Chapter 260: What Will Konoha Offer?

Tsunade was aware.

The previous sentence sounded foolish.

Even to Tsunade herself.

But what could Tsunade do?

The Konoha leaders did not provide Tsunade with a script.

They did not equip Tsunade with a worthy reason.

They only said, “You all have to go.”

And Tsunade complied—because she had no choice.

In Tsunade's heart, hatred began to grow.

Not towards these Uzumaki people.

But towards those who sent Tsunade.

Towards the elders of Konoha.

Towards Sarutobi-sensei.

“Do you think we don’t know that you—students of the Third Hokage—were sent here not with an apology... but as a shield?” asked the man with the split lip.

“Your leaders are cowards. And you are the ones who bear it.”

Tsunade did not respond.

Where Tsunade could only bow her head.

Keito finally spoke.

“Our decision is final. If Konoha is not sincere... if your intentions are merely a formality... then you can leave. There is nothing more to discuss.”

Suddenly, the atmosphere fell silent.

Tsunade's answer was clearly just to remain silent for a while.

Tsunade slowly lifted her head.

Tsunade's eyes began to redden, but she forced herself to stay calm.

“If so... is there a way... to fix this?” Tsunade's voice was almost a whisper.

“So that the relationship between Konoha and the Uzumaki Clan... does not completely sever?”

The Uzumaki elders looked at each other, some scoffing, some sighing wearily.

However, Keito continued to stare at Tsunade, his expression unchanged.

“The relationship between Konoha and the Uzumaki was once formed on the basis of blood ties.”

“The First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, married Lady Mito, the daughter of our Clan Head at that time.”

“It was from that marriage that we were connected… But that bond has been shattered.”

“You betrayed it.”

“It was left to rot when we asked for help… and Konoha chose to remain silent.”

Where Keito leaned forward, his voice colder.

“If now you want to rebuild that bond... tell us. What will Konoha offer us this time?”

...

...

...

Silence enveloped the room like a thick fog that suddenly descended on a moonless night.

No sound.

Only the sound of held breaths, and heartbeats that seemed to echo in each person's ears.

Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru sat quietly on the wooden floor of the Uzumaki Clan meeting room.

The old wooden walls held the long history of the clan with red hair, and now bore witness to a conversation that could change the course of the relationship between two great legacies: Senju and Uzumaki.

Tsunade bowed her head slightly.

Tsunade's eyes closed for a fraction of a second, and in the darkness behind her eyelids, the image of an old woman with long red hair appeared, gazing at Tsunade beneath an old plum tree.

Mito Uzumaki, her face lined with wrinkles and her eyes holding thousands of stories, spoke with a heavy yet gentle voice.

“That village can change.”

“Alliances can end.”

“But blood… the blood that flows from Senju to Uzumaki is the root of it all.”

“Without it, Konoha would never exist.”

“Do not let that root rot.”

Tsunade clenched her fists on her knees.

The temperature in the room felt cold, yet dry.

The wind from the open paper window stirred the ends of Tsunade's blonde hair.

As Tsunade opened her eyes, her gaze was no longer uncertain.

Where Tsunade took a slow breath, then spoke, her tone calm yet clearly resolute.

“I... I am willing to marry someone from the Uzumaki Clan.”

“In exchange for maintaining the relationship between the Uzumaki Clan and the Senju Clan.”

“To uphold the honor that has been passed down to us.”

Tsunade's words did not explode.

Not dramatic.

But precisely because of that, the statement fell like a large stone into a quiet pond.

Jiraiya looked up, his eyes wide, his body leaning slightly forward.

For a moment, Jiraiya looked like a reckless young man who had just lost his grip.

“T-Tsunade! You... you really mean that?” Jiraiya asked, his voice hoarse with disbelief.

________________________

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