CHAPTER 249: CHAPTER 249 – KONOHA’S BELIEF: ACCEPTANCE!

"He actually transplanted those cells..."

Tsunade frowned.

She couldn’t figure out what connection there might be between the two, but Kyoichi’s deduction was airtight.

First, there was Uchiha Ki’s decision to self-destruct.

Second, there was Mukai’s report that his Gentle Fist chakra blocking had failed, as if a foreign chakra system was interfering.

Both pointed to something being wrong with Uchiha Ki.

And now with these diluted Hashirama cells—this theory was starting to check out.

Which raised a much bigger question.

"Is there any connection between the Sharingan and the First Hokage’s cells? Could it be that..."

Tsunade hesitated.

This was the kind of critical question that made her seriously consider experimenting—but thinking of Kyoichi’s caution and care, she swallowed the second half of her sentence.

Experimentation wasn’t an option.

Besides...

Hashirama’s cells and the Sharingan—those were still only speculative. No one fully understood what was going on yet. Jumping into human experimentation would be reckless.

"It’s all just hypothesis for now. And considering Uchiha Ki’s case, it might be that only after the Sharingan reaches a certain threshold—say, Mangekyō level—does it trigger some kind of reaction. Experiments won’t help us prove that."

"You’re right. I was being shortsighted," Tsunade admitted.

The Mangekyō Sharingan was a known threshold. If it took that level of ocular power to unlock whatever reaction the cells might have, then conducting experiments beforehand would be meaningless.

As of now, no Uchiha had awakened the Mangekyō.

"All we have are guesses. But if this turns out to be true, the identity of the person behind all this would be terrifying. After all, few people in history have had both an intimate knowledge of the Uchiha and direct access to Hashirama cells."

"As for the past... I don’t know anything. I was wondering if you’d ever heard the Second mention anything."

Kyoichi left it at that.

Tsunade understood what he meant.

She fell silent for a few seconds.

The battle between Madara Uchiha and Hashirama Senju was a cornerstone of Konoha’s history—the two statues still stood in the Valley of the End as a testament.

If it was him, then everything would start to make sense.

No one knew the Uchiha and the Sharingan better than Madara. And he certainly had the means to get his hands on Hashirama’s cells.

The only thing that didn’t add up was...

Why did everyone believe he was dead?

Tsunade furrowed her brow in thought. After about thirty seconds, she said with some certainty, "Grandfather and the others were convinced he had died. As far as they were concerned, it couldn’t be him."

"Mm. I’ll keep digging. As for experiments—there’s really no need for them right now. And we shouldn’t be the ones to start down that path."

Kyoichi stood up and stretched.

"I’m going to check on Chūkichi."

"Oh, and don’t forget about the Daimyō. That guy’s got all kinds of new ideas lately. Go handle it for me—if he gets too pushy, just offer him a few concessions."

"Got it..."

Kyoichi waved it off.

What did Daimyō want? Probably the same old thing—trying to build his own ninja squad. Now that Konoha was becoming more powerful, it was no surprise he felt a growing sense of urgency.

But once he actually tried managing ninjas, he’d quickly realize—it wasn’t so easy.

Kyoichi made his way to the Konoha Hospital.

Chūkichi’s room was in the deepest part of the hospital—classified top secret. Only the highest-ranking Konoha personnel were allowed access.

In fact...

Even someone like Mitokado Homura didn’t have clearance to enter this area.

Kyoichi arrived.

The moment Chūkichi saw him, he grew excited and tried to get out of bed.

"Kyoichi-sama!"

"Hold on—we’re not that close. If you have something to say, just say it. Cut the dramatics."

Kyoichi waved him off.

Chūkichi quickly nodded, took a deep breath, and forced himself to calm down. Then, after a few seconds of hesitation, he said irritably, "I don’t even know how to begin explaining this..."

"The Third Mizukage was being controlled?"

"Huh?! You... How did you know that?!"

Chūkichi’s eyes widened.

Very few people in Kirigakure even knew the Third Mizukage had been manipulated. But Kanda Kyoichi...

He had already figured it out?!

