On the other side—
After breaking free from the genjutsu, Tsunade learned that Uchiha Isamu had already been imprisoned.
Without hesitation, she dragged Jiraiya and Orochimaru straight to Hiruzen Sarutobi's office.
The door burst open.
"Oh? Tsunade, Jiraiya, Orochimaru—you're back." Hiruzen looked up with a calm smile. "How was it? Your first long-distance mission—did you manage alright?"
"Old man, cut the small talk," Tsunade snapped, her expression dark. "We came here for one thing."
She stepped forward, staring him down.
"Is there still any justice left in this village?"
"Why was Uchiha Isamu arrested and thrown into prison?"
"You're going to give me a proper explanation—right now."
Hiruzen fell silent for a moment.
Then he let out a quiet sigh and picked up a file.
"…Take a look at this first."
If it had been anyone else, he might've ignored them.
But Tsunade was different.
He handed her the file directly.
"Fine. Let's see what excuse you have," Tsunade muttered as she snatched it and began reading.
A few seconds later—
Her expression froze.
"…That's impossible."
She looked up sharply.
"How could this be?! Isamu was with us the whole time! How could he have gone to the Land of Earth?"
"This is fake. It has to be."
She threw the file onto the floor.
Jiraiya and Orochimaru exchanged a glance before picking it up themselves.
As they read—
Their expressions changed just the same.
"This… this can't be real, right?" Jiraiya muttered.
Hiruzen's voice cut in, heavy and serious.
"Now you understand why he had to be detained."
"Attacking the Land of Earth without authorization. Disrupting the balance between villages. Provoking the possibility of war."
"Do you have any idea how serious that is?"
Orochimaru frowned slightly.
"Hiruzen-sensei… is there any chance this was fabricated? Could someone be trying to frame him?"
"Yeah, that's what I think too," Jiraiya quickly added. "There's no way Big Brother Isamu would do something like that for no reason."
Hiruzen shook his head.
"No."
"This report came directly from the Tsuchikage himself."
"And I've already sent people to verify it."
"It's confirmed—Uchiha Isamu attacked Iwagakure."
Those words crushed whatever hope they had left.
---
They didn't know—
By now, the entire ninja world had already heard about it.
A single Konoha ninja had stormed Iwagakure alone.
Even though the Land of Earth tried to suppress the news, it still spread.
And just like that—
Iwagakure became the laughingstock of the ninja world.
---
Inside Iwagakure—
"Damn it!"
Ōnoki slammed his teacup to the ground, shattering it.
"Who leaked this?!"
"If I find out who did it, I'll make them regret ever being born!"
His face was livid.
"This can't continue… if we show weakness now, the other villages will take advantage of it."
He paced back and forth before suddenly stopping.
"…I've got it."
"Send out orders."
"Pick a few nearby small countries that have been mocking us—wipe them out."
"And send word to Konoha."
"Tell them to give me a satisfactory answer."
It was crude—but effective.
A show of force.
Hopefully enough to stop other villages from making a move.
Because if another major war broke out now—
Iwagakure might not survive it.
"It's all Konoha's fault…"
Ōnoki's expression darkened further.
"That damn Konoha ninja… that damn Uchiha Isamu…"
"If it weren't for him, none of this would've happened!"
---
Back in Konoha—
"Hiruzen-sensei…" Tsunade's voice softened slightly, but her eyes were still tense. "Is there really nothing you can do to help him?"
She understood now.
If those charges stuck—
Isamu would be finished in the village.
Ordinary people hated war.
If public opinion turned…
It would only make things worse.
"Please help him," Jiraiya added quickly.
Orochimaru remained silent—but his gaze said the same thing.
Hiruzen closed his eyes briefly.
"Do you think I don't want to?"
"The Land of Earth is demanding an explanation—and they specifically want him executed."
"The council has already proposed handing him over."
He opened his eyes again.
"It's already difficult enough just to keep him alive inside the village."
The room fell silent.
"War is not an option," Hiruzen continued. "So the only path left is negotiation."
"We'll have to compensate the Land of Earth… heavily."
"And even that—I haven't managed to get past the council yet."
He rubbed his temples.
"This is… a very difficult situation."
After a pause, his tone hardened slightly.
"Now you understand."
"The village must act with fairness and order."
"I'll handle Isamu's situation."
"You three… leave."
Tsunade clenched her fists.
"…Please protect him, Hiruzen-sensei."
Hiruzen gave a small nod.
---
Outside the Hokage building—
"This is insane…" Jiraiya muttered. "I still don't get it. How did Big Brother Isamu even make it to the Land of Earth and back without us noticing?"
Orochimaru's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…A high-speed movement technique, most likely. Otherwise, it's impossible."
Then, his expression shifted.
"…But still."
"To reach Iwagakure alone… fight an entire village… and come back unharmed…"
"That kind of strength…"
There was genuine admiration in his voice.
"…It's terrifying."
"Yeah…" Jiraiya nodded. "Big Brother Isamu is seriously amazing."
"Enough," Tsunade cut in sharply.
"Now is not the time to admire him."
Her expression was tense.
"He's already been arrested."
"And with that level of power… if he's pushed too far…"
She didn't finish the sentence.
But both of them understood.
Konoha could become the next Iwagakure.
"…So what do we do?" Jiraiya sighed. "We're nobodies. We don't have any influence."
"Status…" Tsunade suddenly froze.
Then her eyes lit up.
"…I know who to go to."
Without another word, she turned and ran.
"Hey—what's with her?" Jiraiya blinked.
"…You're asking me?" Orochimaru shrugged. "How would I know?"
---
Tsunade ran straight to one place—
Uzumaki Mito's residence.
If it was status—
No one in Konoha had more weight than her grandmother.
The wife of the First Hokage.
A figure even the current leadership couldn't ignore.
If she stepped in—
Everything could change.
Tsunade pushed open the door, her face filled with urgency.
---
Meanwhile—
Inside the prison.
A figure slowly approached the cell.
"Well, well…"
A mocking voice echoed through the darkness.
"Isn't this our 'Asura'… Uchiha Isamu?"
"How did you end up looking so pathetic?"
It was Danzo.
Standing outside the cell, smiling coldly.
----
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