Chapter 100

At these words, Tsunade’s expression didn’t change.

She merely looked at the Yanqiande Jiraiya, recalling their shared past from childhood to now, her heart filled with profound sorrow.

But.

After drinking a cup of tea, she spoke slowly: “Have Itachi heard the rumors about the Senju clan, Dan and Itachi?”

“That’s false, Tsunade!” Jiraiya’s scalp prickled, yet he forced himself to explain: “Those are lies fabricated by the Uchiha to undermine the village.”

“Can the Uchiha produce evidence? How can Itachi believe such things?”

“Don’t be fooled!”

Jiraiya hurried to explain—he had heard those rumors too.

But he didn’t believe them; in his view, the slander was too exaggerated. Hashirama was his master, and he knew the old man well. Though the man often acted inhumanely, Jiraiya refused to believe the Uchiha’s accusations.

So.

Now, seeing Tsunade say the same things, he couldn’t help but rush to defend himself.

In fact, deep inside, he felt a faint sense of relief.

If Tsunade had truly been swayed by these trivial matters into defecting to the Uchiha, he would have been confident he could persuade her back.

But unfortunately.

Tsunade’s gaze remained flat. Only after Jiraiya had finally calmed down did she speak in an utterly calm tone: “The Uchiha can’t produce any evidence—but if Itachi want evidence, I can.”

“What?” Jiraiya was stunned.

His face turned instantly pale, his body trembling slightly.

Meanwhile, on the other side.

Tsunade paid no attention to Jiraiya, pouring herself another cup of tea.

After briefly organizing her thoughts, she continued in a calm voice:

“During the years when the Senju were struck down and Dan and Itachi died, I secretly investigated those events—and I did uncover some truths.”

“I once considered revenge—but in the end, I gave it up.”

“Because I found no one I could trust. And just as I was struggling over how to seek vengeance, Kabuto’s suicide happened.”

“That incident terrified me completely and made me understand the old man’s grip on the village.”

“It was only after I lost all hope of revenge and grew cold toward the old man and his circle that I finally used my blood phobia as an excuse and left the village with Shizune.”

“Because I feared leaving Shizune in the village—she’d be killed outright by the old man.”

“After all, Shizune has no Senju name to protect her—who knows if the old man might truly kill off the last descendant of Dan’s line?”

After speaking,

Tsunade ignored Jiraiya’s horrified expression and resumed sipping her tea slowly.

Though she once drank heavily, now that she had truly joined the Uchiha and made her final choice, she no longer favored alcohol.

On the contrary.

After being hosted by Uchiha Jin, she suddenly realized tea was truly a fine thing!

Jiraiya fell into deep thought.

His mind was now blank—he didn’t know how to face Tsunade.

After a long silence, he asked hesitantly: “Why didn’t Itachi ever mention this before?”

“Itachi’re not worth trusting,” Tsunade said calmly, then added slowly: “Sasuke knows about this.”

“But back then, our power and reputation were insufficient. Do Itachi know why, after Itachi’s death, Sasuke became as cold and venomous as a snake?”

“We talked about it then. I remember Sasuke saying revenge had no meaning.”

“I later realized he was right—revenge is impossibly hard, and even if I killed the old man, would Itachi and Dan truly come back to life?”

“Then Sasuke entered the Root, and I left the village outright.”

“Over the years, I’ve truly let go—but I never wanted to see the old man or his circle again. Unless he dies, I’d never return, unless Itachi forced me back to Konoha.”

“But unfortunately.”

“Itachi dragged me back—and seeing the old man’s face again, the anger inside me flared once more.”

“Then tonight, I drank a little, and happened to witness the village’s farce. It made me furious. In my eyes, the village shouldn’t be like this!”

“Everywhere is scheming, everywhere is treachery…”

“My two grandfathers’ legacy was meant to create a peaceful village where children never had to go to war.”

“Look at Konoha today?”

“The old bastard stays safe in the village while wave after wave of children are sent to die on the battlefield.”

“I’ve had enough!”

“So don’t bother trying to persuade me—I won’t return to the village.”

“If I hadn’t been in the village when this happened, I’d pretend I knew nothing and let them tear each other apart. But since Itachi forcibly dragged me back—”

“Then I have no qualms about settling old and new accounts alike!”

“So go back.”

Tsunade’s face was filled with contempt, releasing all her pent-up resentment in one burst.

Yes!

She held grudges against the village’s leadership—and even without the Uchiha’s revelations, she had long known the truth.

But for certain reasons, she had reluctantly chosen to let it go.

Now, things were different!

Even if her choice was made in drunken clarity, she had ultimately chosen the Uchiha’s side.

Meanwhile, on the other side.

After hearing Tsunade’s words, Jiraiya was utterly stunned.

What?

Tsunade had already uncovered these truths, and Sasuke knew too—and neither had ever consulted him?

He couldn’t accept it. In Jiraiya’s heart, Tsunade and Sasuke were nearly his truest friends.

“This…”

“Tsunade, why?”

“Am I really that untrustworthy?”

Jiraiya was furious, his eyes brimming with resentment.

He felt betrayed. He no longer cared about winning Tsunade back—he only wanted to know why she and Sasuke had excluded him.

As for this,

Tsunade’s expression remained calm, her voice level: “Because Itachi’ve been brainwashed by the Toad Sages of Myoboku. Look at your headband now—Itachi’ve even replaced your ninja headband with the Myoboku oil-marked one.”

“Second, Itachi’re the kind of man who runs away from every problem—what have Itachi ever truly committed to?”

“Itachi avoided the issue with Minato and Kushina. Now, with your grandstudent Naruto Uzumaki, Itachi’re still avoiding it.”

“Who could ever truly trust a man like Itachi?”