Chapter 236: I don't how to rule Konoha, but you do right?

The Hokage and his assistant have never complemented each other.

They are not the same person, and there are bound to be some contradictions between them, even between the brothers Hashirama and Tobirama.

Tsunade anticipated potential conflicts with Akihara Kagura and even considered how to resolve their differences and persuade Akihara Kagura to accept her advice.

Jiraiya once mentioned...

Akihara Kagura is very persuadable.

Tsunade realized this, and most of the time, just a few words of persuasion would make Akihara Kagura comply with her proposals. Even if he disagreed with her ideas, he would just storm out, but he wouldn't cause much trouble and would still follow her orders.

But...

This time was clearly an exception.

Akihara Kagura had never shown this expression before, even appearing ready to declare war against her as the Hokage, which Tsunade found quite unsettling.

Tsunade observed Akihara Kagura's icy demeanor and explained gravely, "I just think that the kid named Karin is more suited to be under my command. I want to transfer her to my division; the Root is too dark for her. It's better for her to be my disciple, staying with you would only radicalize her..."

"This is a normal personnel transfer..."

Tsunade frowned, thinking Akihara Kagura was making a mountain out of a molehill: "Just follow the Hokage's orders."

"But..."

Akihara Kagura's expression was indifferent, as if he didn't quite understand: "Lady Tsunade, isn't the darkness of the Root meant to serve the Hokage?"

"Jiraiya-sensei chose you, and both Hokage advisors chose you. For the peace of Konoha, I respected everyone's opinions and supported your work as the Hokage..."

"So you're transferring my assistant away?"

"What have I done to deserve such disrespect from you?"

"Lady Tsunade."

Akihara Kagura stared at Tsunade, continuing coldly: "On your first day in office, you brought war to Konoha. It was I who intervened and resolved this war that could have caused significant losses to the village, securing your position as Hokage and earning you great prestige..."

"Now..."

"You want to transfer my assistant away from me..."

"Is the next step to transfer all personnel from the Root to the Anbu, and then strip me of my position as assistant to the Hokage, relieving me of all my duties?"

Akihara Kagura's lips curled into a peculiar smile, somewhat frightening: "Because Lady Tsunade has secured her position as Hokage and resolved the war, Konoha is out of crisis, now you're planning to clean up a disobedient assistant to the Hokage, is that right?"

"Akihara Kagura, don't speculate like this, it's just a normal personnel transfer, and your subordinates are also ninjas of the village!"

Tsunade was quite unnerved by Akihara Kagura's words!

Even though Tsunade's nature is proud, she wouldn't foolishly ignore Akihara Kagura's powerful combat abilities or his influence in Konoha!

Tsunade never thought that she just wanted to transfer a young girl away from the Root to prevent her life from being too overshadowed...

But...

This matter seemed to have triggered a crisis of trust between her and her assistant!

What did her teacher Sarutobi Hiruzen do when he argued with Shimura Danzo? Should she just say that she is the Hokage?

At this moment...

That probably wouldn't be appropriate, would it?

A bead of anxious sweat appeared on Tsunade's forehead, and she was still trying hard to think about how to resolve this matter. Should she put aside her dignity as a Hokage?

"You will regret this, Lady Tsunade."

Akihara Kagura seemed to guess Tsunade's thoughts, continuing coldly: "I don't want to lose my subordinate, our battle has begun."

After saying that...

Akihara Kagura immediately turned and left, planning to return to the Root base to stir up trouble, to see if those few Hokage superiors could issue tasks, he wanted to take this opportunity to test if this turmoil could lead to tasks.

"I have no intention of relieving you of your duties, Akihara Kagura, I hope we can work together happily and protect Konoha."

Tsunade stared fixedly at Akihara Kagura, explaining: "I just think that having Karin stay by my side is better for her future, and I am the Hokage after all..."

"..."

Akihara Kagura stopped in his tracks but didn't say that sentence, turning back to question: "If Karin stays by my side, Lady Tsunade can't teach her, right?"

"Of course..."

Tsunade faintly felt something was amiss.

If she takes Karin as her disciple, shouldn't Karin be by her side, the Hokage's side?

But...

Something seemed not quite right.

However, by the time Tsunade realized what Akihara Kagura meant, that because Karin is his subordinate, she, the Hokage, should not teach Karin, Akihara Kagura had already left.

Root base.

Akihara Kagura immediately called Karin to ask her opinion: "Lady Tsunade wants you to leave the Root, probably wants to take you as a disciple..."

"Lord Kagura, should I keep an eye on her?"

Karin's first thought was somewhat rebellious.

"Now is not the time."

Akihara Kagura shook his head, speaking softly: "Gather everyone, the Fifth Hokage has overstepped her bounds..."

Inside Konoha village.

Suddenly, a rumor emerged in the village, suggesting that the newly appointed Fifth Hokage Tsunade was planning to relieve Akihara Kagura of all his duties.

