She had already learned of the agreement between Itachi Uchiha and the Third Hokage.
For the so-called "peace" and "stability" of Konoha, Itachi Uchiha had shouldered the infamy of annihilating his own clan, personally killing his parents and kinsmen, leaving only his younger brother, Sasuke.
Regarding Itachi Uchiha, Tsunade's feelings were extremely complicated.
On one hand, she admired Itachi's great righteousness in being willing to sacrifice everything for the village—the courage and resolve to endure humiliation and bear such a heavy burden were not something ordinary people possessed.
On the other hand, she was also frightened by Itachi's ruthless methods—the brutal act of annihilating his own clan, even with so-called "circumstances," was not something easily forgiven.
"If this brat in front of me knew…" A flicker of concern passed through Tsunade's eyes as she stole a glance at Sasuke.
Sasuke stood there, his eyes revealing a thirst for power.
Tsunade couldn't help but think that if this brat knew the truth—that his clan was wiped out under the planning of Konoha's higher-ups, that his brother made that choice for the village—he might even defect outright.
After all, with Sasuke's stubborn personality, he absolutely could not accept such a cruel truth.
Tsunade gently rubbed her temples, feeling somewhat troubled.
She suddenly realized that she didn't quite know how to face Sasuke Uchiha anymore.
If she told him the truth, it would likely stir up a huge uproar, potentially even making Sasuke an enemy of Konoha.
But if she kept it hidden, watching Sasuke stray further down the path of revenge, she felt somewhat reluctant.
Those secrets concerning the Uchiha clan weighed heavily on her heart.
She looked at Sasuke, this young boy filled with an obsession for revenge.
Tsunade opened her mouth, wanting to speak the truth, but the words stuck in her throat, swallowed back down.
In the end, Tsunade simply sighed softly, forced a smile onto her face, and said in as calm a tone as she could manage: "Sasuke, you are a very talented child. Continue to train hard and contribute to Konoha. Remember, power is not only for revenge, but also for protecting what is important."
Sasuke frowned slightly, his keen Observation Haki allowing him to sense Tsunade's unusual behavior.
He could feel that Tsunade seemed to have something important to say, but was hesitating.
He didn't ask further, however, simply nodding silently, his heart filled with doubt.
"Yes, Lady Hokage. I will." Sasuke said quietly, then turned and left.
After leaving the Hokage's office, Sasuke wandered the streets of Konoha. The night was deep, and few pedestrians were out.
His mind was filled with myriad thoughts; Tsunade's strange behavior bothered him.
"What did she want to say?" Sasuke muttered to himself, a hint of confusion in his eyes.
But soon, he pushed these thoughts aside, and the idea of revenge once again dominated his mind.
Returning to his place, Sasuke sat in a corner of the room, lost in thought.
He pondered when he would finally achieve his revenge.
He scrolled through the chat group in his mind, noticing Stark was showing off again.
He focused, browsing the messages in the chat group, hoping to find something useful.
Just then, he was pleasantly surprised to find Roy looking for him.
Sasuke's eyes lit up, and he quickly replied: "Mr. Roy, I'm here!"
Roy was, in his mind, a powerful existence; Roy's teachings had greatly improved his abilities.
He knew that if Roy was looking for him, there might be new opportunities.
As agreed, at midnight, Sasuke arrived at a forest outside Konoha.
Moonlight filtered through the dense leaves. Sasuke walked cautiously when he suddenly spotted Roy.
Roy stood under a large tree. Beside him was another person wearing a cloak that completely shrouded their figure, making their face indistinguishable.
"Mr. Roy." Sasuke stepped forward respectfully.
His gaze lingered on the cloaked figure for a moment, curiosity filling his heart. Who was this person, and what important matter did Roy have in summoning him?
Sasuke's heart was full of anticipation.
Roy carefully examined Sasuke. Sasuke stood tall and straight, an aura radiating from him that was not to be underestimated.
Roy nodded slightly, a gratified smile appearing on his face as he spoke: "Not bad. Your progress with the Six Powers and Haki is already at the level of a prodigy."
Roy inwardly marveled. He noticed that while the physical strength of individuals in the world of Naruto generally couldn't compare to that of the One Piece world, their potential was remarkably impressive.
Sasuke's physical talent particularly caught his eye.
In Roy's view, even in the expert-filled world of One Piece, Sasuke's talent would undoubtedly be considered outstanding.
Sasuke's ability to reach this level of mastery with the Marine Six Powers and Haki in such a short time proved his exceptional talent and effort.
Roy's gaze slowly shifted from Sasuke to the cloaked figure beside him.
As a gentle breeze blew, the cloak fluttered slightly, revealing part of the person's face.
This person was none other than Hashirama Senju, resurrected through the Impure World Reincarnation.
Hashirama emanated a unique aura.
"And with his Sage Body, Hashirama cultivates Haki like a fish in water."
Roy admired inwardly.
The special nature of the Sage Body, with its powerful recovery abilities and extraordinary physical constitution, provided ideal conditions for Haki training.
And as he expected, in just this short time, Hashirama Senju's mastery of Haki had already reached an astonishing level.
Hashirama's body, nourished by Haki, had become even tougher and stronger.
A scene flashed through Roy's mind: the next time Hashirama Senju encountered Madara Uchiha, even relying solely on physical combat enhanced by his current Haki training, Hashirama would be fully capable of matching Madara.
Just then, Hashirama Senju's hearty laughter broke the forest's silence.
"Ahaha, so this is the child of the Uchiha clan?" Hashirama's voice was filled with warmth and curiosity. He slowly pushed back his hood, revealing that familiar, dignified face.
His gaze carried a hint of affection as he looked Sasuke up and down, as if reminiscing about the various past interactions with the Uchiha clan.
Feeling Hashirama's gaze, Sasuke's heart trembled slightly; he could sense the formidable presence emanating from this man.
Sasuke's eyes locked onto Hashirama Senju's face.
When he clearly recognized those features, his pupils constricted sharply, and a powerful shock surged within him.
"The First Hokage?"