Chapter 36: The Answer

Tenten stared at the eerie gate as it swayed slowly and silently with the wind. The path that laid before her looked abandoned, unused for what seemed like centuries. The light of the moon did nothing to soften the sorry state of the once pristine Uchiha compound.

"Don't just stand there."

Tenten shifted her gaze onto the figure walking a good few meters ahead of her. The Uchiha symbol on the back of his white shirt was a stark contrast against the bleak surroundings, yet it only made the place more haunted and daunting.

Tenten kept her eye on Sasuke as he maneuvered through the rotting houses and forgotten roads. He never stopped to check where they were headed. He knew the place too well. Tenten narrowed her eyes. Did he still live here after everything that's happened?

After minutes of walking around the maze-like compound, Tenten found herself eying a large expanse of water. She watched as Sasuke continued onto the old wooden platform, unfazed by how his steps made the rickety planks screech in dismay. She followed in silence with narrowed eyes. At the edge of the platform, Sasuke seemed to have stopped. Tenten slowed her steps as she surveyed her surroundings.

"Tell me your story."

Tenten blinked at the sudden order. "Tell me how to use the Mangekyō, then I'll tell you my story."

Sasuke tilted his head to one side, one eye clearly glaring at Tenten's form. "How can I be assured you'd tell me the truth after?"

"How can I be assured you'd tell me the secrets of the Mangekyō after I told you the truth?" Tenten mirrored.

Sasuke gave no answer. He continued to have his back against her, as if contemplating something.

Tenten narrowed her eyes once again but said nothing. She shifted her staff onto her right hand, assuming the Uchiha would attack her in blind rage.

"Your problem isn't in the use of the Mangekyō, am I correct?"

Tenten blinked at the sudden question as she watched Sasuke slowly turn around.

"It's how to get out of one once you're trapped."

Tenten failed to hide the surprise on her face. "How did you-"

Sasuke came face to face with Tenten, his Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan blazing through his eyes. Before she could even curse, Tenten was thrown into oblivion, surrounded by nothing but darkness. She clenched her fists. She knew she shouldn't have trusted the Uchiha, but she had no other choice.

"Fuck." She muttered through clenched teeth. Even with all her abilities, a fraction of a second was all it would take to bring her down.

"I was right."

Tenten narrowed her eyes at the sudden appearance of Sasuke before her eyes. For some strange reason, she could see his entire form clearly in the darkness. Staring down, she realized she too could see her body vividly amidst the sea of black.

"My eyes are similar to that of Madara. We both have the Eternal Mangekyō. It is the highest form of the Sharingan." Sasuke stated firmly as he stood unmoving before Tenten's eyes. "Your eyes may be that of the Mangekyō, but rest assured it does not rival mine. Needless to say, mine can not even begin to compare to Madara's."

Tenten blinked, unsure of where the conversation was going. "What's your point?"

"The only way to escape a genjutsu made from the Eternal Mangekyō, is to possess one yourself."

"Tsunade-sama, Neji Hyuga is here to see you."

Tsunade paused from the mountain of papers on her desk, allowing herself to give Shizune a glance. She knew all too well what the Hyuga prodigy wanted to talk about. After hearing the report from Sakura, she knew it wouldn't be long before the ANBU captain would finally come knocking on her door. Sighing, Tsunade paused from reviewing the battle strategies sent to her by Anko and Ibiki, and gave Shizune a nod. "Let him in."

Neji walked into the room calm and poised, much to Tsunade's slight surprise. Then again, the Hyuga prodigy was never known to be rash and temperamental unlike his Uchiha counterpart.

"Then I will attend to some matters Tsunade-sama." With a bow, Shizune closed the door and left the two alone.

Tsunade leaned on her chair to stare at the indifferent Hyuga offering her a curt nod of acknowledgement. He was standing a few paces from her table at a respectful distance. She was glad he at least had manners. "I take it you are here to talk about the incident at the hospital?"

