"I really can't thank you enough, Lord Hokage."
Shikamaru bowed deeply to Tsunade, who was sitting in front of him.
"Think nothing of it. I was the one who assigned the mission, after all. It's getting late, so you should go and rest. Choji and the others need some peace and quiet for a while. Come back and visit them in a few days."
Hearing Shikamaru's words, a hint of a bitter smile seemed to flicker in Tsunade's eyes. She quickly suppressed it, patted Shikamaru gently on the shoulder, and spoke.
"Yes, Lord Hokage."
Shikamaru bowed again. He took one last deep look at the emergency room behind him before turning and walking away. Compared to when he arrived at the hospital, his steps were much lighter as he left.
His comrades were out of mortal danger—that was the best news he could have hoped for.
After Shikamaru left.
Tsunade walked out of the corridor where the emergency room was located and into a courtyard. Choza, Shikaku, and Kakashi—who had just undergone another round of deep treatment with Shizune's assistance—were already there.
"So, is the situation really exactly as reported?"
Tsunade looked at Kakashi and Choza with a solemn expression and asked.
She had agreed to Naruto's request earlier partly because of her favoritism toward him, and partly because she felt that Menma and Sasuke were, after all, only twelve years old. While they certainly had their own thoughts, they must have been influenced and bewitched by Orochimaru. As long as they made the right choices, it wasn't impossible to pull them back from the brink.
Especially Menma—he was Minato and Kushina's son.
Tsunade really felt there was a chance to turn things around.
If that worked, the Nine-Tails issue would be resolved smoothly without needing to consider other plans. But now, it seemed she had made a massive error in judgment.
Using lethal force against Kakashi was one thing.
But Menma could really harden his heart against Naruto?
"Yes, Tsunade-sama. Everything is exactly as reported."
Kakashi sighed lightly, then shook his head with a sense of helplessness.
Even now, Kakashi didn't want to believe that Menma could truly be so heartless. If Menma had killed people like them, Kakashi would have considered it within the realm of "rationality." But seeing that he could use lethal force against Naruto... Kakashi truly felt that Menma was set on walking a dark path to the very end, leaving absolutely no room for return.
"Is that so? Shikaku, send this information to Jiraiya immediately. Tell him time is running out. Also, have the Anbu pull back slightly for the time being. Especially regarding Root—keep a tight leash on them. Under no circumstances should something like before happen again. Or at the very least, ensure we can react immediately. Do you understand!?"
Ultimately, this was an issue best left for Jiraiya to decide. At least, that was what Tsunade hoped.
Otherwise, if things reached the worst-case scenario...
Tsunade felt that it would be incredibly painful for both Naruto and Jiraiya.
This was something she didn't want to see.
At the very least, while there still seemed to be a sliver of hope for salvage, she would let Jiraiya make the final choice.
As for Danzo...
Tsunade felt both furious and helpless.
As the Hokage...
To think there was a force in the village she couldn't command, and that she was even restricted from knowing Root's operations...
Tsunade truly couldn't tolerate this situation.
"Yes, Lord Hokage. I'll handle it immediately."
Shikaku nodded with a solemn face.
"Mhm, I'll trouble you with that. I'll handle the two advisors myself. By the way, Kakashi, how is Naruto doing?"
After nodding, Tsunade turned her gaze back to Kakashi and asked with concern.
"He doesn't look too good right now. The shock this time was indeed a bit too much for him. After all..."
Thinking of Naruto's appearance on the way back...
A look of deep worry appeared on Kakashi's face.
"Let him cool off for a bit. Some things, he ultimately has to walk out of on his own, no matter what the future holds."
Tsunade frowned, finally speaking with a touch of helplessness.
She wanted to do something.
But as someone who had lost her closest loved ones, Tsunade knew better than anyone that such spiritual predicaments had to be overcome by oneself. Words of comfort from others would ultimately only scratch the surface.
Moreover, Tsunade didn't believe that Naruto—the boy she had entrusted her "faith" to—was a weakling. She believed Naruto would definitely be able to pull himself together.
"Yes, Tsunade-sama."
"Mhm. You need to rest properly for a few days too given your injuries. Don't go on any missions for a while. Kakashi, I'll perform the eye transplant surgery for you personally in a few days. Until then, just rest at home."
Tsunade looked at Kakashi's left eye, which was covered by bandages, and spoke softly.
"Yes. Thank you for your concern, Tsunade-sama."
Kakashi bowed slightly.
Shortly after.
Kakashi, Choza, and Shikaku retreated one after another.
Tsunade stayed in the courtyard for a moment longer before heading back toward the Hokage Building.
'These are troubled times...'
The clash had just ended.
Negotiations with the Hidden Sand had just begun.
Sasuke had defected.
And now Menma's situation had taken an even more "malicious" turn.
Plus, there were three old fossils in the village hampering her at every step.
All of this made Tsunade feel mentally exhausted and irritable.
The position of Fifth Hokage was far harder than she had anticipated. Sometimes, Tsunade even thought about cutting the Gordian knot and dealing with the mess forcefully, but in the end, she could only suppress the urge.
And this was exactly where the Hidden Leaf's biggest problem lay.
---
At the same time.
Hidden Leaf Village, in the underground base of Root.
"What did you say!? The Bingqi Squad was completely wiped out!?"
Danzo looked gloomily at the subordinate who had come to report, speaking in an utterly chilling tone.
"Yes, Danzo-sama. The bodies were brought back by Kakashi Hatake and Choza Akimichi. Every identity has been confirmed. According to the report from Kakashi Hatake and the others, the entire squad was killed by the rogue ninja Menma Uzumaki alone."
The Root member replied in a steady, emotionless tone.
"Menma Uzumaki!? Are you sure the intelligence isn't wrong!?"
Danzo wore a look of disbelief.
That was a full squad of elite Root members led by a Jonin. The remaining members were all the cream of the crop among Chunin.
Danzo simply couldn't believe that Menma Uzumaki alone could kill so many of his subordinates.
Even if he was the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki.
He was only twelve years old, right!?