Chapter 115: Eavesdropping At Konoha Hospital
Tsunade was puzzled why Hiruzen Sarutobi was acting more and more extreme.
Senju Hanaki hoped Tsunade would firmly fight for the Senju Clan and did not want her to be dragged down by master-disciple sentiments. She said:
“Tsunade, this is your first time encountering Konoha Village’s political struggles, so you don’t understand many things.
When the Third Hokage was Tobirama’s second uncle’s disciple, he was gentle and valued companions, but as Hokage, he became increasingly hypocritical. The fundamental reason is that his strength is insufficient.
Father or second uncle could both suppress the entire Konoha. No one dared to outwardly comply and secretly defy orders from the Hokage Building.
Not to mention Konoha Village—even in the entire ninja world at that time, which ninja village dared to confront Konoha alone?
At the first Five Kage Summit, Father wrote a few letters, and the other four Kage had no choice but to attend.
Although the Third has the title of Ninjutsu Professor, his strength is far below Father and second uncle.
The Senju Clan, the Uchiha Clan, the Hyuga Clan, and top geniuses like Sakumo Hatake all have their own ideas and demands.
The Third Hokage had to rely on Danzo Shimura, using ruthless, underhanded means to achieve his goals.
Since the Second Ninja War broke out, the village has suffered countless casualties, Konoha’s strength has greatly declined, and his authority has been further undermined.
You, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru fought Hanzo to a draw and earned the Sannin title, which to some extent helped the Third regain some face.
Tsunade, the Senju Clan can hibernate in the medical system for a while.
But we ourselves know that this hibernation is only a temporary expedient; we will eventually return to the forefront.
The root of the struggle is strength, combat power.
Those forbidden jutsu ideas of yours should accelerate their research progress.
Strength at only elite jonin level and only the Sannin title are not enough to revive the Senju Clan.
Look at Sakumo Hatake—he was an Anbu captain during Uncle Tobirama’s time.
After the Third became Hokage, he made Sakumo Hatake retire from Anbu, yet still had to rely on him during the war.
In Konoha, strength is always the top priority.”
Tsunade nodded repeatedly; her aunt’s analysis was extremely accurate.
She should focus on learning the Shadow Seal and must quickly step into the threshold of kage level ninja.
At that moment, Tsunade suddenly turned her head and looked toward the bathroom on the side.
She elbowed the bathroom wall, shattering it; the bathroom was empty.
She quickly rushed into the corridor outside the office.
The corridor was also empty.
At the end of the corridor was the window and wall that had been knocked down for expansion.
Tsunade looked down and saw that water had flowed out from the bathroom at some point, covering the ground.
The water flowed toward the end of the corridor and fell from the gap at the end.
There were no footprints on the ground, nor chakra from anyone else around.
But she clearly sensed that someone had been nearby just now.
Who had such a fast escape method, flickering away like spatial teleportation?
Senju Hanaki followed out and asked: “What happened?”
Tsunade said: “I sensed someone in the adjacent bathroom; he was incredibly fast and body flickered away.”
Senju Hanaki’s expression turned serious.
Being inside Konoha Village yet feeling danger everywhere.
In the woods behind the hospital, Yoru saw no one chasing him and breathed a sigh of relief.
While Senju Hanaki was busy, he had hidden in the bathroom next to the director’s office beforehand.
He slightly opened the bathroom faucet, letting water slowly flow across the ground until it reached the end of the corridor and then down the wall.
After being discovered by Tsunade, Yoru quickly escaped using Water Clone.
Where there was water, he could use Water Clone.
After reaching the courtyard, a water pipe that had been watering bricks was continuously flowing; Yoru used a second Water Clone in the darkness and quickly left Konoha Hospital.
The risk was worth it; he heard a lot of information.
First was the Senju Clan’s attitude.
The Senju Clan had abandoned illusions, recognized the situation, and completely stood on the opposite side of Konoha High Command.
Senju Hanaki was a sensible person, starting to guard against the village—more rational and calm than Tsunade, and holding the key position of Konoha Hospital director.
After Tsunade earned the Sannin title, her status in the village had risen a lot; she was no longer just a vase princess.
Tsunade was researching forbidden jutsu suited to herself; her strength would soon improve further.
Next was the intelligence on Sakumo Hatake.
From an age perspective, Sakumo Hatake had been a genius Anbu captain in his teens, and later retired from Anbu because Hiruzen Sarutobi rose to power.
In this way, Sakumo Hatake’s alliance with the Senju Clan had some foundation.
No wonder the high-ranking officials suspected the Senju Clan of colluding with Sakumo Hatake; there was this connection.
Sakumo Hatake plus the Senju Clan—this force, if it continued to develop, would be enough to confront Konoha High Command.
Yoru suddenly felt his butt was a bit crooked, a bit tempted to betray Anbu—what to do…
After returning to Anbu, Yoru reported to Kiiroinu:
“Captain, Senju Hanaki and Princess Tsunade have been busy at Konoha Hospital; no evidence of colluding with Sakumo Hatake was found.”
Kiiroinu nodded and said: “The Anbu watching Sakumo Hatake also reported that he was studying a map all evening; no Senju Clan ninja were seen.”
Yoru tentatively asked: “Is the Senju Clan really turning to the medical system? How will the village respond?”
Kiiroinu said:
“Senju Hanaki has been doing public opinion propaganda in the village, saying the Senju Clan sacrificed Lord Mito, Clan Head Rinki, and nearly seven hundred ninja for the village’s Nine-Tails.
She even publicized that Kushina Uzumaki is the Nine-Tails jinchuriki, with no awareness of secrecy.
The village had to increase the guard level for Kushina Uzumaki.
These moves by Senju Hanaki made many in Konoha very sympathetic to them.
Plus, with heavy casualties among Leaf ninja and a shortage of medical ninja, the Senju Clan entering the medical system faces little resistance—at least most jonin in the village support it.
As for genin, they are even more welcoming of skilled Senju medical ninja.
Senju Hanaki is harder to deal with than Senju Rinki.
Senju Rinki would never abandon the Senju Clan’s glory; that woman Senju Hanaki is extremely realistic.
Princess Tsunade, having lost her brother and lover, looks like she swallowed an exploding tag—no one dares provoke her.
Tsunade saved many on the battlefield; her prestige is the highest among the Sannin.
Orochimaru and Jiraiya support her; there’s no good way to deal with Tsunade now.
The older people get, the more they fear their children—for some reason, Hokage now seems somewhat afraid of his three disciples.”
Yoru thought to himself that Senju Hanaki becoming clan head turned out to be a brilliant move.
Under Senju Hanaki’s leadership, the Senju Clan was cautious and pragmatic—no longer everyone shouting about offering everything to the village, no longer clamoring to become Hokage, avoiding risks, and seeking hibernation.
Kiiroinu handed Yoru a scroll with a new mission:
“Fox, last time you submitted a list of Sakumo Hatake’s followers; Anbu will investigate their attitudes and motives one by one.
One follower named Xinming has only chunin strength yet holds high status in that group, which is strange.
He is about to be sent to the Land of Wind for preliminary intelligence gathering.
Follow him, investigate, and see if there’s anything unusual about him.”
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