"Uchiha matters, I leave to your arrangements."
Tsunade handed Shuji authority for handling Uchiha Enblade. Seeing matters requiring discussion had about concluded, she casually closed documents before her.
Not looking anymore. Couldn't finish anyway. Off work.
Shuji glanced at documents on her desk.
When you previously dragged me into overtime handling official business, your attitude proved quite different.
Tsunade seemingly read meaning from his gaze, somewhat reluctantly explaining, "The most urgent portions are already handled. The remainder... saying more tomorrow also proves timely."
Speaking thus, she retrieved a wine flask and cup from the low cabinet beside her office desk, plus two pairs of chopsticks, then took out a plate of kuri yōkan—sweet red bean paste treats—a plate of edamame, plus a plate of cold tofu.
"Don't stand there foolishly. Come help," Tsunade called, supplementing, "The old man smokes for alertness. Mine also serves for alertness!"
She arranged the wine flask, cup and edamame on the nearby tea table. Shuji naturally took over remaining sweets and tofu.
Clear liquor poured into the cup. Tsunade lifted it, lightly sipping. A full day's official business dispersed considerably in this mouthful.
Shuji did not drink alcohol. The kuri yōkan went to him.
Tsunade said, "After signing the alliance, Cloud Village has proven considerably compliant. The east now only has Kirigakure occasionally causing movements."
"What truly proves somewhat worrying is instead Iwagakure's side."
Shuji quietly listened, finding himself a cup and pouring clear tea.
Swirling the wine cup in hand, the Fifth Hokage continued, "Support for Sunagakure has already been arranged."
"According to intelligence ANBU transmitted back, during the Chūnin Exam period, Iwagakure obviously slowed offensive momentum. That old man Ōnoki is thinking something again unknown."
"Once Iwagakure stops, western front circumstances instead become more difficult to predict."
From Tsunade's past experience, whenever Konoha entered stable development momentum, one shinobi village would prepare giving Konoha a strike.
Since the Third Shinobi World War, Sunagakure had not done such things for several years. However, ultimately these remained uncertain.
However, positive trends this Joint Chūnin Exam displayed truly let her see development directions differing from the past.
"Eastern regions prove relatively prosperous. If establishing lasting peaceful exchanges, we will then possess more leisure slowly handling western problems," Shuji responded.
"Speaking of this," Tsunade seemed to recall something, "Cloud Village has already sent correspondence, formally raising next Chūnin Exam matters."
"Next March, hosted by them. According to agreements, we need dispatching teams to participate."
Next year? Besides Uchiha Itachi, these past two years Konoha seemingly lacked particularly outstanding, not-yet-promoted-to-chūnin figures.
After all, after the Nine-Tails attack, the village fought nearly three years. Those who should promote had already promoted. Those unable proved limited in strength.
Now he could only hope this year and next might produce some outstanding genin prospects.
At least in his memory, he temporarily had not located particularly outstanding, named figures.
Couldn't possibly throw that eternal genin elder Kosuke Maruboshi over there.
This point, Tsunade obviously understood more clearly than him. Early upon receiving Cloud Village's letter, she had already scanned the roster of qualified personnel.
"Since it's Cloud Village's home field, them showing off once also proves unavoidable." Though probably not Cloud Village's subjective will, this time they also provided Konoha one instance of cooperation.
"Though saying so, we also cannot prove too disgraceful," Tsunade downed a mouthful of alcohol. "Still several months remain. We can see then whether suitable candidates exist."
Shuji further accompanied Tsunade listening to her complain about official business matters before rising to leave the Hokage's office.
Departing the building before returning home to sleep, he deliberately detoured toward the interrogation room direction.
Uchiha Itachi was guarding the entrance. Shuji beckoned.
"Senpai."
"The mission of watching over him, your squad handles," Shuji instructed. "Only one requirement: before tomorrow without receiving the Hokage's formal orders, don't let him contact any others."
"Beyond this, food and water supply continues normally."
Itachi nodded, indicating understanding.
This matter arranged here did not yet completely conclude. Uchiha fallen warriors' remains required proper arrangements. Since Tsunade handed Uchiha Enblade's matter to Shuji for handling, then another matter also required his appearance.
Therefore, early the next morning, Shuji departed for Konoha Police Force headquarters, visiting Uchiha Fugaku.
This Uchiha clan head, when seeing Shuji actively coming to pay respects at the Police Force, momentarily felt a sense of rarity.
The last time Shuji actively sought him was last year, when Shuji just became Itachi's captain.
Afterward, all private meetings either involved Uchiha Fugaku himself actively seeking Shuji or being summoned.
However, the news Shuji brought this time was not anything worth celebrating.
"Dead? Only Enblade remains alone?"
"When engaging hired shinobi at the border, their squad was heavily targeted by enemies," Shuji briefly explained circumstances. "One corpse could not be recovered. The other two remains have already been transported back to the village, temporarily placed at the hospital."
"Just while awaiting rotation force handovers, their Sharingan were stolen."
Uchiha Fugaku remained silent. Having experienced the Third Shinobi World War and personally led clan members rushing to front lines, news of clan members dying in battle was not unacceptable to him.
Tsunade's brother Nawaki, even with Orochimaru's care, could not escape death on battlefields.
Bloodline limit clans facing targeting on battlefields due to outstanding performance, even having remains seized by enemies, counted as nothing new in the shinobi world.
However, remains being smoothly brought back before eyes mysteriously stolen within camp inevitably produced many unfavorable associations.
He asked, "Where is Enblade currently?"
"At the Hokage Tower. He was overly emotional at the time, publicly accusing Kakashi as suspect," Shuji honestly informed. "Currently under Itachi's guard."
Hearing Kakashi being groundlessly accused publicly, Fugaku could not voice any rebuttal regarding Enblade's temporary confinement.
Kakashi's ANBU status proved high, second only to the Commander.
Since Uchiha Enblade belonged to ANBU sequence, publicly offending superior commanding officers, receiving punishment proved inevitable.
The village now having clansman Itachi perform guard duties itself already transmitted signals of not intending further investigation.
"Eye matters, investigation continues. Kakashi's side has not yet reached clear conclusions."
"As for Uchiha Enblade, considering Uchiha clan's recent merits and sacrifices, after confinement punishment, no further additional penalties will occur."
Chapters in advance there: patreon.com/Thaniel_a_goodchild