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Wu Jie sneered, "What? Have you only now finally decided to kill me? Weren't those who died in Konoha before enough? It seems being your comrade is truly pitiful. And I feel like I've heard these words before. Are you planning to say them every time you see me?"
Crack!
The sake cup in Jiraiya's hand was once again crushed into pieces. His white hair even seemed to stand on end!
A corner of Wu Jie's mouth lifted. "Want to try? Completely abandon your past ninja way, stop caring about those civilians, and let's raze Tanzaku Quarters to the ground! Come, try to kill me! Kill me, the source of chaos in the ninja world!"
Orochimaru also smiled and said to Jiraiya, "Jiraiya, if you're going to make a move, I can help you hold him off."
Wu Jie glanced at Orochimaru. "I'll be raising my price later, you know."
"No need to worry, I still have some confidence in my own wealth."
Seeing this, Jiraiya's heart immediately filled with vigilance. "What exactly do you two mean!?"
But Orochimaru shook his head in disappointment. He stood up and said, "Always so hesitant and indecisive. You can't possibly lead Konoha to survive in the Ninja World War like this. Kabuto, let's go. We've seen quite a good show today. Indeed, only by living long enough can one witness all sorts of things."
After speaking, he looked at Wu Jie again. "Don't make me wait too long."
"Please prepare your purse."
Orochimaru chuckled, and Kabuto Yakushi, following behind him, also left the place.
Wu Jie nodded at the well-behaved Karin. Karin, in turn, patted the little Shukaku to wake it up, then picked it up amidst its dissatisfied grumbles.
"Let's make our exit too, Master Jiraiya. Please don't mind too much what happened earlier. Just as Lady Tsunade said, those words were merely a means to an end for me. I still respect you very much. After all, there aren't many kind people like you in this world. Well then, I hope our next meeting can be as pleasant as this one."
Wu Jie still hoped that good people were the majority in this world, because...
That way, he could be the only one causing trouble.
Jiraiya's face was grim. The situation had completely spiraled out of control. He didn't even know now whether he should go back to stop Danzo from becoming Hokage or stay here to prevent Tsunade from joining forces with Uzumaki.
Moreover, Uzumaki possessed the scroll that could heal Orochimaru's hands. If Orochimaru truly recovered, he would definitely retaliate against Konoha in the days to come. So, he also had to find a way to stop them now.
There were simply too many things to do, and each one was urgent. Even he was somewhat unsure where to start.
Also, Jiraiya turned to look at Naruto. This child was the next Child of Prophecy he had acknowledged.
But that Uzumaki's words had successfully created a rift between Naruto and him. To eliminate this, he would also need to spend a great deal of time and effort...
Jiraiya sighed and gently woke Naruto. "Let's head back first."
"Pervy Sage..." Naruto glanced at Jiraiya, then lowered his head again. "Mn."
The two of them, maintaining a one-person distance, walked out of the Hyakugaku Izakaya...
"Sir, wait! You haven't paid yet!"
Jiraiya's eye twitched incessantly...
Wu Jie and Karin quickly returned to the inn. At this moment, Tsunade was holding a sake pot, sitting on the windowsill, enjoying the night breeze.
She glanced sideways at Wu Jie, then looked out the window again, and said, "You've revealed your entire plan for the Land of Whirlpools. Even if few in the ninja world would believe it, it will at least make others vigilant. And Jiraiya will definitely be keeping a close eye on the situation there. What exactly are you planning?"
Wu Jie pondered for a moment, then also sat down. "Because in this world, we no longer have anything we care about. The Land of Whirlpools is the same. This country is merely bait we're using for revenge. We have no interest in unifying the ninja world, nor in saving it. All our actions are purely for revenge."
Tsunade pursed her lips, then after a long pause, spoke again, "Why don't you two go into seclusion with me? I'll treat you as my own children.
If this place makes you uncomfortable, we can also go overseas. I've heard people say there's another country across the sea with customs completely different from ours. The scenery there might be able to soothe your pain. We can also go to many places, with no goals, and nothing we ought to do, just wandering around aimlessly."
Tsunade's words stunned Wu Jie and Karin. This conversation was something they had never anticipated. The two exchanged a look, and after another long silence, Wu Jie said softly, "I said you were the most suitable person to become Hokage, precisely because you not only have the strong will to bear sin but also a kind heart that can unite everyone. We are not ungrateful people either. We have indeed felt your concern. It's just, please forgive us for not knowing how to respond to your kindness. We've never had such an experience before."
Jiraiya could unite people, but he couldn't bear sin. Orochimaru could bear sin casually, but he couldn't unite people's hearts.
Wu Jie paused, then continued, "Lady Tsunade, the scene you described is indeed something one yearns for. However, just as you still fear blood now, the ghosts of the past have never let us go. Even if we could cross the seas and wander around, whenever we close our eyes at midnight, those ghosts always appear before us at the right time."
