"Welcome to the Uchiha compound, Lady Tsunade. Your presence brings our clan great honor."
Tsunade pinched the bridge of her nose. "Alright, Kawasaki, I appreciate the sentiment, but there's no need for such formality. I'm not used to it."
Kawasaki chuckled. Although he was financing the event, with the other Uchiha present, he still had to give Tsunade her due respect.
"Then please, come in, Lady Tsunade."
"The clan has prepared a welcome banquet for you."
Kawasaki had Keimei lead the way while he positioned himself beside Shizune.
As they walked, Tsunade observed that the current Uchiha territory was built with a stark simplicity, devoid of any superfluous decoration. All the residences were nearly identical in design. She found it rather novel, as the larger ninja clans were typically more demanding about their environment. Mountain views, water features, and lush vegetation were all standard, meant to showcase the grandeur of a great family. The previous Uchiha compound, which Tsunade had visited before, had been built in that very style.
But the Uchiha's new home seemed to embrace minimalism. Anything without a practical purpose was nowhere to be seen.
While Tsunade was taking in the layout of the compound, Kawasaki quietly dropped back a few steps to approach Shizune.
"Shizune, did you spend all the money I gave you last time?"
Shizune shook her head like a rattle. "Three days after you left, Lord Kawasaki, the money vanished into thin air."
Kawasaki's expression darkened. Just as he'd expected. Tsunade wouldn't rest until she had gambled away every last ryo. Of course the money hadn't simply vanished; Tsunade had clearly taken it. Still, Tsunade's gambling habit wasn't necessarily a bad thing. After all, the Uchiha clan had plenty of money now. This could be an opportunity.
Upon entering the reception hall, Tsunade saw a large round table in the center, a rotating glass lazy Susan embedded in its surface. Uchiha Fugaku and Mikoto stood there, with Itachi by their side. The arrangement felt both formal and welcoming. Hearing their arrival, Fugaku turned his head toward Tsunade.
As a medical ninja, Tsunade's first instinct was to observe Fugaku's eyes. However, they were shut tight.
After Keimei led everyone inside, he excused himself, closing the door behind him.
"Fugaku, Lady Tsunade is here."
Fugaku's senses were sharp. Even without his sight, he could roughly determine her direction. He smiled toward her. "Welcome to the Uchiha clan, Lady Tsunade. Please, have a seat."
Tsunade didn't stand on ceremony and sat down naturally. "It's been years, Fugaku," she said with concern. "What happened to your eyes?"
Fugaku's tone was calm as he chuckled softly. "You honor me with your concern, Lady Tsunade. There was a traitor in the clan. I was ambushed and lost my sight."
Tsunade had heard rumors on her way back to the village. Major events in Konoha tended to spread like wildfire. Many were still talking about Obito's bounty—three hundred million ryo was no small sum. If not for his troublesome space-time ninjutsu, she might have been tempted to pursue it herself.
Kawasaki introduced Mikoto and Itachi. Both had met Tsunade when they were younger, so the reunion was comfortable. Sasuke was not present; the matters to be discussed were not for a child's ears.
Once everyone was seated, Kawasaki began to introduce the dishes on the table.
"Tsunade, you've come a long way. To show our hospitality, I've had these dishes specially prepared. I guarantee you've never tasted anything like them."
"This one," he gestured, "is called Clear Broth Cabbage."
Tsunade followed his gesture and saw a simple white porcelain bowl containing nothing but the most ordinary-looking cabbage. She was puzzled. What could possibly be so special about it to warrant a specific introduction?
Seeing her confusion, Kawasaki smiled. "Just try it, Tsunade, and you'll understand."
Tsunade picked up a piece with her chopsticks. As she tasted it, a rich yet delicate aroma filled her mouth. The broth was savory and fresh, the cabbage tender and crisp. Her eyes lit up. She had traveled the ninja world and visited the mansions of various daimyo, but she had never encountered dishes like these.
"Mm, not bad at all."
