Bab 46: Chapter 46: Where Is the Caged Bird Seal on Your Forehead?
"She is much better now. Not like right after Grandma passed, when she barely had a smile on her face. If it weren't for the old man refusing, I would've brought her to the camp so you could keep her company."
Talking about Kushina, Tsunade couldn't help but feel a bit helpless. Since the Nine-Tails transfer, Kushina's mood had been unstable. The Nine-Tails, being unwilling to be sealed, was constantly causing trouble, making Kushina feel unwell for extended periods. Tsunade's heart had been on edge, worried both about Kushina's ability to move on from her sadness and about the Nine-Tails stirring up trouble.
The Uzumaki Clan's sealing techniques were powerful against tailed beasts, but Kushina was still too young. Moreover, the Nine-Tails was the strongest of the tailed beasts, and Kushina had cried under her blanket more than once from the burns caused by the Nine-Tails' chakra.
"As long as she's coming through it, that's good. She's a strong, determined child. As for the Nine-Tails, once Kushina grows up, she'll be able to fully suppress it."
This was something no one else could help with; Kushina would have to handle it herself.
"By the way, how's the situation in the village?"
"Don't even ask."
Tsunade looked weary. "Koharu Utatane has been hopping around, trying to convince the old man to hand over the medical system's authority to her. After being refused, she's now trying to exonerate Danzo."
Shimura Danzo was no good, and neither was Koharu. In the elders council of Konoha, every member was bad news, except for Torifu Akimichi, who stayed out of the mess.
Danzo was ambitious, dark-hearted, and corrupt. The Third Hokage, while appearing noble on the surface, had done his share of shady things. Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado were no different, clinging to power, often conspiring with Danzo. Even in the original storyline, when the Leaf Village was in chaos and the Third Hokage had died, those two old folks were still at odds with Tsunade over their power, limiting her authority as the Fifth Hokage at every turn.
Takashi shrugged. "Not surprising. That group cares about power above all. The medical system used to be under Koharu's control, but now it's in Torifu's hands, and she's definitely unhappy about it. Trying to clear Danzo's name is just a way to pressure the Hokage and maybe bring in an ally."
"You're right," Tsunade agreed with Takashi's analysis.
As they spoke, Tsunade suddenly laughed. "Now, that fatty Torifu is stuck in the Hokage's advisory role. He wants to step down but finds he can't. Even though he's being targeted, he still has to hold on to the medical system with all his might."
"If he knew it was your suggestion that led Grandma to put him there, he'd probably curse you out."
Anyone else being put in that position would have been thrilled. But Torifu wasn't like the others; he was completely unwilling.
Unfortunately for him, unwillingness didn't matter. Mito had directly pushed him into that role, dragging both him and the clans behind him—the Ino-Shika-Cho trio—into Tsunade's camp.
In the current Konoha, with Torifu serving as Hokage's advisor while also holding authority over the medical system, the result was a split within the elders council.
"This was Lady Mito's order, nothing to do with me!" Takashi laughed heartily.
No way he was taking the blame for that.
"Oh, by the way."
Tsunade's expression suddenly turned serious. "The village is planning to send people into the Land of Rain to respond to Sunagakure's provocations. There might be a new war in the shinobi world."
To ensure a smooth transition for the new Jinchuriki, Konoha had tolerated Sunagakure's provocations in the Land of Rivers. The priority was Kushina's transformation into a Jinchuriki. But Konoha's restraint had made Sunagakure believe that Konoha was backing down, and their provocations escalated.
Now that Kushina, the new Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, had stabilized, Konoha wouldn't allow Sunagakure to push any further.
Provocation? Fine, I'll respond. And while I'm at it, I'll suppress the growth of Amegakure.
The Third Hokage wouldn't spare Amegakure just because of a few words from Hanzo the Salamander. There was no sympathy or tolerance between villages—only interests.
Responding to Sunagakure and asserting Konoha's strength while suppressing Amegakure's growth was in Konoha's best interest. Whether or not Amegakure and the Land of Rain were innocent, no one cared.
"It probably won't escalate into a full-blown war anytime soon," Takashi said.
For now, the provocation was just that—provocation. As long as the line wasn't crossed and there wasn't proper preparation, it wouldn't easily lead to a full-scale war between the two villages, just some small skirmishes.