Neji nodded. "If you do not mind my being so direct, I wish to state the purpose of my visit, Hokage-sama."

Tsunade nodded slightly in permission.

"I am here for two reasons. First, is Tenten. The second, would be Sasuke Uchiha."

Tsunade raised an eye brow in surprise. "What about Sasuke? I am well aware that his surveillance was assigned under your squad's care. Are there any problems?"

Ignoring the question, Neji walked towards Tsunade's table, stopping only a few inches from its edge. "Hokage-sama, if there is anything you are hiding that could compromise the surveillance of Sasuke Uchiha, please inform me now."

Tsunade leaned forward off her chair and narrowed her eyes. "What are you implying?"

"I do not know what it is exactly that is going on being Uchiha Sasuke and Tenten. But over the course of a few weeks, he has behaved in ways that merit suspicion." Neji paused to give Tsunade a meaningful glance. "Both were, at one point, missing ninjas. Both their disappearances overlap during some point in time, approximately two years."

Tsunade let out a sigh, knowing where the Hyuga prodigy's thoughts were headed. "What are you trying to say?"

"That there is a possibility that they may have formed some sort of alliance. And whether it be in the interest of Konoha, I feel it is highly unlikely."

Tsunade shook her head, giving the ANBU captain a look of finality. "There is no such alliance."

Neji stayed silent for a moment, simply staring at Tsunade's indisputable glance. "You say that with much certainty. Obviously there is something I am unaware of that you do not wish for me to know."

Tsunade sighed again. The problem with prodigies was that they always knew how to read between the lines. For once she wished Naruto was the one standing in front of her. "I will not lie. They are connected, but not in the way that you think." Tsunade paused as she saw a flicker of anger in the prodigy's eyes. But they were gone as soon as they had risen.

"Then forgive my asking, but how are we supposed to perform our duty to survey and detain Uchiha Sasuke when necessary, if we are unaware of such crucial details?" Neji paused, his gaze trying hard to hide the disbelief and disappointment in his eyes. "I have been meaning to ask you for months now why it is that you accepted Tenten back into the village so easily. Is it because she has some sort of business with Uchiha?"

Tsunade laced her fingers together as she anchored her elbows on her desk. Resting her nose on top of her intertwined hands, she gazed at Neji with determination. "I am bound by confidentiality to address your inquiry."

"Since when was the case of Uchiha Sasuke kept a secret from my squad?!" Neji closed his eyes in frustration, annoyed that he allowed himself to scream at the Hokage. "Forgive my insolence, it will not happen again."

"Good." Tsunade replied curtly as she narrowed her eyes for emphasis. "Besides, who said anything about Uchiha Sasuke?"

Neji scrunched his eye brows in confusion. "I beg your pardon?"

"There is nothing about Sasuke that you don't already know." Tsunade paused as she folded her arms under her ample chest, still glaring at the Hyuga prodigy for his outburst. "The confidentiality agreement doesn't concern Sasuke. I was talking about Tenten."

Neji was unable to mask the look of utter surprise on his face.

"Trust me, if I can get that Uchiha off her case, I would. Unfortunately, I have no right to." Tsunade closed her eyes hoping the Hyuga prodigy would get the hint.

Neji narrowed his eyes. "So you are bound by your confidentiality agreement with Tenten. And for some reason, you are powerless to stop Uchiha Sasuke's pursuit of her."

Tsunade merely looked at Neji, watching as his eyes slowly grew with realization.

Neji stared at the Hokage for a few more seconds, as if hoping to read whatever it was that was running through her mind.

"Tsunade-sama?" Shizune's voice resounded from behind the door alongside a few curt knocks. Peeking through the now slightly opened door, Shizune gave Neji a nod of acknowledgement before glancing over to Tsunade. "I'm sorry but it's almost time for your meeting with the council."

