Uchiha Madara—one of the only shinobi in history who could rival the power of the God of Shinobi, Senju Hashirama. His fearsome Mangekyō Sharingan granted him the ability to control the Nine-Tails itself, a power that once plunged the world into chaos. Every major hidden village still remembers the terror of his name.
Even Hashirama Senju himself praised Madara's strength on multiple occasions.
"Brat, do you even know what you're saying? 'The pinnacle of the ninja world'? Do you understand the kind of strength that takes?" Tsunade waved her hand dismissively, as if trying to banish the memory of Madara Uchiha.
Fenghuo stared at her with resolve. "No matter how difficult it is, I won't give up. Please, Lady Tsunade! I'll repay you—whatever it takes—for saving Sister Nonō."
Tsunade glared, her temper flaring for a moment. But when she met his unwavering gaze, she hesitated.
"Why not go to the Hokage instead?"
Fenghuo fell silent.
Tsunade didn't press him.
Gritting his teeth, Fenghuo said, "Lady Tsunade… you must've had someone you cared about, right? If their lives were in danger… you'd understand how I feel. I really have nowhere else to turn."
A flicker of pain crossed Tsunade's face, quickly overtaking her earlier anger.
She remembered Nawaki—her younger brother, full of dreams of becoming Hokage—and Dan Katō, her lover, who died in her arms during the Second Great Ninja War. Despite all her mastery of medical ninjutsu, she couldn't save them. Their blood had soaked into her hands… and she had been helpless.
"Desperate?" she murmured. "You don't even understand what that word means." Then she turned on her heel and walked away.
Fenghuo panicked and tried to catch up, but with Tsunade's strength and speed, she disappeared from his sight within moments.
Did I say something wrong?
He felt a pang of regret. Maybe he shouldn't have brought up her past.
As night fell, Fenghuo wandered the village aimlessly before returning home. When he opened the door, the house was quiet. Nonō Yakushi—Sister Nonō—had already left.
Rustle...
A sudden noise from the courtyard caught his attention. With a swift Body Flicker Technique, he appeared outside.
"Obito?" Fenghuo was surprised to see the familiar figure climbing the wall under the moonlight. "What are you doing sneaking around?"
"Haha, Fenghuo! I figured it was you. I couldn't sleep, so I was watching the moon. When I heard something over here, I climbed the wall to check it out."
Fenghuo sighed. This guy seriously needs a recharge for his brain. Of course it was him—who else would it be in his own house?
"You don't look so good," Obito said, frowning. "Something bothering you? Tell me! In front of these eyes,"—he activated his single tomoe Sharingan dramatically—"no problem can stand!"
Fenghuo's eye twitched. Does he not know I already awakened two tomoe? Hmph… maybe I should tell him, just to cheer myself up.
Obito had always been optimistic, even though Rin clearly had a crush on Kakashi. He threw himself into helping others and never seemed weighed down. Just being around him made Fenghuo feel lighter.
"Thanks, Obito."
"Ah, it's nothing." Obito grinned with pride.
The two of them sat in the courtyard under the moonlight, chatting and watching the stars as time drifted by.
"Hey, don't forget we have Academy classes tomorrow," Fenghuo said, glancing at the time.
"Crap, I almost forgot! I'm gonna be late!" Obito stood up with a jump. "Let's talk more later—I'm heading home!" He leapt back over the wall and vanished into the night.
Fenghuo looked up at the moon. No matter what happens… I won't give up.
The next day, Fenghuo waited outside the gambling house again, hoping to catch "the legendary big spender"—but from sunrise to sunset and even past moonrise, there was no sign of her.
His anxiety grew. Danzo had only given Nonō three days. After midnight, only one would remain!
If Tsunade was avoiding him on purpose, he wouldn't be able to find her at all.
The next morning, Fenghuo went directly to the Hokage Building, demanded her address, and even showed up at her home with a bribe and an offering—only to find she wasn't there. Just a few servants… and no clue where she had gone.
She really is avoiding me…
Fenghuo stomped his feet in frustration but could do nothing to change it.
Only one day left!
He was like an ant on a hot pan—burning with helplessness.
At that moment, in the Hokage's office—
The doors burst open.
"Hiruzen, I demand an explanation!" Danzo growled, storming in.
Sarutobi looked up calmly. "What is it this time, Danzo?"
Danzo approached and slammed the desk. "Without your approval, how dare Tsunade interfere with my personnel?"
Sarutobi's brow twitched. Tsunade again…
"Speak clearly," he said, puffing from his pipe.
"You know exactly what I'm talking about!" Danzo snapped. "You've crossed the line, Hiruzen!"
Sarutobi's heart skipped a beat. Did Tsunade act against Root operatives?
Root had always been a thorn—too dangerous to remove, too embedded to ignore. If Tsunade had truly interfered… it could be an opportunity.
"I have no idea what you're talking about," Hiruzen said smoothly.
Danzo scowled. "Don't play dumb. You'll regret this." He left with a cold snort.
After he departed, Hiruzen turned to the shadows.
"Find Tsunade," he ordered.
"Yes, Lord Hokage," replied an Anbu from the darkness.
Half an hour later, Tsunade arrived, clearly irritated.
"Old man, what do you want now?"
SLAM!
Sarutobi slammed the desk.
"Tsunade! How dare you touch Danzo's Root operatives?! Do you understand the consequences?"
"Hmph. He came running to you? That old fossil's as petty as ever," Tsunade said, folding her arms.
She was Senju Hashirama's granddaughter, Sarutobi's student, the princess of the Senju clan, and one of the Legendary Sannin. Danzo didn't scare her.
"Tell me why you did it," Sarutobi demanded.
"Oh, that? The kid asked me to," Tsunade replied, casually throwing Fenghuo under the bus. But, curiously, she didn't mention his bold declaration about Madara or "the pinnacle of the ninja world."
After hearing everything, Hiruzen fell silent… then let out a soft chuckle.
If Fenghuo had come to me, I'd have no choice but to keep him out of it. But if Tsunade intervenes… it changes everything.
"That boy's got a strong will," Sarutobi said.
"You're not mad?" Tsunade raised an eyebrow.
Sarutobi grinned. "For the past month, I've been instilling the Will of Fire into him. And now, I finally see it taking root."
After all… only those who understand what it means to protect others can truly inherit the Will of Fire.
Visit patreon.com/Morgansenpai to get 30+ chapters