Chapter 58: Who's Spreading Rumors About Me
A small clan leader spoke with a trembling voice: "Then... should we leave Konoha?"
Those words were like water hitting hot oil, instantly creating subtle ripples throughout the meeting room.
The gazes of several young clan leaders began to wander, some unconsciously looking toward the windows—as if calculating the time needed for escape.
The shock Yu brought was too terrifying, a horror beyond comprehension that made people instinctively want to flee, like ancient humans' first reaction when facing natural disasters.
Nara Shikaku keenly noticed this change and cleared his throat lightly: "Running away won't solve the problem." Though his voice was quiet, it somewhat calmed the unrest. "Given the strength Uchiha Yu has displayed, there's probably no safe place in the entire ninja world."
The clan leader who had suggested fleeing slumped back into his chair dejectedly, his face ashen.
Only now did he realize his suggestion was nothing but childish fantasy—faced with power that could alter terrain, where would be safe to flee to?
Nara Shikaku shook his head with a bitter smile: "The question now isn't whether to flee... but how to coexist with such an existence." He looked meaningfully at Tsunade. "Or rather... how to ensure he continues to be willing to... protect Konoha."
Those words were like a key, instantly opening the floodgates of everyone's memories.
All eyes turned toward Tsunade in unison.
The rumors about the special relationship between the Fifth Hokage and that young man—
Though they had quieted down for a while, many still firmly believed them. Some even claimed to have personally witnessed Lady Tsunade privately receiving that young man in her office late at night...
The atmosphere in the meeting room became delicate.
Koharu Utatane's cloudy old eyes narrowed slightly, Homura Mitokado unconsciously stroked his chin, and even Hyuga Hiashi's Byakugan unnaturally turned elsewhere.
Tsunade felt the gazes directed at her from all sides. A barely perceptible flicker of panic flashed through her eyes, but she quickly regained the dignity befitting a Hokage.
She slammed both hands heavily on the meeting table, causing the water in the teacups to slosh violently.
Her gaze swept sharply over everyone present, her voice carrying suppressed anger: "If you all have something to say, speak plainly."
This familiar scenario made her temples throb. The last time she was scrutinized with such meaningful looks by these people, she had been inexplicably pushed into the Hokage position.
Looking back now, they were probably scheming something even then.
Koharu Utatane coughed dryly, her aged voice deliberately gentle: "Tsunade... we just think that since you and that person have a... special relationship..."
"Special?" Tsunade laughed coldly, the veins bulging at her temples showing she was restraining her fury with great effort. "Perhaps the advisor would care to be more specific."
The atmosphere instantly froze.
Seeing this, Nara Shikaku quickly tried to smooth things over: "Lady Hokage, you misunderstand. What we mean is... since you have connections with Uchiha Yu, perhaps you could represent Konoha in establishing a more... stable relationship with him?"
He spoke diplomatically, but everyone present heard the underlying meaning.
BANG—!
Tsunade's heavy fist directly shattered the solid wood meeting table to pieces, wood chips flying everywhere.
Her amber eyes burned with raging fire, her golden hair moving without wind: "You bastards!"
Everyone present was shocked by this sudden outburst and retreated in unison.
"Pushing me into the Hokage position wasn't enough?" Tsunade's voice trembled slightly with anger as she pointed at everyone's noses. "Now you want me to go—" The words caught in her throat, her pale cheeks flushing unnaturally red with shame and indignation.
"Listen well, all of you!" Tsunade's hair stood on end with rage. "Anyone who dares suggest such filthy ideas again will personally experience what it means to face the fury of one of the Legendary Sannin!"
Her fists clenched with audible cracks, chakra-formed winds howling through the meeting room. "Now, discuss countermeasures seriously!"
An eerie silence permeated the air, only the soft sound of wood chips falling to the floor.
Everyone exchanged glances, each harboring their own thoughts.
Tsunade's violent reaction only made things more puzzling—was this genuine rage at being wrongly accused, or... feminine modesty making it difficult for her to speak openly?
Nara Shikaku straightened his collar that had been blown askew by the wind pressure, thoughtful light flashing in his eyes.
As one of Konoha's foremost strategists, he keenly noticed the suspicious blush at Tsunade's earlobes, and the strange gleam that flashed in her eyes when mentioning that young man.
"Could it be..." Akimichi Choza nudged Shikaku with his plump elbow, lowering his voice: "Lady Hokage really..."
"Shh!" Yamanaka Inoichi quickly stopped him, but his own gaze kept glancing toward Tsunade.
Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado exchanged a meaningful look.
These scheming advisors naturally understood that the more vehemently something was denied, the more suspicious it became—especially for a mature woman who had experienced heartbreak.
Feeling the probing gazes from all directions, Tsunade's chest heaved violently with anger.
She certainly knew what these people were thinking, but the more she explained, the more it seemed like she was trying to cover something up.
This dilemma made her want to give each of these rumor-mongering old fools a Herculean Punch and send them to meet their maker early!
Tsunade took a deep breath, her full chest rising and falling dramatically, then slowly exhaled. She could feel her nerves pulsing, her blood pressure probably reaching unprecedented heights.
These old fools with their minds full of garbage...
Her gaze coldly swept over everyone present as Tsunade ground her teeth inwardly.
She understood these old foxes' thinking patterns too well—faced with absolute terror, the truth no longer mattered.
They were like drowning people desperately trying to grasp at any lifeline, even if it was just ridiculous duckweed.
Nara Shikaku cleared his throat awkwardly, about to speak.
"Enough!" Tsunade sharply interrupted, her slender fingers cracking as she clenched them. "I'll say this one last time: Konoha's relationship with Uchiha Yu doesn't need to be maintained through the filthy methods you're imagining."
Tsunade clenched her five fingers into a fist, the piercing killing intent erupting from her body causing the meeting room temperature to plummet: "Anyone who dares mention this again—"
"Don't wait for him to act—I'll send you to meet the Sage of Six Paths right now!"
"Ahem... then let's try a different approach." Shikaku tactfully changed the subject, fingers rubbing his chin. "Perhaps we could work through those two children? I hear Uchiha Yu is particularly protective of them..."
This suggestion immediately livened up the meeting room atmosphere.
Hyuga Hiashi nodded thoughtfully: "Sasuko and Naruko... indeed, those two seem to have won his favor."
Watching everyone instantly switch to political calculation mode, Tsunade snorted coldly and sat back down.
Though this direction also displeased her, it was at least far more reasonable than the previous absurd suggestion.
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