"We don't know the details," one of the envoys admitted carefully, "but we heard Shimura Danzo offered the Uchiha clan extremely generous terms. That's how the alliance was formed."
Tsunade frowned.
"Terms…?"
"Would the Uchiha really forget their hatred for the sake of benefits?"
Despite being born into the Senju clan, Tsunade never carried blind prejudice toward the Uchiha.
If anything, her background meant she understood them better than most.
She had once heard her grand-uncle, Tobirama Senju, say that the Uchiha were the true "Clan of Love."
Stubborn. Intense. Cold on the surface—but ruled by emotion.
Would such a clan really set aside decades of hostility for political gain?
Tsunade's eyes narrowed.
Something didn't add up.
Just then—
The tavern door opened again.
Two figures dressed as shinobi—but without visible forehead protectors—stepped inside.
They spotted Tsunade instantly and approached.
"Tsunade-sama."
They bowed respectfully.
Their eyes flicked toward the Daimyō's envoys beside her.
"ANBU?" Tsunade asked casually.
The two hesitated—then shook their heads.
"No. We are ninja of the Sarutobi clan."
Technically, they were ANBU.
But Hiruzen Sarutobi was no longer Hokage. The ANBU captain, Asuma Sarutobi?—no, correction: in this continuity it was his son who had died—either way, Hiruzen no longer held formal authority over ANBU.
He had specifically instructed them to avoid using that identity.
Tsunade's gaze sharpened.
"Sarutobi clan?"
Her sense of Konoha's instability deepened.
"Speak. What does that old man want?"
The two glanced at the Daimyō's envoys again.
Tsunade waved dismissively.
"Don't worry. They're here to drag me back for political marriage with the Uchiha."
"In a way, we're all entangled in the same mess."
The two shinobi froze.
Political marriage?
With the Uchiha?
This complicated things.
They had been sent to ask Tsunade to go to the Daimyō's court and sever the connection between the Daimyō and the Uchiha.
But now—
The Daimyō wanted to strengthen that connection.
Tsunade caught the hesitation immediately.
"So," she said flatly, "this is about the Uchiha and the Daimyō, isn't it?"
The men exchanged a look and nodded.
"Yes."
"The Third Hokage is in a difficult position. With the Uchiha backing Shimura Danzo, and the Daimyō aligning with whoever the Uchiha support…"
"If Danzo loses the election but retains that external backing, Minato-sama may be unable to properly exercise Hokage authority."
"And if Danzo decides to go down fighting…"
"The village will be in danger."
Tsunade understood instantly.
Danzo wasn't just fighting for a title.
He was positioning himself for leverage—even in defeat.
She crossed her arms.
"What exactly did Danzo promise the Uchiha?"
That was the core of the matter.
One of the shinobi answered:
"Rumors say he promised the Uchiha a seat as Konoha Elder and Hokage Advisor if they help him secure the position."
"The same offer was made to the Hyūga clan."
"But the intelligence is only seventy percent reliable."
Tsunade murmured:
"Elder… Hokage Advisor…"
Generous, yes.
But enough to erase blood-deep animosity?
She doubted it.
The Hyūga accepting that kind of deal made sense.
But the Uchiha?
Their long-term obsession had never been advisory power.
It had been the Hokage seat itself.
Would they truly stand behind Danzo for a consolation prize?
It felt wrong.
The situation reminded her of something absurd.
"The Uchiha backing Danzo…"
She exhaled sharply.
"That's like a mouse serving as the cat's bridesmaid."
Completely unnatural.
She shook her head.
There were too many unseen variables.
She turned to the Daimyō's envoys.
"Go back and report this: I'll decide about the marriage after I meet this Uchiha Jin in person."
Until she saw the board clearly—
She would stall.
The envoys bowed and withdrew.
Tsunade then looked at the Sarutobi shinobi.
"You two wait outside town."
"I'll pack and return to Konoha with you."
They hesitated.
Their mission had been to bring her to the Daimyō.
Not Konoha.
Tsunade snorted.
"I'll explain it to the old man myself."
"You don't need to worry about that."
Then she turned to Shizune.
"Shizune. Pay the tavern owner for the damage."
"Then pack our things."
"We're going home."
Her eyes were no longer clouded by alcohol.
For the first time that evening—
They were sharp.
Something big was moving beneath the surface.
And Tsunade intended to see it with her own eyes.
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