Chương 82: Complicated Situation

"Tsunade..." he murmured, his voice barely audible. "She'll be alright, won't she?"

Although he knew Tsunade had already reached the level of a Kage, a part of him couldn't help but worry. War was unpredictable, and even the strongest could fall.

He was frustrated....

His actions had caused many "butterfly effects".

The incident with the Kyubi was a clear example: in the original timeline, the Kyubi hadn't caused havoc during the Jinchūriki replacement, but in this reality, it had. If it hadn't been for Chen's intervention, Konoha would have suffered catastrophic damage.

"Things are different now," he reflected. "This alliance of three villages against Konoha at the start of the war... this never happened in the history I know."

Although he felt confident in his own strength, he couldn't help but worry about those he cared about.

"I was an idiot."

"I should never have eaten the Goro Goro no Mi. If I had given it to Tsunade, I'd be at ease now."

Regret gnawed at him, but he knew he couldn't change the past. After several minutes of internal debate, Chen came to a decision:

"I'll have to go to the battlefield," he declared with determination. "I won't be at peace until I see with my own eyes that everything is alright."

That night, after sharing dinner with Kushina, Mikoto, and Konan, Chen retired to his room.

"Sage Mode," he thought as he sat in a meditation position. "I need to master it before I leave."

With that resolution, he closed his eyes and began to concentrate.

After several unsuccessful attempts, he found himself frustrated but not defeated. Although each attempt ended in failure, he recognized that the process itself was beneficial.

Finally exhausted, he surrendered to sleep.

The next morning brought with it renewed vigor. He woke up full of energy, enjoyed the breakfast prepared by Mikoto, and then embarked on a mission of a very different kind: real estate acquisition.

Accompanied by Mikoto, Kushina, and Konan, he headed to the property sales office. With determination in his eyes, he began to frantically examine the available offers.

The real estate market, depressed by the ongoing war, offered unprecedented opportunities.

The scale of Chen's purchases was astonishing. In a single session, he acquired half of the available properties in Konoha, including an impressive mansion.

Surprisingly, this only consumed a third of his financial resources.

Chen's voracious appetite for properties caught the attention of many, including Konoha's most prominent clans. His willingness to spend so freely at a time of economic uncertainty left even the wealthiest stunned.

This action revealed a truth often forgotten in the world: that the truly rich were not necessarily the ninjas, but the civilian entrepreneurs who operated in the shadows of the economy.

This activity did not go unnoticed by the Hokage. Concerned about the implications of such an accumulation of properties, Hiruzen discreetly intervened, ordering the sales office to restrict Chen's future purchases.

This action reflects both caution and curiosity about the origin of Chen's funds.

However, Hiruzen's real estate concerns were soon overshadowed by more urgent matters. The situation on the battlefront had become critical. Konoha faced a formidable coalition: Hanzō of Amegakure, Ōnoki of Iwagakure and his assistant, the Third Kazekage of Sunagakure, along with the fearsome siblings Chiyo and Ebizō.

This alliance of six Kage-level figures represented an unprecedented threat to Konoha.

Faced with such power, Konoha's forces were forced into a strategic retreat, barely managing to keep the enemy out of the Fire Country's borders. But this defensive stance couldn't be maintained indefinitely.

The Daimyō of the Fire Country had already expressed his discontent, threatening to cut Konoha's budget if territorial losses continued.

______

The Root office, hidden in the depths of Konoha. Hiruzen found himself standing in this gloomy space, facing his old friend, Danzo.

With a sigh of resignation, he broke the silence: "It seems we have no choice but to resort to extreme measures, Danzo."

Danzo, his face marked by shadows and an expression even grimmer than usual, responded in a harsh voice: "What do you want from me this time, Hiruzen?" His tone reflected his current mood.

Since Tomo returned, his face has worsened, and the recent disappearance of the Blood Eagle, his closest confidant, had darkened his already taciturn character even further.

Hiruzen extended a letter towards Danzo. "News from the front, and it's not good. The situation is... precarious, to say the least."

Taking the document, his eyes quickly scanned its contents. As he read, his brows furrowed more and more. "Amegakure, Sunagakure, and Iwagakure united... How could this have happened?"

"Facing two Great Villages and Amegakure, which is no inferior to any of the Five Great... Konoha cannot sustain this battle for long. We have suffered defeat after defeat. We need to take drastic measures to contain their offensive." Hiruzen said anxiously.

"We only have one option left," he continued. "We must go to the battlefield ourselves. It's the only way to stabilize the situation. And we can't delay; Kumogakure in the north is waiting for the right moment to act."

Danzo remained silent for a long moment, weighing the implications.

Finally, he nodded slowly. "I agree, but I have one condition: we must bring the Senju clan to the front."

The proposal fell like a bomb in the room.

Visibly shocked, Hiruzen exclaimed, "What?! Danzo, the Senju clan is at its weakest point. There are barely dozens of members left, most of them Genin. What difference could they make?"

The Senju clan fought very hard under Tobirama's leadership during the First World War. There aren't many members left.

"The Senju clan is the legacy of our masters," he continued, his voice turning severe. "Are you suggesting we send them to die?"

Danzo looked at him with disdain. "Don't forget, Hiruzen, who opposed your appointment as Hokage the most strongly. If it weren't for Mito's support, you wouldn't even be in that position."

The silence that followed was heavy.

"The Senju clan," he continued coldly, "no longer has a place in today's Konoha. They can only remain in the pages of history. Let them do one last service to the village."

Defeated, Hiruzen could only sigh. "Very well, Danzo. You decide."

"Nawaki will join the battle," Danzo added, as if it were an afterthought.

"Danzo!" Hiruzen exclaimed with indignation. "You're going too far."

The response he received was cold and blunt, "Once Senju Nawaki grows up, with the prestige of the Senju clan backing him, will you be prepared to abdicate, Hiruzen?"

The implications were clear. Many ninjas and clans had been benefited by the Senju clan over the years. If Nawaki were to reach adulthood and aspire to the position of Hokage, he would have considerable support and Hiruzen might be forced to cede his position.

________

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