"Test what?"
Tsunade asked, almost without thinking.
A moment later, her confused expression shifted.
Her eyes widened slowly, and she looked quite flustered.
It was clear Tsunade was thinking about something specific.
Shizune wasn't there right now.
Only Sarutobi Ryo and Tsunade were in the room.
Tsunade's face grew more and more awkward: "Ahem… I didn't quite catch what you said, kid…"
She glanced around, acting as if she hadn't heard properly.
Most women in the world were like that.
When certain topics came up, they seemed very… reserved and proper.
Maybe a better word would be… innocent.
"I'm done here."
Sarutobi Ryo put his teacup down and stood up.
He was ready to leave.
Time really flew.
Sarutobi Ryo, once a little boy, was now a handsome and confident young man.
His strong face reminded Tsunade of Kato Dan…
Kato Dan was about Sarutobi Ryo's age when she first met him…
This made Tsunade feel what Jiraiya had said: time was passing, and youth was fading.
Yes …
She wasn't young anymore.
Tsunade thought to herself.
She couldn't help but sigh.
By the time she snapped out of it, Sarutobi Ryo was gone.
"Lord Tsunade…"
Shizune saw Sarutobi Ryo off and came back to the room.
She saw the beautiful Tsunade looking in the mirror.
That was unusual.
Tsunade had always been confident in her looks and didn't bother with makeup like other women.
Her natural beauty was enough.
But now, Tsunade was actually looking in the mirror?
Speaking of which … Lord Tsunade wasn't getting any younger…
Even though she looked great.
But even with her Yin Seal keeping her young, that wouldn't last forever …
After all, everyone had to face getting old, getting sick, and dying …
While Shizune was thinking about all of this, Tsunade muttered to herself, "Good, I don't look too old…"
Tsunade knew that youth was temporary.
It could disappear anytime.
Therefore…
Was she really going to waste her life like Jiraiya said?
And that kid, Sarutobi Ryo.
He dared to tease her; did he think he was a man now?
Hmph …
Tsunade huffed, acting unconcerned, but she was worried about… losing her youth.
"I… will get old someday."
----
The leaders of Konoha were having a meeting.
Sarutobi Ryo, as the Anbu Squad Six Captain and Jonin Commander, had given authority to others for some tasks.
Today, Sarutobi Ryo wanted Uchiha Mikoto to join the Anbu.
Everyone was shocked to hear that.
Uchiha Mikoto, who had returned to her ninja duties and was pregnant, was also surprised.
Uchiha Mikoto had been a housewife, leaving her ninja work when she got married, to focus on being a good wife.
After her husband died in battle and she failed to take her own life, she found out she was pregnant.
Mikoto decided to keep going, to watch Itachi grow up, and… to raise her second child.
She had only returned to duty on paper.
As a pregnant woman, Uchiha Mikoto wouldn't be going on missions.
That would have to wait until her second child was born and Itachi could help take care of them.
Hearing Ryo suddenly ask her to join Anbu Squad Six today…
Uchiha Mikoto was stunned.
Utatane Koharu and the others were also surprised.
This was new.
Sarutobi Ryo didn't want Uchiha Mikoto to join the Anbu for missions.
This was a statement.
If someone from the Uchiha clan could join the Anbu, it meant that other groups would start accepting the Uchiha.
Instead of being stuck running the Military Police Force, the Uchiha would have a chance to rise.
They could show what they could do and become more respected, influential, and useful in Konoha.
Everyone knew what the Uchiha Sharingan could do.
"We object!"
A Senju Clan member spoke up.
As the Hokage's hidden support, the Senju clan members were mostly in the background.
Their job was to quietly block the Uchiha, keeping Senju Tobirama's Fire Will fair.
As the Senju Jonin spoke against the idea, the others watched silently, looking back and forth between Sarutobi Ryo and them.
They couldn't guess what Ryo was planning.
"Reasons for objecting?"
Sarutobi Ryo looked at the Senju Clan member, glancing at Tsunade.
Tsunade knew what her clan members were like.
She also understood some of their views.
"The reason is…"
The Senju Clan member immediately gave a reason.
This had happened many times before.
The Uchiha clan would apply every year, but they would always be turned down.
The reasons were always that the Military Police Force needed the Uchiha.
"So, you're saying… Konoha's Anbu doesn't need the Uchiha? Other departments don't need them either? The Uchiha aren't good enough?"
Sarutobi Ryo widened his eyes and confronted them directly.
Anyone could take the moral high ground.
The Senju had always done this.
But Sarutobi Ryo knew how to play this game better, so he took the lead, putting the others on the spot.
He was simply asking if the Uchiha were worthy or not.
Below the stage.
Namikaze Minato, Obito, and the others watched closely.
They watched the quickly changing events in the Jonin Squad Conference Room.
They knew Sarutobi Ryo was about to change Konoha again.
Was all of this Hatake Sakumo's idea?
Hatake Sakumo, wearing the Hokage Traveling Hat, sat quietly.
He didn't seem to be planning to say anything.
It was as if…
Sarutobi Ryo was speaking for him.
The Senju clan members represented the views of leaders like Koharu, Homura, and Danzo.
Sarutobi Hiruzen, who had already retired, was wearing casual clothes, relaxed and at ease, not worried about the meeting. He seemed friendly.
New leaders often made big changes.
Had the two of them, the Jonin Commander and the Fourth Hokage, finally started to use their power?
*
**
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[T/N:
Final Total Power Stone Collection : 252 PS
Goal : Reach +50 Total PS = +2 Bonus Chapters next day! 🚀
Want to support my work and get early access to chapters? Check out my Patreon! 👇
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]