju Chen some assurance. It seemed that the rumor that he had been "squeezed out of the village" had spread to everyone in the village.
"Long time no see, Senior Izumo, Senior Kotetsu." Senju Chen showed a gentle smile
The two looked at each other and saw some complexity in each other's eyes. Kotetsu couldn't help lowering his voice and asked, "Chen-kun, are you coming back this time because of Lord Hokage's abdication?"
"Well, I heard about it outside."
"Then you..."
"That's why I have to come back."
Without further explanation, he turned around and Senju Chen walked into the village with such ambiguous words.
"He actually came back... at this juncture."
"Have you heard? Part of the reason why Lord Third resigned was because of the revelations about his treatment of Princess Tsunade and Senju Chen..."
"So, Chen-kun came back this time... to compete with Fourth Hokage?"
"It's impossible! At his age! But... he is a Senju Clan person after all, and there are all Senju Faction people behind him. His attitude may affect many things."
Senju Chen's hearing is so sharp, these words fell into his ears word by word.
The situation was more direct than expected. Public opinion not only pointed at Hiruzen Sarutobi, but also elevated him and his sister Tsunade to a very high position. The people behind this had extremely sinister intentions.
He was walking on a familiar street. The shops on both sides were still the same, and the hawking was still the same, but there was a vague tension and restlessness in the air. Pedestrians on the road were walking in a hurry, gathering in twos and threes to chat in low voices. When they saw him, their eyes were mixed with surprise, inquiry, sympathy and... a trace of scrutiny.
"Look! Isn't that Little Chen?" an aunt on the street said.
"Didn't he get given by Hokage...! Are the rumors false???"
"He looks like... he hasn't changed much. However, I also heard that he was forced to leave by Lord Hokage because of his great achievements..."
"Shh, be quiet, you don't want your life!!!"
An aunt selling vegetables couldn't help it first. She wiped her hands and walked quickly to Senju Chen, her face full of concern. "Little Chen! You're back! We don't believe those random rumors in the village! You are a hero who has made great contributions to the village, and you even helped my family catch a cat. How could you be excluded?"
With the first person taking the lead, the crowd that was just watching from a distance suddenly gathered around.
"Yes, Lord Chen! The newspaper said something serious, saying that both you and Princess Tsunade were disappointed in the village, so that's why you left!"
"Little Lord Chen, is there someone behind those rumors? Was Lord Hokage forced to abdicate by those people?" A young man who looked a little radical shouted loudly.
"Tell you to keep your voice down! You really don't want your life!" The people next to him quickly grabbed him.
"Don't listen to those rumors. I just went out to see my sister. There is nothing to exclude." Senju Chen explained to these enthusiastic villagers.
Upon hearing that Senju Chen was looking for Tsunade, some people immediately asked with concern.
"Lord Chen, have you seen Princess Tsunade? Is she okay?"
"When will Princess Tsunade come back? The village cannot live without her!"
"Lady Tsunade was also squeezed out as rumored?"
"Yes, Lord Hokage is about to abdicate. It would be great if the princess could come back to take charge of the overall situation!"
For a moment, it was like a vegetable market, with a whirlwind of inquiries, concerns, and speculations, drowning Senju Chen again like a tide.
Senju Chen stopped, raised his hand, and pressed it down gently. The noisy crowd miraculously quieted down, and everyone's eyes were focused on him.
He looked around, looking at the worried or curious eyes, and a gentle and reassuring smile appeared on his face, with a certain clarity that was unique to young people.
"Thank you all, thank you for your concern." His voice was not loud, but it reached everyone's ears clearly, "First of all, the rumors about me being ostracized by the village are all nonsense. Konoha is my home, how could I leave my home?"
He paused and his tone became sincere and sincere. "Some time ago, rumors about Lord Hokage and our Senju Clan spread in the village, and even implicated my sister who was far away from the village. As a younger brother, I really couldn't worry about it, so I asked for leave from Lord Hokage and left the village to find my sister and confirm her safety. Now that I see that she is fine, I naturally came back."
These words were impeccable. His behavior of leaving the village was perfectly explained as a journey to find relatives out of family affection. It was both reasonable and humane, and instantly dispelled most people's doubts.
"It turned out that I was looking for Lady Tsunade..."
"Let me just say, Lord Chen is not that kind of person."
The atmosphere in the crowd calmed down significantly.
At this time, the aunt who sold vegetables before asked again, "Then... what about Princess Tsunade? Is she... is she still going back to the village?"
As soon as this question came up, everyone pricked up their ears again.
Senju Chen's face showed a hint of helplessness and distress at the right time. He sighed softly, "Sister, she... has not had an easy life these years. The previous turmoil also troubled her. She needs a little time, a little quiet time without being disturbed."
He looked at the expectant eyes of everyone and smiled slightly, with warmth in his smile.
"However, please rest assured. Konoha is my sister's home, a place where she has devoted countless efforts and emotions. I believe that when she adjusts her mood, one day she will return to this Konoha that she loves deeply."
He did not give a definite answer, but gave a hopeful promise.
Low cheers erupted from the crowd. For the villagers of Konoha, Tsunade is not only the legendary princess of Sannin and Land of Fire, but also the granddaughter of First Hokage, a symbol of the Senju Clan, and one of the spiritual pillars in their hearts. As long as there is still a possibility of her coming back, there is still hope for the village.