Tsunade could only be forced to abandon her own will when Konoha itself was in danger.
No matter what she was doing, once the village was threatened, she had to return—without hesitation.
Even if the chance to completely annihilate Mei Terumi's Kirigakure unit lay right in front of her, Tsunade could not afford to linger.
Her teachers were in Konoha.Her comrades.The families of the shinobi under her command.
Every place she had lived since childhood, every person she had grown up with, every memory she carried—all of it bound her fate to the village called Konoha.
If Konoha fell, what meaning would victory here have?
"What do you mean?"
A dangerous glint flashed in Tsunade's eyes. Mei Terumi's words had sparked an unsettling suspicion.
Seeing Tsunade's reaction, Mei finally smiled faintly. She tapped her lips and spoke slowly:
"I know your real concern is Kumogakure. And you're right to worry."
"A few days ago, Kumogakure secretly sent an envoy to Kirigakure. They proposed borrowing a passage through the Land of Water to attack Konoha."
"Our elders feared it was a trap meant to drag us into unnecessary trouble—so they rejected it."
Tsunade's heart skipped a beat.
Konoha had deployed numerous sentry units along the borders of the Land of Fire and the Land of Lightning, precisely to guard against Kumogakure.
But if Kumogakure bypassed those borders by invading through another country—
Those vigilant outposts, tirelessly relaying information back to Konoha, would become a fatal blind spot.
If Kumogakure's forces suddenly emerged from another direction—appearing outside Konoha like gods descending from the sky—
It would already be too late.
"…Kirigakure refused," Tsunade muttered."But other countries might not."
That was the true danger.
And the real reason Mei Terumi had willingly revealed this secret.
Leading her forces, Mei couldn't defeat Konoha's unit. Retreating directly was impossible with Tsunade relentlessly pressing her.
So she did the only thing that could make Tsunade withdraw on her own—
She reminded her that home was about to burn.
Kirigakure rejected Kumogakure's proposal because of its isolationist traditions and aversion to risk.
But other countries?
Would they refuse?
Kumogakure was powerful. Wealthy.
If intimidation failed, bribery would succeed.
How many small nations could resist both the stick and the carrot?
Tsunade's breathing quickened.
No wonder Iwagakure and Sunagakure moved without waiting for Kumogakure…
They were laying the groundwork for something far more insidious.
Borrowing a path.Borrowing a path…
There were only a few neighboring countries through which Kumogakure could strike Konoha unseen.
Which one would sell that passage?
Tsunade didn't know.
Her thoughts were already racing toward only one conclusion—
She had to get this information back to Konoha.
Konoha's manpower was limited. Surveillance was concentrated along Fire–Lightning borders because Kumogakure was the primary threat.
And Kumogakure knew that.
That was why they proposed the "borrow a path" plan in the first place.
There was no need to verify Mei Terumi's words.
Tsunade believed her completely.
Kumogakure intended to uproot Konoha in a single, decisive strike—minimizing losses, maximizing destruction.
"So?" Mei asked lightly."Do you still want a price?"
Tsunade's face was grim. She said nothing.
In the distance, the sounds of battle drew closer.
"Oh? They've already reached this far?" Mei glanced Tsunade up and down, briefly admiring her figure before reminding her,"Have you made your decision? Any later, and you'll be seen."
Tsunade snapped her head up and glared at Mei.
"Give me your coat."
A pause.
"…You're not wearing one?!" Tsunade stared in disbelief.
"You shameless woman!!"
In the end, Mei found a female Kirigakure ninja's outfit and tossed it to Tsunade.
Land of Waves – Small Coastal Town
Under their respective commanders' orders, the Konoha and Kirigakure forces stood facing each other in tense silence.
"Neiki…?"
When Tsunade saw the bodies of Akimichi Torifu, Yamanaka Masao, Shiranui Genma, and so many other familiar faces, fury surged through her.
She slammed her fist into a massive tree beside her, reducing it to splinters.
Her outburst instantly put the Kirigakure ninja on alert, mistaking it for a signal to resume battle.
"Captain Suzaku and Captain Hayama are currently fighting Neiki with several other jōnin," Shizune reported urgently."Should we go assist them?"
Kirigakure was no longer the enemy.
Only Neiki of the Hyuga Clan remained.
"Of course we're going!" Tsunade snarled.
She couldn't believe that the moment she left the battlefield, that monster had appeared between Konoha and Kirigakure.
"I've heard all about his 'achievements,'" she said coldly."I want to see them myself."
"And also—"
Her mind flashed back to the day she returned to Konoha.
The ruins.The pits filled with bodies awaiting burial.The numb, hollow expressions on countless faces.
And Sarutobi Hiruzen, who looked as though he had aged thirty years overnight, bowing his head the moment he saw her:
"I'm sorry, Tsunade. Too many people needed evacuation that night… Nawaki's grave couldn't be moved in time."
Even the Konoha cemetery—reinforced and guarded—had been rigged with explosive tags.
That level of hatred…It could only have been Neiki himself.
But Tsunade hadn't cared.
Graves meant nothing compared to the living.
Her response back then had been calm:
"It's fine. I'll find Neiki, kill him—and then blow up his grave."
At the time, it was just to comfort her teacher.
Now—
Seeing the "gifts" Neiki had left behind—
She could no longer suppress that impulse.
Can you represent yourself?
In a way… I can.
She summoned two ANBU and issued a cold, unwavering order:
"Deliver this information to Lord Hiruzen."
"You may die."
"But the message must arrive."
"Yes!"
The two vanished into the forest without hesitation.
Tsunade turned to the remaining Konoha ninja and drew a deep breath.
"Since we've found Neiki…"
"Let's go."
"Kill him."
"Bury him."
"And then—"
She clenched her fist.
"Blow up his grave."
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