Chapter 44 (C44)
Sasuke woke up the day before yesterday, a day earlier than Kakashi, who only regained consciousness yesterday.
It wasn't that Itachi Uchiha wasn't ruthless enough, nor was it that he was stronger than Kakashi; it was simply because Kana expended more energy on him.
Kana sat on a chair next to the hospital bed. The water glass that was handed to her was not taken, and she carelessly put it back on the table.
"I've seen the curse mark Orochimaru left on your neck, and I can remove it."
Sasuke, who had been hanging his head and looking half-dead after waking up, suddenly raised his head, covered his neck with his right hand, and subconsciously took a step back.
Subconscious reactions speak volumes, "but I didn't understand."
Sasuke stared wide-eyed in disbelief, his right hand slowly falling, and he spoke in a dry voice, "Why?"
"I think you might want to keep it. Do you want to keep it?"
Those bright white eyes were like a mirror; every time he looked into them, all his hidden thoughts were laid bare.
Just like back then, and just like now.
"Why?" His voice was particularly hoarse from dehydration.
Why am I still so weak?
"I've done as you said, so why can't I kill him?!" Because he clenched his fists too tightly, the needle on the back of his left hand shifted and pierced a blood vessel, causing blood to seep out.
Kana's outstretched hand was suddenly flung away. She looked down and saw that the brat was quite strong; the back of her hand was already a little red.
It is said that it takes a person 21 days to form a habit, let alone 4 years.
As soon as Kana raised her hand to strike, Sasuke instinctively shrank his neck.
He immediately realized that his words sounded like he was giving in and lacked any real power, so he stubbornly glared back, "I can't even beat Hyuga Neji!" When facing Gaara in his tailed beast form, Naruto, Neji, and he were the only ones who were truly powerless.
This attitude naturally earned him a slap from Kana.
"Who gave you the stability of the two-tomoe form? Who taught you shurikenjutsu and water release?" Kana was cursing in her heart that there were no good people in the Uchiha clan—no, except for one—but what she said aloud was: "You ingrate... uh, black-eyed wretch."
Kana stood up, handed over the water glass, and commanded, "Drink it."
Sasuke glared at him angrily.
But he had never won against Kana when it came to glaring at each other. He reluctantly took the glass, gulped down the salt water, slammed the glass down on the table, and turned his head away, refusing to look at her.
Perhaps she had taken Neji too easy to raise these past few years, which made her forget that raising a child is a very harmful thing to the heart, liver, spleen, lungs and kidneys.
Sasuke felt that she was biased and that she didn't care about Neji as much as she did.
But she couldn't very well tell him that if she taught him to be too strong and he accidentally unlocked the Three Tomoe, she might not be able to save him from Danzo.
Only the weak can survive.
Sometimes, a person's luck is just a little bit off, and the turning point can become the end.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's restriction that she could only contact Sasuke once a week at most was not without this consideration.
So Kana's real teaching of him actually began last year, after Sasuke became Kakashi's student—Kakashi had lost someone important, so he would risk his life to protect the person he was with now, and Danzo didn't want to confront him directly.
Sasuke is indeed quick to learn, but to think he can catch up with Neji's eight years in just one year—others' talents are not just for show.
"Come find me when you've fully recovered." Kana hesitated for a moment, then gently touched his face. "I'll teach you."
She glanced in the direction of the door, formed a "巳" seal, and the soundproof barrier centered on her quickly contracted and disappeared. "Come in."
The door was pulled open, and Shikato raised his hands to show his innocence. "If I keep dragging this out, they'll send someone else to find you."
"What's up?"
Shikatoki pointed his index finger upwards, "Someone wants to see you."
"ah……"
"Hey, hey, hey, you're not going to run away, are you?" Lu Qu looked terrified, but stepped aside to make room for the doorway.
“Let’s go.” Kana glanced back at him, gesturing for him to follow. “Otherwise, why would they have sent you to call me?”
She had long, pale yellow hair, amber eyes, fair skin, a purple diamond-shaped mark on her forehead, and an impressive bust that would amaze any woman.
—Granddaughter of the First Hokage, disciple of the Third Hokage, and one of the Legendary Sannin, Tsunade Senju.
"Lady Tsunade."
"Yo." Tsunade sat behind the Hokage's desk, casually propping her head up with one hand. "Naruto was crying and begging me to go save Kakashi and Sasuke, but when I looked, they were both awake—it was you. It's not easy to see you."
