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"Tokuma, how's the Hokage's situation?"
Kakashi increased his speed once again.
"The Hokage isn't in immediate danger, but she's trapped inside the Four Violet Flames Formation," Tokuma replied, his Byakugan observing Tsunade's battle in the distance.
"What a pain… those Root bastards," Kakashi muttered under his breath.
The two of them soon arrived outside the barrier.
Inside the formation, Tsunade was breathing slightly heavily as she stood off against a group of masked former Root shinobi.
"Out of respect for your origins as Konoha shinobi, I've already given you all a chance!"
She lifted her foot and lightly stomped the ground. Cracks immediately spread outward from where she stood.
"Next…" Her sharp gaze bore into the enemies as she clenched her fist. "If you still refuse to stand down, I'll personally eliminate every last one of you traitors!"
"You're the real traitor of Konoha!"
One of the former Root members tore off his mask, his eyes burning with hatred as he glared at Tsunade.
"Lord Danzō did everything for the sake of Konoha! He was the true shinobi who walked in the shadows! And yet, Fifth Hokage, not only have you failed to clear Lord Danzō's name, you've even tried to hand Konoha's power over to the cursed Uchiha!!"
His emotions were clearly running high, his face twisting with fury as he hurled accusations at Tsunade.
Tsunade listened expressionlessly, though the veins on her forehead bulged more and more.
"Are you done?" She stared coldly at the young shinobi who had removed his mask. "What a waste. A talented young Konoha jōnin, yet you've completely inherited Danzō's fanatical ideology."
The young man only screamed louder. "Lord Danzō was the one most worthy of being Hokage!! You people, who've strayed from the essence of being shinobi, will only lead Konoha to ruin!!"
"Oh?" Tsunade's voice was eerily calm now. Her eyes swept over the surrounding enemies. "So this attack wasn't just a spur-of-the-moment act. You had inside information and a carefully laid-out plan. Then tell me—after assassinating the current Hokage, who exactly did you plan to put in my place?"
The former Root operatives remained silent.
"So there is someone." Tsunade nodded in understanding. "In that case, why hasn't this person shown themselves? If they're so eager to replace me, why don't they have the courage to face me directly?! A spineless coward like that has no right to call themselves Hokage!!"
Her words rang out powerfully, but the forest remained deathly silent, save for the howling wind carrying snowflakes through the trees.
"Well, seems like the person backing you is nothing but a coward," Kakashi remarked lazily from outside the barrier. "Launching an attack on the Hokage right before the Five Kage Summit? Not exactly a strategic masterstroke."
"Found them."
Tokuma narrowed his eyes slightly before suddenly pivoting and thrusting his palm toward a specific point in the forest.
"Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm!!"
A thick cedar trunk exploded, and three shadowy figures leaped out from within.
"Hollowed out the tree and set up a chakra-concealing barrier inside, huh?" Tokuma's Byakugan observed the fallen cedar. "If I hadn't been vigilant, you might've actually slipped past me."
"Tch. As expected of the Hyūga Clan's Byakugan."
The three revealed figures stepped forward openly.
"So it's you." Kakashi turned to face them, his gaze calm as it settled on the leader. "Shimura Kazuteru."
"As for the other two…" He glanced at the remaining men. "Tomoyuki and Yasuke, if I recall correctly. Weren't you two part of the former advisors' direct forces?"
"I see." Tsunade's voice carried over. "So even Koharu and Homura couldn't resist stirring up trouble?"
"Lord Hokage."
Tomoyuki spoke first.
He was a middle-aged man with a somewhat simple and honest face, a former direct subordinate of Advisor Utatane Koharu.
Known for his diplomatic finesse, Tomoyuki had been a skilled negotiator and mediator, assisting Koharu in numerous diplomatic dealings between Konoha and other villages.
Even now, despite openly opposing Tsunade, he still maintained a respectful tone.
"The two former advisors truly supported your leadership in the beginning," he said smoothly, his voice measured. "Even as they lay bedridden, they continued to care for the village's development and have praised many of your decisions since you took office."
"So what changed?" Tsunade crossed her arms, standing fearlessly in the center of the encirclement. Her eyes remained fixed on the three newcomers, ignoring the Root operatives entirely.
"Hmph."
Yasuke snorted coldly.
A direct subordinate of Advisor Mitokado Homura, Yasuke had previously assisted the elder in managing Konoha's economic affairs. He was known for his strict, no-nonsense attitude and blunt honesty.
Now, his expression was as cold as ever.
"Lady Tsunade, after the Third's sacrifice, it was the two advisors who endorsed you as Hokage to lead Konoha. Yet now, you've betrayed their trust."
"Spare me the noble rhetoric." Tsunade waved a hand dismissively before pointing straight at Shimura Kazuteru. "If those two old fools seriously think they can prop up this worthless idiot as Hokage, their motives can't be pure either."
Kazuteru immediately bristled. "Y-You—!"
"Shut up! You're nothing but a puppet in those old bastards' hands!"
Tsunade cut him off ruthlessly before turning back to Tomoyuki and Yasuke.
"Unlike this fool and these emotionless Root shinobi, the two of you should know better. Even if I died here today, there's no way this Shimura Clan reject could ever become Hokage with the forces you have."
She narrowed her eyes.
"At first, I thought this was just Root acting out of vengeance for Danzō. But since you two are here, this isn't just some impulsive move. And this kind of reckless attack doesn't match those two old schemers' usual cautious nature…"
A mocking smile curled her lips.
"What, are they so close to death that they've decided to go out with a bang?"
"W-What did you say?!"
Kazuteru's eyes widened in shock. He glanced back uncertainly at the two men behind him, hesitation creeping into his stance.
"Heh. Look at him—utterly pathetic." Tsunade clicked her tongue in disdain. "As much as I hated Danzō, even I almost feel sorry for him now."
Even the former Root operatives inside the barrier seemed unsettled, their attention shifting toward Tomoyuki and Yasuke.
Yet the two men remained unfazed—one still wearing a polite smile, the other as cold as ever.
"Please remain calm, Lord Kazuteru." Tomoyuki spoke soothingly. "You know our plan is flawless."
"O-Of course I know that!"
Kazuteru seemed to regain his composure, puffing out his chest before shooting a haughty look at Tsunade.