On the other side.
Tsunade, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and Orochimaru walked out of the back mountain cemetery area.
Looking ahead, they were approaching the Village.
Hiruzen Sarutobi hesitated for a moment and stopped.
“Tsunade, wait a moment.” Tsunade stopped, turned around, and looked at the Third Hokage.
Hiruzen Sarutobi’s expression shifted, as if he were weighing something.
Then he sighed and said: “The First Hokage’s remains…
leave them to me.” He paused, his tone becoming serious.
“I hope this matter ends here.” Tsunade narrowed her eyes slightly.
Although she had guessed this would be the result.
Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn’t possibly let her take Hashirama’s remains home.
But the Third Hokage’s attitude of smoothing things over, and even showing a bit of bias toward Danzo.
Still left her feeling somewhat displeased.
She didn’t speak, just watched Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed, his voice lowering.
“Tsunade, after Tobirama passed away, the Ninja World started becoming turbulent again.” “Kumogakure and Iwagakure haven’t been very settled lately.” “At a time like this, we in Konoha absolutely cannot have internal strife.” He looked at Tsunade, his eyes complex.
“You…
understand what I mean, right?” Tsunade was silent for a moment.
Indeed, Hiruzen Sarutobi’s concerns were not unreasonable.
No matter how much of a bastard Danzo was, he was still a high-ranking official of Konoha.
The leader of Root, holding significant power and an intelligence network in his hands.
Konoha was currently under significant external pressure.
If they completely broke ties with Danzo over this matter, causing it to become common knowledge and even triggering internal unrest…
It would be more trouble than it was worth.
Although Danzo’s act of secretly moving the First Hokage’s remains was underhanded.
But as long as it didn’t get out, it wouldn’t cause too much impact on Konoha’s overall reputation and stability.
“Konoha’s current situation is not good; it cannot afford any more internal turmoil.” Hiruzen Sarutobi added, his tone tinged with helplessness.
Tsunade stared at him for a few seconds, then snorted coldly and turned her head away.
“Fine, I’ll give you face this time.” “But old man, you’d better keep Grandpa’s remains safe and don’t let certain people take advantage of the situation again.” Hiruzen Sarutobi’s expression immediately relaxed, and he nodded quickly.
“Rest assured, I will handle it properly.” Immediately after, as if remembering something, his expression became exceptionally serious, and his voice lowered further.
“By the way, you must not tell Uzumaki Mito about this!” Tsunade rolled her eyes.
“Got it, got it, I’m not stupid.” Tell Grandma?
Are you kidding me!
If Uzumaki Mito found out that her husband’s grave had been dug up and his remains were being soaked in a jar for research.
With Mito’s temper, she would probably go berserk on the spot and wipe out Danzo along with his Root base.
Hiruzen Sarutobi finally breathed a sigh of relief.
As Hashirama’s wife and the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, Uzumaki Mito had an extremely special status in Konoha.
If she found out about this, it would truly be the end of the world.
The reason Danzo was so cowardly just now, not daring to fight back even after being hit.
Must have been because he was worried about this.
Tsunade glanced at Orochimaru, who had been silent by her side.
Orochimaru nodded slightly at her, signaling that he had obtained the item.
Then he gently set down the remains of Hashirama he had been carrying on his shoulder.
Hiruzen Sarutobi pulled a special sealing scroll from his robes and spread it out on the ground.
He formed hand seals, and Chakra surged.
“Seal!” A flash of white light passed, and Hashirama’s remains were sucked into the scroll.
Hiruzen Sarutobi picked up the scroll and carefully tucked it into his robes.
He looked at Tsunade, then at Orochimaru, and finally just gave a simple instruction: “Today’s matter ends here.
You two should go back too.” After saying this, he turned and walked quickly toward the Hokage Building.
Once Hiruzen Sarutobi’s figure completely disappeared from sight.
The “displeasure” and “reluctance” on Tsunade’s face vanished instantly.
Her expression changed, and she excitedly leaned in toward Orochimaru.
“Did you get it?” Orochimaru nodded slightly, a trace of suppressed excitement flashing in his golden slit pupils.
