"Danzo... is fine, he escaped." Homura Mitokado adjusted his glasses, a hint of relief in his tone.
"It seems Tsunade still values old ties after all and didn't strike to kill." Utatane Koharu echoed in a low voice, trying to comfort herself. "With Jiraiya leading the team personally, along with experts from various clans, if they truly wanted to keep Danzo there, he would have had no chance of escape."
However, Hiruzen Sarutobi, standing beside them, had an exceptionally grim expression. Far from relaxing, he looked even more somber.
His cloudy eyes were filled with worry as he murmured under his breath, as if asking himself or questioning this bizarre situation:
"Was it really... just showing mercy?"
"Why... do I have... a very bad premonition..."
This didn't fit Tsunade's personality.
The unease lingering in Hiruzen Sarutobi's heart grew thicker like dark clouds.
The Hokage Office.
Quite different from the outside world's speculation of "valuing old ties," Tsunade was currently rubbing her temples in frustration. She was looking at the black-haired young boy standing before her desk—Uchiha Sasuke—who looked arrogant, unyielding, and had a gaze as cold and piercing as a needle.
"Tsk..." Tsunade couldn't help but click her tongue, feeling a massive headache coming on.
The pillar of Konoha from the heavenly screen, who was calm, powerful, and could barely hold his own against World-Destroying Naruto, was a completely different person compared to this prickly brat whose eyes held nothing but hatred and alienation!
This difficult little thing didn't look like he could become the Village's reliance in ten years at all!
Polishing this stubborn stone into jade?
The mere thought made the future seem bleak.
Would she really have to rely on Orochimaru?
And Sasuke, standing there, was equally irritable.
Ever since the heavenly screen revealed the truth behind the clan's massacre and he learned that the Konoha Leadership was the real culprit, he no longer had a shred of goodwill toward this Village.
Being summoned to the Hokage Office now to face this new Fifth Hokage, he only felt annoyance and resistance.
"What do you want with me?" Sasuke's voice was cold and hard, not even bothering with basic honorifics.
Seeing him like this, Tsunade forced down the urge to throw him out.
"I really don't want to deal with your Uchiha family's mess at all!" Tsunade rubbed her blonde hair irritably, making no effort to hide her impatience.
She was a woman of action and hated these situations entangled with historical grudges that were impossible to untangle.
These words were like a spark falling into a powder keg. Sasuke was instantly ignited, snapping his head up. His black eyes burned with the flames of anger as he glared fearlessly at Tsunade, even if she was the high and mighty Hokage!
"You..."
"What are you looking at!" Tsunade's fiery temper flared up immediately; she wasn't about to indulge his hatred.
Without a word, she raised her hand and landed a precise iron fist on top of Sasuke's head!
*Thud!*
"Ugh..." Caught off guard, Sasuke felt his vision go dark from the pain. He almost crouched down clutching his head on the spot, tears welling up in his eyes.
Is this woman's fist... made of iron?
Is she crazy?
Hitting a kid!
"What does it have to do with me?" Tsunade stood with hands on her hips, looking down at him aggressively. "Was I the one who caused your Uchiha mess? Huh? What's the use of glaring at me?"
"...Crazy woman..." Sasuke clutched his throbbing head and forced the insults back down his throat, only able to complain wildly in his mind.
He had certainly experienced this Fifth Hokage's "way of communication."
Looking at the kid before her who was clearly in agonizing pain yet still stubbornly pursed his lips, the hatred in his eyes not diminishing in the slightest...
The nameless fire in Tsunade's heart gradually died down, replaced by a helpless sigh.
She pulled over a chair and sat down, her tone softening slightly, yet remaining blunt to the point of cruelty:
"Kid, listen to me clearly."
"Regarding the Uchiha Clan's matter, the primary person responsible is Danzo Shimura! That old bastard is the mastermind who planned everything, drove Shisui to his death, and pushed your brother to a dead end!"
"Of course, the Old Man's inaction and indulgence also cannot escape responsibility."
"Danzo Shimura!"
That name was like a curse, instantly seizing Sasuke's entire mind!
He snapped his head up, forgetting the pain. A near-tangible killing intent erupted from his eyes, and his teeth ground together audibly.
That's right!
It was him!
He killed Brother Shisui!
He stole his eye!
He forced Itachi... to destroy the clan with his own hands!
Seeing Sasuke look as if he wanted to swallow Danzo alive right then and there, Tsunade felt a bit uneasy herself.
"I don't expect you to forget your hatred, because that's unrealistic." Tsunade's voice slowed down, carrying a calmness that had seen through the world. "But I hope that at the very least, you find the right target for your revenge and don't involve the innocent."
Sasuke remained silent, like a cold stone, using silence to express his distrust and resistance.
Tsunade didn't care about his reaction and continued on her own, as if stating an established fact:
"I've already sent people to uproot Danzo Shimura's 'Root.' As for the man himself... I let him go on purpose."
These words finally caused a flicker in Sasuke's eyes. He looked up at Tsunade.
"And, as of today, I will officially list him as a Konoha S-Rank Rogue Ninja." Tsunade's tone carried a hint of cold irony. "Just like what he forced your brother, Uchiha Itachi, to bear back then."
An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.
This gave Sasuke an indescribable sense of painful pleasure in his heart.
"Do you know why I kept him alive instead of dealing with him personally?" Tsunade looked sharply at Sasuke, as if peering into the depths of his soul. "Because I think... you might prefer to end this grudge yourself."
Tsunade leaned forward slightly and gave a promise that made Sasuke's heart skip a beat:
"When you feel you are ready, come find me. I will give his latest intelligence... to you."
Personal... revenge?
Kill Danzo Shimura... with his own hands?
This thought was like the most intense flame, instantly igniting within Sasuke's frozen heart!
This would vent all the accumulated pain and resentment in his heart far better than using someone else's hands!
He still didn't speak, but his tightly pursed lips and slightly shimmering eyes betrayed the intense turmoil within him.
Ultimately, he said nothing, only giving a forceful, almost stiff nod.
Signifying... he understood.
Seeing his awkward appearance—clearly moved but still trying to act cold—Tsunade's remaining patience vanished instantly. She waved her hand irritably, as if shooing a fly:
"Fine, fine, now that you know, get lost! Seeing that bitter face of yours just annoys me!"