Konoha. The continuous rain fell like a shroud over the village, foreshadowing the fates of the ninjas who had perished on the battlefield. Lightning flashed intermittently across the dim sky, casting fleeting shadows on the wet streets.
The Senju clan's residence was tense.
"Damn it! How could there be such a coincidence!" Tsunade slammed her fist onto the table, her fury evident. In front of her, Uzumaki Mito remained silent, her eyes heavy with worry.
Tsunade had never imagined that she would come so close to destroying the bloodline of the First Hokage.
"Tsunade, what if it really is a coincidence?" Mito's voice was hoarse as she spoke, a hint of fear mixed with sadness. She laughed softly at herself afterward, but it was a hollow sound; even she didn't fully believe it.
"Coincidence?" Tsunade's teeth clenched, her voice low and dangerous. "There is nothing coincidental about these wandering samurai. It's reasonable for them to carry detonating talismans for protection and to set traps. That alone is normal."
Tsunade lifted her head, a sarcastic smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. "Everything seems plausible. There's no evidence pointing to anything unusual. Yet, a simple mission like this, conducted just outside Konoha, was sabotaged so perfectly. Orochimaru underestimated it, and a ninja of Chunin rank fell into a trap—killed by a detonating tag."
"But… Grandma, don't you think the number of detonating tags is excessive?" Mito asked cautiously. "Even if every investigation shows the sources were normal… the fewer the clues, the more suspicious it becomes. If we hadn't known in advance, we'd be trapped in endless investigation, confirming facts and chasing ghosts."
Tsunade's eyes darkened at the thought. They had intelligence ahead of time—and it aligned perfectly with the events. Especially considering this mission wasn't deep in enemy territory but right outside Konoha's gates. Nawaki's birthday had been the previous day, and he had been on a mission the next. Even in the village that night, Jiraiya could have come to inform him of the body. Was it really just coincidence that all this happened right at their doorstep?
"And the Uchiha?" Tsunade sneered, the disdain clear in her voice. "The Uchiha clan is isolated, marginalized, and striving to integrate into Konoha. Do you think they would have reason—or the capacity—to attack us? The elite of their clan is deployed to the frontlines, leaving only untested members within the village. Attempting such a flawless operation would be impossible for them. Too risky, and far beyond their reach."
Mito sighed, a trace of sorrow crossing her aged face. "Nawaki is my grandson. It's better that he's gone… perhaps the Daimyo's mansion could provide the protection of the Senju clan, helping him grow in secrecy." She paused, her voice heavy with warning. "Tsunade, Konoha is not the same as it once was. With war looming, rash actions could cost us dearly."
Tsunade's anger didn't vanish immediately, but she quickly regained her composure. Her calm, measured expression left Mito silently admiring her foresight.
"Grandma, don't worry," Tsunade replied softly. Though impulsive by nature, she possessed sharp political acumen and an unyielding sense of duty. It was why she would one day become the Fifth Hokage. Seeing her calm, Mito allowed herself a brief smile of relief.
"Tsunade… Grandma won't be here much longer. The future of our family, and of Kushina, rests in your hands."
Suddenly, their conversation was interrupted by the sound of approaching footsteps.
"Tsunade!"
Jiraiya's familiar voice rang out. Tsunade raised an eyebrow, feigning irritation. "Jiraiya, what's the matter? You better have a good reason!"
But the seriousness in his expression stole the sharpness from her words. His face was heavy with unease, and Tsunade felt an ominous dread settle over her.
"Jiraiya… has the situation on the front lines worsened?" she asked cautiously.
Jiraiya swallowed hard, his throat tight. "Tsunade… Orochimaru is back. He's… in the morgue."
A flash of lightning illuminated her face, revealing her disbelief. She already knew what that meant.
Boom! Bang! Tsunade moved without hesitation, sprinting toward the morgue as rain splashed around her. Jiraiya hurried to keep pace, but there was no catching up to her speed. Some things—like instinct, determination, and fury—belonged to women and ninjas. Tsunade showed no faltering step.
Under the heavy downpour, she arrived at the morgue. Her footsteps halted with a sharp gasp. Orochimaru leaned outside the door, black hair shadowing his features. His calm voice carried a subtle menace.
"Better not to look at the corpse," Jiraiya murmured, his eyes filled with sorrow. For him to say this meant the scene was unbearable.
Orochimaru smirked faintly, his tone deceptively casual. "What's the big deal? I wouldn't recognize him as my brother anyway."
"Shut up, Orochimaru!" Jiraiya snapped.
Orochimaru, however, sneered with sadness masked beneath his amusement. "He's a disguised dead man now… all of them. No doctors on the battlefield, but it's cruel for a child. Especially the day after receiving a gift."
He drew a pendant from his bosom. Tsunade's eyes widened, hollow with grief, as the familiar necklace glinted in the rain. Her hands trembled as she clutched it, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"Nongshu!" she cried, her wail echoing through the stormy night, reaching the ears of every Konoha ninja outside.
War is never kind. It makes ninjas' hearts heavy with grief, and during wartime, such cries are all too frequent.
In the Land of Fire, the drizzle fell over the earth, thick with the scent of rain and soil.
"August 10th… yesterday was Nongshu's twelfth birthday," Uchiha Ye murmured to himself, "so Tsunade would have known today was coming."
Even if the events were coincidence, knowing in advance rendered it intentional. Such is the nature of human hearts.
On a tree trunk, Ye restrained his breath, his gaze scanning the night sky. Suddenly, a black dot flickered behind him, drawing his attention.
Uchiha Mikoto, holding a long family-issued sword, surveyed a distant cave with her twin magatama Sharingans. "Tracking by the scent of the Ninja Cat… he's inside." The gentle woman was now resolute, her eyes sharp with killing intent.
Snap!
Ye's hand landed lightly on her shoulder, and the murderous intent vanished.
"Sister Mikoto," he said softly.
Mikoto's gaze softened slightly as she turned solemnly toward the cave.
Inside the damp, dark cave, a frail old man lifted his head slowly. He sensed something approaching and his calm voice, tinged with unease, cut through the silence.
"It's decided. If it's a woman rushing in… kill her."
At first, his eyes seemed calm, but gradually, they twisted with a quiet madness, staring straight at the cave entrance, waiting.
(End of Chapter 7)