"Why is that?"

"Lord Kagura doesn't seem to have done anything wrong, does he?"

"But Lady Tsunade is the Hokage, she must have her reasons, right?"

"However, on her first day in office, she initiated a dangerous war, all resolved by Lord Kagura alone, who resolved the war with his own strength..."

"I heard that because of the great merits Lord Kagura achieved in resolving the war, the Hokage has been unable to reward him. Could it be that she's worried about Lord Kagura taking over the position of Hokage?"

This rumor spread like wildfire.

Within two days, it had spread throughout Konoha.

Hatake Kakashi was the first to realize the harm of this rumor, and he immediately went to ask Akihara Kagura about the truth of these rumors.

"There's a rumor going around the village..."

After hesitating for a moment, Kakashi proactively asked his friend: "Is it true that Lady Tsunade wants to strip you of your duties?"

"I don't know."

Akihara Kagura shook his head, continuing: "Lady Tsunade wants to transfer Karin away, and I didn't agree..."

"..."

Kakashi fell silent.

"Actually..."

Kakashi glanced at Akihara Kagura and sighed softly: "The Root has harbored too much darkness; perhaps leaving isn't such a bad thing..."

But...

For the stability of the village, as long as they don't want to disband the Root, even if they ask Kagura to dissolve it, Tsunade at least has to offer him a suitable position, like the head of the Anbu or something...

Actually...

All the high-ranking ninjas in Konoha know that Akihara Kagura is the future of Konoha.

Inside the Hokage tower.

The two Hokage advisors were also curiously inquiring about this.

Koharu Utatane looked at the agitated Tsunade and advised solemnly: "Tsunade, there's no need to be so harsh on Kagura, he has made many contributions to the village..."

"I never had such thoughts!"

Tsunade slammed her fist on the table, declaring angrily: "I just wanted to transfer a little girl from the Root to the Anbu, I never thought about stripping him of his duties, it's just that guy thinking too extremely!"

"But the rumors in the village..."

Homura Mitokado was somewhat uneasy, speaking softly: "Many people in the village are curious about this matter, Kagura is a hero of the village, he quelled the Tailed Beast disturbance caused by Uchiha Itachi, resolved the wars with Sand Village and Mist Village..."

"Forbid anyone in the village from spreading rumors."

Tsunade issued the order with dissatisfaction. In a village as small as Konoha, stopping the spread of rumors only required a single decree.

Due to the conflict with her subordinate...

Tsunade had been feeling depressed for two days and had not seen Akihara Kagura.

She summoned her Anbu protectors and spoke sternly, "Summon Akihara Kagura here. Is he really throwing a tantrum over such a trivial matter?"

"That guy always boasts about his dedication to Konoha. Why is he now so reluctant to let his subordinate serve under my command?"

"..."

Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado felt trouble brewing again.

However...

The message-delivering Anbu ninja quickly returned.

"Lord Kagura..."

The Anbu ninja, slightly embarrassed and cautious, continued, "Lord Kagura doesn't want to see Lady Tsunade and hopes not to be disturbed further..."

"This is an order from the Hokage!"

"Lord Kagura..."

The Anbu ninja looked anxiously at Tsunade: "Lord Kagura says… Lady Tsunade… shouldn't overstep, the last person who lost his subordinates like this, Shimura Danzo, is a precedent..."

Boom!

This struck Tsunade like a bolt of lightning!

What kind of joke is this? Surely it couldn't be this serious?

Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado looked towards Tsunade with unease—they had never imagined Tsunade might drive the village's strongest force to defection. Had they chosen the wrong Hokage?

If such a thing really happened...

Konoha would truly become a laughing stock in the ninja world!

Even the peace treaties recently signed with Sand Village and Mist Village might be nullified!

If Akihara Kagura defected from Konoha, who knows how many Konoha ninjas would become disillusioned with the village leadership, and who would then dare to risk their lives for the village in the future!

"What exactly did you say..."

Koharu Utatane stood trembling before Tsunade, his voice deep, "Tsunade, do you realize the severe consequences if you force Akihara Kagura to leave Konoha?"

"The village would fall into chaos..."

Homura Mitokado's arms shook as he recalled Kagura's combat abilities: "Once Kagura defects, if he poses a threat to Konoha, no one but the First Hokage could stop him..."

"Tsunade!"

Jiraiya appeared in the Hokage's office, trying to counsel his friend, "Didn't I tell you Kagura is extreme? That kid has always wanted to lead the Root. Just talk to him, he will listen..."

"I don't want to do this!"

Tsunade smashed her desk to pieces, her anger boiling over as she prepared to confront him at the Root base: "This is a misunderstanding; I just wanted to transfer someone from his command, how did it become about stripping him of his duties, forcing him to defect? I never intended to dissolve his Root!"

"Konoha already has the Anbu; the Root isn't under the Hokage's direct control, but I've always tolerated its existence, even tacitly allowed it to operate..."

