"So it was him after all."
Having finished the Chunin Exam duties in Kumogakure, Shuji spent three days returning to Konoha. Just as he reached the village entrance, he sensed something unusual. Hyuga Tokuma, who was on duty at the gate, wore a strange expression that seemed like he wanted to laugh but felt he must maintain seriousness.
It seemed that during his absence, something had happened in the village.
When he returned to the Hokage Building for routine debriefing, he heard the general course of events from Tsunade.
"So, what happened to Uchiha Moeka and the others afterwards?" Shuji asked.
"The Uchiha cleaned house themselves. Everyone is now detained in a special prison managed by ANBU. How long they'll be held still needs consideration, since this crime... is not quite suitable for public disclosure."
"What about Uchiha Enba?"
"The Interrogation Department is handling it. Yamanaka Inoichi is also there." Tsunade's tone carried a hint of coldness. "Hopefully, they can dig something useful out of his head."
After learning about what Tsunade had dealt with, Shuji began talking about his observations from this Chunin Exam.
When the Fifth Hokage heard that Kumogakure actively wanted to participate, she scoffed. "They weren't so straightforward last time, but if they're willing to come, let them come."
Shuji nodded, then raised the idea he had been considering throughout his journey. "We might be able to borrow some aspects of Kumogakure's model and make some reform attempts to our Chunin Exam in September."
"The competitive format of the matches inherently contains extremely high commercial value."
"And in organizing this type of large event, we in Konoha actually have advantages that other villages find hard to match."
"Whether in terms of transportation convenience or the number of nearby villages we can invite, this is the case."
Tsunade rested her chin on one hand, contemplating the proposal.
"It does sound somewhat interesting. However, if it's merely a preliminary idea, that's far from enough."
She lifted her eyes, her gaze falling on Shuji.
Shuji's brow furrowed imperceptibly.
Tsunade used her chin to gesture toward the empty desk in the corner of the office.
Shuji remained silent, not responding.
"Process planning, specific rule formulation, potential risk assessment, and integration plans with the existing Chunin selection system... All of these need a detailed project proposal to support them." Tsunade said.
"I just finished a mission and came back. I haven't been home for two months."
"Go home?" Tsunade sneered. "Fine."
She called directly toward the door. "Shizune!"
Shizune entered, holding Tonton.
"Have someone compile all documents potentially related to Chunin Exam reform: historical Chunin Exam records, the past three years' financial statements, mission issuance regulations... everything."
"Bring them along." Tsunade stood up, looking at Shuji whose expression was gradually stiffening. "Then we'll escort Jonin Shuji home."
"Um," Shizune hesitated. She looked at Shuji, then at Tsunade. "Tsunade-sama, shouldn't we let Shuji rest for a day first..."
"Shut up, Shizune! Work doesn't wait." Tsunade clenched her fist, producing a crisp sound. "Since you proposed such a good idea, of course you should be responsible for implementing it."
Watching several ANBU members skillfully stuff stacks of documents into specially made wooden crates, Shuji remained speechless. In the end, he had brought this upon himself.
Being sent to the interrogation room did not mean relaxed monitoring of Uchiha Enba. The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, still personally stood guard in the adjacent observation room with Shisui and Hyuga Himon from the Hyuga clan.
"Uchiha Madara..."
"And a person named Zetsu."
An Uchiha with the Mangekyo Sharingan, combined with Yamanaka Inoichi, should not fail to extract even a bit of intelligence.
The Uchiha who called himself "Uchiha Madara" and possessed the Mangekyo Sharingan was Sarutobi Hiruzen's top priority. Being able to confirm that such a figure truly existed proved that the previous investigation direction regarding the Nine-Tails incident and the conspirator outside the village was not wrong. In that case, the suspicion that the Uchiha clan within the village directly planned and caused the Nine-Tails incident could largely be ruled out.
What needed to be done next was to find a way to locate this dangerous figure hiding in the shadows.
As for the existence named Zetsu, who could actually infiltrate the village... Was he brought in by "Madara," or did he break in on his own?
Matters to handle and guard against had still not decreased. But ultimately, things seemed to be changing for the better.
He should find time to talk with Danzo again. Regarding the Uchiha, with the Root's surveillance network... he should also possess some intelligence.
The file boxes were neatly stacked in the corner of the living room.
After putting down the items, Shizune left with the ANBU members, leaving behind Shuji, whose expression was not very good, and Tsunade, who clearly did not intend to leave immediately.
After briefly experiencing the feeling of "having his home stuffed with official documents" like Shimura Danzo, Shuji sat down at the dining table and silently slurped his noodles.
Granny Momoka cooked delicious ramen, then returned to her room to rest.
Tsunade leisurely finished the noodles Senju Momoka had made, then began to look through Shuji's travel bag from Kumogakure with great interest.
"What is this?" She pulled out a small sealed canister.
"Protein powder."
"All of them?" She pulled out another canister, then a third, a fourth... Finally, she saw the large metal canister with the prominent "A" logo, weighed it in her hand, and casually set it aside. "Why did you buy so much of this stuff?"
"Consider it a... specialty of Kumogakure." Shuji continued eating his noodles without looking up.
"Specialty?" Tsunade raised an eyebrow, picking up a canister to carefully read the instructions. "Why is Kumogakure's specialty protein powder?"
Tsunade seemed to recall something. "Speaking of which, when you went to Kusagakure before, you brought back Uzumaki Hagi and Karin."
"And before that, didn't you go to Sunagakure? For that mission, what was the specialty from there?"
Shuji's hand holding the chopsticks paused. He thought for a few seconds, then answered somewhat uncertainly. "It's been a while... When I went last year, I don't think I bought anything."
"The year before, I think I bought... perfume."
"Perfume?" The Senju Princess looked at him suspiciously. "Protein powder can be passed off as a boy's strange hobby, but you bought perfume?"
"Yes, I bought it while observing the situation in Sunagakure, originally intending to use it as a return gift."
Shuji remembered, put down his chopsticks, stood up and went into his room. After rummaging through his cabinet for a bit, he came out with an elegantly shaped small glass bottle.
"A return gift? A gift you haven't given away for two years? You really are unreliable in certain ways."
"Something that's been sitting around for two years can't be given away no matter what, right?" Tsunade grumbled as she took it, frowning and cautiously sniffing it. "Though it still smells quite nice."
"Is that so? Then consider this gift given." Shuji continued eating his noodles with his head down. "After all, you did take care of me quite a bit back in Degarashi Port."
Her movements stopped. She looked up at him. "Hmm?"
The Fifth Hokage pointed at herself with her index finger. "Return gift?"
"Yes."
Tsunade set the perfume bottle on the table beside her, walked over to Shuji, her expression darkening. She asked, enunciating each word, "A. Return. Gift. From. Two. Years. Ago?"
"Didn't you say the scent was still nice?"
She took a deep breath, then suddenly reached out to grab his collar and flung him outward. "Go buy me a new one! You bastard!"