Chapter 163. Tsunade, the People’s Choice

Chapter 163 - 163. Tsunade, the People’s Choice"Sensei," Hanekawa said as he walked behind Tsunade. "Although Root has been disbanded, knowing Danzo Shimura's personality, he probably won't give up so easily." In the original timeline, Root was also disbanded once—after the Uchiha massacre, under Hiruzen Sarutobi's orders. Root was disbanded, but its members weren't. They joined the ANBU while continuing to remain loyal to Danzo. In essence, only half of Root was dissolved. Even though it became inconvenient for Danzo, he could still stir up trouble through his subordinates. This was proven by his actions in the original story. "I know," Tsunade snorted lightly. "Even if he still had Root, he couldn't do anything to me, let alone now without it." "It's just a pity that Danzo didn't face any real punishment," Hanekawa said, shaking his head. "Hiruzen and he have been friends for decades. Being able to go this far is already rare," Tsunade replied, waving her hand dismissively. "It seems that only when Sensei becomes Hokage will the issue with Danzo be resolved completely," Hanekawa mused aloud. Tsunade immediately stopped in her tracks and turned to face him. As Hanekawa walked, he suddenly found himself face-to-face with Tsunade's strikingly beautiful face. If not for his reflexive reaction, he might have accidentally kissed her. His gaze shifted downward, and he could clearly see Tsunade's slightly flushed and soft lips. In hindsight, he couldn't help but mentally scold himself. Why did I react so quickly? Tsunade's heart skipped a beat as she looked at his face, flawless even at such close range. Initially angry, she subconsciously took a step back. "Kid, stop bringing up this Hokage nonsense in front of me!" she said, glaring at him. "Yes, Sensei," Hanekawa replied earnestly. Tsunade's lips twitched slightly. This kid always agreed so obediently but acted completely differently, coming across as extremely rebellious. "You better stick to that!" Tsunade said harshly, grabbing Hanekawa's cheek and giving it a squeeze. So fierce! With her movement, her outfit seemed to protest under strain. "I promise to behave!" Hanekawa quickly said. "..." For some reason, the more compliant he was, the more irritated Tsunade felt. She snorted coldly, let go of his face, and continued walking. "Sensei, are we heading to the casino?" Hanekawa caught up and grabbed her hand, asking. "Yes!" Tsunade barked, her tone fierce. As for the handholding, she was used to it by now and didn't pay it much mind. "If I lose today, I'll make you train extra hard!" Tsunade threatened, clenching her other fist. "It's a guaranteed win!" Hanekawa grinned confidently. While the two set out to dominate the casino, news of Root's disbandment spread rapidly among Konoha's upper echelons. --- Uchiha Clan "Clan leader, great news!" Uchiha Yashiro ran in, looking ecstatic. "Yashiro, you're the deputy captain of the Konoha Police Force. What kind of behavior is this?" Uchiha Fugaku frowned at seeing him so flustered. "Apologies, clan leader. I'm just too excited!" Yashiro said, his face still brimming with joy despite the reprimand. "What's the matter?" Fugaku asked, now curious due to Yashiro's uncharacteristic behavior. Even when he awakened his Three-Tomoe Sharingan back in the day, he wasn't this thrilled. "I just received news—Root has been disbanded!" Yashiro announced, his voice unconsciously rising. "What?" Fugaku's eyes widened in disbelief. "How is that possible? Are you sure it's not false information?" His disbelief was understandable. Ever since Hiruzen Sarutobi became Hokage, Danzo Shimura and Root had held significant power for over a decade. The idea of Root being disbanded seemed almost fantastical. "It's true!" Yashiro said, unable to hide his grin. "The Root members who were monitoring the Uchiha have completely disappeared!" "How... how did this happen?" Fugaku asked, unable to contain his curiosity. "I'm not entirely sure," Yashiro admitted. "But based on what I've gathered, it's related to Lady Tsunade." Fugaku's mind raced. Tsunade had just returned to the village, and now Root was disbanded. It was hard not to make the connection. Given Hiruzen Sarutobi's long-standing relationship with Danzo, there were only a few individuals in Konoha capable of influencing such a decision. Tsunade was undoubtedly the most likely candidate. "From now on, our Uchiha clan will no longer be shackled!" Fugaku said with conviction. Uchiha Yashiro clenched his fist and said, "That's right! This is the biggest development opportunity for the Uchiha clan!" Uchiha Fugaku felt a surge of spirit and energy. Since Danzo Shimura took control of Root, his relentless targeting of the Uchiha clan for over a decade had caused them to face constant setbacks. As Danzo operated under the protection of the Hokage, the Uchiha were powerless against him. But now, with Root disbanded, the