"I…"
Tsunade wanted to speak but stopped halfway.
She could feel her grandmother's frustration and pain.
And in her heart, her discontent with her teacher, the Third Hokage, had reached a boiling point—maybe even begun to morph into hatred.
If not for his selfishness, her grandmother, the Senju Clan, and even the Uzumaki wouldn't be in such dire straits.
Huff!
Tsunade took a deep breath, her mind unusually clear.
Recalling her grandmother's earlier words, her eyes grew sharper. She finally pieced things together.
Looking at Mito, she asked solemnly:
"So, Grandma… seeing the changes in the Uchiha, especially Uchiha Chiri, you've had a change of heart—you're thinking of joining forces with the Uchiha to save the Uzumaki and Senju, and to stand against the power group led by the Third Hokage?"
"Oh?"
Mito's eyes glimmered with admiration. "Looks like you've finally woken up."
"Yes, that's exactly what I'm considering. But nothing's decided yet—we have to meet with Uchiha Chiri and test her intentions first."
"I hope this plan works."
If it did, then the future of the Senju and Uzumaki clans would be much brighter.
And it wasn't just them—this alliance would benefit the Uchiha as well.
A win-win situation.
Mito now understood all too clearly: Sarutobi Hiruzen and his circle—Danzo, Koharu, Homura—would eventually target every major clan that stood in their way.
The Senju were first.
Then the Uchiha.
After them, the Hyuga. Then the Ino-Shika-Cho clans. The Inuzuka, Aburame… anyone too strong or too independent.
Eventually, once the Sarutobi clan became the most powerful in the village, and Konoha turned into "Sarutobi Village," the suppression might stop.
Maybe.
This was the cost of letting a minor clan take the Hokage seat.
Neither she nor Tobirama had seen it coming back then.
And now, the price was being paid.
"Mm," Tsunade nodded firmly. "Let's wait until the meeting then. I hope it works out."
Suddenly, she remembered the rumors about Uchiha Chiri recovering her peak strength.
Tsunade's eyes lit up as she looked at her grandmother.
"Grandma! If Uchiha Chiri has truly recovered, then maybe she can help you too!"
"Even if she can't bring you back to your peak, maybe she can at least extend your life, right?"
"You said before that she once asked you to check her condition—and you diagnosed her with soul and life-force damage, worse than yours."
"But your own condition only stems from sealing the Tailed Beast—draining your life and chakra."
"If she recovered from that… then surely she has a way to help you too!"
Tsunade finally saw a glimmer of hope.
Ever since her illusions about the Third broke, and she realized the challenges the Senju and Uzumaki were facing, the pressure had been suffocating.
But if her grandmother could live another ten or twenty years—
Then she wouldn't have to carry everything herself.
She could stay on the sidelines, supporting where needed.
Much easier that way.
And by then, Nawaki would be an adult.
He could take the clan leadership as he was meant to.
She was just a weak girl, after all. It really wasn't her burden to bear...
"Maybe," Mito replied with a knowing look.
Of course, she saw through Tsunade's thinking.
But if she really could live another ten or twenty years, she wouldn't mind carrying the burden for a while longer—
And redoubling her efforts to train Nawaki properly.
"That's why I said—we'll decide after we meet Uchiha Chiri."
"We need to confirm that her recovery is real, and that her method isn't some one-time miracle."
"Go deliver this invitation for me," Mito said, pulling a formal letter from her robes.
"Invite her to visit us sometime soon."
"Yes, right away!"
Tsunade took the letter and hurried out the door.
Not long after, she arrived at the Uchiha compound and met with Chiri in person, explaining her visit and handing over the invitation.
"Oh?"
Uchiha Chiri opened the letter, skimmed through it, and raised an eyebrow.
"I understand your message."
"I accept the invitation."
"However, I'm unavailable for the next half month."
"Let's say—twenty days from now."
"By then, I'll bring my son Genqing as well."
"If nothing unexpected happens, you'll likely get what you're hoping for."
"That's all."
She closed the letter, sensing the intent behind the words.
Mito's desire to extend her life was clear.
"Heh… she's smart. Not one to sit around waiting for death either."
"Seems our negotiation will go quite smoothly."
Chiri was in a good mood.
"Huh? Twenty days?"
Tsunade frowned. "Can't it be sooner?"
The Uzumaki's situation wasn't looking good—who knew when an attack might come?
"I…"
Before Tsunade could argue further, Chiri's killing intent exploded—
A crushing aura slammed into Tsunade, forcing her shoulders to slump, her face flushed red, and her knees almost buckled under the pressure.
Then—
Just as quickly, the pressure vanished.
Chiri took a sip of tea, calm as ever, as if nothing had happened.
She glanced at Tsunade and waved her hand casually.
"My answer is clear. You may go."
"…Yes."
Tsunade clenched her fists, furious but helpless.
She bowed stiffly. "Then I'll take my leave."
She turned and exited quickly.
Only after leaving the compound did she breathe again.
Her trembling finally eased.
Turning back, she stared at the Uchiha residence with complicated emotions.
"What terrifying pressure. I definitely underestimated her."
"She's at least on par with Grandma… maybe stronger."
"And her life force… it's definitely real. She's fully recovered."
That was a good thing.
It meant she might really be able to save Grandma.
With that thought in mind, Tsunade hurried home and told Mito everything that had happened.
At the end, her voice was filled with grievance:
"Grandma! You wouldn't believe how scary she is! Just one glare, and she nearly crushed me flat!"