Once they finalized their course of action, the top priority became clear: Shisui—currently outside the Village—had to be warned about Orochimaru immediately.
But the situation was delicate.
Normal channels carried far too much risk. If Danzo and Orochimaru truly were working together, then Konoha's standard communications and encryption codes were already compromised.
Sending a messenger hawk? Too easily intercepted. Shisui might never receive it.
Sending a shinobi in person? Even worse.
The messenger would need to be strong enough to survive interception and smart enough to avoid it. And during this sensitive period—fresh off the Chūnin Exams, with daimyo and foreign dignitaries still in the Village—nearly all the high-tier Konoha shinobi were occupied with security duties. They could not simply be reassigned.
After weighing all options, only one viable answer remained.
"I'll go," Roshi said calmly.
Tsunade frowned instantly. "You were just targeted by Orochimaru, and now you're planning to leave the Village? Outside Konoha's borders, he'll have no reason to hold back."
"I can handle it," Roshi said simply.
Outside the Village, he wouldn't be restricted either.
He continued, "During this time, please monitor public opinion inside the Village closely. If rumors start spreading about that Uchiha Anbu squad—especially anything like 'all members dead'—you must suppress it immediately. Clarify it forcefully before it festers. Otherwise, morale will plummet, and the Uchiha's emotions will explode."
"And speak with Fugaku as soon as possible. Tell him our deductions, but make it clear that this is Orochimaru's plot. Push all suspicion outward. We need to prevent internal mistrust from igniting, maintain cooperation, and stabilize the clan."
"As for which Uchiha should be placed into the Ninja Academy or other internal positions—you can directly consult Itachi."
Tsunade blinked at that. Roshi explained:
"He recently organized and evaluated the clan's personnel files. He should have a comprehensive list and notes. They'll be extremely useful."
Morning light streamed through the window, catching in Tsunade's golden hair as she exhaled slowly. Her eyes hardened with resolve.
"I understand," she said. "I'll handle everything inside the Village."
She strode to her desk, quickly penned a travel permit, stamped it, and handed it to Roshi—along with an encrypted scroll containing Shisui's latest known location, patrol route, and emergency signals.
"Be careful," she said quietly but firmly.
Roshi accepted the scroll, gave a small nod, and vanished from the office in a blur.
As his presence faded, Tsunade didn't waste a second. She turned on her heel and walked straight toward the Hokage's office next door, her steps ringing with purpose.
As Tsunade gradually took over more administrative duties, the stacks of paperwork suffocating the Third Hokage had finally begun to shrink. He was buried in documents when the door was pushed open—far louder than courtesy demanded.
"Old Man," Tsunade said, her voice taut with barely contained anger. "The resolution to approve the establishment of the Hidden Sound Village—I believe it needs to be re-examined."
She still didn't know the exact depth of the connection between Otogakure and Orochimaru.
But she did know this matter was a debt Hiruzen owed her. She had ignored it once, but now—with Danzo's schemes resurfacing—this was the perfect place to make her stand.
Hiruzen blinked in surprise.
"Tsunade? The matter of Otogakure has already been settled—"
"There are still plenty of unresolved issues!" Tsunade cut him off sharply. "And how long do you intend to let Danzo and that filthy Root of his run wild?!"
Hiruzen set down his pen, straightening his posture. His expression hardened.
"Tsunade, calm yourself. What exactly happened?"
Tsunade slammed her fist onto his desk. The wood shuddered under the blow.
"Last night! Orochimaru showed up at the Senju Old House—and went straight to Roshi!"
"A man who defected years ago, who should know nothing about recent Village affairs… how could he find him unless he had access to special channels? Unless someone was feeding him information?"
Hiruzen's eyes narrowed.
There had been no signs of battle—no casualties. Knowing Roshi's strength, he wouldn't have been defeated silently.
Which meant only one thing: Orochimaru had made contact, but there was no fight. Roshi was unharmed.
"Where is Roshi?" Hiruzen asked.
Tsunade ignored the question and pressed on, voice like a blade.
"You've always known Danzo's nature. If he's cooperating with Orochimaru again, who else would they target besides the Uchiha?!"
"This concerns the stability of the entire Village. Danzo wouldn't go that far.", Hiruzen said gravely.
"Tsunade, this is not a trivial accusation. You dislike Danzo, but he places the Village's survival above all else."
Tsunade's eyes went cold.
"What if he doesn't attack inside the Village? What if he targets the Uchiha outside? Old Man, can you guarantee Danzo doesn't know the exact intelligence and patrol route of that squad?"
Hiruzen could not deny it.
Even in his eyes, that Uchiha team was unlikely to change their radical views.
But Shisui was with them. Orochimaru alone—
"Where is Roshi?" Hiruzen asked again, voice sharper.
"I sent him to warn Shisui," Tsunade replied.
Silence.
The Third Hokage picked up his pipe but didn't light it. His fingers slid slowly along the wood as he fell into deep thought.
"Tsunade… where is the evidence?"
"Danzo is a senior Advisor and Elder. To accuse him of colluding with a rogue ninja and sabotaging the Village's Anbu—without concrete proof—Koharu and Homura won't accept it. The public won't accept it."
"Even if I believe you, without evidence, no high-level meeting will agree to sanctions."
Tsunade leaned forward, palms on the desk, eyes blazing.
"Right now is the best opportunity to break the Uchiha's long-standing isolation!"
"Tell me, Old Man—do you still believe Danzo's 'radical cleansing' is the correct path? If so, then forget this façade of peace! I'll leave the village right now, and you can do whatever you want!"
"But if you still believe there's a peaceful solution—then send Danzo back to his Root now!"
The fire in her eyes—unyielding, reminiscent of her grandfather—burned fiercely.
Hiruzen stared at her in silence, then finally exhaled a long, heavy sigh.
He raised a hand.
The Anbu guarding nearby appeared instantly.
"Invite Advisor Shimura," Hiruzen said. "Tell him… there is an urgent matter."
Soon after, Danzo entered the room.
"Hiruzen," he greeted, "what is so urgent?"
His gaze flicked to Tsunade's hostile expression—and an unpleasant premonition tightened in his chest.
Hiruzen looked up at him, face calm but cold.
"Danzo, the village has an extremely urgent mission that requires the deployment of most of Root's forces."
Danzo's visible eye narrowed.
"Oh? What mission is so urgent?"
"The specifics will be explained to you later," Hiruzen continued evenly. "Effective immediately: recall all Root operatives currently outside the Village who are not on top-secret assignments. Have them return to base and await orders. All other activities are to be suspended."
Danzo's expression darkened instantly.
This wasn't a mission.
This was a thinly veiled attempt to restrain his entire faction.
He stared into Hiruzen's resolute eyes.
The air thickened.
His fingers twitched—but in the end, seeing Hiruzen's unwavering expression, and Tsunade standing watch like an armed storm, he swallowed his rage.
"…Understood," Danzo said quietly. "If it is the Hokage's command, Root will comply."
But inwardly, his thoughts seethed.
Hiruzen… so this is how you repay our unspoken agreement…
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