Danzo waved a hand, signaling everyone else to leave.
C immediately ushered the new recruits and the children out. The training hall was left with only four people: Danzo, Tsunade, K, and Shizune.
Tsunade flicked a glance at K. "Get lost."
K's hand tightened around the frail shoulder of Kato Shizune.
The next instant, Tsunade's fist flashed into K's field of view.
Only because Danzo caught Tsunade's wrist in time did the blow fail to land.
Tsunade froze. She hadn't expected Danzo's strength to be this high.
Danzo truly lived up to the name The Darkness of the Shinobi—his power exceeded what Tsunade had imagined.
"K, you too. Leave," Danzo ordered.
K released Kato Shizune at once and vanished into the darkness.
Tsunade pulled Shizune close and leapt back several steps.
Danzo said, "Tsunade, you understand how powerful the Spirit Transformation Technique is.
It can remotely control enemies, sow chaos, and allow one person to toy with an entire enemy battalion.
The lineage of the Spirit Transformation Technique cannot be allowed to die out. Konoha cannot be without it.
Kato Shizune, as Kato Dan's niece, should undergo secret-art training from childhood—subjected to various mental stimuli to strengthen her spiritual energy and master the technique as soon as possible.
Everything I do is for the village. For Konoha.
The Second Hokage left the Spirit Transformation Technique in the Sealing Scroll. What we lack now is a shinobi suited to wield it."
Tsunade shot back, "Whether Shizune can master the technique is my concern. What business is it of yours?"
"Tsunade!" Danzo raised his voice. "Don't think everyone will indulge you!
Konoha needs the Spirit Transformation Technique. That is why I am training Kato Shizune!
However—"
His tone shifted.
"Out of respect for Hiruzen Sarutobi, I am willing to yield one step.
Give me a single jutsu, and I will allow you to take Shizune."
Tsunade asked, "Which jutsu?"
"The sealing technique the Second Hokage recorded in his notes—best suited for ANBU: the Tongue Curse: Erasure Mark," Danzo said, staring at her.
"Tsunade, either you leave Kato Shizune behind to preserve the Spirit Transformation Technique for Root, or you leave the Tongue Curse: Erasure Mark to strengthen the village's dark forces.
I am not Hiruzen Sarutobi. I have no time for your rebellious disciple and soft-hearted teacher games."
Shizune clung to Tsunade's leg in fear.
Last night, when Tsunade went to see her, Shizune was already gone.
After searching everywhere, she learned from Orochimaru that Danzo had taken Shizune.
In her fury, she had stormed straight into Root—and now there was no easy way out.
There was no "withdrawal" from Root.
Leaving Root meant refusing to fight for Konoha. It meant betrayal.
If Shizune hadn't been taken yet, Tsunade would have had countless options. Now, she could only grit her teeth and continue the confrontation.
"Hmph. Don't dress it up as 'the village can't be without the Spirit Transformation Technique.' You just want the Tongue Curse: Erasure Mark. When you couldn't get it, you resorted to these despicable methods."
Just as Tsunade prepared to seize Shizune by force, three figures flashed into the hall.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, Homura Mitokado, and Koharu Utatane.
The three elders had sensed an attack on Root and arrived at once. When they saw it was Tsunade, they weren't surprised.
Hiruzen knew Danzo's aim. He thought for a moment—without Root, many covert missions could not be carried out.
Hiruzen glanced at Shizune. "Tsunade, how could you strike at one of the village's key institutions, Root?"
Homura said, "You want to take back those close to you. Other clan heads will want to take theirs. Then how are ANBU and Root supposed to function?
Without a mature ANBU and Root, how are we to carry out assassinations of sensitive targets?"
Koharu added, "Tsunade, focus on Konoha Hospital. Do not interfere with ANBU and Root!"
Tsunade thought bitterly: 'So it's come to this.'
Reinforcing Root served the interests of all the higher-ups.
It wasn't just Danzo who wanted Root strengthened—every one of them did.
How could Hiruzen govern a village this large purely through reason?
Shinobi wield violence; all their talents are invested in killing. When subordinates refuse to obey, you can't always persuade them with words.
Force is also "reason"—and the most effective kind at that.
Kunai may not solve problems, but they can solve the people who raise them.
To Hiruzen, Danzo was what the Second Hokage had been to the First—what the "night Tobirama" was to the "day Tobirama."
There were always tasks too dirty for those who had to keep a clean image.
If Danzo didn't exist, Homura might become Danzo. If Homura fell, perhaps Koharu would take up that burden.