As she ate, Tsunade listened to Kawasaki introduce the other dishes. "This is Braised Pigeon, Shredded Tofu in Broth, Buddha's Temptation..."
In his previous life, Kawasaki had worked in the culinary training industry and remembered the basics of these recipes. He had personally trained a few chefs within the Uchiha clan. Though his skills had been average in his original world, they were more than enough to impress in this one, which lacked a sophisticated culinary tradition.
Tsunade ate with great enjoyment, and the atmosphere grew relaxed. They chatted while they ate, and Tsunade learned much from Kawasaki about what had happened to Obito all those years ago. She also heard about the injustices the Uchiha had suffered over the years, as well as the reasons and the enablers behind that mistreatment. Her brow furrowed as she listened.
Seeing the time was right, Kawasaki changed the subject and poured Tsunade a drink. Ever since that tragic incident, Tsunade had taken to gambling and drinking. But since she was here on clan business, Kawasaki didn't serve too much alcohol. It was just a token gesture for everyone. Tsunade wasn't able to drink her fill, but she was a guest and couldn't indulge as she usually would.
As the meal wound down, Fugaku prepared to take his leave. His presence had been to show respect for Tsunade. After all, when inviting someone of her stature to be a medical advisor, one could not afford to be negligent. Given Tsunade's legendary status, showing proper deference was always the right move.
"Wait a moment, Fugaku. Let me take a look at your eyes."
Since Tsunade had agreed to come, she wasn't going to hold back. And since the Uchiha had shown her such courtesy, she would naturally do her best.
Fugaku paused. Though he already knew the truth, he couldn't refuse Tsunade's kind offer. Besides, Kawasaki had already discussed the plan for inviting her with him, and they had prepared for this moment.
For a master like Tsunade, no special equipment was needed to examine eyes. She had Fugaku sit down and open his eyelids. After a moment of observation, a faint glow enveloped her hands. Following a few tests, she shook her head with a hint of regret.
"Fugaku, this doesn't look like an injury. It's more like your vision has deteriorated from natural aging."
Her examination revealed that Fugaku's eyes were like those of a man in his seventies or eighties, blinded by natural causes rather than trauma.
Fugaku nodded and revealed a secret. "The dōjutsu of our Uchiha's Mangekyo will eventually exhaust itself, leading to blindness."
This time, it was Tsunade's turn to be shocked. What did he mean? He was just telling her the secret of the Mangekyo? In this world, Kakashi had not yet experienced the Mangekyo before Obito took his eye back. Therefore, the fact that its use led to vision loss was a piece of information unknown to the outside world.
The Uchiha clan was currently in a stable position; there was no reason to reveal such a critical secret to an outsider like her. But Tsunade, having lived as long as she had, was not naive enough to believe it was a matter of trust. She understood the Uchiha must want something from her.
Kawasaki smiled from the side. "Now that you've examined Fugaku's eyes, would you mind taking a look at Itachi's, Lady Tsunade?" He gave Itachi a look, gesturing for him to come over.
Though she didn't understand the purpose, Tsunade examined Itachi as well. To her surprise, the young Uchiha's eyes were also in an abnormal state, showing signs of vision decline. Itachi was only sixteen, at the peak of his physical development. Such an eye condition was completely unnatural.
Kawasaki gestured for Fugaku and Itachi to leave.
"Lady Tsunade, as you've just seen, our Mangekyo Sharingan has a fundamental flaw. Prolonged use leads to blindness."
Tsunade nodded. "What are you getting at?"
Kawasaki shrugged. "Our Uchiha clan has been pushed to the fringes of Konoha entirely because of Danzo Shimura."
"We've already discussed the cause and effect. What you saw at dinner tonight was merely a demonstration and a supplement to that conversation."
"Through your examination, you now understand the problem with our Mangekyo Sharingan. This is why we only use it when we have no other choice but to defend ourselves."
"Since you were willing to come here, Lady Tsunade, I believe you hold no prejudice against the Uchiha. And I, in turn, have great faith in you."
"If you investigate Danzo, we can work together."
