Chapter 11: What Do You Know
Danzō's threats didn't faze Sarutobi Hiruzen in the slightest.
Instead he turned and looked at Koharu Utatane and Mitokado Homura standing there.
"You two — any objections?" he asked.
There was a moment of silence. What objections, indeed.
After exchanging a glance, Koharu and Homura prepared to leave.
Perhaps leaving like that would be too humiliating for them.
"Daylight's not easy work, Hiruzen," Koharu called out as they departed.
Hiruzen snorted.
That night, watching Tsunade toss and turn beside him, Aoyama Ryūun raised an eyebrow and asked,
"You still can't sleep?"
At this point Tsunade wasn't the steady figure she would become as the Fifth Hokage; she was more restless.
After listening to her explanation, Ryūun couldn't help but tease with a grin,
"You can't sleep over this? I'm a little offended!"
"?"
Tsunade noticed Ryūun's malicious smile and instantly rolled her eyes.
"Go to hell! Who said you had anything to do with it?" she snapped.
"Are you serious? Trying to drive me off while I handle real business?"
"Hahaha! Don't worry — you'll fall asleep once you're tired." Ryūun laughed.
…
Within about three days, the shinobi bound for the battlefield had been organized.
Looking at the three thousand ninjas gathered, Tsunade sighed inwardly,
'I wonder how many will return after the war.'
Only iron resolve could give subordinates the will to win.
"Everyone, I believe you understand the purpose of this assembly!" she called out.
As always before departure, she asked, "Do you have confidence?"
"Yes!" came the cry.
Tsunade's rallying was effective: most of the assembled shinobi looked at her with worshipful eyes.
No one dared question that pledge.
"All right! Follow me — we will crush the Sand Village!"
With that, three thousand shinobi swelled out behind Tsunade and marched toward the Sand Village battlefield.
Family members of some of the departing ninjas stood not far off, silently offering blessings.
"Tsunade just keeps getting better!" Hiruzen murmured as he watched the scene through the Hokage Office window.
Koharu beside him showed clear displeasure at Tsunade's rise, but Hiruzen turned his attention away and returned to his paperwork.
At the head of the formation, Hatake Sakumo couldn't help but nod toward Aoyama Ryūun beside him.
"Hmm?"
"What? I like it — Tsunade acting like that!" Sakumo said, glancing at his own comrade.
"She's fierce!"
Ryūun gave Sakumo a perfunctory retort. At home, Tsunade could be considerate; in public, when leading, she stopped and glared at Sakumo in a way that made him pull back.
Satisfied with Ryūun's reply, Tsunade shot Ryūun a 'good sense' look. Ryūun grinned in return and raised an eyebrow.
Watching this, Sakumo rolled his eyes.
When they first met, the Three Legendary Sannin assumed Sakumo was a cold, serious man.
But the longer you knew him, the more you realized: keeping up a perpetual cold facade while doing missions would be exhausting.
"Hahaha!" a burst of laughter.
"Clang!" A blade rang.
Sakumo casually drew the White Fang short knife from behind his back and, deadpan-eyed, looked at Aoyama Ryūun.
"One more word and I'll really strike," he warned.