Tsunade slammed both hands down on the table, making a loud noise, and she gritted her teeth, staring intently at her teacher.
"Why does protecting the Leaf require mere genin to sacrifice themselves!"
"...This is war, Tsunade." Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice was also full of helplessness.
He knew very well that Tsunade had harbored resentment ever since her brother's death.
Some of it was directed at herself, and some at the Leaf.
And Dan Kato's death had only ignited this resentment.
Tsunade, who had left the village back then, even deluded herself into thinking that losing one's life for the sake of protecting the Leaf was utterly foolish.
"Regardless."
Tsunade stared at Hiruzen Sarutobi and said, word by word, "If there's a chance, I will definitely bring them back!"
"..." Hiruzen Sarutobi took another puff of his pipe, slowly blew out a smoke ring, and then slowly said, "If you can truly bring them back, I won't stop you. However, the price must not be harming the Leaf... I, this old man, still have some savings. Take them first."
First stating his boundary, then offering help.
Hearing these words.
Tsunade's anger gradually dissipated.
She lowered her head.
She picked up the badge Xin had given her again, turned and left, and only looked back when she reached the doorway.
"Thank you."
Her voice was clear, and then she strode away.
Hiruzen Sarutobi continued to smoke his pipe, puff by puff.
It's better to guide than to block.
He understood Tsunade; love for the Leaf still existed in her heart, but it had been covered by the pain of losing important people. As long as someone awakened her, she would love the Leaf even more deeply.
Because, at that time, she would also bear the will of those two people, Nawaki and Dan Kato, to protect the Leaf.
"Cough cough."
Hiruzen Sarutobi suddenly coughed softly twice and slightly adjusted his Hokage hat.
The aged face beneath the hat, which symbolized authority, appeared even older.
A ninja's life is filled with battles; even if one is lucky enough to live to his age, it is inevitably accompanied by old and hidden injuries. He no longer possessed the might of the "Ninja God" he once was.
However, he couldn't afford to grow old yet.
Because he hadn't found a suitable successor yet.
His gaze shifted to the medicines Tsunade had left on the table.
On one small red bottle.
A label that read "Can treat hidden injuries" was attached, written in Tsunade's handwriting.