Shizune's heart trembled, but she refused to give in.
"You're just a kid who's experienced nothing. Don't assume you understand others' pain."
She spoke firmly.
"I don't care if you believe it or not Tsunade used that necklace as collateral. I won't give it back. Go tell her I'm not afraid of dying. Let's see if your so‑called curse can kill me!"
"You brat! You'll regret this!"
With a harsh parting shot, Shizune stormed out, glaring fiercely at Neji as she left.
Neji let out a slow breath and called out, "System, open my status panel."
Host: Hyūga Neji
Age: 13
Chakra Nature: Fire, Earth, Water, Wind, Lightning
Kekkei Genkai: Byakugan (Pure)
Taijutsu Techniques: Gentle Fist, Eight Trigrams… [full list omitted]
Ninjutsu Techniques: Multiple including Summoning (Slug), Pressure Release… "Creation Regeneration"
Overall Rank: Elite Jōnin
Neji sighed and lay back on his bed. Even his stats failed to spark interest.
"Dan and Nawaki's deaths crushed Tsunade…" he murmured to the ceiling. "No matter what, I have to bring her back."
Shizune returned to Tsunade, who looked up with a wry smile.
"Did that kid really say all that?"
"He did," Shizune replied angrily.
Tsunade nodded slowly. "He's right, you know. You said the Hokage is someone who bears pain and walks before others. But can that really carry on at this age?"
Her gaze softened, and she drifted into thought.
The next day, Tsunade met Orochimaru on the plains outside Sand Street.
"I've made up my mind," she said calmly. "I won't help break the Reaper Death Seal."
Orochimaru raised an eyebrow. "Why? You'd like to see them again, wouldn't you?"
"I do Dan and Nawaki meant everything to me. But a living vessel is required for Edo Tensei. As the First Hokage's granddaughter, I can't let that happen." Her voice was resolute.
Orochimaru laughed darkly. "So someone really changed your mind? I'd love to know who."
Tsunade ignored him. "You didn't call me here just to tell me that. What do you want?"
"I want to kill you," she answered coldly. "As the Fifth Hokage."
Orochimaru chuckled. "You're not strong enough. Even with Jiraiya, it wouldn't be easy." His words dripped with cold amusement.
Tsunade leapt forward, her fist aimed at Orochimaru.
He dodged, his hands still amputated he couldn't seal, but he was far from powerless.
He twisted, summoning a chakra scalpel in his hand a chakra surgical blade, forged on the fly.
"His power isn't enough to defeat you," Tsunade warned Orochimaru, dodging the blade.
But Kabuto appeared, stronger than Sasuke-level, and Tsunade pivoted to deal with him.
She kicked Orochimaru hard:
"Celestial Foot!"
He staggered back, a crater forming where he fell. Tsunade spun to strike again but then she saw Kabuto's blade plunge deep into Orochimaru's arm.
Blood spouted.
Tsunade froze at the sight, collapsing to her knees, pressing her hands to the wound.
"Blood! No, don't!" she moaned, trembling as she wiped at the red stain seeping onto her clothes.
Orochimaru sneered:
"You're afraid of blood, medical ninja? How pathetic. Kabuto finish her."
Kabuto advanced, and Tsunade, paralyzed in dread, couldn't move.