These conjectures.... Makoto began to gradually explain to Uchiha Hikari once the situation with the Dragon Vein eased.
Although Hikari trusted him implicitly, some things could be discussed openly.
There was no need to deliberately hide facts and risk creating misunderstandings later.
After hearing Makoto's description of the "Hashirama Cell Curse," Hikari felt somewhat apprehensive.
No wonder Hashirama Senju and Uchiha Madara—these two "Gay Couple"—could have such a massive impact on Konoha and the Shinobi World.
Hashirama Senju's cells were terrifying!
Fortunately, heaven had eyes, letting him contract that illness and pass away early.
Otherwise, if he continued to live and plague the world, his hyper-aggressive cells might have eventually infected everyone.
The entire population would have turned into wood clones with his face growing on their chests!
It would have led to human extinction via "Hashirama-fication."
"Okay, I'll control the amount of Chakra maintained in my body," Hikari promised, nodding solemnly.
"Actually, we could try the Creation Rebirth or the Strength of a Hundred Seal. It would be more convenient to extract and store chakra that way. I wonder if the seal has a storage limit," Makoto mused, thinking of another method.
"Unfortunately, Orochimaru used Impure World Reincarnation on Kushina Uzumaki, not Mito Uzumaki. Otherwise, we could have her teach you right away. But no rush, Mito Uzumaki's status wasn't low, so her remains should be quite well preserved. We can just open her coffin and ask her later."
"Mito Uzumaki?"
Uchiha Hikari didn't have much fondness for the Uzumaki clan, which had allied with the Senju to suppress the Uchiha.
But when she thought about poor Mito Uzumaki—a woman caught between two "soulmates" (Hashirama and Madara) and forced to marry the one who survived their bromance—she felt the woman was quite pitiful!
'Trapped between two men whose love-hate relationship rivaled the gods... what a hard life,' Hikari thought.
Chakra absorption continued.
And as time passed, the rate gradually increased.
It had to increase, because this root system wasn't dead, simultaneously absorbing the natural energy from the land and converting it into Chakra.
If the absorption rate was too low, who knew how many years it would take to drain it dry.
....
Konoha.
Just as Makoto had mentioned earlier, he had White Zetsu write a letter to Tsunade on his behalf.
It was now being delivered to Tsunade by one of Orochimaru's spies who remained in the Leaf.
Tsunade had been depressed and refusing to see anyone, but when Shizune said it was from Makoto, she couldn't resist calling the messenger in.
"You're one of Orochimaru's spies, right? He actually didn't withdraw all his people back then?"
Tsunade frowned immediately upon seeing the Konoha headband on the messenger's forehead.
"Yes, Lady Tsunade."
"In that case, he must already know about the village's situation. What message did he send? Is he coming back to mock me?"
Tsunade took a sip of sake and let out a self-deprecating laugh.
The messenger ninja respectfully handed the letter to Shizune with both hands, who then passed it to Tsunade.
"I was entrusted by Makoto, the Strategist of Lord Orochimaru's organization, to deliver this letter to Lady Tsunade, along with a few words."
"Oh? What does he want to say?"
Tsunade took the letter but didn't open it immediately, instead waving it in her hand.
"After learning about what happened in Konoha, the Strategist deeply sympathizes with your feelings, Lady Tsunade. He sent me here firstly to express grief over the Third Hokage's death, and secondly... to offer congratulations to Konoha and to you, Lady Tsunade."
Cong....ratulations?
Tsunade was taken aback.
She glanced down at her sake cup, then at the messenger.
'Who exactly is drunk here?'
"I..."
When Tsunade looked up again to question him, she found the messenger had already used the Body Flicker Technique to slip away, leaving her speechless.
It seemed even the messenger knew these words were absurd and fled right after delivering the script to avoid being punched by her.
As for the congratulations... what could he possibly be congratulating her for? She could only find out by reading the letter.
Tsunade sighed and opened the envelope.
"Huh?"
