Chapter Twenty-Three: Tsunade Joins, and the Beginning of the Konoha Collapse Plan!

Having made up his mind, Jiraiya wasted no time; that very day he dragged Hao Yun out of Konoha. Utilizing the Skyshatter’s custom-built helicopter, they reached the Land of Hot Springs within half a day.

Thanks to Hao Yun’s radar scan, they quickly located one of the Legendary Sannin—Tsunade, whose figure was as striking as ever.

“She’s at the casino. Shall we go?”

Hao Yun lifted his eyes and glanced at Jiraiya; the meaning in his gaze needed no words, and Jiraiya understood instantly. Clearly, Tsunade had already lost her shirt at the tables… If they went over now, it would only be to pay off her debts!

“Uh… Maybe we should wait?” Jiraiya hesitated, his heart sinking. The debt was too much—even true love couldn’t bear it. He still hoped to save some money for a visit to the pleasure district.

Hao Yun shot him an exasperated look. With that attitude, he still dreamed of winning Tsunade’s heart? Ha! Keep dreaming. He was beginning to doubt if Tsunade had really assigned him this mission—would she ever fancy such a scoundrel?

They didn’t have to wait long; once Tsunade had exhausted her credit and the casino refused to lend her another cent, Hao Yun watched as two women burst out of the casino.

Yes, two women. Their fists flew, sending guards and thugs alike soaring through the air—some even among the lower-ranked ninja were not spared.

Hao Yun quickly signaled Jiraiya—what are you waiting for? Go help her! Don’t you want to win Tsunade’s favor?

Jiraiya, however, seemed utterly oblivious, content to sit and munch snacks while he watched the spectacle unfold. He even offered Hao Yun words of comfort.

“Relax, with these guys, Tsunade could lay them out with one hand.”

“Hmph…” Hao Yun snorted. If Tsunade ever took a liking to this fool, it would truly be a miracle! To let the chance to play the hero slip away—he was destined for a lifetime of bachelorhood.

When Tsunade and Shizune finally broke through the crowd and swaggered into the little tavern where Hao Yun and Jiraiya were waiting, Jiraiya finally stepped forward.

“Tsunade, it’s been a long time!”

“Jiraiya? What do you want? Trying to talk me into returning to the village again?”

Tsunade instinctively stepped back, her wariness clear. Obviously, Jiraiya had tried this many times over the years—it had become routine.

“Uh… Actually, he’s the one who needs you!” Jiraiya hesitated for a second, then promptly threw Hao Yun to the wolves.

Hao Yun’s expression darkened as he strode forward and flicked Jiraiya’s forehead. He knew that ninja in the world of the Hokage often lacked scruples, but Jiraiya was a top-level ninja, one of the Sannin… Who would have thought he’d have even less integrity!

Was it so easy to betray a comrade? Was there no brotherhood left?

If Jiraiya could hear Hao Yun’s thoughts, he’d surely reply—none whatsoever!

“And you are?”

Tsunade sat down boldly, snatched the sake from Jiraiya and drained it, then eyed Hao Yun curiously.

“I’m Uzumaki Naruto’s master—the son of the Fourth Hokage.”

Hao Yun shrugged and introduced himself. At the same time, he placed a recorder on the table.

“About the deaths of Dan Kato and your brother, I believe there are secrets you don’t know.”

With that, Hao Yun pressed play… Given the foolish deeds of Danzo and the hidden corpse of the First Hokage in Root, he was sure Tsunade would finally uncover the truth behind her brother’s death.

As the recording revealed the dark chapters of Hokage history, Tsunade’s drinking slowed, her expression growing darker and darker.

When the tape described Danzo’s recent misdeeds, Tsunade slammed her fist down on the table. Though the table survived, its four legs sank halfway into the floor.

“Bastard! How dare Danzo do such things!”

Tsunade was furious. The deaths of White Fang, the Fourth Hokage, the Uchiha massacre, the sacrifice of the Hyuga branch—all orchestrated by Danzo in the shadows!

His actions had dragged Konoha down from the greatest and strongest hidden village in the ninja world to mediocrity among the Five Great Villages! Countless prodigious ninja had been wasted!

Tsunade even suspected her brother Nawaki’s death was not unrelated to Danzo!

“Tsunade, calm down…”

Jiraiya tried to soothe her, but a fist sent him flying into the wall.

“And you! What were you doing? Taking on apprentices and neglecting them, letting the Akatsuki run rampant—how is that being a proper mentor? You ruined those children!”

Nagato Uzumaki was one of the last children of the Uzumaki clan! Forced onto the path of villainy by Danzo and Hanzo!

Jiraiya could not escape blame for failing his students.

Breathing heavily, Tsunade turned to Hao Yun.

“You tell me all these secrets and take Naruto as your apprentice—what are you after?”

Tsunade was no naïve innocent. Years spent on the battlefield, growing up under the guidance of her grandfather and granduncle, both Hokage, had taught her well. She knew politics.

Hao Yun wouldn’t bring her such information unless he wanted something.

“Uh… Honestly, there’s nothing much I want.”

Hao Yun scratched his head and explained, “I know all these secrets because I’m not from this world. I am a traveler of the multiverse. I’ve done a lot here, only hoping not to leave too many regrets.”

“As for my motives… If the ninja world were unified, and while traveling I ran into trouble, would you refuse to help, even across worlds?”

“That’s all?”

Tsunade stared deeply at Hao Yun, doubting the truth of his words.

If not for the astonishing information and so many coincidences lining up, Tsunade wouldn’t believe a word he said.

“That’s all.”

Hao Yun replied earnestly, “I am determined to change this twisted world. Now Nagato has joined with the Akatsuki, the twelve young heroes of Konoha are my apprentices, and their families will follow… Tsunade, we need a medical ninja to teach the future hospital staff. What’s your decision?”

“I agree, but remember—I’ll be watching you!”

Tsunade agreed without hesitation, but her gaze warned that if he dared step out of line, she would stop him at any cost.

Hao Yun shrugged. He was determined to play the villain who would unify the ninja world; history is written by the victors, after all. The ninja world was destined to change because of him.

…

Afterward, Hao Yun used the Skyshatter to bring Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Shizune back to Konoha. The advanced technology convinced Tsunade further that Hao Yun was not of this world.

He added Tsunade to the teaching staff for the twelve young heroes, doing his best to raise their strength. In the evenings, the young ones studied the new ideology, and Tsunade’s thinking began to shift as well.

A month passed in preparation, almost unnoticed…

Finally, the last round of the group’s exam was about to begin!