Driving Outsiders from the Meeting

Collecting Tailed Beast Chakra was much easier than collecting the Tailed Beasts themselves. Moreover, Hyuga Mirai had methods to cultivate Tailed Beast Chakra. The One-Tail, Three-Tails, and Nine-Tails were all in his hands, so gathering the Chakra of the remaining six Tailed Beasts would be quite easy.

"Since Ayaka has been feeling bored lately, I’ll have her collect the Four-Tails, Five-Tails, and Seven-Tails. As for the Two-Tails, I’ll leave it to Orochimaru."

Hyuga Mirai made his decision. The Six-Tails’ whereabouts were uncertain, but it was generally found in either the Land of Water or Rainbow Country. He could leave it to the Snake Squad by Sara’s side. With their strength, as long as they planned ahead, dealing with a Six-Tails Jinchuriki would not be a problem. As for the Eight-Tails, it was safest for him to act personally; otherwise, Kumogakure’s other people might be alerted.

While Android 18 was building the God Tree cultivation chamber, Hyuga Mirai had also tried using his own Chakra and Dragon Vein Energy to stimulate the God Tree Fragment. However, it seemed that only Yin-Yang Release could provoke even a slight sign of life from it. To fully grow the God Tree Fragment, he still needed energy that had been stripped from the God Tree itself, such as Tailed Beast Chakra.

The Chakra Fruit borne by the God Tree could evolve the Otsutsuki Clan. According to Hyuga Mirai’s research, Otsutsuki genes were already hundreds of times more perfect than those of ordinary humans, yet they still tirelessly pursued Chakra Fruits. That was enough to show just how important those fruits were.

Once Hyuga Mirai cultivated the God Tree, he would likely be able to unravel its secrets. It was just a pity about the Dragon Vein here. Cultivating half the Chakra of all nine Tailed Beasts would most likely drain its energy dry. As for how long it would take to gather energy on that scale again, no one knew.

Besides cultivating the God Tree, Hyuga Mirai also needed to keep an eye on Asura’s and Indra’s Chakra. He would be busy from now on.

After returning to Konoha, Tsunade could no longer pretend to be ill. After putting on a show of treating herself, she immediately headed to the Hokage’s Office.

News of the Wood Release had reached Konoha before Tsunade returned. The many Ninja Clans were greatly alarmed upon hearing it. They did not know that Amegakure’s Rinnegan leader had beaten Tsunade badly, but the Wood Release Kekkei Genkai was what every Ninja Clan cared about most.

According to reports brought back by clan Ninja who had followed Tsunade to stop Amegakure’s Rinnegan leader, Tsunade’s awakened Wood Release had even produced a Wood Human nearly a hundred meters tall.

Every Ninja Clan that still remembered or possessed records of the First Hokage knew what the Wood Human Technique represented. Back when Madara Uchiha attacked the village, the battle between the two had directly reshaped dozens of kilometers of terrain. When they investigated afterward, they could only silently marvel at the God of Shinobi’s power.

Now, Hashirama Senju’s power had actually reappeared in Tsunade. The Clan Heads could only count themselves fortunate that the Senju Clan had only Tsunade left. The others had abandoned the Senju name and begun lives of their own. Even though Tsunade was the Fifth Hokage, rebuilding the foremost Ninja Clan of old would not be easy.

Not long after Tsunade returned, she convened a Jonin Meeting. Including the Clan Heads of the various Ninja Clans, nearly a hundred people attended.

In truth, there were quite a few Ninja in Konoha with Jonin-level strength. They were simply all clan Ninja and had never taken the Jonin exam.

The Clan Heads of the various Ninja Clans were all Jonin-level, though whether they held positions in Konoha was another matter. In the past, few Clan Heads had taken positions in Konoha. A low-ranking post was humiliating, while Konoha Higher-ups were unwilling to grant them high-ranking ones. The Military Police Force was the sole exception.

With the Rain Country war over, they had to hold a meeting to explain the situation.

Their future relationship with Amegakure, Iwagakure, border deployments, and other matters all needed to be discussed.

As Kimura’s capable assistant and the Fifth Hokage’s disciple, Shizune also attended this meeting. Furthermore, with her level of Medical Ninjutsu, she had already met the standard for a Medical Jonin. She simply had not learned Tsunade’s Yin Seal, Strength of a Hundred Seal, or Monstrous Strength.

Besides Shizune, Yakushi Kabuto and Kimimaro were also present. One served as the Hokage’s assistant, while the other concurrently held the positions of Anbu Squad captain and Root leader. He was considered one of the village’s most powerful figures.

Moreover, anyone who knew Kimimaro would never underestimate him because of his age. This was the monster who had stormed into Root and killed more than twenty Root Ninja at the slightest disagreement.

Only two members of the Hyūga Clan came: Patriarch Hyuga Hiashi and Hyuga Kiyomi.

Once nearly everyone had arrived, Nara Shikaku, as the Jonin commander and the Rain Country battlefield strategist, stepped forward to give a summary.

"Then, I’ll first go over the losses from this war."

"Wait a moment, Shikaku." Tsunade suddenly raised a hand to stop him, drawing everyone’s attention as they wondered what she intended to say.

"This is a Jonin Meeting. Why are there outsiders here?"

Outsiders? Hearing that, Nara Shikaku looked around, but he did not spot any outsiders. Confused, he asked, "Tsunade-sama, the outsiders you mean are…?"

With an unpleasant expression, Tsunade pointed at Mitokado Homura and Danzo beside her and said impatiently, "These two are no longer Ninja and hold no position in the village. How are they still attending such a confidential meeting? Who brought them in? Where is the Anbu?"