"Um, Shizune, could you read this for me? I can't see clearly."
Tsunade squinted for a long time, but due to her drunken state, everything appeared blurry.
She handed the letter to Shizune beside her.
"Of course, Lady Tsunade."
Shizune straightened up, transforming into a human reading machine and began reading the letter aloud with professional seriousness.
"To the esteemed Lady Tsunade, with respect."
"Heh, quite polite," Tsunade snorted derisively at the standard opening.
"There's an old saying that 'those with huge tits lack brains,' but I believe this is pure slander. Lady Tsunade's intellectual prowess leaves me in sincere admiration."
"..."
The second sentence instantly froze the smile on Tsunade's face!
'This brat... is he complimenting me or insulting me?'
"Upon hearing that the Third Hokage has returned to heaven, I was overcome with grief."
"So, I burned two hundred paper effigies of 'Cat-Girl Maids' as an offering, hoping the Third won't feel lonely in the Pure Land."
"Lady Tsunade, you needn't blame yourself too much. A few tears will suffice—who knows if the Third can hear them anyway? He's probably too busy banging the cat-girls. It wasn't you who harmed the Third Hokage, it was this chaotic era that did."
"Death isn't frightening. Death is like a cool summer night, offering carefree slumber."
"It's just a pity that my petition to the Fire Daimyo to posthumously honor the Third Hokage as the 'Strongest Hokage' was rejected due to lack of.... evidence."
"But besides mourning, I must also congratulate you, Lady Tsunade."
"You have discovered the true method to counter the Otsutsuki Clan—an approach that even I, long familiar with the Otsutsuki, never conceived. I can't help but be captivated by your wisdom."
"..."
Tsunade felt a headache coming on.
In Makoto's letters to her, there was always one sensible sentence followed by one utterly bizarre one.
As for the last part, it left Tsunade perplexed.
She had found a way to counter the Otsutsuki Clan? How come she didn't know about it?
Shizune continued reading, her voice trembling slightly as she processed the words.
"As the saying goes, bad things never come in threes. If the Otsutsuki kill one Hokage, then kill another person, they would absolutely not kill a third."
"?"
Tsunade slowly formed a question mark in her mind.
'What kind of logic was this? Did Makoto write this letter while high?'
"Even if it exceeds three, there's no need to fear. This is precisely where Lady Tsunade's peerless wisdom shines."
"The most terrifying aspect of the Otsutsuki Clan isn't their power, but their ability to resurrect infinitely through something called 'Karma'."
"By merely imprinting Karma onto a living vessel and undergoing decompression, the Otsutsuki Clan can be revived anew."
"I never imagined that Lady Tsunade could devise such a genius strategy without even knowing this intelligence."
Shizune paused, swallowed hard, and read the climax of the letter.
"—If everyone in the Shinobi World were to commit suicide and then be resurrected through Impure World Reincarnation, the Otsutsuki Clan would have no living vessels for Karma! This would effectively seal the Otsutsuki in the living world forever, unable to revive!"
"Lady Tsunade's 'Mass Suicide Strategy' is truly awe-inspiring, surpassing all ancient and modern tactics."
"I presume Lady Tsunade now intends for Konoha to lead by example and be the first to collectively pass away, which is why you chose not to inform me or ask for my help. I understand Lady Tsunade's profound intentions and hold no resentment. Rest in peace."
Crack.
Tsunade's rage meter maxed out!
She clenched her fist and pressed it against the wall, causing spiderweb cracks to spread instantly.
"Is this guy a master of Yin-Yang Release?! How can he be so sarcastic?!"
Tsunade fumed helplessly before slumping back to the ground in defeat.
She turned to Shizune, whom her outburst had interrupted.
"Is there more?"
"No."
"No more? Didn't he say whether he's coming or not?"
Tsunade began to panic.
If Makoto doesn't come, are we really supposed to follow the letter's suggestion and have the entire Konoha commit seppuku to spite the Otsutsuki?!