“Hehe, well done!” Tsunade grinned and patted Orochimaru on the shoulder.
“So how long until you have research results?
My ‘Bloodline Ancestry Reversion Project’ is counting on this!” Orochimaru hesitated for a moment.
“I’m not sure.” “Not sure?” Tsunade’s face immediately darkened.
She narrowed her eyes and looked at Orochimaru with an unfriendly expression.
“I took such a huge risk with you, acting and hitting people, and almost breaking ties with Danzo, and now you’re telling me ‘I’m not sure’?!” She stepped forward, exerting her aura toward Orochimaru without reservation.
Orochimaru subconsciously swallowed, his expression somewhat stiff.
“This kind of thing…
is really hard to say.” “Cell research is full of variables, especially the First Hokage’s cells; they are too special.” “But I promise you, I will definitely research it as soon as possible.” “How long is ‘as soon as possible’?” Tsunade pressed, “Give me a definite answer!” Orochimaru opened his mouth, wanting to give a conservative number, like two or three years.
But looking at Tsunade’s knuckles cracking, he swallowed the words back.
He had seen with his own eyes how Tsunade beat up Jiraiya.
And he had seen today how she made Danzo vomit blood with two punches.
He really didn’t want to experience this woman’s monstrous strength firsthand.
“…One year?” Orochimaru tentatively offered a number.
“One year?!” Tsunade’s voice rose.
“Are you kidding me?!
Three months!” “What?!” Orochimaru widened his eyes, his golden slit pupils full of “You’re the one kidding me.” “Three months?
How is that possible!
These are the First Hokage’s cells; just the basic safety testing alone might require…” “I don’t care!” Tsunade interrupted him, hands on her hips, looking domineering as if “I have the final say.” “Anyway, within three months, I want to see preliminary research results!
At least a direction or a feasibility report!” “If not…” She clenched her fists, her knuckles making a crisp “crack” sound, and a “kind” smile appeared on her face.
Orochimaru immediately caved.
“Fine.” Orochimaru’s voice sounded a bit strained.
“I…
will try my best.” “Not ‘try my best’, it’s a must!” Tsunade emphasized.
“…Must.” Orochimaru squeezed the two words through his teeth.
Tsunade nodded with satisfaction.
She patted Orochimaru’s shoulder hard.
“That’s right!
Work hard, and when I become Hokage, I’ll double your laboratory funding!” After saying that, she tossed her golden ponytail stylishly.
She turned and walked toward the Senju clan grounds.
With her back turned, the corners of Tsunade’s mouth curled up, revealing a sly smile.
Research results in three months?
Honestly, she didn’t even believe it herself!
In the original plot, this guy Orochimaru researched secretly for who knows how many years.
Only to barely come up with some unstable Hashirama cell transplantation technique.
And with a ton of side effects.
She didn’t expect him to actually come up with anything earth-shattering within three months.
But the pressure still had to be applied.
What if there was a surprise?
Just like how bosses in her previous life set KPIs for subordinates.
Even knowing it couldn’t be completed, they still had to set it high.
Otherwise, how could one stimulate the potential for “struggle”?
Right now, Orochimaru was completely tied to her on the same boat.
Everyone had their own needs.
She was the financier, and Orochimaru was the technical side.
She, the “client boss,” had to be tough!
“The next thing to do is to continue building good relationships with the wives of the ninja clans.” Tsunade was in a good mood and hummed a little tune.
She thought about the tea party for the female relatives of several families that Sora Yamanaka mentioned for next Wednesday.
“I’ll go take a look then.” “Getting to know a few more ‘good sisters’—when I run for Hokage later, these will all be vote banks!” “Hehe, certified employment, legal socializing.” As she walked, she calculated her next plans.
Training could not stop.
The Yin Seal needed continuous accumulation, and the Eight Gates needed to be practiced.
Relationships with the female relatives of the major ninja clans needed to be maintained.
And she had to go “urge” Orochimaru’s research progress from time to time.
“Being busy is good, being busy is fulfilling.” Tsunade stretched, feeling that the future was bright.