Ch 64. The Best & Strognest Medical Ninja In The World

Soon, spies from all over the world received word that Tsunade-hime, after briefly returning to Konoha, had left once again. This time, she did not even remain within the Land of Fire but departed from it entirely. For any ninja village, such an act was tantamount to betrayal, as ninjas did not leave their homeland unless it was for missions, and even then, their movements were strictly monitored, especially in other countries, even if they are your allies.

On the day of her departure, a high-level meeting was held in Konoha. Danzo, as expected, proposed that Tsunade be declared a rogue ninja, insisting that ANBU be dispatched to pursue her and that a bounty be placed on her head. However, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, immediately rejected the idea.

What followed was yet another heated argument between the two, a familiar occurrence within Konoha's council. The ANBU stationed outside the meeting room heard only the sharp exchange of voices, culminating in Hiruzen's firm declaration, "I am the Hokage, Danzo!" followed by Danzo's ominous retort, "You'll regret this, Hiruzen," before the doors slammed shut.

This was the usual dynamic between them, Hiruzen, the leader who walked in the light, maintaining the image of a benevolent Hokage, though his reputation had been somewhat tainted following the destruction of the Uzumaki Clan. Nevertheless, among most villagers, civilians, and younger shinobi, he was still regarded as the strongest Hokage upholding the Will of Fire. Meanwhile, Danzo remained the unseen force in the shadows, acting in ways that Hiruzen publicly opposed but often could not help but tolerate.

Despite Hiruzen's refusal to brand Tsunade as a traitor, Danzo wasted no time. He covertly dispatched his own Root ninjas to track her movements and placed a discreet bounty on her head within the black market. Other ninja villages quickly followed suit. Though taking down a kunoichi of Tsunade's caliber was no easy task, for many villages, eliminating a high-ranking Konoha ninja, even at a cost, was a worthwhile endeavor.

However, Tsunade was not the woman she once was. Unlike in the past, when she suffered from hemophobia, the current Tsunade had no fear of blood. She would be bloodthirsty if confronted by Konoha's ANBU or Root operatives. More importantly, with Kurama's powerful sensory abilities, she could evade most tracking efforts unless she chose otherwise. Armed with the Ninja Art, Creation Rebirth Strength of a Hundred Technique and backed by Kurama's immense chakra reserves, she was nearly unkillable.

Before long, information surfaced in the underground black market that Tsunade had not simply left Konoha, she had done so on bad terms. There were even whispers that she might become an enemy of the village in the future. This revelation came from a highly reliable information broker who had gained notoriety in recent years, particularly for leaking Konoha's secrets. As a result, many villages that had initially placed bounties on Tsunade began withdrawing them. They were unwilling to waste resources hunting a ninja who might no longer be Konoha's ally.

Only rogue ninjas driven by greed and those who failed to comprehend the weight of the title "San-nin" continued their vain pursuit. Meanwhile, among the major powers, the response was entirely different. Rather than seeing Tsunade as a target, many ninja villages, both large and small saw an opportunity. Instead of hostility, they extended invitations. Especially for noble families and daimyos, Tsunade-hime's value was immeasurable. Even in her reckless gambling, nobles considered it an honor to have her debt rather than an inconvenience.

Naturally, the Land of Lightning was among those who extended their welcome. The intelligence officer responsible for spreading the key information was part of Kumogakure's newly established intelligence and espionage agency, an organization composed of both shinobi and civilians. Managed by Dodai and his team, the agency had significantly improved Kumogakure's grasp of the political landscape, particularly in the wake of the Uzumaki Clan's downfall. Ensuring that Tsunade was no longer associated with Konoha was a calculated move, one that Kumogakure hoped would lead her to consider joining them.

After all, even in the original timeline, the Fourth Raikage himself had sought Tsunade's medical expertise. For nobles and civilians alike, she was akin to a god of medicine, someone they might desperately need one day. In the Land of Fire and beyond, Tsunade was not just welcomed but revered. Nobles would rather forgive her debts than offend her. Even the wealthiest and most influential individuals desired her medical attention, knowing that a single check-up from Tsunade could relieve them of ailments they had suffered for years.

For noblewomen, her presence was even more enticing. With Tsunade's abilities, they could preserve their youth, enhance their beauty, and maintain their health in ways no ordinary healer could provide. Simply put, organic plastic surgeries and others. Now that she was no longer tied to Konoha, she had no reason to refuse requests from those beyond its borders.

And so, Tsunade became one of the most sought-after individuals in the world, feared by her enemies, sought by the powerful, and untouchable by those who once thought they could control her.