Yuzuru let Pakura go.
Even though the ninja world had already changed drastically under his influence, Rasa sending Pakura on such a dangerous mission to the Hidden Cloud meant only one thing—the same as in the original timeline: Rasa absolutely intended to use this opportunity to get rid of her.
So Yuzuru wasn't worried about his plans failing. Now that Pakura knew the truth, she would definitely return and seek refuge in the Hidden Cloud.
Over the next few days, Yuzuru remained in the village.
By day, he strolled around with Kushina, Mikoto, and Karura. By night, he deepened his relationship with Tsunade at the casinos and taverns. And when it was time to sleep, he shared a bed with Konan.
Watching Yuzuru transform into a master of time management, running back and forth between several women, the members of the Uchiha clan were all deeply impressed.
From their own feelings and their understanding of "love," most of the Uchiha were deeply moved by Yuzuru.
'Clan Head Yuzuru has truly sacrificed so much for the rise of the Uchiha clan.'
'He is truly amazing, I could cry!'
But while Yuzuru enjoyed life, the news of Tsunade settling in the Hidden Cloud sent shockwaves through the entire ninja world.
The Uchiha clan joining the Hidden Cloud was already outrageous enough.
And now the sole surviving heir of the Senju, the granddaughter of the First Hokage Senju Hashirama, had also joined the Hidden Cloud…
For a moment, the entire world felt like they no longer recognized this insane reality.
Because normally, both the Uchiha and Senju clans were tightly bound to Konoha.
Yet now, both great clans had abandoned the village.
Of course, after the initial shock and desperate attempts at verification, the rest of the ninja world quickly began gloating.
Why?
Because the two clans who founded Konoha now lived in the Hidden Cloud. So what did that make the current Konoha?
If the true legacy of Konoha was now in the Hidden Cloud, didn't that mean Konoha had lost its most basic legitimacy?
Since the end of the Warring States, something like this had never happened.
And Tsunade wasn't just Hashirama's granddaughter—she was also the personal disciple of the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi!
He let Konoha's two greatest clans move to another village—and the Senju heir was his own disciple…
Just what heaven-defying, unforgivable things had Hiruzen done to make something even novels wouldn't dare write happen in reality?
Hiruzen's reputation in the eyes of the world instantly fell to rock bottom.
Even a monkey as Hokage wouldn't be able to do a worse job than Hiruzen, right?
——
——
Konoha Village.
Hokage Building.
Hokage Office.
Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned as he processed documents, the pipe in his mouth glowing nonstop.
Konoha had been anything but peaceful lately.
Rumors had spread about Orochimaru using Konoha ninjas as experimental materials, with solid evidence leaked at the same time.
Orochimaru's reputation collapsed instantly. Many people were demanding he come out and kill himself to atone.
On top of that, new rumors about Minato Namikaze were circulating.
That the Nine-Tails was sealed inside him…
That he could lose control again at any moment…
Under that wave of public opinion, both villagers and shinobi conveniently forgot everything Minato did for Konoha in the Third Great War. They started demanding he be imprisoned together with the fox before the village suffered another disaster.
Hiruzen tossed the papers aside, his brows twisted tightly.
He could guess the mastermind behind these events even without thinking.
Danzo Shimura…
This time, he'd gone too far!
Bang!
The office door opened, and Danzo walked in leaning on his cane.
"Hiruzen, you called for me?"
"Danzo, are you trying to destroy Konoha?" Hiruzen snapped without his usual restraint. "Do you not understand what time it is right now? If you ruin Orochimaru and Minato's reputations, what happens if they become resentful toward the village?"
Danzo replied indifferently, "Shinobi are tools. Tools don't need emotions."
"If they resent the village, then we suppress them with overwhelming force. Besides, the improved Impure World Reincarnation jutsu Orochimaru created is already in the village's hands."
"As for the Nine-Tails jinchuriki Minato… I merely spoke the truth."
Hearing that, Hiruzen could no longer contain his anger. He slammed the desk. "Danzo! Even if you destroy Orochimaru and Minato's futures, don't even think about becoming Hokage!"
"You are darkness. You will never stand in the sun. I will continue to rule as Hokage."
Danzo sneered, throwing a scroll onto Hiruzen's desk. "Hiruzen, look at this first."
Hiruzen hesitated, then opened the report.
A moment later, his face turned ashen.
"Tsunade joined the Hidden Cloud?!"
"That's right. The granddaughter of the First Hokage, the last heir of the Senju, your personal disciple—she's now a shinobi of the Hidden Cloud."
Hearing this, Hiruzen collapsed into his chair like his strength had been drained.
As someone who planned meticulously, he immediately understood what Tsunade leaving meant.
Once the news spread, his reputation would be completely destroyed. He'd become the laughingstock of the entire ninja world—forever nailed to the pillar of shame!
"Hiruzen? Are you alright?" Danzo asked in a concerned tone.
Hiruzen snapped out of it and shouted, "Anbu! Notify Orochimaru! Have him take people to the Hidden Cloud and bring Tsunade back!"
"Tsunade must have been taken hostage!"
This was the only solution he could think of.
If he'd known Tsunade would be this ruthless, not giving even basic respect to their relationship as teacher and student, he would never have let her leave Konoha!
Just as the Anbu received the order and prepared to depart, another Anbu burst in.
"Hokage-sama! Orochimaru has killed the Anbu monitoring him and has already fled the village!"
"What?! Where did he run off to?"
"Based on the traces, preliminary confirmation—he's headed toward the direction of the Hidden Cloud."
That sentence made Hiruzen's nose itch, as if something was about to sprout out.
A moment later, he couldn't hold it in—he spat out a mouthful of blood and collapsed unconscious on the floor.
Danzo immediately placed the Hokage hat on his own head. "The Third Hokage is unwell. I will temporarily act as Hokage. Send him to the Konoha Hospital at once." (T/N: finally he did it...)
"Yes sir!"