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Tsunade followed the medical ninja to the infirmary. The moment she saw Shizune lying on the hospital bed, tears welled up in her eyes. She grabbed Shizune's hand but immediately noticed something unusual.
The flesh on this hand… isn't lacking at all. Yet her face looks so haggard.
Suspicion flickered in Tsunade's mind. She quickly examined Shizune's appearance to confirm that this wasn't another ninja using a disguise technique like the Face Copying Jutsu. Only then did she let out a sigh of relief.
At least she's the real one.
Next, she sensed Shizune's chakra and found it weak, though not life-threatening. This was probably the best outcome she could hope for.
Tsunade had been terrified that something irreversible might have happened to Shizune, leaving her with eternal guilt toward Dan Katō. Now, seeing that Shizune was merely physically weakened, the weight in her heart finally eased. Just as she was about to conduct a more thorough examination, Shizune's brows furrowed slightly.
"Shizune…"
Tsunade softly called her name by her ear. Shizune slowly opened her eyes, and the moment she saw Tsunade, tears streamed down her face.
"Lady Tsunade… is this real? Have I really seen you again?"
"Yes, it's me. I…" Tsunade's voice caught in her throat, choked with emotion. She took several deep breaths to steady herself before continuing, "Where have you been all this time? You've worried me to death."
"I…" Shizune tried to speak, but her stomach betrayed her with a loud growl. Her face flushed red, and she lowered her head in embarrassment.
Tsunade quickly ordered a medical ninja to bring a bowl of rice porridge. After Shizune wolfed it down, some color finally returned to her pale cheeks.
"That day… after I delivered your letter to Itachi, I was about to return when I noticed someone acting suspiciously. I followed them but was ambushed. When I woke up, I was in a prison. All the missing ninja were held there, but…"
Shizune's voice trailed off. Tsunade tightened her grip on Shizune's hand, sensing her trembling.
"It's alright… it's all over now. Do you know how they died?"
Shizune shook her head. "All I know is that it's related to Orochimaru."
"Orochimaru… I knew it." Tsunade gritted her teeth, her expression darkening.
It had been a long time since she'd felt such a strong urge to kill someone. This time, Orochimaru had truly crossed the line.
"Do you know where Orochimaru is?"
Shizune shook her head again. "He killed a chūnin and took on his appearance."
"Face Copying Jutsu!? Damn it!" The moment Tsunade heard this, she realized Orochimaru must have infiltrated the chūnin ranks during the chaos. She sighed in frustration.
Finding Orochimaru now would be nearly impossible.
His combat experience far surpassed that of most of Konoha's jōnin.
"So… you were held within Konoha this whole time?" Tsunade asked.
Shizune shook her head painfully. "I don't know. I don't even know where I was imprisoned."
Tsunade pulled Shizune into an embrace, gently patting her back to soothe her. "If you don't want to remember, then don't. No one can force you."
"It's not that… I genuinely don't know where it was. But someone does."
"Who?" Tsunade pressed immediately.
Shizune pulled away slightly, her eyes darting toward the busy medical ninja around them. "Lady Tsunade… this isn't the right place to talk. Is there somewhere quieter?"
Tsunade frowned, puzzled, but led Shizune to an empty room next door and locked the door behind them.
"There's more to this?" Tsunade asked as Shizune sat down.
"Yes. Midorima Asachi knows," Shizune whispered.
"Him!?" Tsunade was stunned. She never expected to hear that name from Shizune's lips. "Wait… are you saying he and Orochimaru imprisoned you together!?"
"No, no! Please, let me explain. Do you remember Itachi mentioning a masked ninja who kept warning him?"
Tsunade nodded. "That person… was Midorima Asachi?"
"Yes."
"But how is he connected to Orochimaru?" Tsunade couldn't make sense of it.
Were all of Midorima's words to me part of Orochimaru's plan?
Instead of answering, Shizune turned around, pulling down her collar to reveal the Cursed Seal of Heaven.
"This mark is—"
"A cursed seal placed by Orochimaru. It's excruciating—like pain piercing into the bone marrow. Midorima has one too. I suspect that after we separated from him, Orochimaru captured him. At the time, his body hadn't fully recovered. After we left, he had to face Kakuzu alone… Orochimaru must have seized that opportunity. As for proof… Lady Tsunade, you remember, right? Back then, he didn't have this seal either."
Shizune hadn't thought much of Midorima before, but after their time together, she had come to see him differently.
He had taken care of her in the prison, carried her to safety during their escape, and—despite being unable to separate from her—had removed the most dangerous of her cursed seals. All of this had changed her opinion of him.
So she couldn't let him be falsely accused.
That was her stance.
Tsunade recalled the scene back then and nodded.
Midorima had been in terrible shape at the time—she herself had treated his wounds.
"When I was captured, there were many times I wanted to give up. But it was because he kept insisting I eat that I managed to hold on." Shizune kept speaking in Midorima's defense.
"Where is he now?" Tsunade asked.
Shizune's expression darkened, and she shook her head. "Orochimaru planned to lure you out, so he sent Midorima to bring me to the Forest of Death. Midorima took the chance to rescue me, but Orochimaru's subordinate caught up to us. To let me escape… he stayed behind to hold that person off…"
She omitted the part where Midorima had removed her cursed seal.
She didn't know how he had done it, but if he hadn't mentioned it himself, she wouldn't reveal it either.
Tsunade took a deep breath. "I see…"
"Lady Tsunade… do you think he's alright?" Shizune clutched Tsunade's hands anxiously.
Tsunade shook her head. Who could say for sure?
She wasn't worried about Orochimaru killing Midorima—after all, if Orochimaru had gone to such lengths to keep him around, he must have valued him.
So even if Midorima were recaptured, his life wouldn't be in danger. At worst, he'd face some punishment. But what if he encountered other Konoha ninja?
Kakashi might give him a chance to explain, but if he ran into the Third Hokage, things could get complicated.
Considering Midorima's personality, Tsunade doubted he would resist. More likely, he would request to see her or Kakashi, asking them to mediate.
All things considered, the odds of him surviving were high.
"Don't worry. He'll come to me," Tsunade reassured her.
"Why?" Shizune asked, confused.
"Think about it. After Orochimaru's interference, Konoha's security will be tighter than ever. He might not even have a place to hide. If he's truly not working with Orochimaru, he'll need a safe haven to lay low. In all of Konoha… who else can he trust?"
Shizune's eyes brightened at Tsunade's reasoning, and she nodded repeatedly. Then, realizing how obvious her reaction was in front of her teacher, she quickly added, "Itachi has been looking for him too, right? I was just thinking… maybe his return could help Itachi as well."
Tsunade, who had been about to tease Shizune, paused at this and nodded.
Midorima's reappearance might indeed help unravel the mystery surrounding the Uchiha clan.