Takashi had no reason to worry about a war. War wasn't something that could just happen overnight, and even if it did, given his position and skills on paper, he'd likely be assigned to stay at the camp's medical unit, treating and caring for the wounded, rather than fighting on the front lines.
Besides, for the pay he received, what sense was there in risking his life on the battlefield?
He couldn't control what others did, but he definitely wasn't going to throw his life away for the Third Hokage.
"Enough about me. You should be careful yourself. You always claim to be a medical ninja, but you're fiercer than anyone else."
In the entire shinobi world, only Tsunade could carry the title of "medical ninja" while being more ferocious on the battlefield than anyone else. The rest of the medical ninjas wouldn't dare play like that; even if they accompanied a team, they mostly just played a support role.
Tsunade, on the other hand, turned herself into the main force and relegated her teammates to support.
"Cough, cough! Got it."
"What's with that look? Do I seem that reckless to you?"
Seeing Takashi staring at her with a skeptical look, Tsunade gritted her teeth, leaned forward until their foreheads touched, and said through clenched teeth, "I could afford to be like that before, but not anymore. Grandma is gone, and I need to take on more responsibilities—especially when it comes to you."
"What about me?"
Takashi raised his hand, giving a teasing poke. "What have you been eating lately? Feels like you've grown again. Bit late for that kind of growth, isn't it?"
"Cut it out!"
Tsunade forcefully pushed away Takashi's hands, giving him a little headbutt before saying, "I, along with Nawaki, have special statuses. No one can do anything to us. Kushina is similar. She's the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, and in a few years, when she's matured, the village will have to think carefully before trying to control her. But you… you're different."
"Damn Hyuga Main House."
Just the thought of the Caged Bird Seal on Takashi's forehead made Tsunade want to curse.
In the past, she would always be the first to charge into battle. But now, Tsunade couldn't do that anymore.
She had people behind her—Nawaki, Kushina, the Ino-Shika-Cho alliance, and, most importantly… Takashi.
Everyone else was relatively safe, but Takashi was vulnerable to targeted attacks.
The Caged Bird Seal was far too deadly.
Only by growing strong herself, and building a solid foundation of support behind her, could Tsunade make sure the Hyuga Clan didn't dare to make any moves—even if the Third Hokage asked them to cooperate, they would have to remain neutral.
"Yes! Damn the Hyuga Main House!"
Takashi burst out laughing.
What's so funny? You can still laugh?
Teasing Tsunade until she was on the verge of blowing up, Takashi finally stopped laughing. "How about a game?"
"No thanks. I'm not in the mood."
Tsunade stood up, swatting Takashi's hand away from her chest.
"Alright Enough messing around. Just cooperate and get this thing removed."
Takashi gestured for Tsunade to take off his forehead protector.
"Most members of the Branch House can't wait to wrap their foreheads up tight, but you want yours exposed?"
After receiving several more meaningful looks from Takashi, Tsunade finally gave in, yanking off his forehead protector with a bit more force than necessary.
She didn't want to see the Caged Bird Seal. It was an eyesore.
Protector off. Happy now?
Just as Tsunade was about to toss the forehead protector aside, she froze.
Was she seeing things?
Rubbing her eyes, she looked again. No, it wasn't a mistake. There was nothing there.
"The seal on your forehead…"
That massive Caged Bird Seal—where had it gone?
Takashi wrapped his arms around her waist, lifting her onto the table, and leaned in close, giving her a hint.
"Remember when we were studying in the hospital, and you asked me why I smelled strongly of paint?"
Did she? Tsunade tried to recall, her mind a bit muddled. Yes, that had happened.
She had asked him directly, and Takashi had explained it away as getting paint on himself while painting at home. He even lifted his shirt to show her, and there was indeed paint.
Tsunade hadn't thought much of it and believed him.
"So, the Caged Bird Seal on your forehead was painted on?"
Tsunade felt her brain short-circuit. Wasn't the Hyuga Clan's Caged Bird Seal supposed to be an incredibly domineering curse mark? How could it just disappear like that?
"Yes, painted on."
"Impossible! Grandpa and Second Grandpa tried to break the Caged Bird Seal when they established the village, and they failed without exception. Even the old man tried."
"How did you do it?"
"Is it possible…" Takashi pointed to his own eyes. "That these eyes of mine didn't degrade, after all?"
Tsunade stared into Takashi's star-like blue eyes and fell silent.
If they hadn't degraded, then that meant they'd evolved?
Like the Uchiha's Sharingan?
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone