Betrayal

Hiruzen, still trembling with barely contained anger, looked at Tsunade with disbelief and desperation.

"Tsunade" he said, his voice hoarse from the effort of keeping calm, "Does the village mean nothing to you?"

Tsunade, still with Chen clinging to her, seemed to hesitate for a moment. Her eyes clouded with a mixture of emotions.

"I care about the village," she finally replied, her voice low but firm. "But tell me, who cares about the Senju clan? Konoha was founded by my grandfather. I'll protect it if I wish, but if I decide not to, who has the right to question me?"

Tsunade's words fell like a weight on those present. Nawaki, Mikoto, and Kushina exchanged worried glances, while Chen, for the first time, seemed serious.

"How can you say something like that?!" Hiruzen exploded, his face red with anger. "You're the First Hokage's granddaughter!"

Tsunade stood up straight, her presence suddenly imposing despite her stature. Chen moved aside slightly, allowing her to directly face Hiruzen.

"I wanted to take care of Konoha," she said, her voice filled with bitterness. "But you've disappointed me too much. This incident has opened my eyes. No matter how much you contribute to the village, there's no guarantee that the village will take care of you in return. And I... I can no longer bear that burden."

Her eyes softened for a moment, a shadow of sadness crossing her face. "As for my grandfather... I can only ask for his forgiveness."

The silence that followed was deafening. Even the birds seemed to have stopped singing.

Taking a step forward, her face adopting a solemn expression that Hiruzen had never seen before. "I, Tsunade Senju, on behalf of the Senju Clan, announce our complete withdrawal from Konoha."

Hiruzen felt as if he had been punched in the stomach. His eyes widened, unable to believe what he was hearing.

The Senju clan, the very heart of Konoha, abandoning the village?

The Senju clan, although small in number, possessed unparalleled prestige. Their influence extended beyond the great clans, reaching every corner of the village.

It was precisely for this reason that Danzo had proposed sending them to the battlefield, a suggestion that Hiruzen had not opposed, aware of the power that the Senju name still held.

But now, faced with the possibility of losing not only the clan's military strength but its very symbolic heart, Hiruzen realized the colossal mistake he had made.

If the Senju clan leaves Konoha, then the heart of Konoha could be lost

The silence that followed Tsunade's words was broken by an unexpected voice.

"Sister, I cannot agree with this." Nawaki stood up with determination.

Tsunade turned to him, her eyes shining with warning. "Shut up, Nawaki. This is not the time or place for you to intervene."

But Nawaki, for the first time, did not cower under his sister's gaze. He stood up straight, his posture reflecting a maturity that surprised everyone present. "I don't agree with the Senju clan leaving Konoha. I am the Young Patriarch of the clan, and I have the right to express my opinion."

The present members of the Senju clan exchanged uncomfortable glances. The idea of leaving Konoha, the home they had helped build and protect for generations, was unthinkable for many of them.

Sensing the indecision in the air, Tsunade directed a penetrating look at her brother and then at the rest of the clan. "What is your choice?"

The Senju shifted uneasily, confusion evident on their faces.

Finally, Tian stepped forward. Despite his imposing stature, he seemed diminished before the intensity of Tsunade's gaze. "Princess Tsunade"

"Konoha is the fruit of our clan's hard work. We cannot simply abandon it."

Tsunade simply closed her eyes, disappointment evident in every line of her face. When she opened them again, her gaze was one of sadness.

Hiruzen, who had been holding his breath, let out a sigh of relief.

The situation in Konoha was already precarious; losing the Senju clan could have been the final blow. The momentum and morale of the village would have suffered a blow from which they might never have recovered.

Chen, who until that moment had remained unusually silent, observed the scene with surprise and understanding.

When Tsunade had asked her question, he already knew what the answer would be. After all, there was already a precedent, an even more dramatic one: Madara Uchiha.

The Senju clan, so deeply rooted in Konoha, so accustomed to considering it their home, would never seriously consider abandoning it.

"Tsunade, your words have been too hasty. You can't make decisions like this for the entire clan." Hiruzen said through gritted teeth.

Chen, taking advantage of the moment of tension, approached Nawaki and patted him on the shoulder. "Nawaki, the path you choose is yours. You must walk it for yourself."