The Clan Heads and other Jonin below immediately let their imaginations run wild when they saw Tsunade questioning Danzo and Mitokado Homura the moment she arrived.

Almost everyone knew that Tsunade disliked those two. Otherwise, she would not have had the Anbu guard them and placed them under house arrest. They had not expected Tsunade to give Danzo and Mitokado Homura so little face, publicly grinding their faces into the dirt before everyone.

Of course, Sarutobi Hiruzen had brought them. Upon hearing Tsunade speak so bluntly, Sarutobi Hiruzen could no longer hide. He slowly exhaled a puff of smoke, forced a smile, and said to Tsunade,

"Tsunade, I brought them here—"

"I know it was you. Who else could order the Anbu around? I want to know whether you’ve gone senile."

Without the slightest courtesy, Tsunade scolded Sarutobi Hiruzen before nearly a hundred Jonin. "You were the one who stripped them of their positions, and you’re the one who brought them here now. Old man, who is the Hokage now?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen choked on his words, and his expression immediately darkened. What he had done was indeed somewhat unreasonable, but Tsunade’s attitude was simply too forceful. She was far too independent-minded. Even before becoming Hokage, no one in the village had been able to persuade her. Sarutobi Hiruzen had merely wanted more people on his side to help persuade Tsunade.

Looking at it now, he had indeed acted rashly. He should have only temporarily removed the two from their posts back then.

"Tsunade, Homura and Danzo are both the Second Hokage’s disciples. They have abundant experience."

The moment Tsunade heard Sarutobi Hiruzen’s seemingly persuasive words, she felt irritated. She said impatiently, "Don’t bring up my second grandfather. As for the experience you mentioned, I don’t need it."

"But—"

Bam!

Tsunade slammed the table. "Enough, old man. You’ve already stepped down. Letting you sit in on this meeting is already my limit. Anbu, take these two away. Without my order, their house arrest is not to be lifted."

"Tsunade, you—"

After hearing Tsunade’s words, Mitokado Homura’s entire face flushed red with anger. He raised his only remaining arm and pointed at Tsunade, but he could not utter a single word for a long while.

He was, after all, the Second Hokage’s disciple. Yet Tsunade had humiliated him so mercilessly before so many people today.

Danzo did not speak, but his expression was equally unpleasant. The hand beneath his bandages trembled slightly. After so many years in Konoha, every one of the few times he had been disgraced in public had been because of Tsunade.

"Anbu!"

This was the second time Tsunade had called out. After she had given the order, the Anbu had not appeared immediately.

Kakashi’s squad had been sent out on a mission by Tsunade. The only Anbu squad left in the village was under Sarutobi Shinnosuke.

"Tsunade-sama, Kiyomi is willing to carry out the Anbu’s task in their place."

Hyuga Kiyomi immediately stood and addressed Tsunade. Her action startled not only Hyuga Hiashi, but the other Ninja Clans as well.

Hadn’t the Hyūga Clan always maintained strict neutrality and avoided offending anyone? Why were they being so proactive today?

Hyuga Hiashi said in a slightly heavy voice, "Kiyomi, you…"

"Patriarch, I have my own judgment in this matter." Hyuga Kiyomi lowered her head to glance at the seated Hyuga Hiashi. Under Hyuga Kiyomi’s Byakugan gaze, Hyuga Hiashi felt a trace of pressure.

Not long after Hyuga Kiyomi stepped forward, the Anbu around the Hokage’s Office used the Body Flicker Technique and appeared before Tsunade, kneeling on one knee as they awaited orders. They had still been waiting for further instructions, but after Hyuga Kiyomi stepped forward, if they still did not show themselves, they would likely be dealt with afterward.

"Heh, you’re certainly quick now. Kimimaro, transfer this Anbu squad to your Root from now on. Carry out the order. Kiyomi, sit down."

Suppressing her anger, Tsunade spoke to Kimimaro. This was not the place to lose her temper. Later, she would definitely deal with the Anbu matter properly.

Tsunade now increasingly felt that the old man’s Sarutobi Family was an obstacle within Konoha. If she did not deal with it, it would definitely become a restraint on her in the future.

"Understood, Tsunade-sama."

Kimimaro stood, gave Tsunade a slight bow, then walked over to the Anbu and said flatly, "Come with me." His voice was utterly cold. To these Anbu, it sounded as though Kimimaro would definitely kill them right here if they delayed by even a moment.

These Anbu understood Kimimaro’s way of doing things as well. If they still tried to pull any tricks, they really might be killed.

Several people from Root had yet to leave the hospital.

Kimimaro then led the Anbu members to Mitokado Homura and Danzo and said, "Come with us."

The cold glint in Danzo’s eyes did not fade when he saw Kimimaro. This was the person who, together with Tsunade, had taken away the work of his life. He had not even managed to keep his last Wood Release Kekkei Genkai subordinate.

However, Danzo could tell from Kimimaro’s eyes that this man was like Root: someone who put missions above all else. Or rather, he was even more suited to Root than Root Ninja were. If Danzo objected, Kimimaro would truly fight him here.

Danzo stood and walked out directly. He had humiliated himself enough today. He should not have listened to Hiruzen earlier.

After Danzo left, Mitokado Homura gave a cold snort and also departed the Hokage’s Office.

Only after Kimimaro escorted the two away did Tsunade snort and say to Nara Shikaku, "Continue, Shikaku."

"Yes, Tsunade-sama."

Nara Shikaku responded and began discussing the Rain Country war.

Second update. I usually post three updates a day, but there’s good news today, so I have to add another one. No matter how late it gets, I’ll finish writing it.