I founded the "Bragging Cult" in Naruto.

Chapter 217 The Wise Man Doesn't Fall in Love, He Only Seeks a Rich Woman

"Now, everyone can begin voting."

At the first Jonin meeting after the New Year, after analyzing the pros and cons of the project and giving a brief overview of the plan, Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke up, signaling the Jonin opposite him to vote.

The list of attendees for this restarted Jonin meeting remained unchanged. Although there were a few changes in the attendees, the voting structure of these ninjas would not be altered.

In other words, the voting format should be the same as it was last time. Although there was no vote last time, everyone knows that the project to recreate Wood Release ninjas is likely to fail.

After Hiruzen Sarutobi made his announcement, all the Jonin in the meeting room turned their attention to Tsunade, as if they would all follow suit if Tsunade voiced her objection.

Kato Dan looked at Tsunade, who was bowing her head, with an indescribable concern and pity in his eyes. He wanted to raise his hand several times to express his opposition, but when he thought that she was just a stranger, he could only stop himself.

Under everyone's watchful eyes, Tsunade slowly raised her head, even though she and Tatsuma had been doing psychological work for her over the past few days.

However, when faced with the actual moment of voting, Tsunade felt extremely angry and ashamed. Using her grandfather's body to exchange for her future reputation and status was not something a granddaughter should do.

But Tatsuma had already explained all sorts of possibilities to her. No matter what she chose, her grandfather's body would be donated as research material, even if Tsunade betrayed the village.

This was a desperate, all-or-nothing idea that Tsunade had proposed, but it was immediately rejected by Tatsuma because she couldn't betray the village through "conventional" means.

Assassinating the Hokage? Hiruzen Sarutobi would cover it up with a master-disciple sparring match. Attacking a colleague? Hasn't Tsunade attacked her colleagues countless times over the years? Unless Tsunade dares to actually kill a colleague, it would be completely ineffective.

As for passing secrets to enemy villages? If Tsunade dares to do it, the village will dare to provide secrets and channels for Tsunade to leak them. In any case, her identity means that enemy villages will never trust her information.

The only possible option for betraying the village would be to publicly announce one's defection, but this would be an easier option for the village.

Because the village could use this as a pretext to have another Senju representative emerge from among the Senju, someone qualified to represent the Senju and who would agree to the village's proposal.

Moreover, doing so would cause the Senju clan's prestige and reputation to plummet. Originally, the village and its residents might have had some objections, but if Tsunade did this, then everyone would agree that the village should use Hashirama Senju's remains as research material.

As Tatsuma said, this is a situation that Tsunade cannot "win," and only by supporting her can she bring herself more benefits while keeping the outcome the same.

Looking at her teacher, Tsunade took a deep breath and said, "I agree."

As soon as she finished speaking, the meeting room fell silent. Everyone's questioning gaze instantly turned to astonishment. Tsunade's answer was something no one had expected.

Some even shifted their attention to the Uchiha Jonin, Kurenai Yuhi, and other ninjas skilled in genjutsu. Though they didn't say it aloud, their actions subtly suggested...

"Have you controlled Tsunade?!"

When Hiruzen Sarutobi heard Tsunade support the proposal, his emotions were very complicated. He felt relieved, but at the same time, he also felt a strange sense of guilt.

But soon, Hiruzen Sarutobi adjusted his emotions and said before the other ninjas could recover, "Good, as expected of the First Hokage's granddaughter, Tsunade, your understanding of the Will of Fire is indeed thorough."

Where leaves dance in the air, the fire burns eternally. Its light will continue to illuminate the village and allow new leaves to sprout. Even fallen leaves will provide nourishment for new growth.

If the First Hokage knew of your decision at this moment, he would surely be extremely gratified. Tsunade, thank you for sacrificing your personal honor and disgrace for the sake of the village's future.

On behalf of Konoha, I, an old man, express my gratitude to you and to the First Hokage.

As he spoke, Hiruzen Sarutobi disregarded his status, stood up, and bowed deeply to Tsunade. This was what he, as her teacher, owed to her, and also what he, as a junior, owed to the fallen heroes of Konoha.

Looking at the teacher who was spouting nice words, Tsunade's other hand under the desk clenched so tightly that her knuckles turned white, but she still spoke in a stiff tone, almost through gritted teeth:

"No need, Third Hokage. I simply made the choice that every Konoha resident would make."

Hearing that Tsunade didn't call him "teacher" or even "Hokage," Hiruzen Sarutobi, who was bowing and had his head down, showed a bitter expression, but he quickly regained his smile and straightened up.

Although their back-and-forth wasn't perfectly coordinated, all the Konoha Jonin in the meeting room exchanged glances, knowing that disagreement was no longer an option.

After all, if you disagree, you're not a Konoha person.

The subsequent vote went very smoothly, with no one casting a dissenting vote. Only the Uchiha clan abstained. The current head of the Uchiha clan, Uchiha Fugaku's father, Uchiha Taku, looked at Tsunade, sighed inexplicably, shook his head, and remained silent.

