In the end, Minato still couldn't keep Tsunade.
The next morning, just as the sky was barely bright.
Gekko Chizan stood at the gate of Konohagakure.
"Tsunade, you said you didn't want anyone else to see you off, so why did you call me?"
"I got up early for this, I'm exhausted."
Tsunade was still wearing her green robe, the "gamble" character on the back as clear as ever.
And beside her stood a little kid — Shizune.
Kato Dan's niece.
"Hmph, you little bastard, I didn't call anyone else in the whole village, only you. And you're still not satisfied?"
"Let me ask you — did you cast Genjutsu on me?"
Gekko Chizan froze. Seeing Tsunade's calm expression, he immediately sensed something was wrong.
His brain started running at full speed like a computer. He didn't dare stop thinking — because he knew very well, if he stopped and Tsunade snapped, he would be done for.
"Don't think too much. I'm not here to settle accounts with you."
"Katsuyu already checked me. The traces of the Three Great Sacred Lands' senjutsu are too obvious."
"If I'm not mistaken, it should have been the snake you summoned earlier who cast senjutsu on me."
Tsunade's tone was steady, without any blame toward Gekko Chizan.
But the look she gave him held a bit of emotion, a bit of irritation, and a bit of acceptance.
Gekko Chizan scratched his head, embarrassed.
"Ahahaha, you found out. Actually, this whole thing was her idea. I was passive, you get it."
"So if you've got complaints, don't point them at me. You know the situation among the Three Great Sacred Lands."
"Ryūchi Cave really doesn't like your Shikkotsu Forest. If she messed with you — hehe…"
The laugh was extremely sly. Without thinking, Gekko Chizan tossed the blame directly onto Tagitsuhime.
Tagitsuhime: I @#!#￥!%!#@#￥
Tsunade snorted softly. She obviously didn't believe his nonsense.
After all, she had come to understand him very well over these days.
His mouth had no brakes, and his ability to spout nonsense was top-tier.
"Stop being slick with me. I'm leaving Konohagakure this time… and I don't know when I'll return. In this whole village, only you're somewhat interesting."
"As for the Genjutsu… I won't fuss over it. After all…"
"Forget it. In the end, I still benefited from it."
Seeing Tsunade's mood sinking, Gekko Chizan didn't ask further.
He had expected Tsunade to leave the village — she was never going to stay long.
She only stayed this long because of the war… and because of him.
But he still asked:
"Your hemophobia should be mostly under control now. Why leave?"
"Is it really because the memories here are too heavy?"
"You're Tsunade of the Legendary Sannin."
"Or… have you lost faith in certain people in this village?"
He spoke while walking, his tone shifting from light to heavy.
Tsunade fell silent for a moment, then slowly said:
"You brat… some things are better left unknown to you."
"Give me one of your kunai. One year from now, come find me. Shizune still needs to take the chunin exam."
"Your students this time are excellent. Shizune didn't make chunin — that's my fault."
"I'll train her properly."
Shizune stood straight beside her, face serious. She clearly took Tsunade's words to heart.
But that wasn't how Gekko Chizan saw it.
He remembered how in the original story Tsunade dragged Shizune gambling everywhere — those days… sigh.
She could've raised an excellent medical ninja, but instead she turned her into a chronic debtor like herself.
"Sigh, hopefully you don't lead her astray. Otherwise I'd like to see how you face Kato Dan."
"Alright, here."
"I'm heading back.."
He tossed her a marked kunai and vanished.
Tsunade looked at the kunai in her hand, then at his departing figure.
Hearing Kato Dan's name, she smiled lightly. She didn't say anything — just gently rubbed Shizune's head.
"Let's go, Shizune. Our journey begins now."
"Yes, Lady Tsunade."
...
Tsunade's departure didn't have much effect on the village.
After all, Konohagakure was thriving.
But precisely at such times, unexpected troubles tend to arise.
And this trouble didn't come from outside — but from within.
A month after Tsunade left the village…
Gekko Chizan and the core group were summoned again to the Hokage Building for a meeting.
This was also the biggest meeting Minato had held since taking office.
Gekko Chizan walked into the conference room — wow, quite a crowd.
His seat was no longer on the edge but right in the center.
But to his surprise, not only the elite jonin were present — even the Hokage advisors were there.
Seeing the Third Hokage in casual clothing smoking, he frowned.
So formal? What happened?
The meeting began. Minato removed the Hokage hat and set it on the table.
That gesture signaled the start of the meeting.
"Everyone, we are facing a serious issue. If we don't handle it properly, the village may suffer."
Minato's tone was heavy, his expression even more so — extremely stern.
"The Daimyō Mansion has sent word: our village's funding has been cut in half."
"Additionally, the Daimyō Mansion has formed its own ninja force."
"They demand that we send a number of elite shinobi to join them."
Everyone froze.
Nara Shikaku's expression changed immediately. He held his chin with his right hand, his brain already spinning rapidly.
"And according to intel, the Fire Temple has agreed to the Daimyō Mansion's request."
"They have sent their outstanding talents to the Daimyō Mansion as well."
Hearing this, Gekko Chizan instantly understood.
No wonder they called this meeting. The Daimyō had waited all these years and finally made his move.
During the war, he couldn't do anything — he needed Konohagakure's strength.
But now that the war was over — tsk tsk… this Daimyō was something else.
"Lord Hokage, this move from the Daimyō Mansion is really…"
"Sigh, the war just ended, and this is how they treat us?"
"If the shinobi below hear about this…"
"It may shake the entire village."
Even Nara Shikaku sighed. The others looked grim as well.
They were all unhappy with the Daimyō Mansion's actions.
When they needed shinobi, they used them.
When they didn't need them, they cut them down?
What the hell was this!?
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