Shuji learned that Tsunade's attempt had failed.
Late at night, she arrived at the western suburbs' old estate carrying a bottle of sake, trailing the scent of alcohol that had not yet dissipated.
Unlike her usual boisterous manner, the Senju princess merely walked silently into the courtyard, casually placing the empty sake bottle beneath the veranda before asking hoarsely for water.
Shuji handed her a cup, watching as she drained it in one gulp.
"Bad mood," she said in a muffled voice.
When she had first returned, she was busy, but at least the advancement of various matters proceeded smoothly.
The matter of Uzumaki Naruto, with even her teacher Sarutobi Hiruzen maintaining a conservative attitude, left her feeling somewhat irritated.
"Mm, indeed, I also thought too simply," Shuji looked at Tsunade, saying softly, "You worked hard, Lady Tsunade."
This calm "you worked hard" made Tsunade feel uncomfortable all over. She set down the cup, reaching toward Shuji's forehead with a confused expression. "Are you sick? Or did training damage your brain?"
"If approaching from upper levels proves difficult, why not approach from Naruto's environment instead?" Shuji ignored her, saying, "I will discuss it with Hayami and the others."
"Mm, that is indeed a method." Tsunade contemplated, finding this approach much more feasible. Her mood relaxed slightly.
Those former Senju clan members scattered throughout the village, each bearing different surnames, would not appear to be some ninja clan's isolated goodwill while indirectly influencing villagers' attitudes.
Though uncertain how effective it would prove, it should produce some results.
"Speaking of which, Lady Tsunade, when Hayami visited last time, he inquired whether you had interest in participating in western suburbs gatherings."
"That matter..." Tsunade shook her head, leaning back against the veranda pillar. "Forget it. You are handling things well. Dealing with them, I will leave to you."
"You remain so lazy."
Though not exactly kind words, the feeling proved right. Tsunade simply relaxed her body, lying directly on the slightly cool wooden floor, gazing up at that bright full moon in the night sky.
As the alcohol's effects gradually rose, bringing some hazy drowsiness.
Watching the moon, she said, "Regarding the Uchiha matter, although Shimura Danzo has consistently opposed, we can generally reach consensus with the old man and the others."
"This time concerns the jinchūriki. Later, there will likely be other conflicts with them."
Shuji answered, "The two advisors are, after all, prudent people. No need to overly concern yourself with their opposition."
Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane sought the most stable, least error-prone plans. However, as long as the Hokage persisted, even if these two opposed, they would not actually obstruct actions. This differed from Danzo.
"I know, I know, stop lecturing me!" Tsunade closed her eyes, tone languid. "After this Chūnin Exam concludes, the Uchiha Police Force reform matter must continue advancing."
"Whom do you plan to have enter the Police Force?"
"The Hyūga clan," Tsunade said. "Their strength suffices. As fellow dōjutsu bloodline limit noble clans, the Uchiha can hardly humiliate them on strength grounds."
This proved a wise choice. Moreover, compared to the Uchiha clan, the Hyūga clan also behaved more peacefully.
"That Uchiha ANBU squad, where were they dispatched?" Shuji recalled this matter.
"Them?" Tsunade recalled briefly. "Temporarily assigned to cooperate with Shisui, dispatched to the eastern coast to execute surveillance missions monitoring Kirigakure's borders."
"Kirigakure?"
"Kirigakure underwent some unknown incident, acting mysteriously without explanation. Recently, they keep sending people across the sea to land," Tsunade said. "Might as well have Shisui lead people to investigate the situation. This also counts as a long-term mission. They cannot return for some time."
"Initially, assigning overly troublesome missions proved inadvisable, lest we stimulate those Uchiha with tightly strung nerves."
"Looking at effects after this mission returns... at that time..."
Tsunade's voice gradually lowered, becoming increasingly indistinct, finally replaced by even, light breathing.
Shuji turned his head sideways. Moonlight gently spilled across Tsunade's face. She closed her eyes, chest rising and falling slightly. She had actually fallen asleep like this.
As night wind gradually cooled, Shuji rose and entered the house, retrieving a blanket to cover her.
As the Chūnin Exam finals' date approached, Konoha Village welcomed long-absent clamor and liveliness.
The Land of Fire's daimyo and his entourage arrived first. Subsequently, daimyos, nobles, and wealthy merchants from numerous surrounding small nations also entered Konoha Village.
Momentarily, Konoha's main streets displayed ornate carriages and brightly dressed crowds everywhere. Inns filled to capacity. Taverns and shops enjoyed unprecedented booming business.
Fortunately, Konoha had undergone replanning, enabling reception of so many outsiders. Even so, momentarily the Police Force and ANBU proved extraordinarily busy.
Perhaps due to impressions left by the previous Guardian Shinobi incident, not long after the Land of Fire's daimyo arrived, Shuji received notification to proceed to the Hokage Tower for a meeting.
The meeting's atmosphere remained the same as always. The daimyo remained unchanged, merely exchanging greetings about recent circumstances before allowing Shuji to withdraw and depart.
After leaving the reception hall, Shuji did not directly exit the Hokage Tower but instead turned toward Tsunade's office.
Pushing open the door, he saw the blonde Senju princess staring blankly at a document.
"You came?" Hearing the commotion, Tsunade did not raise her head. "Finished chatting with His Excellency the Daimyo?"
"Merely routine greetings." Shuji sat opposite her.
"Honestly, I do not know what the old man was thinking, actually agreeing to this matter." Tsunade set down the document in her hands, lying on the desk. "These daimyos truly prove troublesome."
"Daimyo?"
"Remember the Land of Tea matter previously?"
"Mm."
"Among daimyos arriving at the village this time, one submitted a proposal to Lord Hokage, hoping to establish a shinobi village within his nation."
"The Land of Rivers?" Shuji did not know which nation's daimyo lacked such perception, missing the Warring States era's excellent opportunity. Now lacking a village, why contemplate creating another one?
"No."
"Cannot possibly be the Land of Tea still."
"The Land of Fields," Tsunade pushed the document toward him. "This is their submitted application document."
"The Land of Fields' daimyo promises absolutely not to affect mission quotas and financial support currently allocated to Konoha from the Land of Fields."
"They merely wish to possess a shinobi organization capable of rapidly responding to domestic needs and handling internal affairs."
The Land of Fields...
Shuji found this name exceptionally familiar. He accepted the document, gaze swiftly scanning those official formalities.
"Did they mention the shinobi village's name?"
"The submitted name is Otogakure," Tsunade felt somewhat puzzled. "I am wondering, where does the Land of Fields obtain financial resources to, without touching funds allocated to Konoha, still support a shinobi village?"
"What is that fellow planning who intends to establish Otogakure..."
Shuji's fingertips lightly tapped the document. It truly was Otogakure, Orochimaru's village...
"Did the Third not say more about this?" He raised his eyes and asked.
Tsunade said, "The old man said Root already investigated. Otogakure holds no problems."
"That side has already signed an alliance treaty with Konoha and promises to dispatch personnel annually to participate in Chūnin Exams."
Root handled the investigation?
If Shuji recalled correctly, though Danzo initially also pursued Orochimaru's elimination attitude when he left the village, later they reconnected and resumed cooperation.
The current problem lay in whether Sarutobi Hiruzen knew Otogakure was his excellent disciple Orochimaru's village.
Chapters in advance there: patreon.com/Thaniel_a_goodchild