Tsunade nodded in understanding. Collecting the stack of papers on her desk, she gave Neji a quick glance. "As you can see, I have to go. Feel free to ask me any question on Sasuke. I will answer you with what I know as long as it doesn't involve Tenten's case."

Neji stood in silence facing Godaime's table as she walked out of the room. There were only three possible scenarios where a Hokage could lose influence. One would obviously be against any one of the remaining Kages, another would be against a daimyo, and the last would be against a clan. The door slammed shut and he was left alone. Neji clenched his fists. Out of the three, there was only one that was possible.

Tenten stared at Sasuke unfazed. "I take it since not every Uchiha has it, there is some sort of unparalleled prerequisite to attain it."

"You have to take another Uchiha's eyes, a pair of Mangekyo Sharingans, and implant them on yours."

Tenten failed to hide her surprise. Through narrowed eyes, she stared at Sasuke with poorly veiled disgust. "I take it yours were from Itachi."

Tenten felt a sudden change in the surrounding pressure before she fell to her knees. She struggled to gasp for air as she push her hands against the ground, fighting against the crushing weight on her shoulders.

"Don't talk about my brother."

Just like that, the weight was gone. Tenten rose to her feet to glare death at Sasuke. "What's the point in telling me all this if there's no other Uchiha left to steal eyes from? Unless you're willing to offer yours?" She scoffed sarcastically. "Besides, I would never steal another person's eyes just for personal gain."

Sasuke felt his annoyance boiling into anger. What did she know anyway? She wasn't there during the great shinobi war. She had no idea of the sacrifices made just so everyone could live together in a world of peace.

"I told you the truth about the Mangekyō." Sasuke paused to fold his arms on his chest. "The deal was you'd tell me the truth about you in exchange."

Tenten couldn't fight the bitter laugh crawling out of her lips. Sasuke knew from the very beginning that she would never be able to attain the Eternal Mangekyō. "So that's why you placed me in this first."

"I held up my end of the bargain. It's time you held yours." Sasuke looked on undeterred. "You're trapped here until I say so. The sooner you start talking, the sooner you'll be able to get out of here."

Sasuke watched as Tenten stayed silent. He expected her to lash out and belittle him for such an underhanded hoax.

"Could you give me a moment alone to consider this?"

Sasuke narrowed his eyes in suspicion. She was up to something. "It's only one of two choices. So decide."

Tenten folded her arms on her chest defiantly. "You said so yourself, I'm trapped here until I decide to tell you the truth. I'm not going anywhere. The least you can do is leave me in peace. I want to be able to think without you breathing down my neck."

With his eyes still narrowed, Sasuke gave Tenten one more suspicious look before his form disappeared in the darkness.

Tenten knew that despite the lack of visual stimuli, Sasuke was still very much aware of her actions. She was in his world, going by his rules. She needed to think. Despite that bastard's trick, this could be to her advantage. If the construct of his eyes were similar to that of Madara's, then escaping his should increase her chances of eluding Madara's techniques as well. She just had to figure out how.

Tenten clenched her teeth in annoyance. It sounded so much easier in her head.

Neji headed out the Hokage's office with new-found determination. If the Hokage wouldn't give him answers, then we would simply have to go to the source. Standing on top of the Hokage Mountain, Neji activated his Byakugan and began his search through Konoha. Much to his dismay, he couldn't locate either of them anywhere. They were nowhere to be found within the diameter of his range. Jumping off, Neji headed towards the last person who could aid him in his search.

Several minutes later, Neji found himself standing in front of an apartment complex. Hopping a few floors up, the Hyuga prodigy paused to knock swiftly but courteously on the door at the topmost floor. "It's me. Open up."

The door slid open slightly to reveal a disheveled Kakashi holding his signature green book. He was wearing a loose navy blue turtleneck sweater with matching pajama pants; his mask still very much in place.

"What brings you here during this time of-?"

"I need to know where Uchiha Sasuke is."