Beside him, Fugaku Uchiha, who had been promoted to Jonin after the war, looked at his father. For some reason, he heard regret and a sense of shared sorrow in his father's sigh.

After the voting results were announced, Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded. Following standard procedure, the discussion should have moved on to the next proposal, but Hiruzen spoke first:

"Now that this proposal has been passed, I propose that Orochimaru serve as the lead researcher for this project. Do any of you have other candidates to recommend?"

Upon hearing Hiruzen Sarutobi's words, Tsunade, who had barely managed to suppress her anger, raised her head again, staring at her teacher in disbelief. It was at this moment that she finally understood.

Why did her teammates not attend the meeting twice in a row?

Having been betrayed by her teacher, her disciple, and her own teammates, Tsunade felt more lost and bewildered than ever before.

"Bang!"

Tsunade suddenly stood up and walked towards the door. Her sudden loss of composure stunned everyone in the meeting room. Kato Dan paused for a second, then stood up as well and said:

"Lord Hokage, Tsunade seems to be feeling unwell. I'll go check on her."

"As soon as possible."

Hiruzen Sarutobi waved his hand, and Dan Kato immediately got up and chased after Tsunade in the direction she had left.

As the two walked out of the conference room, Kato Dan saw Tsunade standing in the hallway outside the door. Kato Dan immediately closed the conference room door and looked at Tsunade not far away.

"come out!"

Tsunade suddenly spoke in a fit of anger. Kato Dan looked puzzled and pointed to himself, but Tsunade didn't look at him or seem to be speaking to him.

Just as Kato Dan was wondering, another figure suddenly appeared in the corridor. He was short and thin, dressed in ANBU uniform. Kato Dan went through all the ANBU members he knew in his mind, but none of them matched up.

Soon, he saw the blue and white curly hair of the ANBU ninja, and he realized the identity of the ANBU member.

Tatsuma appeared, looked at Tsunade, then at Kato Dan who looked surprised not far away, and reached out to remove the Yasha mask from his face that unconsciously gave people a comical feeling.

"teacher."

Looking at Tatsuma, Tsunade suppressed her anger and asked, "Orochimaru is the lead researcher on this project. Did you know that or not?"

I guessed it.

"Then why didn't you tell me?"

"There's no need."

Perhaps because he was still wearing the Anbu uniform, Tatsuma's answer was unconsciously a bit too brief. Of course, there might be another reason, which is that when he talks to Tsunade with a normal mindset, he always gets angry at Tsunade for being so stupid.

And when he gets angry, Tsunade gets even angrier, and then he gets beaten up again.

Hearing Tatsuma's answer, Tsunade's anger faltered, replaced by a sense of bewilderment. She instinctively asked, "Why?"

"Because he is the best researcher, even if he doesn't participate now, if the research fails in the future, the daimyo will question why Orochimaru, the best researcher, wasn't allowed to lead the research."

Then the village will continue to invite Orochimaru to lead this research project, and he, too, lacks the confidence to truly refuse. He will eventually become the lead researcher, and given his personality, he might try to negotiate a good deal and then readily join.

Tsunade nodded instinctively at Tatsuma's answer. It sounded like the choice her teammate would make. No! How could this kid know Orochimaru better than she did after knowing him for so long?

But by this time, Tsunade's anger had subsided considerably. She even felt a sense of sympathy for Orochimaru and asked, "So, what do you think the village offered Orochimaru as a bargaining chip?"

Upon hearing this, Tatsuma frowned slightly and began to ponder what kind of offer could sway Orochimaru. After a moment's thought, Tatsuma said, "Perhaps research funding for other projects."

Seeing that Tsunade didn't quite understand either, she stopped thinking about it and decided to go home and sulk by herself. After all, she had no money and couldn't go to the tavern or casino, and Jiraiya wasn't there, so she couldn't let him beat her up to vent her anger.

But when she turned her head, she saw the stunned Kato Dan. Seeing this potential enemy who had secretly investigated her and was probably planning to harm her, Tsunade's face immediately fell, and she asked with displeasure:

"You were eavesdropping on our conversation?!"

Upon hearing this, Kato Dan was genuinely embarrassed, since he hadn't avoided talking to Tsunade and Tatsuma during their conversation; strictly speaking, he had indeed been eavesdropping.

"Feel sorry."

Kato readily admitted his mistake and then said, "I'll treat you to a yakitori restaurant. I recently discovered a place that serves really good grilled chicken and sake; I think you'll enjoy it."

Tsunade narrowed her eyes and said with a cold smile, "So you'll make it easier for you to attack me after I'm drunk?"

Tsunade's blunt words made Kato Dan blush, and out of a sense of honesty, he couldn't help but nod.

Seeing that this enemy hiding in the village was so bold, Tsunade's face darkened even more, but her resentment also surged up, and she said, "Fine, then let's drink! Anyway, your alcohol tolerance is so bad."

"We'll see if I get drunk first and you make your move on me, or if you get drunk first and I make my move on you!"

"this"

Kato Dan's face turned even redder, and Tatsuma slapped his forehead, feeling that these two were beyond saving.

(End of this chapter)