"As long as we get rid of Danzo, the Uchiha clan can return to its rightful place in Konoha."
Tsunade's brow tightened. She currently had no intention of getting involved in the conflict between Konoha and the Uchiha. But she knew one thing for certain: a Konoha with the Uchiha clan was a completely different village from one without it. As for Danzo, she definitely had to investigate him. Perhaps she could even join forces with the Uchiha; after all, she was now their medical advisor.
Tsunade nodded. "I'll think about it. For now, let's treat your clansmen."
"Of course," Kawasaki replied, leading her outside.
They crossed a courtyard and entered the clan's medical facility. Inside, several injured clan members were lying down, most of them looking unwell. Those with minor injuries had already left, leaving only the most severe cases.
Shizune was already there. As soon as Tsunade arrived, she began to confer with her.
Upon seeing Kawasaki, the men greeted him. "Clan Head..."
Kawasaki nodded. He was a casual person, completely without airs.
"This is Lady Tsunade. From now on, she will be the medical advisor for the Uchiha clan. You already know Miss Shizune. Don't worry about your injuries."
The thought that a legendary figure like Lady Tsunade was now their advisor filled the Uchiha men with a sense of pride.
Shizune conferred with Tsunade. "Their treatment methods were standard, but the medicine they've been using is all top-of-the-line. With some rest, they should recover."
...
Inside the Uchiha medical facility, because of Tsunade's hemophobia, Shizune handled most of the open wounds while Tsunade supervised. Having followed Tsunade for years, Shizune's medical skills were beyond question. Seeing the expectant looks from the Uchiha clansmen, Tsunade offered some reassurance.
"Your injuries don't require any special treatment. With medicine this good, you'll be fully recovered after a period of rest."
"Thank you, Lady Tsunade..."
"We're grateful, Lady Tsunade..."
Although Tsunade hadn't treated them personally, her authority in the medical world was absolute. Her words were as good as law. Kawasaki nodded nearby. The Uchiha clan was making so much money, and even Tsunade praised their medicine. It was clearly effective.
"This way, Lady Tsunade. The serious cases are in here."
Kawasaki led Tsunade and Shizune into an inner room. As they entered, Tsunade saw Ōura and Rikuto lying on beds. The two had heard the commotion outside and knew the clan head had brought Tsunade. They were both filled with a nervous excitement.
Though it had only been a few days since they were injured, both men feared they would be bedridden for life. Ōura was in better shape, having only lost a leg. Rikuto's situation was far more terrifying; he was paralyzed from the neck down. The clan's medical ninja had already told them to be mentally prepared. And what did that mean, if not preparing to accept life as a cripple?
Both men were overcome with a sense of loss and fear. After years of struggle, they had finally become elite jōnin, having shed countless drops of sweat and blood, and stared death in the face more times than they could count. They didn't regret being injured fighting for the clan, but the thought of becoming disabled was a source of deep sorrow.
Fortunately, it seemed fate had not completely abandoned them. Hearing that Lord Kawasaki had brought Tsunade back gave them a glimmer of hope, preventing them from falling into utter despair. After waiting so long, Lady Tsunade was finally here. How could they not be excited?
Kawasaki entered to see Ōura and Rikuto craning their necks to look at them.
"Lie back down. What's all the excitement for? Lady Tsunade will be stationed here from now on. You think you won't get your turn to be treated?" Kawasaki said upon seeing the two mummy-like figures stirring restlessly.
Tsunade had seen countless patients and understood their anxieties. But these two were severely injured. Only preliminary treatment had been applied, and she needed to see the wounds herself to make a proper assessment. She gave Shizune a look, signaling her to perform the examination.
As Shizune approached the two men, she said, "Minor wounds like these don't even require Lady Tsunade's personal attention. I'll handle the examination."
Tsunade crossed her arms. "Good. Shizune, report back to me when you're done."
Her tone was so relaxed that Ōura and Rikuto felt a wave of relief wash over them. Injuries they considered catastrophic were, in Tsunade's eyes, not even worth her personal effort. That was true confidence.
