Everyone in the room was shocked.
This isn't a joke. A young genius on the rise suddenly becoming an ordinary person? What a waste.
What exactly were the higher-ups thinking?
Unfortunately, most of them only dared to think this. No one had the courage to actually say it
out loud.
Except for Tsunade, who had no qualms about voicing her complaints.
Even though they kept their thoughts to themselves, seeing a dedicated shinobi, who had given everything to the village, being pushed to the point of wanting to retire was
disheartening.
No matter how much respect they had for the Third Hokage and the higher-ups, it didn't sit
right.
Today it's Usagi Xin, but who's to say it won't be them tomorrow?
"Elder, I'm afraid I'll need to return to the village. I'll have to leave the camp in your capable hands," Tsunade said abruptly.
With everything that had happened, Tsunade couldn't stay calm. She needed to go back to the
village.
She couldn't focus on fighting on the frontlines or healing the wounded with this unresolved.
The room fell silent as everyone held their breath.
Right now, the war was at a critical stage, and Tsunade leaving the battlefield could destabilize Konoha's entire advantage over Sunagakure.
With both Jiraiya and Orochimaru already gone, the pressure was mounting.
And now, Tsunade was leaving too, with no clear timeline for her return. Everyone knew about Tsunade's close relationship with Xin. If his situation wasn't
resolved, Tsunade might not just leave the frontlines-she might never come back at all.
How was Sakumo supposed to respond to this?
Hatake Sakumo felt like the command role he held was more of a burden than anything else.
He had accepted the absences of Jiraiya and Orochimaru.
But now, with Tsunade also leaving and no guarantee of her return, the weight on his
shoulders was crushing.
"Tsunade, I really hope you'll stay. The war has reached a decisive point, and your departure would seriously impact our efforts," Sakumo said, trying his best to persuade her, though with little confidence.
"I'm sorry, Elder," Tsunade replied, shaking her head as she looked toward Konoha in the
distance.
"If I leave, yes, it will affect the camp. The war will probably drag on longer. But if I don't go,
I fear something even worse could happen."
Hatake Sakumo could only shake his head in resignation.
"Do you think the Hokage will approve Xin's retirement request?" Sakumo asked, though
The already knew the answer.
After all, Xin had contributed a great deal to the village, something everyone could see- although the higher-ups had never publicized it.
The truth was clear now: Xin was being targeted.
Because of his Uchiha bloodline, he was singled out.
In the command center, the few Uchiha jonin who had come to fight on the frontlines looked
visibly upset.
"From what I know of the Hokage, he won't approve such a request," Nara Shikashige added, trying to reassure Tsunade.
"Tsunade, your concerns are unnecessary. I believe the Hokage will handle this situation
properly."
"Right now, our priority is the war. After all, everything we do is for the village."
Everything is for the village.
That was the Third Hokage's favorite line, often used to educate and persuade Tsunade,
Orochimaru, and Jiraiya.
But this time, when Tsunade heard it, it only grated on her nerves.
...
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