Naruto: Wooing Tsunade from Day One!

"He doesn't know what's good for him."

Looking in the direction of Tadashi's departure, Homura suppressed the urge to curse. Tadashi's refusal had also extinguished his last hope. He hated that he wasn't capable of taking the Hokage's position himself; otherwise, he wouldn't care about becoming a puppet.

"When the spotlight's gone, so are the friends. He's seen through it," Hiruzen remarked, quickly regaining his composure.

Though the outcome was disappointing, it wasn't entirely unexpected. Tadashi had been the Clan Head for over ten years—no one could call him a fool. This was just his last desperate attempt.

"I just can't figure out how Fugaku Uchiha managed to use Genjutsu right under your nose," Homura muttered, his voice tinged with disbelief.

By all logic, a Genjutsu should not have gone undetected by someone of Hiruzen's Kage-level skill.

"I've thought about this," Hiruzen said grimly. "There's only one possibility. His Sharingan has evolved."

It wasn't arrogance that led Sarutobi to doubt Fugaku's ability, but rather confidence in his own mastery of Genjutsu. Even a wielder of the Three Tomoe Sharingan would struggle to catch him off guard. He had sparred countless times with Kagami Uchiha, who had exceptional Genjutsu skills.

"Mangekyō?" Homura gasped, his jaw dropping in shock. He still vividly remembered the terrifying sight of Madara Uchiha wielding Susano'o. That was the power of the Mangekyō.

There was no comparison between the Three Tomoe Sharingan and the Mangekyō Sharingan—they existed in entirely different realms.

"Well, it's likely a result of his uncle's death," Hiruzen speculated. He understood the Uchiha better than Homura ever could.

"No wonder."

Homura fell silent. Since it was a Genjutsu performed by the Mangekyō Sharingan, he could understand.

"Tsunade is now being aided by Kawakaze and is tied to the Uchiha."

"I'm afraid we can't turn the tables."

Hiruzen rubbed his slightly swollen forehead, unable to think of a solution.

"Are there any suitable candidates?"

"What about Jiraiya?"

Suddenly, Homura looked at Hiruzen as if he had been possessed. This was his last straw. He lacked Hiruzen's strength, and the strength of their clans was even further apart. Homura couldn't imagine the predicament he would face if Hiruzen stepped down.

"There's no news, so how can we count on him?"

"Of the three, he is the least suitable to be Hokage. Furthermore, it's hard to say if he would even be willing."

Hiruzen knew his disciple well. The most suitable person to become Hokage was actually Orochimaru. However, their relationship could never return to normal, and Orochimaru would never side with him.

"So what do we do? Do we just sit here and wait for death?"

Homura was like an ant on a hot pan, pacing in a panic but unable to do anything about it. There was no longer any point in acting like a senior counselor of Konoha.

"It's too late. We're running out of time."

Hiruzen sighed as if resigning himself to fate. He picked up the now-cold cup of tea in front of him and gulped it down.

The room fell silent, the only sounds were the two men's steady breathing.

Tadashi Hyūga returned home, where both Hiyashi and Hizashi were waiting for him in the living room.

"I'm home. You guys go rest," Tadashi said, smiling at his two sons.

"Father, what did he tell you to go do?"

Hiashi, more courageous than his brother, spoke up. Hizashi, on the other hand, would never dare to ask such a question. Hearing his brother's inquiry, he looked at their father with a curious expression.

"It's nothing. Go to sleep. We still have to practice tomorrow."

Tadashi didn't intend to tell anyone about what had transpired and decided to pretend it had never happened. Hiruzen's idea had deeply exposed the shortcomings of the clan to him, something he had never considered before.

The Hyūga Clan had no real strength and could only be manipulated. If the clan had even one master that Hiruzen truly feared, he likely wouldn't have dared to impose the idea of making Tadashi a puppet.

On the way back, the deep sense of powerlessness, and even shame, lingered with Tadashi, leaving him uneasy for a long time.

"Alright," Hiashi said, understanding his father's reluctance to answer. He led his younger brother toward the bedroom.

As Tadashi watched the backs of his two sons, his eyes betrayed a trace of guilt.

Hizashi, it's father's fault. But the clan rules are difficult to defy!

Keeping the "Caged Bird Seal" served Konoha, and to some extent, guaranteed the safety of the clan members. However, it had severed the roots of the clan.

"Sigh..."

Tadashi sighed, sitting alone in the living room, unable to sleep.

The Kawakaze butterfly's effect have begun to cause a chain reaction in Konoha. Some things have gone awry in ways he could never have imagined.

Another day passed. In the early morning, Kawakaze, half-awake, reached out his hand to the side, only to find it empty.

He opened his eyes wide, then smiled and shook his head. Tsunade had gone home last night. After all, he had been working hard every day, and his kidneys couldn't take it anymore.

"Ugh..."

Kawakaze sat up, stretched, and yawned. He had slept soundly that night. After getting dressed and washing up, he headed to the dining room.

He arrived just in time for breakfast. Sakumo and the others were already seated and ready to eat.

"Good morning," Kawakaze greeted everyone.

"Good morning, Sensei," the four kids replied obediently, earning a satisfied nod from Kawakaze.

"You're quite early today," Sakumo remarked sarcastically, immediately killing the mood.

"Eat your food," Nayuki interjected, seeing that Sakumo was about to continue. She stuffed a bun into his mouth, effectively silencing him.

These two brothers must have had a grudge in their previous lives. Nayuki had never seen anyone argue as frequently as they did.

"You don't say anything either. Come and eat," she said, redirecting her attention to Kawakaze.

"Okay, sister-in-law." Kawakaze trotted over to his seat and sat down.

Thankfully, Nayuki's intervention kept the breakfast peaceful, and no further issues arose.

"You guys practice well at home," Kawakaze said as he wiped his mouth, instructing the four kids.

"Got it, Sensei," they replied, barely looking up from their plates.

The kids were already used to this and didn't even lift their heads. Kawakaze said this to them so often, it felt like he spent less time instructing them than Sakumo did.

"Kakashi, I'll bring you something fun when your uncle comes back," Kawakaze said, running over to Nayuki and planting a kiss on Kakashi's little face.

"Heh heh, okay~" Kakashi replied in a baby voice, returning the gesture with a kiss on Kawakaze's face.

"I'm going out," Kawakaze said, finally addressing Sakumo and Nayuki.

"Well, come back early," Sakumo said with a lukewarm hint of concern.

"I know you don't mean it," Kawakaze teased before running off, happy for the chance to stretch his legs.

Sakumo smiled helplessly at Nayuki. Who wouldn't be annoyed by such antics?

"You two..." Nayuki muttered, shaking her head as she got up and carried Kakashi in her arms. She hoped Kakashi would get along well with Kawakaze's child in the future. Otherwise, if the older and younger ones turned out the same, she and Tsunade might very well be driven to their graves.

Kawakaze left the house and headed straight for the Sarutobi Clan territory. Today, he was determined to confront Hiruzen.