It was Uchiha Itachi and Kakuzu!
Not only did Sasori of the Red Sands and Deidara, who were originally responsible for hunting down Orochimaru, not come, Kisame Hoshigaki, who was teamed up with Uchiha Itachi, also not come. Instead, the diligent and hardworking Kakuzu teamed up with Itachi.
It seems Orochimaru's intended target this time is Uchiha Itachi...
Naoki Senju pondered seriously. Orochimaru already possessed the Impure World Reincarnation form of the Third Kazekage, and even the Impure World Reincarnation forms of the First Hokage Second Hokage, plus Princess Tsunade, Sannin, and himself, who had mastered the Wood Release Kekkei Genkai.
Orochimaru's desire to capture Uchiha Itachi and obtain his coveted Sharingan seemed within reach.
However... Naoki Senju gave Orochimaru a meaningful look. Orochimaru, you're the man who's going to master the core technology of the Shinobi World, how can you waste time on these trivial matters? Let me correct you.
"There are only two people... Sister Tsunade, I think we can give it a try this time. It would be great if we could intimidate the so-called Akatsuki, otherwise it would be quite troublesome to be targeted by these mercenary organizations."
But Tsunade seemed to recall something and, unusually, did not respond to Naoki.
" Akatsuki... Akatsuki..." Tsunade repeated haltingly, trying to recall information about the Akatsuki.
When I was mocking Orochimaru earlier, I hadn't realized that this so-called Akatsuki is no small organization.
In recent years, this mercenary organization called Akatsuki has been frequently active in small-scale conflicts in various villages. Akatsuki was even seen during the Third Shinobi World War, but compared to the Five Great Shinobi Villages, Akatsuki was too insignificant.
Orochimaru, how much do you know about the Akatsuki? What is their actual strength?
Orochimaru withdrew his cold and powerful aura, noticing that the black divine markings on Naoki Senju's face were gradually fading. While it was indeed Sage Mode, was there a time limit...?
Orochimaru involuntarily licked his long, scarlet tongue, indicating that he was getting excited again.
"I was a member of Akatsuki for a period of time, so I know their strength quite well." Orochimaru, unusually, didn't lie and completely exposed the Akatsuki.
" The Akatsuki has many members, but its core members are all powerful missing-nin from various villages. Most of them are at least Elite Jonin, and their abilities are strange and extremely difficult to deal with."
Tsunade frowned. Elite Jonin or higher, with bizarre abilities, even Orochimaru thought they were difficult to deal with. It seemed that the Akatsuki was stronger than she had thought.
"How many core members like these does Akatsuki have?" Tsunade pressed.
"Not many. Including the leader of Akatsuki, there are only five core members at present. Adding Uchiha Itachi, who joined Akatsuki not long ago, there are a total of six core members," Orochimaru replied cooperatively.
After a moment's thought, Tsunade made her decision, her demeanor instantly becoming capable and sharp, as if she had transformed back into the slug Slug Princess who dominated the Shinobi World battlefield— Princess Tsunade.
" Orochimaru, I'll take command. This time, you, Naoki, and Shizune will all be under my command."
Seeing Tsunade's spirited and commanding Lady Tsunade, Shizune was incredibly excited. This was the Lady Tsunade she had just met, the Lady Tsunade whom all female ninjas admired!
"Yes!"
The usually timid and shy Shizune spoke with an unusually loud voice this time.
Orochimaru revealed a smug smile, just as his gaze met that of Naoki Senju. However, Orochimaru remained calm, smiled nonchalantly, and left the room.
As for command, Orochimaru didn't care at all. As long as he could get that body and those eyes, it would be worth any price to pay!
Having rediscovered that familiar feeling after so long, and even outmaneuvering Orochimaru, Tsunade was in high spirits and was about to celebrate with a couple of drinks when she remembered Naoki's conversation with the Katsuyu Sage.
After Shizune took her leave, Tsunade stopped Naoki, who was about to return to his room, and said something that left much to the imagination:
" Naoki, don't leave tonight."
???
Surprises always come so suddenly, catching him completely off guard.
" Sister Tsunade, isn't this... inappropriate?"
Snap!
Tsunade Teuchi Naoki's hand, which was about to take off his clothes. The worst part was that he was taking off her clothes!
"You little pervert, I wanted to ask you what you and Grandpa talked about. Who gave you permission to touch me inappropriately?"
"Oh..."
Naoki Senju reluctantly withdrew his hand, which had been slapped red. Because the Natural Energy within the base was scarce and could not be replenished, the last bit of Senjutsu Chakra left by Hashirama Senju had also been exhausted. Without Sage Mode, he couldn't withstand Tsunade's Superhuman Strength.
After the fight, Tsunade felt a little sorry for Naoki and gently massaged and rubbed his reddened Anrokuzan claws.
"Alright, that's what you get for not being honest. Now tell me, what did you and Grandpa talk about?"
Naoki Senju enjoyed Tsunade's massage, a ripple of emotion stirred within him, and he teased her:
"I proposed to my great-grandfather, and he said he would Sister Tsunade to me, and he also said..."
Snap!
Naoki's right hand, which had just been injured, suffered another new wound, turning his palm and the back of his hand equally red. Tsunade's Superhuman Strength was indeed well-deserved; Naoki had experienced it firsthand this time. Moreover, Tsunade showed no sign of letting go, staring at Naoki with a cold smile.
"Alright, alright, Sister Tsunade, I surrender." Naoki, whose right hand was being tightly Naoki, surrendered, but he was definitely not submitting to Tsunade's Superhuman Strength. One day, when he had mastered Senjutsu Mode, he would hmph, he would definitely make Tsunade remember him for a long time.
But right now... a true man can be flexible and adaptable.
" The Chakra left by my great-grandfather was after the founding of Konoha, so at the beginning, we talked about the history of Konoha. Then I told my great-grandfather about the Uchiha and Senju massacres."
"This matter involves the souls of countless Senju clan members who died unjustly. It's the right thing to tell Grandpa." Tsunade greatly approved of Naoki's decision and pressed further, "And then, what did Grandpa say? Did he tell us to contact the old members of the Senju Clan?"
Besides the Senju Clan itself, there were many smaller clans that were affiliated with the Senju Clan, as well as commoner ninjas. The Sarutobi Clan was one of them.
Although the Senju Clan has fallen, their past camaraderie remains. The Senju Clan will always be a great clan that built Konoha, and these are the foundation of the Senju Clan.
As the 'only surviving' Senju Clan and one of the Konoha Sannin, Tsunade is the strongest medical-nin. During Second Shinobi World War and Third Shinobi World War, the medical-nin system Tsunade established healed countless wounded and dying ninjas, and her reputation is no less than that of the current Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.
If Tsunade were to rally a force, it would indeed be possible to gather a group of people and rival the current Konoha High Command. Unfortunately, Hashirama Senju would never allow Konoha to be divided and disintegrated.