Uchiha clan's greatest adversary was gone. Additionally, they had rising stars like Shisui Uchiha and Obito Uchiha gaining recognition. The mere thought of these developments made Uchiha Fugaku feel that the next-next Hokage would undoubtedly come from the Uchiha clan. As for the next Hokage, he knew they couldn't compete with Tsunade. Moreover, since Tsunade had helped them so much, it would be inappropriate to challenge her for the position. --- Hyuga Clan At the Hyuga residence, Hiashi Hyuga was sitting calmly at the tea table, sipping tea. Suddenly, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed. It was his younger brother, Hizashi Hyuga, who walked in, looking serious. "Root has been disbanded!" Hizashi announced without preamble. Cough! Cough! Hiashi choked on his tea, coughing uncontrollably in shock. He looked at Hizashi in disbelief, almost thinking he had misheard. "What's the situation?" Hiashi asked, wiping tea from the corner of his mouth. "I don't know," Hizashi replied, shaking his head. "But it's most likely related to Lady Tsunade." "It must be something Danzo did in the Land of Rain," Hiashi quickly deduced. "Still, disbanding Root is an unexpected development," Hizashi said, his tone filled with confusion. Given Hiruzen Sarutobi's decades-long camaraderie with Danzo, Hizashi had assumed that only an act of treason could lead to Root's disbandment. "It seems the Hokage has already decided on the next Hokage," Hiashi said thoughtfully. "That does seem to be the only explanation," Hizashi agreed, nodding. Searᴄh the nôvel_Fire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "The Hyuga clan has endured for a thousand years not only because of its strength but also because of its foresight," Hiashi declared. "Send word to the clan—when they encounter Lady Tsunade, they must assist her in every way possible." The Hyuga clan had always been strong supporters of the Hokage, adhering to a simple philosophy: support whoever wins. "Understood," Hizashi responded. Similar conversations were taking place within other mid-tier clans like the Ino-Shika-Cho, Aburame, and Inuzuka clans. Unlike the Hyuga, these clans harbored an even deeper resentment toward Danzo and Root. The reason was simple: talented individuals from their clans were often forcibly recruited into Root, brainwashed, and disconnected from their families. In the original timeline, notable Root members like Torune Aburame, Fu Yamanaka, and others were prime examples of this. The news of Root's disbandment was accompanied by the growing prominence of Tsunade. Anyone with a keen sense of observation could see that Tsunade was the next Hokage. She had the strength, the pedigree, the influence, and, most importantly, a likable personality. As Hanekawa put it, Tsunade becoming Hokage was the will of the people. --- Outside the Casino "Konoha really is the best!" Tsunade exclaimed happily, holding the money she had just won. "Didn't you just win ten million ryo?" Hanekawa glanced at her. "This 100,000 ryo is barely a fraction of your mission reward." "That's different!" Tsunade snorted. "Winning money is far more satisfying!" "Alright then," Hanekawa said, not fully understanding her reasoning. The two of them returned home. --- At the Residence "Lady Tsunade," a waiting ANBU member named Haru approached and handed over two scrolls. "Thank you, Haru," Tsunade said, passing the scrolls directly to Hanekawa. "It's my duty," Haru replied, bowing slightly before disappearing. "You have good instincts," Tsunade said, standing at the entrance. "In a way, these two jutsu are perfect for Kurenai and Rin." "Of course!" Hanekawa replied, stowing the scrolls. "My suggestions are always spot-on!" "Don't get cocky!" Tsunade snapped, kicking his leg lightly as she removed her shoes. "I'm hungry. Go make dinner!" "Yes, Sensei," Hanekawa said, glancing at her bare feet before heading to the kitchen. After dinner, Hanekawa returned to his home. --- At Hanekawa's Home "Uncle Shinku, you're home so early today?" Hanekawa asked in surprise upon opening the door and seeing Yuuhi Shinku. "I heard you were back in the village," Shinku replied. "Hanekawa!" Kurenai called from the sofa, waving at him. Today, she wasn't barefoot as usual but wore white socks, her legs swaying slightly like delicate ice cream bars. "This is for you," Hanekawa said, handing her the scroll. "What's this?" Shinku asked curiously. "It's a reward from the Hokage," Kurenai Yuhi said proudly. "Hanekawa helped me pick this jutsu." "..." Yuuhi Shinku twitched the corner of his mouth and said, "What kind of jutsu can a kid like him pick? Don't let yourself get scammed!" "That's not true!" Kurenai pouted. "It's the Darkness Technique. Hanekawa said it can help me defeat the Uchiha." "This genjutsu?!" Shinku's face filled with shock. "That's the Second Hokage's jutsu!" "See?" Kurenai's confidence grew stronger. It must be a powerful technique. "You