Tsunade stepped out of the room with Kawasaki.
"It's definitely an injury caused by Wood Style. So, Obito was not only the mastermind behind the Nine-Tails Attack but also the one who attacked Fugaku?"
Kawasaki added, "He's also the one who attacked Kakashi and took his eye. Kakashi saw his face as well."
"This is complicated," Tsunade said, rubbing her temples.
Obito's group had two Wood Style users, though how they acquired the ability was a mystery. But in Konoha, there was only one known user: Tenzo, a product of Danzo and Orochimaru's human experiments. In the past, only the First Hokage, Hashirama, could use Wood Style. Now, three had suddenly appeared.
It was known that Obito and his accomplice bore ill will toward Konoha and the Uchiha.
It was unknown whether Danzo was secretly colluding with Obito.
Tsunade couldn't worry about the Nine-Tails Attack right now. She had returned to investigate Danzo. She would leave the Nine-Tails incident for the old man and the Uchiha clan to worry about.
"From those experiments years ago, Tenzo survived. It's possible others did as well," Tsunade mused.
"With Danzo's position as the Hokage's Advisor, getting his hands on human test subjects would have been easy."
"Perhaps Danzo was researching Wood Style even earlier. Could he have connected with Obito back then?"
"That's something you'll have to confirm with the Third Hokage, Lady Tsunade," Kawasaki said, his eyes curving into a smile, though his words were sharp as needles.
The Third Hokage knew about most of Danzo's past deeds. But because he needed to use Danzo, he often chose to turn a blind eye. This had only made Danzo more audacious. If not for his actions, Konoha would never have ended up in its current state.
Although the Wood Style in Obito's body was unrelated to Danzo, in Tsunade's mind, all Wood Style originated from her grandfather, Hashirama. The fact that Obito possessed it made his potential connection to Danzo deeply suspicious. Perhaps Danzo even had a hand in the Nine-Tails Attack.
"I understand."
Tsunade suppressed her rising anger, but the glint in her eyes promised that a storm was coming.
"Lady Tsunade."
Shizune emerged from the room. "The examination is complete."
Tsunade took a deep breath, deciding to focus on the task at hand. "What's the situation?"
Shizune's expression was composed. "There is varying degrees of damage to their nervous systems. The good news is that the nerves aren't completely severed. We can perform surgical reattachment."
Tsunade nodded. That was the best-case scenario. Shizune had been with her for years and was experienced in treating trauma. It would be a huge loss of face if their first treatment for the Uchiha went wrong.
"List all the potential complications you can think of. I'll go over them with you first, then you can perform the surgery."
"Yes!" Shizune was used to this process. She would always conduct the initial examination, list the potential problems, and then receive comprehensive guidance from Tsunade before operating herself. This way, Shizune handled nearly all cases that involved open bleeding.
"Whatever medical equipment and supplies you need, just tell Keimei. Use only the best," Kawasaki added from the side.
He knew Tsunade had hemophobia, so having her perform surgery was unrealistic. But this arrangement was still inefficient. There would be many times in the future when they would need her, and her fear of blood couldn't be a constant obstacle. He had to find a way to cure her.
Preparing for the two seriously wounded patients would require specific medical supplies and tools. Kawasaki had Keimei assist Shizune with the arrangements. The next step was to select medical ninja from within the Uchiha clan. Kawasaki had already chosen a group, but with the recent developments concerning Orochimaru, it was possible the Uchiha members from the Sound Village might return. He decided to include them in his plans.
Kawasaki led Tsunade to a newly constructed four-story building next to the main compound. He intended for this to be the Uchiha clan's internal hospital.
"Lady Tsunade, this building has four floors, with twenty rooms on each. It's all for your use. Tell us how you want to arrange it and what equipment you need. The Uchiha will see to it immediately."
"Any problem that can be solved with money is not a problem for the Uchiha."
Tsunade was already mentally prepared for Kawasaki's extravagance. Each room she saw was spacious and bright. Though currently empty, the location and orientation were excellent.