Konoha could not be without someone to do the dirty work.
Tsunade finally understood. She wasn't opposing Danzo or Root—she was opposing the entire upper echelon, the very order of Konoha.
Once again, she cursed in her heart: So many of Second Grandpa's policies have brought endless trouble.
She refused to yield. "Don't interfere with Root? They took Shizune! And I'm supposed to ignore it?"
Hiruzen said, "Everyone has the duty to join ANBU and carry out the village's missions in the shadows. That was a rule set by the Second Hokage!
Do the Senju clan and its affiliates have the privilege to refuse?
Among these four-year-olds are children of the Sarutobi, Nara, Yamanaka clans, and many orphans.
Should everyone be allowed to smash the roof of Root and take people by force?"
Tsunade froze. How had this become her being unreasonable?
As both sides stood locked in stalemate, a figure emerged from the darkness.
Everyone turned toward the tall, slender silhouette.
The man who dared to stroll forward amid such a tense clash of high-ranking officials was Orochimaru—fresh from his work in Root's laboratories.
Surveying the scene, Orochimaru thought, Tsunade, you reckless woman… you've been played by the higher-ups again.
Her strength had only just reached Kage-class. She was no match for their teacher or Danzo. Why make things so ugly?
"You're disrupting my experiments," Orochimaru said calmly.
"Allow me to act as mediator.
Tsunade, you may take Kato Dan's niece—but you will hand over the Tongue Curse: Erasure Mark to me.
I will supervise its use. I will never allow it to be used on the Senju clan, or on anyone you care about. How about it?"
Tsunade hesitated.
Orochimaru had given her a way down.
Since last night, she had been frantically searching for Shizune. It was Orochimaru who told her Danzo had taken her.
Orochimaru was one of her most important allies in the village. With his support, the higher-ups could do nothing to her.
Just as in the jōnin council votes—whenever Orochimaru stood up, even the elders had to fall silent.
Seeing Tsunade waver, Hiruzen felt a bitter ache. She never listened to him—but when Orochimaru stepped in, she calmed.
At last, Tsunade formed seals and summoned a large scroll.
The Uzumaki clan crest was emblazoned upon it—the same spiral emblem on the back of shinobi flak jackets.
Danzo's eyes gleamed. The Uzumaki Sealing Scroll…
With that in his grasp, his power would rise yet again.
Tsunade copied the Tongue Curse: Erasure Mark and tossed it to Orochimaru.
"I've given you the jutsu. From now on, you will never interfere with Shizune or the Spirit Transformation Technique again."
Orochimaru skimmed the technique. So I end up as the only one who profits… as if I arranged all this myself.
He chuckled inwardly.
"Yes. This is indeed the brain-engraved curse seal—the Tongue Curse: Erasure Mark," he confirmed.
Tsunade took Shizune and leapt out through the gaping hole in the ceiling.
When Yako and Golden Eagle arrived, they saw Tsunade leaving with a small girl.
Orochimaru was handing a scroll to Danzo.
"Counselor Danzo," Orochimaru said, "don't make me break my word before Tsunade.
There are many ways to secure loyalty. Using seals is the worst of them.
Like the Hyūga clan's Caged Bird—possessing the Byakugan, yet half the clan is reduced to mediocrity."
Danzo took the scroll without comment.
He tugged on it—and found Orochimaru still holding on.
Danzo had no choice but to say, "I will not conscript the Senju clan into Root. You have my word."
Only then did Orochimaru release the scroll.
Beside Yako, Golden Eagle muttered, "Why? The Hyūga have lost so many people in Root and ANBU—why do the Senju get special treatment?
And what about the Uchiha? Why don't they have to send people into ANBU?"
From the Senju perspective, Tsunade seemed to have taken a great loss.
From the viewpoint of other clans or civilian shinobi, she enjoyed privileges they would never dare imagine.
From the standpoint of every child taken here… perhaps everyone in Konoha was guilty.
Fairness had always been "relative."
Yako felt uneasy. So Danzo obtained a crucial jutsu from Tsunade…
The new Root trainees emerged again from the shadows, gazing up at the hole above.
The light pouring down from Tsunade's escape was bright.
But light could not dispel the darkness.
The future of these trainees was already sealed.
After exchanging a few looks, the four elders departed one by one.
Deep into the night, Tsunade finished her work at Konoha Hospital and closed her office door.
She suddenly turned toward the side.
From the adjacent restroom stepped a hooded figure in a long cloak.
Who had infiltrated this close to her?
Recognizing the mask, Tsunade identified him. "ANBU… Fox?"