got lucky this time," Shinku coughed lightly, trying to maintain his pride. --- The Next Morning As usual, Hanekawa woke up early and trained his body using the methods of the Lightning Release Chakra Mode. After running for two hours, he arrived at Tsunade's house, only to find the same ANBU ninja from yesterday—Haru. "Sensei isn't awake yet. What's your business with her?" Hanekawa asked, looking at her frog-like mask. "The Hokage asked me to deliver some intelligence to Lady Tsunade," Haru replied. "Tell me, and I'll pass it on," Hanekawa offered casually. "The Sand Village has mobilized 5,000 ninjas under the leadership of Pakura and is expected to arrive in the Land of Frost in three days," Haru said. "At the same time, Lord Minato has led Konoha's forces back to the Land of Fire." "I understand," Hanekawa said, his heart trembling. This marked the official outbreak of the Third Shinobi World War. In the original timeline, the Third Shinobi World War lasted for many years. Although the fiercest battles spanned only two years, the war officially ended five or six years later. One significant event marking the war's conclusion was the kidnapping of Hinata Hyuga and the subsequent death of Hizashi Hyuga in her place. This incident occurred when the Hidden Cloud Village sought peace with Konoha but staged an abduction attempt, ultimately forcing Konoha to appease the situation by sacrificing Hizashi. "This is troublesome," Haru said before disappearing. --- "Hanekawa!" At that moment, Rin Nohara's voice called out. "Perfect timing," Hanekawa said, handing her a scroll. "This is the Spirit Transformation Technique." "Um... Why did you choose this for me?" Rin asked hesitantly. "I'm worried I won't be able to learn it." "The Spirit Transformation Technique is a rare soul-based jutsu," Hanekawa explained. "It allows your spirit to leave your body, bypass distances, and attack the enemy's mind directly." "No wonder!" Rin's eyes lit up, understanding the reasoning behind the choice. "And it's not just for offense," Hanekawa added with a smile. "It can control the enemy's body, relay information to allies, or even transfer chakra." "That amazing?" Rin said, her face filled with surprise. If she could master it, she would become an invaluable support to Hanekawa and Kurenai. "Well, it's an S-rank jutsu," Hanekawa said, patting her head. "Whether you can master it or not depends on your effort." "Okay," Rin said softly, lowering her head and allowing him to pat her. "Good luck!" Hanekawa encouraged her. "Thank you," Rin replied shyly, smiling. "Come on in," Hanekawa said, retracting his hand and opening the door. --- Tsunade was still asleep, so Hanekawa called out to her before heading into the kitchen. Rin sat on the sofa and began studying the Spirit Transformation Technique. However, many parts were difficult to understand due to her lack of knowledge about souls. Fortunately, Tsunade was knowledgeable and provided guidance after she woke up. Before long, Kurenai arrived and joined them, focusing on the Darkness Technique. While Tsunade wasn't an expert in this technique, she knew enough to offer some assistance. --- "Time to eat," Hanekawa announced, stepping out of the kitchen and smiling at the sight of the three women—Tsunade, Kurenai, and Rin. During the meal, Hanekawa relayed the information Haru had shared. "The Sand Village may not be as powerful as the Cloud Village, but the battle will drag on for a while. Once there's a victor, it'll be Konoha's turn to step in," Tsunade said seriously. "Use this time to improve yourselves." "Yes!" Hanekawa, Rin, and Kurenai responded in unison. ____ (4 days left for bonus Chapters) (OOT: There's a funny drama happening in my country right now. It was about a female artist who sell her cosplay outfit and underwear to her simps. (It was priced around $3-$7 for outfit, and $15 for an underwear) Some of the simps doing review that the underwear smell like a sweat and there was a yellow stain. So they were satisfied of the 'authentic' products. The other fans hoping for a new products because they were jealous. Fast forward to 3 years later, There was a Facebook account that became suspicious of this girl, because she never showed her face at all. All this time, she always wore a mask and blurred out her eyes. Eventually, this Facebook account started analyzing the girl's body anatomy — from her shoulders, chest, thighs, and so on. They also dug into her past through her previous posts. And finally, the funniest thing was revealed. She is a HE. A femboy. Lmao. And then, all hell broke loose. This is really the funniest sh*t in a while XD. My fellow countrymen, you're allowed to elaborate more. ) _ Patreon.com/rashta 1. 310 adv ch of Talent System In Naruto 2. 560 adv ch of Qian Renxue's Younger Brother 3. 270 adv ch of Uchiha Madara's Cousin 4. 163 adv ch of WDQK: Divorcing Ling Qingzhu (Complete) 5. 470 adv ch of This Danzo Is Weird