Kana smiled slightly, "After all, I resigned."
Tsunade flipped through a stack of documents on the table, the papers rustling. "Really? My documents show you're still employed, and I haven't received your resignation certificate." Her crimson nails tapped the table. "Come back to work when you've finished your leave."
“Then perhaps the materials you have aren’t the latest.” Kana’s polite, fake smile remained unchanged as she handed over the photo containing the resignation letter. “Wari should be sending you the latest personnel information for the Anbu soon.”
After all, before coming to the Hokage's office, she had first gone to the Anbu to get the resignation letter Jiraiya had given her and completed the resignation procedures. In a department like the Anbu, where only fists matter, having subordinates stronger than oneself would damage one's authority as a leader. Under Washi's leadership, the process couldn't have been smoother.
The photo she handed over was crumpled, and a deep frown creased Tsunade's forehead. Shizune kept reminding her to take deep breaths.
On the bright side, she's quick-witted and decisive, a real talent. No wonder even though she's from the Hyuga branch family, the old man took the risk of putting her in the vice-captain's position.
Tsunade took a deep breath. "How about rejoining the Anbu?"
"I refuse."
I fucking... deep breath... he's a really good person... later...
After a few breaths, Tsunade opened her eyes again. "Why?"
Kana retorted, "Why do I have to join the Anbu?"
Because the Anbu, which should have been an elite department completely loyal to the Hokage, has now been infiltrated like a sieve.
Even though Tsunade had been away from the center of power for many years, she was very clear that the people she had chosen during this period of transition between various forces were likely "not clean" behind the scenes. Why should she have someone with ulterior motives become her direct confidant?
The fact that she voluntarily withdrew during this period at least shows that she wasn't won over by the advisory group and that she felt more at ease using her than Eagle.
She had just taken office and urgently needed to cultivate her own power base, but her understanding of the situation from all sides was limited. Moreover, all countries and villages were watching Konoha closely, so it was not appropriate to make a major reshuffle and promote a newcomer who did not understand the situation.
In conclusion, Hyuga Kana perfectly meets her requirements: she is prestigious in the Anbu, familiar with the work, and there are no issues with handover.
He has a clean political stance and has not colluded with other political forces;
Because of her status, her upper limit is obvious, making it easier for her to replace her with her own trusted confidants in the future.
"I admire strong people, and you are strong enough."
Although there are many political factors involved, this is the truth, and it is also a very important reason.
"I don't mind telling you that I'm not satisfied with Eagle, and I want you to be the acting head of the Dark Division."
"Even so, you still refuse?" Tsunade leaned forward slightly, her eyes sharp.
Kana couldn't help but wonder if she really was such a positive and ambitious "King of Roll" in other people's eyes? Why did so many people think that she left the club because she was dissatisfied and unwilling to accept it?
"Seven hundred? Or eight hundred? I can't remember how many missions I've carried out. I've probably spent more time outside than in the village." Kana shrugged. "Neji only grew up because he's so lucky. I haven't really taken care of him much."
"Hyuga needs a genius, so I am; the Third Hokage needs a vice-captain, so I am; Konoha needs a good sword, so I am."
Kana said softly, "Why doesn't anyone ask me what I want?"
Tsunade had thought of countless reasons to persuade her, such as personal development, improving strength, and the important responsibilities of Konoha, but she couldn't bring herself to say such a lighthearted sentence.
Tsunade suddenly remembered that no matter how many labels preceded her name, the person in front of her was just a seventeen-year-old child. "Then what do you want?"
“I don’t know.” Her eyes were unfocused, filled with a blank, confused look. “No one has ever cared. It’s been so long that even I don’t remember.”
It was already evening when Kana walked out of the Hokage Building. Dark yellow, orange and red spices were spilled on the horizon. The sky was open and cloudless, and the moon would most likely be very bright tonight.
A bird fluttered its wings and landed on her shoulder. Ever since she formed a bond with Qingyuan, birds have had a natural affinity for her.
The system reminded her that Tsunade might be soft-hearted for a while, but she wouldn't be soft-hearted forever, especially after she officially took over the Hokage's work and experienced being constrained by others.
"It doesn't matter."
Kana's face no longer showed any trace of the confusion she had just felt. The bird snatched the thing from her palm and disappeared into the forest.
She was betting on the fact that Tsunade hadn't completely shed her soft heart and become a politician yet.
"That's enough."
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