Konoha Notes

Chapter 54 Ending (Part 2) - First Update

After explaining the situation, Tsunade opened the door and went out.

Shuji followed closely behind and also left the quiet room.

The corridor was dimly lit. Shuji quickened his pace to stand beside Tsunade: "Will Itachi's condition relapse?"

Tsunade glanced at him, but didn't stop walking. "I have no reason to lie to you. The cleanup was thorough and there will be no aftereffects."

Upon hearing this, the youth team leader felt relieved.

He, as the team leader who devised the plan, bears responsibility for everything that happened during this mission.

In the period following the war, he repeatedly rehearsed the entire mission process, and as the planner, he could not shirk his responsibility.

The biggest mistake was being overly optimistic about the defenses of Wasabi's stronghold.

Despite knowing that the enemy might attack, and with severely insufficient intelligence and their own situation being tied down, they still pinned their hopes on the squad being able to hold out.

The safest course of action would be to decisively have Wasabi Jirocho and his men, along with Itachi and the others, immediately go into hiding rather than remain in the open and become targets.

The deeper problem lies in the deviation of tactical objectives.

His primary objective for the Black Eclipse Clan was always to obtain intelligence, but the battle turned into a "decisive battle from the very first engagement."

Although the goal was achieved, the process was fraught with danger and came at a heavy cost.

This sense of loss of control forced him to examine the flaws in his plans.

"That Uchiha brat, isn't he Fugaku's son?" Tsunade's voice interrupted Shuji's thoughts.

"Yes."

"Hmph," Tsunade let out a cryptic snort, "What are you planning now?"

Regardless of how Shuuji viewed herself, the young captain's strategic planning abilities during the Black Eclipse incident left a deep impression on her—seemingly harmless on the surface, yet as cunning as an old fox on the inside.

That's slander; he never planned anything.

Shuji said helplessly, "Itachi joining my team was arranged by the village. As for what my plans are... I do have some ideas about the Uchiha clan."

"You should know something about the Uchiha clan's situation. Since the Fourth Hokage's death, their situation has become increasingly worse."

“Back in my uncle’s time, some members of the Uchiha clan tried to start a rebellion. What’s the big deal?” Princess Senju said dismissively. “The problem is that the old man is hesitant.”

If this matter isn't handled swiftly and severely, are we supposed to wait for the Uchiha clan to reach a consensus? Tsunade felt that the Third Hokage and his group's current actions were abnormal; this didn't seem like a way to resolve the conflict.

We were at war for a few years, but things are almost stable now. Isn't there a plan yet?

“It’s different, Lady Tsunade.”

"This time, the village has suffered a great loss."

Decades ago, Madara Uchiha's actions were stopped by Hashirama Senju, preventing any substantial damage to the village.

This time, the village not only lost the Fourth Hokage, but also suffered heavy losses in the Nine-Tails' attack and the subsequent three-year war.

The countless newly engraved names on the memorial stone represent the shattering of countless families and the deep-seated pain. This heavy loss has pushed the village's patience with the Uchiha clan to its limit.

On the other hand, the Uchiha clan couldn't provide any explanation for the origin of the Sharingan they had during the Nine-Tails' rampage.

In this situation, without a God's-eye view, a satisfactory explanation cannot be obtained.

The village's hostility was not without reason.

Even if he didn't know the truth, Shuji himself would naturally be one of those who held reservations about the Uchiha clan, since his predecessor was among those fighting on the border, and his teammates had also died. Tsunade finally stopped, turned around, and looked sharply at Shuji: "What's the point of you telling me all this? I've already retired."

Shuji said softly, "I'm just explaining the situation to you."

Tsunade sneered: "You can only say such things to yourself. You're so young, yet you're hiding a hundred thoughts in every word you say. You're so indecisive."

"Anyway, it doesn't matter," she unconsciously tightened her grip on the cold necklace around her neck, "Grandpa's dream... has failed."

The First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, had the ideal of establishing Konoha and ending the chaos of the world.

Images flashed through her mind: her great-uncle Tobirama Senju, hailed as the "fastest ninja in the world," ultimately died in an attack by the Kinkaku and Ginkaku forces of Kumogakure; her younger brother Nawaki, so young, his life just beginning, died in a cruel explosive tag trap; her lover Dan Kato, possessing the secret technique of Spirit Transformation, yet dying with his internal organs ripped out...

Shuji remained silent. Only the soft breathing of the two of them could be heard in the corridor.

After a long silence, he finally spoke: "You have traveled this world for a long time, visited many places, and met many people. I suppose you have already drawn your own conclusions about everything."

"I have other matters to attend to, so I'll take my leave now, Lady Tsunade." Shuuji nodded slightly and departed.

Tsunade watched his figure disappear at the end of the corridor and bit her lower lip.

Why... even though things have already failed, one after another, I can't see them clearly?

If there was something to do, it wasn't an excuse; Shuji really did have things to do. After visiting Itachi, Jirocho was waiting for him.

The Tea Mountain Gang's problems were easily resolved after the Black Eclipse Clan was wiped out, as was the situation with the He Jie family.

However, the necessary procedures still need to be followed. The Wasabi family's messenger has set off again, this time carrying news from the Black Eclipse Clan.

Judging by the time, we should have some news back by now.

"Wa-jie Xiongma misjudged people and was careless in his use of them, and was actually deceived by a group of bandits. He has really failed the trust of the great name."

As expected, when Shuji entered the reception room led by the waiter, he saw a man wearing a black hat and a red robe sitting in the main seat talking to Wasabi Jirocho.

“I have made him decide for himself, and the Ho-Chieh family will be taken over by Ho-Chieh 96 from now on.”

"This must be a Konoha ninja?" The man turned to Shuji. "The Daimyo is extremely grateful for your hard work. The Black Eclipse Clan is a wolf in sheep's clothing, and they actually did such a thing. They still have subordinates they recruited on Nagasaki Island."

"The Daimyo wants to request Konoha to eliminate those bandits."

"We implore your village to lend a helping hand."

Shuji replied, "After the daimyo issues the request to the village, the village will arrange manpower. As for us, my team has completed this mission and is preparing to return."

"Since that's the case, the situation on Qi Island is urgent, so I won't stay any longer." The envoy hurriedly got up and left.

"Please sit down, Mr. Shuji." Jirocho stood up and sat down in front of Shuji. "That man is a retainer of the daimyo."

"The one behind Kazusuke's house?"

"Indeed, with Kazuki Yuuma's suicide, the Kazuki family's affairs can only end here. It is truly thanks to Izuku Port that the chaos has been set right."

This time, he bowed and kowtowed.

"The Wasabi family survived entirely thanks to Mr. Shuji and your men."

As he spoke, Jirocho took out several thick booklets.

"This is the payment we agreed upon with your village. Because the matter is of great importance, we need to trouble your team to take it back."

(End of this chapter)