The Titan Curse: A Shinobi’s Reign

Chapter 6: The Root of Betrayal

The night was quiet in the forests outside the Land of Fire, but Tsunade knew better than to trust silence.

She moved cautiously, her senses sharp. Konoha's higher-ups had sent her on this mission personally—a task she normally wouldn't care about. But something about this assignment felt… off.

A former Root member had resurfaced.

One who claimed to have evidence against Konoha.

And that meant only one thing—secrets that could shake the foundation of the village.

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A Meeting in the Shadows

Tsunade reached the abandoned shrine deep in the forest. It was an old, forgotten place, its stone walls covered in moss, its air thick with history.

A single hooded figure stood in the center of the shrine, waiting for her.

He didn't flinch when she stepped into the moonlight.

"You're late," he muttered. His voice was rough, aged by bitterness.

Tsunade narrowed her eyes. "You're lucky I came at all. I don't have time for games. Speak."

The man slowly pulled back his hood.

His face was lined with scars, his right eye permanently closed from an old wound. His uniform—though tattered—still carried the unmistakable mark of Root.

"My name is Shinji, and I was once one of Danzo's personal agents," he said. "I know the truth, Tsunade. About your grandfather. About the experiments."

Tsunade's fists clenched. "What experiments?"

Shinji took a slow breath before speaking.

"The Hashirama Cell Experimentation Project was never about using your grandfather's cells for medical advancements. It was about something far darker."

Tsunade stayed silent. She had heard rumors before—about Orochimaru, about Danzo's hidden projects—but hearing it spoken aloud made her stomach tighten.

"Danzo ordered secret research on how to forcibly awaken the Senju's legendary power," Shinji continued. "They weren't just trying to harness Hashirama's chakra… they were trying to create new gods. Shinobi who could rival the Sage of Six Paths."

Tsunade scoffed. "And I suppose you expect me to believe this nonsense?"

Shinji smirked. "I figured you'd say that. That's why I brought proof."

He pulled a small scroll from his cloak and tossed it at her feet.

Tsunade hesitated before picking it up. The paper was old, but as she unrolled it, her blood ran cold.

Inside were detailed reports—dates, names, locations. Experiment after experiment, all involving Senju DNA extraction.

And then she saw it.

A familiar name.

Nawaki.

Her breath caught in her throat.

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A Brother's Betrayal

Tsunade's world tilted.

Her younger brother had died in the war—or at least, that's what she had been told. But here, in this report, were records of his body being taken after his death.

Danzo had experimented on Nawaki's corpse.

They had extracted his cells, trying to awaken Hashirama's power in a new vessel.

Her hands trembled as she read on.

Another name appeared in the report.

Dan Katō.

The man she had loved.

Also taken. Also used.

Tsunade felt a rising rage unlike anything she had ever known.

Her entire life—her losses, her pain—had all been part of Konoha's secret games.

"You understand now, don't you?" Shinji said quietly. "They never cared about you. About your family. To them, you were just a tool. Just like all the others."

Tsunade clenched her fists, chakra flaring violently. The shrine walls cracked under the pressure of her power.

Her heart pounded in her chest.

She wanted to deny it—to tell herself Konoha wouldn't do this.

But she knew better.

Deep down, she had always known that Konoha's higher-ups were capable of such things. She had just never wanted to face it.

And now… she had no choice.

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The First Seed of Hatred

Shinji took a step closer.

"I came to you because I knew you were the only one who might listen," he said. "Because there's someone else who already knows this truth."

Tsunade's eyes snapped to him.

"Kurozan."

That name sent a chill through her spine. She had heard whispers of him—the man who was building an army of Titan-like shinobi, turning them into something beyond human.

Shinji nodded.

"He is not your enemy," Shinji said. "Not yet. But he knows the truth about Konoha, and he will destroy the village because of it."

Tsunade's mind raced.

She had been prepared to fight Kurozan—to hunt him down and end him before he became a greater threat.

But now…

She didn't know what to believe anymore.

Shinji turned, stepping toward the shadows. "I've told you what I know," he said. "What you do with it is up to you. But if you really want to find the answers… you'll have to seek him out yourself."

Then, in a flash, he was gone.

Tsunade stood there, gripping the scroll so tightly her nails dug into her palms.

Her whole life had been a lie.

And for the first time in her life… she felt a hatred for Konoha so deep, so consuming, that even Naruto himself wouldn't be able to bring her back.

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Next Chapter Preview: "The First Encounter"

Tsunade sets out to find Kurozan, seeking the truth.

Kurozan and Tsunade meet for the first time, but as enemies.

A fierce battle erupts, neither willing to back down.

But Kurozan sees something in Tsunade… and begins to test her loyalty to Konoha.

The path to Tsunade's betrayal has begun.

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