"Now is not the time to discuss this..."

Koharu Utatane sighed, always tacitly approving and supporting the existence of the Root, shaking his head as he continued, "Now we need to discuss how to resolve the misunderstanding between Tsunade and Kagura and avoid the most troublesome outcomes..."

"If Kagura is forced by you to defect from Konoha..."

Homura Mitokado's heart was uneasy, unable to imagine the disastrous results that might follow. Maybe...

They would have no choice but to commit seppuku as an apology?

Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado were shocked by the sudden thought of Hatake Sakumo, Kakashi's father, who had committed suicide in shame amid village rumors after a mission failure...

"I'll go and talk to Kagura..."

Jiraiya headed for the Root base, hoping to meet Akihara Kagura: "If it's just a misunderstanding, let's clear it up quickly."

At the Root base.

Akihara Kagura felt even more wronged than Tsunade.

"Karin is proficient in all of Konoha's medical ninjutsu; there's not much Lady Tsunade could teach her. Besides, I've already asked Lady Tsunade directly, and she bluntly told me that she just wants to transfer my assistant away from the Root..."

"Jiraiya-sensei."

"You should know..."

"This conflict was bound to arise sooner or later."

"I've always supported Lady Tsunade, even at the cost of my reputation, but she wants more..."

Akihara Kagura looked at Jiraiya, his expression somewhat calm: "It's better to set clear boundaries now to avoid more trouble later..."

"Tsunate isn't thinking like that..."

Jiraiya rubbed his head in frustration, continuing, "Tsunate isn't that kind of person; she wouldn't want to see you leave Konoha..."

Akihara Kagura was ready with his sharpened knife: "Didn't Jiraiya-sensei also think Tsunade wouldn't let me revive the past Hokages? Yet, one of the first things she did upon returning to Konoha was to allow me to revive the past Hokages. Conflicts were bound to erupt, better to set them off now to avoid more trouble later..."

"!!!"

Jiraiya felt his face ache.

Akihara Kagura shook his head, sighing, "The Tsunade that Jiraiya-sensei knows is one person, but the Fifth Hokage that Jiraiya doesn't know is another..."

"..."

Jiraiya planned to persuade Tsunade again.

Jiraiya was somewhat relieved that he hadn't left Konoha yet.

However, after Jiraiya left the Root base, four Hokages appeared before Akihara Kagura; even Hashirama didn't quite understand why Kagura was in conflict with Tsunade.

"This is a power grab!"

"They want to force Tsunade to relinquish power!"

Tobirama understood Kagura's tactics clearly.

Because he had once used the people's support against Uchiha Madara, he hadn't expected that, over time, the situation would turn, and a descendant of the Senju clan would fall for the same trick!

"Ah..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen recalled the trouble he faced with his disciple, also sighing, "Tsunade just made one misstep..."

Initially...

Hadn't he also requested Kagura from Shimura Danzo?

Why didn't such an incident occur in the village then? Was it because he was justifiable, even Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado stood with him?

"Because it was a step she was bound to misstep!"

Tobirama looked towards Akihara Kagura, speaking coldly, "This kid has always appeared very obedient to Tsunade, even standing by her side against us, just to support Tsunade. Tsunade misjudged his loyalty..."

"And this kid has always shown great respect for Tsunade, sacrificing his own reputation to pave the way for Tsunade, the newly appointed Hokage. Tsunade truly believed this kid would prioritize the interests of Konoha, so she thought she could issue this order without considering his feelings..."

"Moreover..."

"Even if Tsunade had not made a misstep, it would have been useless."

"Because Akihara Kagura, the bastard, used us to force Tsunade to start a war, yet he ended it as a hero, his prestige even higher than Tsunade's. He was already on invincible ground before this struggle began."

Tobirama knew the basics of these political battles, shaking his head as he revealed the truth, "Even if this kid doesn't communicate with Tsunade, just spreading rumors that Tsunade is jealous of his achievements would make many fools believe, just causing some trouble..."

"Alright, the Root is about to start spreading rumors that I'm being forced by Lady Tsunade to defect..."

"Four Hokages, do you want to persuade Tsunade to surrender before it starts..."

Akihara Kagura's map for hiding daggers was short, but the daggers hidden in the map were long, enticing the Hokage to issue tasks: "A power struggle between the Hokage and the assistant Hokage will plunge Konoha into chaos, don't you Hokage consider calming the situation?"

"How do you calm it?"

Tobirama looked at Akihara Kagura, very dissatisfied with his scheming, speaking sternly, "Take away power? Do you know how to govern Konoha?"

"I don't really understand, but you must, right?"

Akihara Kagura looked towards the four Hokages present, speaking, "As long as I can protect my subordinates, avoiding being dismissed by a single word, I accept any method of calming…"

~~~

Kagura is cooking absolute spaghetti in the Patreon lmao! Btw, should I create a new FF for the One Piece version of this or nah? I never read it yet.

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