"Princess Tsunade," Yako said, "what jutsu did you trade in exchange for Kato Shizune?"
Tsunade replied coldly, "Who do you represent? If the Third wants to know, why doesn't he ask Danzo himself?"
Yako didn't want to expose himself before Tsunade. But this concerned Danzo's power—and he had no choice.
He had already used his Byakugan to scan the area. No surveillance shinobi were present.
"My apologies, Princess Tsunade. Yellow Dog needs this information."
Yako lunged.
Tsunade hadn't expected Fox to attack her. She swung a punch.
But as they closed, seals flared across the floor.
Self-Curse Binding Seal?
She had heard ANBU obtained sealing techniques from Uzumaki remains.
Her movement faltered.
Such powerful sealing chakra…
Fox's talent in fuinjutsu is this high?
Kushina once said she nearly lost control at the Academy—until an ANBU wearing a fox mask sealed her leaking Nine-Tails chakra.
Fox's speed surged.
In the next instant, his five fingers pressed against Tsunade's abdomen.
Five Elements Seal!
Just as Yako thought she was underwhelming, the diamond mark on Tsunade's forehead flared. The Yin Seal burst forth.
Both the Self-Curse Binding Seal and the Five Elements Seal were blown apart by raw chakra.
Yako retreated.
So Tsunade had already mastered the Yin Seal—she had stepped onto the threshold of Kage-class.
Shock filled Tsunade's face. Her hands even trembled.
The curse seal was one thing—but that Five Elements Seal… that chakra—
There was no mistake.
It was Uzumaki chakra, imbued with an innate sealing property.
A Five Elements Seal cast by an Uzumaki was entirely different from one cast by an ordinary shinobi.
Tsunade herself had mastered the Yin Seal because both her grandmother and mother were Uzumaki.
Uzumaki chakra naturally carried sealing power; in their hands, fuinjutsu was on another level.
Suddenly, she recalled crucial information.
On the night the Nine-Tails' seal was converted, Kushina said someone had infused her with chakra at the critical moment.
That chakra had unmistakably been Uzumaki—overflowing with sealing power.
It had saved Kushina twice.
Otherwise, Kushina's condition would have been far worse, and the Nine-Tails' rampage would have killed even more Senju.
At the most crucial moment of the sealing ritual, her father and her mother had died. Only ANBU remained around Kushina.
"Who are you?" Tsunade demanded.
"I am Fox."
Her agitation faded.
Fox was ANBU—his identity had to remain hidden.
Yet he carried powerful Uzumaki blood. That meant he was very likely tied to the Senju and Uzumaki.
Which explained why, at the most critical moment of the Nine-Tails sealing, he had twice risked everything to help Kushina.
"Princess Tsunade," Yako asked again, "what jutsu did you trade for Kato Shizune?"
Tsunade sensed the area once more—no suspicious presence.
"Tungue Curse: Erasure Mark."
"Do not pursue me," Yako said. "At the right time, I will help the clan again."
His words were deliberately vague, as he feigned being Senju, then vanished in a Body Flicker.
Run.
One more moment and he would've been exposed—Tsunade was not someone easily fooled.
Tsunade stood in silence. She wanted to say more to Fox, but she knew he feared exposure and could not linger.
She hurried back to the clan compound and entered Hanaki's courtyard.
"Aunt Hanaki, did my father leave any secret arrangements?"
Hanaki frowned. "Secret arrangements? What kind?"
"Something like… placing agents within ANBU?"
Hanaki shook her head. "I don't know. Before your father's death, I never concerned myself with clan management. If he made any such arrangements, he wouldn't have told me."
Tsunade found no answer—but in her heart, she was certain of one thing.
Fox was not simple.
Techniques could be learned. Seals could be mastered through practice. But chakra with an innate sealing attribute could not be faked.
She felt a pang of regret.
The Tongue Curse: Erasure Mark had clearly meant a great deal to Fox—enough that he risked exposure to question her. Had she made a mistake?
Late that night, Yako summoned White Porcelain, the stone panda.
"White Porcelain, deliver this scroll to Yuka."
White Porcelain nodded and vanished in a reverse summon.
After reading the scroll, Uzumaki Yuka gathered Uzumaki Genchō and Uzumaki Kaichō.
"Move out! Fox has sent new intelligence. We're heading to the Grass Country's capital to investigate the Shimura clan's guardian ninja.
The capital of Grass Country follows the nomadic ranches—it has no fixed location.
Shimura Danzo's forces are rebounding from rock bottom. Fox says we need to increase the pressure."