"What do you think about this matter?"
After Shikaku and Kakashi left, Tsunade turned to Hikari, who had been silent the entire time.
[I'll just sit back and watch!]
That was Kamizuki Hikari's internal response, but outwardly, he humbly replied, "Hokage-sama, I really don't know much about this."
And it was true—he genuinely didn't.
Before transmigrating, he had been an ordinary person. Even after arriving in this world, most of his interactions had been with civilians. The few shinobi he knew were limited to a handful of jōnin.
After years of passively "checking in" to gain strength, his power had grown, but his understanding of the shinobi world's political landscape was still lacking.
"Sigh..."
Tsunade let out a helpless sigh before continuing, "You know about Iwagakure and Kumogakure, right?"
"Yes. During the Third Shinobi World War, I was just a genin. If the war hadn't ended when it did, I probably wouldn't have survived."
[If it weren't for the Fourth Hokage's overwhelming strength, Konoha might have lost the Third Shinobi World War.]
The emergence of the prodigy Namikaze Minato had shattered the balance between the great villages.
His Space-Time Ninjutsu suppressed Kumogakure's A-B Combo, and his record of slaying dozens of Iwa jōnin in an instant remained unbroken to this day.
Against him, enemies could only flee in desperation or struggle to survive.
"And now, barely over a decade of peace later, these two villages are already trying to stir up war again. Unbelievable!"
Hikari comforted her, "Tsunade-sama, Shikaku-senpai and Kakashi-senpai already analyzed the situation. There's a high chance this war won't actually break out."
"True. But the danger remains. If I had even half of my grandfather's strength, these villages wouldn't dare provoke me like this. In the end, it's because I'm not strong enough."
Many times, Tsunade wondered—if she had been stronger back then, could she have protected Nawaki? Could she have saved Dan?
But this world had no "what-ifs". All she could do was drown her regrets in alcohol on lonely nights.
"Strength isn't eternal, nor is weakness. Now that Kakashi's left eye can fully utilize the Mangekyō's power, he alone is enough to instantly kill Ōnoki or the Fourth Raikage."
Space-Time Ninjutsu's greatest advantage was its unpredictability.
If Kakashi truly committed to an assassination, very few in the world could stop him.
"I hope so."
Tsunade glanced at Hikari, who remained indifferent, and couldn't help but complain internally.
'Damn it, Hikari, how much more obvious do I need to be?!'
'Didn't you hear me say I lack strength? Since you're so powerful, why don't you step up and take on more responsibility?!'
'Fine. If it comes to it, I'll just drag you to the battlefield with me. At least then I'll feel safer.'
Even now, Tsunade still didn't fully understand how Kamizuki Hikari had so effortlessly turned Danzō into a tree. The "Danzō Tree" still stood in Konoha's training grounds, generously providing shade for the village's shinobi.
Rumors had it that the Hyūga clan head had recently issued a new decree: Any Hyūga shinobi not on missions outside the village must "nourish" the Danzō Tree daily.
The Hyūga clan neither confirmed nor denied this.
"Alright, you can leave now. I need some time alone."
If Tsunade wanted solitude, Hikari certainly wouldn't refuse.
Staying here meant he could at least admire her figure to pass the time, but even the most captivating scenery grew dull after a while. A man needed variety—like strolling through the village to enjoy other views.
'What the—?!'
The moment he stepped out of the Hokage Building, Hikari nearly cursed aloud.
Guess who he ran into!
"Hikari, come with us."
Kakashi didn't give him a chance to refuse, grabbing his arm and pulling him along.
Shikaku followed behind them with a faint smile.
Soon, the three arrived at an izakaya. Watching Shikaku skillfully handle the arrangements, Hikari understood.
"Ah, so this is a Nara family business. No wonder it's so loaded!"
Alcohol was something most men enjoyed—eight out of ten, at least.
"Not that loaded. The real money's with the Akimichi clan."
Shikaku humbly deflected the praise before pulling out three bottles of premium sake.
"Deer Antler Sake. Great for replenishing stamina. A favorite of the Fire Daimyō and nobles."
Hearing that, both Kakashi and Hikari immediately grasped the implications.
Nobles and the Daimyō?
With nothing better to do all day than feast, indulge, and bed women, of course their bodies would be weak.
The Nara clan's specially brewed Deer Antler Sake helped these men "recover their vigor", making it highly sought after.
"Tsk tsk, Kakashi, maybe I should drink your share for you." Hikari glanced between Shikaku and Kakashi teasingly. "Since you're alone anyway, what's the point?"
"Shut it. You're single too, aren't you?" Kakashi shot him an annoyed glare before pouring himself a drink.
"If I wanted to find someone, I could anytime. I'm single by choice, not by necessity. There's a difference, Kakashi." Hikari smirked before taking a slow sip.
The taste was average, but as the liquor warmed his body, a surge of energy spread through his limbs, invigorating him.
Good stuff.
"I could find someone too if I wanted!" Kakashi retorted stubbornly.
"Sure, sure. You're single for a reason, but I'm not interested in that." Hikari turned to Shikaku. "Alright, why did you two drag me here? Spit it out."
Kakashi glanced at Shikaku but stayed silent.
"Fine, I'll talk."
Shikaku scanned their surroundings, his vigilance unwavering. "This place is mine, so we can speak freely. Now, let me share my real thoughts."
"Wait, earlier you said this was about Iwa and Kumo? And now—... Alright, fine. Go on." Faced with their persistence, Hikari reluctantly gave in.
Shikaku lowered his voice. "What I told Tsunade-sama earlier was just for appearances. The ANBU were listening, so I had to be careful."
Hikari immediately stood up to leave.
"Don't go! I know it seems like I'm using you, but we're really in a tight spot here!" Shikaku grabbed his sleeve while Kakashi blocked his path.
"Oh, so you're roping me into your mess now?"
Hikari tried to shake them off, but Shikaku and Kakashi held firm.
"I'm just a chūnin, you know!"
"Exactly! That's why no one will suspect you!" Shikaku grinned, looking every bit the sly old fox.
Kamizuki Hikari seriously considered slapping him.
"So that's your excuse for dragging me into this?" His expression darkened.
"Relax. As long as you keep quiet, no one will know. Besides, do you really think you could've stayed out of this? Dream on. These people are targeting Tsunade-sama. The moment you stepped into the Hokage Building with her, you were already marked as her ally."
At this moment, Shikaku resembled nothing so much as a seasoned rogue.
Hikari gritted his teeth. "Fine. If you want my help... you'll have to pay extra."
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