Then, turning to Hiruzen with an enigmatic smile, he made a proposal.

"Third Hokage, if I could guarantee Konoha's victory in this war, but at a price... would you be willing to pay it?"

Hiruzen narrowed his eyes, distrust evident in his gaze. "What would that price be?"

Chen's smile widened, his eyes shining with a dangerous glint. "Danzo's life. Is it worth exchanging his life for peace?"

What followed that question was silence.

Hiruzen, after a moment of tension, responded in an icy voice, "Konoha will never sacrifice one of its own for peace. Never."

It was evident that Hiruzen did not believe in Chen's capabilities, and even if he had them, he was not willing to betray his lifelong friend.

Chen let out a soft, mocking laugh. "Really?" His tone made it clear that he didn't believe in the nobility of Hiruzen's words.

In his mind, the memory of how Hizashi Hyuga had died in the original story resonated.

"Sister, please don't be so inflexible. Konoha is grandfather's legacy. You can't simply watch it be destroyed, can you?" Nawaki said, trying to ease the situation.

Tsunade, after a long sigh, partially gave in: "Alright. I'll do my best in this war. But afterwards, I'll leave Konoha forever."

Nawaki's decision and that of the Senju clan had deeply hurt her. Everything she had done was for the clan, but perhaps leaving Konoha now was not the best option.

As she reflected on the fate of the Senju clan, which had gone from being the most powerful to barely surviving, Hiruzen interrupted her thoughts.

"Tsunade, what will happen to Danzo?"

Before Tsunade could respond, Chen intervened with a mocking laugh.

Deliberately ignoring Hiruzen, Tsunade addressed Chen and the others: "Chen, let's go! It's been a while since we've seen each other, I want to check if you've gotten rusty."

Hiruzen's face hardened, clearly offended by Tsunade's attitude.

He had set aside his pride to plead, and didn't even receive a minimum of consideration.

With a forced smile towards Nawaki, he prepared to organize the Senju clan in the logistics department, hoping this would appease Tsunade. He knew that if she resigned, Konoha would lose a vital force at a critical moment.

...

The sun was beginning to descend, painting the sky in warm tones that contrasted with the tense atmosphere that still lingered in the air.

Chen, sensing Tsunade's emotional turmoil, approached her from behind and enveloped her in a comforting embrace.

"Each person has their own ambitions, ideas, and goals," he murmured softly, his warm breath against Tsunade's ear. "Everyone must follow their own path. Others can only help to a certain extent, so you shouldn't be too sad."

Tsunade, allowing herself a moment of vulnerability, leaned back against Chen's chest. Her face reflected the internal struggle between her loyalty to the clan and her love for the village.

"Why send the Senju to the battlefield?" she asked quietly.

Gently caressing Tsunade's arm, he responded in a melancholic tone: "The most beautiful wood in the forest is the one the wind tries to knock down. Your Senju clan's reputation is too high."

The moment was interrupted by Kushina's enthusiastic voice. "Tsunade, let's leave the sad things behind. What's the battlefield like? Is it exciting?"

Tsunade couldn't help but laugh exasperatedly. She gently separated from Chen and approached Kushina, giving her a light tap on the forehead. "You really treat the battlefield like it's your playground. People die there at any moment. I don't want to see you wetting yourself in fear when you get there."

"Eeeeh??" Kushina puffed out her chest, full of confidence. "Me, afraid? With just one blow, I'll turn the enemy to ashes!"

Tsunade's expression turned serious. "Although you're strong, Kushina, you must be careful. I've seen many Jōnin fall. Don't underestimate the danger."

"Don't worry," Kushina replied, her tone a little more sober but still confident. "I know my limits. Besides, my strength has grown considerably."

Kushina had completely mastered her Magu-Magu Fruit and her elementalization. Unless the enemy could generate oceanic amounts of water and maintain them with unlimited chakra, Kushina would be practically invincible.

Only those who mastered the Yin-Yang Elements could capture Kushina's elementalized form, something Chen had personally verified and warned her about

However, he knew that few could master both elements simultaneously. Only three names resonated: himself, Madara, and Black Zetsu. And there was still the unknown of Senjutsu Chakra and natural energy, territories that Chen had not yet explored in his quest for Sage Mode.

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