"Lady Tsunade, perhaps you can try to work hard one more time. Back then, you didn't save Nawaki, nor did you save Dan Kato. But if the scene I described truly happens, then you will have saved tens of thousands of Nawakis, and tens of thousands of Dan Katos. I won't say this can comfort their spirits in heaven; after all, we are also carrying out an unjust revenge behind our mother's back. However, perhaps at that time, you will be able to forgive yourself."
Tsunade pursed her lips, then snorted softly. "What, you still want to use me as bait in the Land of Whirlpools for you?"
Karin gently tugged at Wu Jie's sleeve. Wu Jie also sighed softly.
"That was just our original plan. However... after you said those words, you were no longer a stranger who could be casually discarded. You regard us two children with blood on our hands as your own kin, so we can only regard you as an elder of Uzumaki. Since you are an elder, we are naturally closer to you."
"How about this: consider this a collaboration with us. You help us eliminate the concept of 'ninja' from history, and in the process, we will also help you establish a nation that no longer needs war. Even if we fall along the way, at least we will have all strived for it."
Shizune, holding Tonton, leaned silently against the door outside. She had followed Tsunade for nearly twenty years and naturally knew that this time, Tsunade was truly about to make a decision.
After a long while, a dark cloud covered the moonlight, plunging the room into darkness. But soon, a gentle breeze carried the dark cloud away, and the pure white moonlight once again sprinkled across the great earth.
Tsunade shook her head and laughed. "A dream, huh? So this is what you're using to buy me over... I've really lost to you. You've indeed convinced me.
I've been running away for over a decade. Perhaps it's time I did something for Nawaki and Dan. I hope when I go down to see them, they won't point at my nose and curse me out."
Wu Jie also smiled and said, "Please rest assured, they probably can't beat you."
Speaking to this point, Wu Jie stood up and walked in front of Tsunade. "But before everything begins, I have one last thing to confirm."
"What?" Tsunade looked over puzzled. Then, a cold glint suddenly appeared!
Clang!
Wu Jie instantly drew a kunai!
And then...
He slashed it across his own palm. Blood gushed out immediately.
The red blood reflected in Tsunade's eyes. Her breathing suddenly hitched, her eyes widened, and then her heart began to pound rapidly!
"What are you doing!?" Shizune immediately rushed in!
But at this moment, Tsunade, whose heartbeat was gradually slowing, reached out and stopped her. "It's alright, Shizune."
Wu Jie also smiled and said, "It seems you are indeed no longer lost."
Tsunade no longer fearing blood meant she had made up her mind to walk out from the shadows of the past.
But there were only two things that could make her make up her mind: accept the dream Wu Jie used to buy her over and unify the ninja world, or follow Nawaki and Dan's wishes and protect Konoha.
But since she hadn't made a move yet, it meant she had chosen the dream Wu Jie described.
Tsunade snorted, saying unhappily, "So you didn't believe me at all before."
Though she said that, she still placed her hand above Wu Jie's palm. A soft light emanated, quickly healing the wound on his palm.
"Feelings are the things least able to withstand being tested. So, it's better to clarify these things at the very beginning, lest we harbor suspicions about each other in the future. After all, you are, to date, our only collaborator."
Tsunade chuckled lightly. "I don't believe I'm your only collaborator."
Wu Jie shook his head. "We are merely taking what we need from those people. Uzumaki doesn't care about their thoughts, nor their attitude. Even their life or death has no impact on us. So, they are not collaborators, just trading partners. But you are different. At least on our path of revenge, we will also strive to help you achieve that described scene."
Tsunade paused, then suddenly asked, "If I hadn't chosen you, but had gone back to Konoha with Jiraiya to become Hokage, what would you have done?"
"If Konoha cannot be weakened, then strengthening the enemy is also a way to balance things. I would have traded Orochimaru's hands with him, letting him start hunting Konoha's ninjas."
Tsunade smiled wryly and shook her head. "It seems no matter what, you won't lose."
"No, that would cause me to lose many things. And your joining us is more precious than anything else."
Wu Jie and Karin left the room. Shizune came before Tsunade and said with hesitation, "Lady Tsunade, are we really going to cooperate with them? So many, many people will really die this way."
Tsunade said calmly, "My entire life can be said to have been spent in war. I've truly seen enough of this thing called war. After Nawaki and Dan died in battle, the reason I chose to run away was because I simply didn't know how to end this chaotic world. They didn't die at the hands of a certain ninja, but at the hands of this damned era.
But now, I see this opportunity. If it can truly be ended, then even if it means I have to bear some sin, it might not be unacceptable."
After speaking, Tsunade turned her head to look at Shizune and said to her, "I know you are a very kind child. If you are unwilling..."
"Lady Tsunade! Please don't say such things!" Shizune immediately interrupted her, then said with utmost firmness, "No matter where you go, please be sure to let me follow by your side!"