With the Uchiha clan gone, the construction of the hospital was now fully settled.
Kawakaze led everyone away.
The workers, who had been terrified moments earlier, gradually resumed their normal duties.
Thanks to Earth Release tunneling techniques and the workers' incredible physical strength, the hospital was completed within just a few months.
During this time, Koharu Utatane gradually pieced together the truth.This had been a conspiracy targeting Danzo Shimura, with Hatake Kawakaze as the true intended victim.
As for her, she had simply been an important chess piece he spent a great deal of money to bring in.
Now it was her turn to play an important role.After collecting her thoughts, she headed toward the Hokage building.
I went up to the third floor and opened the door to the Hokage's office.
The Third Hokage and Mitokado Homura were processing documents, while men from the Hatake clan were planning how to allocate and use the funds for purchasing land.
"Koharu, you're here."
The Third Hokage held his pipe in his mouth, exhaled smoke through his nose, and greeted Utatane Koharu.
"Danzo is dead."
But Koharu Utatane had just dropped the ultimate bombshell.
Sarutobi Hiruzen's pipe slipped from his mouth and clattered onto the desk.
Mitokado Homura was equally shocked.
"What happened? Why is Danzo dead?"
Even the Third Hokage, for all his experience, could not believe that someone like Danzo—a man who lived in the shadows and commanded Root—could actually die.
"Today, I was invited by Tsunade to observe the groundbreaking ceremony of the new hospital."
"Danzo and the Uchiha clan came to the site to stir up trouble."
"This sparked a conflict between both sides, and Danzo was killed by Hatake Kawakaze."
Koharu concealed her own involvement in the plot. After all, she and Danzo were both old foxes who had lived for decades—claiming Danzo tried to assassinate her would sound ridiculous.
This was simply the official version.
"Kawakaze of the Hatake clan? I didn't expect our decisions to push Danzo into such actions."
"Well, he brought this upon himself."
Homura showed little sympathy for Danzo, and thus didn't object to his death.
"Hah…"
Sarutobi Hiruzen shook his head, steadied himself, and picked up his pipe again.
"Where is the body?"
"Summon the remaining Root operatives and transfer them to the Anbu."
The Third Hokage swiftly arranged Danzo's funeral.There was no need to explain his death to the villagers—Danzo had always lived in the darkness, far from ordinary eyes.
"I've already sent the Anbu to look for it."
"This Hatake Kawakaze is no ordinary man."
All of this had been decided before Koharu even entered the room, yet now she had begun speaking about Kawakaze.
"He's extremely powerful, and the fact that he supports Tsunade isn't a bad thing."
"With someone like him behind her, Tsunade may well inherit her teacher's will."
The Third Hokage had long placed great hopes on Tsunade.With her strength and her identity as a member of the Senju clan, becoming Hokage would not be difficult.
"Give Danzo a proper funeral."
"And tell Hatake Kawakaze this—a conflict does not always have to be a matter of life and death."
"I don't want this sort of thing happening again."
The Third asked Koharu to deliver this message—a polite warning to Kawakaze.
Fortunately Koharu Utatane had been involved; otherwise, Danzo's death would not be so easily brushed aside.
And so the matter of Danzo came to an end.Relying on Koharu, Kawakaze successfully avoided trouble.
Neither the Hatake clan nor he himself bore any responsibility, and Danzo's threat was eliminated once and for all.
The greatest winner in this entire incident was surely Tsunade—having a well–endowed chest truly was wonderful.
She didn't spend a single coin, nor did she have to lift a finger, yet she reaped the greatest benefits.
――――――――――――――
With the situation resolved, there was no longer any need for Kawakaze and the others to accompany her.
The construction crew didn't dare slack off.
That night, at the Hatake family restaurant—
A feast was laid out again, dishes covering the table.
"Kawakaze-kun… will our teacher be angry with you because of Danzo?"