"Yagura sent you?" Kyoichi asked.

That was the only reason Chūkichi would’ve come—either Yagura had realized something he couldn’t handle and sent Chūkichi, or...

Chūkichi had escaped on his own.

"Yagura-sama was taken away the moment he returned. He’s now the new Jinchūriki. Before that, he told me that if anything happened to him, I should come to Konoha and find you."

"Heh... So he was sure I’d help? And what would I get out of it?"

Yagura became a Jinchūriki the moment he returned?

That was unexpected.

In most villages, Jinchūriki rarely rose to the position of Kage. But in the anime timeline, Yagura became both the Three-Tails’ Jinchūriki and the Mizukage.

This timeline was different.

The Third Mizukage was still alive, and Yagura hadn’t yet officially become the Mizukage.

The sequence of events had changed—and that changed everything.

Madara was still Madara—his methods were as ruthless and cunning as ever.

As Kyoichi thought this, he dragged over a chair and sat down.

Calmly, he said, "If we help you, what do we get out of it? You’re not even officially part of Kirigakure anymore. For all I know, you’re a missing-nin already."

"Uh..."

Chūkichi froze.

He had a thousand explanations prepared, but none of them accounted for the fact that Kyoichi would shut him down right out of the gate—and analyze the situation with such clarity that he couldn’t even argue.

"How about this—why don’t you join Konoha instead? Kirigakure is falling apart, while we’re thriving. And here in Konoha, we value acceptance."

Kyoichi smiled.

Chūkichi was a rare talent. Even setting aside his unique kekkei genkai, his sensory abilities and Water Release alone could earn him a jōnin position in Konoha.

"Are... are you serious?"

Chūkichi didn’t know what to say.

"Do I look like I’m joking? You have no ties to Konoha. Why should I help you fix Kirigakure’s internal problems? That would only create another competitor for us."

Kyoichi said it calmly.

Chūkichi mumbled, "Isn’t there... any other way?"

"There is. You could formally commission Konoha’s help. Bring concrete terms. Sign an official contract. Otherwise, forget it—we’re not lifting a finger."

Kyoichi said flatly.

Chūkichi understood now.

He needed to offer benefits.

He had prepared something, but he was intercepted by a Konoha Anbu team—and later ambushed by an unknown enemy. Now, he had nothing.

"Oh, and by the way—you might want to settle your medical bill. You know who saved your life? Our Fourth Hokage, the legendary Tsunade herself. If not for her, you’d be dead."

"Uh..."

Seriously?

Now I’m in debt too?

Chūkichi looked around and asked, "Where’s my ninja pouch?"

"What ninja pouch? When I found you, you were in some abandoned outpost on a remote island. No pouch in sight."

"All my stuff was back there. Alright, fine. I’ve got no money. And like you said... I probably am a missing-nin now."

He fell silent.

He and Yagura had acted for the good of Kirigakure—and now? Yagura had become a Jinchūriki under suspicious circumstances, and he was forced to flee and was labeled a traitor.

Now what?

"I’ve got another idea."

"I’m listening."

Chūkichi sighed.

He was broke, stranded in Konoha, and lucky to be alive. He wasn’t in a position to make demands—he could only listen to whatever Kyoichi proposed.

"You’re the righteous one here, right? You wanted to save your village. So why not keep a low profile for now? Work as a teacher here in Konoha, earn some money. When the time is right, you can formally hire us for help. Sound good?"

"I can do that? But I’m a Kirigakure ninja."

Chūkichi was stunned.

A teacher?

That was such a critical role. They’d entrust that to him?

"I told you—Konoha follows the First Hokage’s ideals. Our philosophy is one of acceptance. Even a Kirigakure ninja can find a place here."

"I..."

Is that really my concern right now?

Chūkichi twitched.

All his skills and jutsu came from Kirigakure. If he started teaching them here, wouldn’t that truly make him a traitor?

"Well, if that’s the case—once Kirigakure issues your bounty as a rogue ninja, I’ll have no choice but to turn you in."

"You know what? I think I’d actually love being a teacher!"

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