[Uchiha Clan Grounds]
After Tsunade arrived, it was Uchiha Fugaku who received her.
Although the Uchiha and Konoha didn't have a particularly good relationship, formal courtesies were still present.
Moreover, Tsunade herself didn't have any conflicts with the Uchiha, so the atmosphere was relatively harmonious.
After touring the Uchiha clan's hospital, Tsunade felt that the current Uchiha were indeed quite wealthy and powerful.
They had completely replicated the scale of Konoha's hospital.
Many newly built rooms were even still empty.
Even the shortage of medical personnel didn't seem to matter.
"Nono's medical ninjutsu is still pretty decent, more than enough for general external injuries," Tsunade casually chatted with Fugaku.
"Our number of medical ninjas is still relatively small, so we'll need Tsunade-sama's support," Fugaku replied in agreement.
Tsunade nodded slightly, "Don't worry. After you finalize the personnel, I'll start elite training sessions in the afternoons beginning tomorrow."
Then she changed the subject, "Since the official matters are settled, let's talk about something personal."
"Where is Orochimaru?"
The smile on Fugaku's face faded, replaced with a strictly business-like tone, "Orochimaru is a guest invited by our Uchiha clan. Whether he wants to meet Tsunade-sama or not, we can't force him."
Tsunade didn't get angry. If Orochimaru truly was a guest of the Uchiha, that was a reasonable statement.
However, she didn't believe for a second that Orochimaru was just here as a guest.
"Then go and inform him that I want to see him."
At this moment, a voice came from outside, "...Tsunade-sama is a long-time friend of Lord Orochimaru. No need to notify him, I'll bring you to him directly."
With the voice, Rengoku soon appeared in front of Tsunade.
Once Rengoku approached, including Fugaku, all the Uchiha clansmen bowed to him, "Clan Leader."
He nodded and said, "Fourth Elder, you may step down now. I'll handle things here."
Fugaku nodded and left with the others.
"Let's go, Tsunade-sama. Orochimaru is in the lab below."
Rengoku made a gesture of invitation and then walked alongside Tsunade to lead the way.
Tsunade raised her eyebrows slightly, then followed beside Rengoku.
"Clan Leader Rengoku truly is young and promising," Normally, with her status, Tsunade wouldn't say such a thing.
However, the moment Rengoku came near her, Tsunade sensed an enormous amount of chakra within his body.
This level of chakra wasn't much different from that of a Tailed Beast.
'It seems he severed the Raikage's arm entirely with his own strength.'
Hearing Tsunade's compliment, Rengoku smiled, "Tsunade-sama's medical ninjutsu also reigns supreme in the ninja world. Unfortunately, after falling ill, your spirit declined, and you've wasted time."
Tsunade's steps halted for a second, then she caught up again. Since Orochimaru was here, her hemophobia being exposed was only natural.
As for her will weakening and wasting time, "Looks like Clan Leader Rengoku knows quite a bit about me."
Tsunade answered indifferently.
Rengoku chuckled lightly, "More or less, just feel a bit regretful."
While they talked, Rengoku had already led Tsunade through several doors downward.
They arrived at Orochimaru's lab.
It had been years since Tsunade had seen Orochimaru, but in the past, no matter how long it had been, Orochimaru never changed much.
This time seeing Orochimaru, however, gave her an oddly unfamiliar feeling.
"Tsunade, long time no see," Orochimaru was staring intently at the screen in front of him, only glancing at Tsunade from the corner of his eye as he casually spoke.
He didn't seem surprised at all by Tsunade's arrival, there was not even a hint of emotional fluctuation.
"You two talk slowly. I'll wait outside."
Rengoku knew Tsunade had something to say to Orochimaru, so he gave a polite excuse and walked out.
Tsunade watched Rengoku's back disappear and asked Orochimaru, "What are you doing staying with the Uchiha?"
After tapping out a few commands with clacks and clicks, Orochimaru finally turned to her.
"Then why did you come back?", Orochimaru's tone was playful. He didn't answer, but asked in return.
Tsunade stared at Orochimaru's face in shock, "You… your body?"
"Oh? You can see through my disguise?", Orochimaru's face rippled and transformed into a woman's face.
Tsunade stared hard at him, "This is the secret technique you've been researching all along?"
Though he now wore a woman's face, Orochimaru's voice was still that of a man.
"Indeed. Life is so fragile. Only a long life can allow me to explore all the truths of this world."
Tsunade's face darkened, "What forbidden experiments are you doing for the Uchiha?"
Orochimaru stuck out his tongue and licked his own face, "Forbidden experiments?"
"Not at all. This time my experiments will benefit the entire ninja world."
Tsunade frowned, "What do you mean?"
Orochimaru turned toward a side corridor, "Follow me."
Tsunade followed Orochimaru with doubt in her heart.
They passed through the corridor into a room where a massive incubation tank stood upright.
Floating inside was a child only a few years old.
Tsunade's face changed drastically, "Orochimaru, what is this?"
Orochimaru shook his head, "She is a clone of Rengoku's younger sister."
Tsunade's anger subsided slightly, "What happened to Rengoku's sister?"
This time Orochimaru didn't answer directly, "Go ask Rengoku yourself."
Tsunade looked thoughtful, "What exactly happened back then?"
Orochimaru smiled indifferently, "Konoha needed the power of Wood Release. Danzo came to me for cooperation, and the corpse of Senju Hashirama was provided by him."
"Weren't enough people killed in pursuit of Wood Release?", Tsunade's expression was very unpleasant.
"You can't stop the desires of those people."
"And do you really think the old man didn't know?", Orochimaru said this with a meaningful tone.
Tsunade frowned in thought, unsure what she was thinking.
Then she looked up, "What kind of person is Uchiha Rengoku?"
Orochimaru turned and walked toward the exit, "You should ask him, he's more honest than I am."
To Tsunade, Orochimaru felt like a slippery eel, impossible to grasp.
She understood Orochimaru no longer wanted to talk, so she had no choice but to follow, "Anko wants to see you."
Orochimaru didn't stop walking, "She can come find me then."
Tsunade followed Orochimaru out and saw Rengoku was already waiting for her outside.
"I'll get back to work now," Orochimaru's words were essentially a dismissal.
Rengoku nodded, "Thanks for your trouble, Tsunade-sama. Let's talk somewhere else."
Tsunade nodded and followed Rengoku out.
"Orochimaru said Clan Leader Rengoku is more honest than him?"
Rengoku wore a faint smile, "Depends on the topic."
"Why did you clone your sister? Cloning technology still has many obstacles that haven't been overcome, right?"
The smile on Rengoku's face faded, "Then please come to my home, Tsunade-sama, and we'll talk in detail."
"The answer is there."
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