Tsunade still felt uneasy.Only Danzo himself truly understood how important he had been to the Third Hokage.
"He'll definitely be angry. But with Advisor Koharu there, the worst he'll do is beat me up a little."
"It's fine."
Kawakaze had studied the Third Hokage thoroughly—Hiruzen had some affection for Danzo, but not deep enough to start a war over him.
"Come on, drink."
Sakumo was simple—if there was liquor, he drank.
Tsunade picked up a cup as well.
"I saw you discussing that large underground chamber beneath the main building with the construction team today?"
Tsunade didn't understand the purpose of such a large underground room, so she hadn't mentioned it to anyone.
"A laboratory just for you."
"It'll be used for various kinds of research. Otherwise, how will we advance medical ninjutsu?"
Kawakaze wasn't lying—but he certainly had his own selfish goals.
Without a proper lab, how could they study Hashirama's cells?
"I understand. I won't ask further."
Tsunade raised her cup and toasted him.
"Actually, my teacher once had great ambitions."
"But in the end, it never came to fruition."
She put down her cup and began to speak.
Kawakaze and the others listened as they ate and drank happily.
"After my grandfather died, Sensei hoped that the Hidden Leaf would someday produce another Wood Release user."
"He gathered medical-nin to study Grandfather's cells."
Kawakaze's heart trembled as he listened.He never expected that the Third Hokage's secret project had never escaped the Senju clan's awareness.
He placed more food on Tsunade's plate, urging her gently to continue.
"Unfortunately, the results were the opposite of what he wanted. Grandfather's cells had strong assimilation abilities."
"Every volunteer who took part in the experiments died—each one turned into a withered tree."
"Even many of my Senju kin perished."
At this point, Tsunade's mood visibly sank.
"I want to use this laboratory to study Grandfather's cells myself, to see if I can recreate Wood Release."
Kawakaze hadn't expected Tsunade to propose the plan before he even mentioned it.That saved him a great deal of persuasion later.
"I support you. But why didn't you participate back then?"
"I was still young. By the time I grew up, the experiments were already over."
"Sensei ordered the entire matter sealed. The casualties were far too heavy. Konoha couldn't bear that kind of pain again."
"So I won't perform any live experiments until I make a breakthrough."
Tsunade voiced her intentions.
"My cells are quite active. I hope I can help you when the time comes."
This was Kawakaze's biggest confidence in fusing Hashirama cells.
"All right. I believe we can recreate Grandfather's Wood Release in this ninja world."
Tsunade was in high spirits, unaware that even with full research, not everyone could withstand Sage cells.
Kawakaze didn't mention that unpleasant truth.As long as he could integrate them, the lab would not be wasted.
And he firmly believed Tsunade had the ability—after all, in the original story, Naruto's re-grown arm was cultivated using Hashirama's cells under her supervision.
Hearing about Wood Release excited Sakumo and Nayuki as well.It was a powerful kekkei genkai capable of restraining even the Nine-Tails.
If Tsunade succeeded, the entire village of Konoha might change forever.
No shinobi village would dare provoke someone who could wield full Wood Release.
"Once the hospital is finished, we can start installing the equipment."
"Use the best materials for the laboratory. I'll pay for everything."
"No need to save it for me. From now on, it all belongs to you."
Even while discussing business, Kawakaze didn't forget to tease Tsunade.
She said nothing—she simply gave him a charming look.
As expected, they all drank too much during the celebration.
Sakumo lay on the floor shouting "Cheers!" even in his sleep.
Tsunade clung tightly to Kawakaze, her cheeks flushed, while Kawakaze himself was already fast asleep.
Only Nayuki remained barely conscious, sending the ghost mastiff to get help.
Eventually, the servants carried all four of them back to their rooms, one by one.
And so they slept soundly again.
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All the fanfiction is 30-chapter ahead but this "Naruto: Tsunade the Fugitive Healer" is 30 chapters ahead there