Kakashi blinked. "The surveillance team lost him again, huh?"

Neji tried his best to ignore the statement. "Where is he? I take it you have some ideas."

Kakashi was in deep thought for a moment. He had a pretty good idea where Sasuke went. But giving that information to Neji would mean Sasuke would lose what little privacy he had. No matter what Sasuke had done in the past, he still had every right to mourn his family in peace.

"He visits the Valley of the End every once in a while. But since the place had been destroyed, I don't know if he would still- What is it?"

Neji kept his scrutinizing gaze on Kakashi. He didn't know if he was telling the truth or throwing him off his former student's tail.

"Can I trust that information?"

Kakashi narrowed his eyes. "I beg your pardon?"

"You're not trying to protect him from anything, are you?"

Kakashi felt uncomfortable under the Hyuga prodigy's white eyes, but he wouldn't fail when it came to deception. "Now why would I do that?"

Neji sighed. There was no point in trying to convince the copy ninja otherwise. He would just have to take his word for it for now. "Then I'll check on the Valley." Turning around to leave, Neji paused to give Kakashi a final glance. "Should he not be in the valley, I would most likely be back here to inquire further about his possible whereabouts. If you can think of anything else, please let me know." With that he was gone.

Kakashi let out an exasperated sigh. Just what the hell did Sasuke get himself into this time?

Sasuke watched with suspicion as Tenten sat quietly meditating. He knew she was planning something. If that strange power she used back in the hospital was any indication, he wouldn't be surprised if she found some sort of way out of his Eternal Mangekyō's genjutsu. She had yet to make a move during the past hour. He was getting impatient.

Tenten continued to focus on her consciousness. If there was anything she learned at all from her senseis, it was that the soul was incorruptible. Her mind may have been imprisoned, but her soul was still free to roam the earth. If the Uchihas have existed for as long as they have, then perhaps her predecessors have an inkling on how to deflect the Sharingan.

Can you hear me? Can any of you hear me?

Tenten tried desperately to call out to anyone.

I need your guidance. I… I've already lost everything. Please. Help me.

Tenten felt a strange warmth envelop her. Her subconscious seemed to be floating in air, surrounded by an endless stretch of blue skies.

"My my, it seems you're in quite a predicament."

Tenten turned to see an olive-skinned woman before her. She was clad in a blue kimono that reminded her of the ocean. Her hair was half up, the rest falling down in waves framing her beautiful face. She reminded her of Mifuyu.

"You're… Avatar Korra." Tenten blinked in disbelief. The paintings in the Air Bending Temple did not do justice to her beauty. Her senseis kept on telling her she had the ability to connect with her deceased clan members, but she had only ever succeeded now. She didn't think it was really possible.

The woman waved her hand nonchalantly in the air. "Please, just Korra is fine. After all, I was never officially an avatar."

"You were the slated to be the next avatar after Tokiya-sama. You were his younger sister."

Avatar Korra smiled in nostalgia. "Tokiya kept telling me back when we were younger that he would only serve as an Avatar for three years, then afterwards he was chucking the position off to me. Can you believe that idiot?" She laughed fondly at the memory. "An Avatar is an Avatar until death. Besides, after he dies, the next Avatar couldn't be an old lady like me."

"You passed away during the night of the raid." Tenten whispered, still unsure if she was really taking to her ancestor or just a figment of her imagination.

"I did." Avatar Korra chuckled as if it was a funny memory. Not soon after, her expression turned melancholic. "A lot of us died that night."

"I will avenge you."

Avatar Korra paused to look at the determined eyes staring at her uninhibitedly.

"My mother, my grandparents, my guardians… Everyone. I will avenge our clan." Tenten fisted her hands.

"And who would you take revenge on?" Avatar Korra shook her head. "The sage is dead. The only thing left of his legacy is ninjutsu. Would you be willing to deprive everyone of that just so you can finally extinguish whatever it was that the sage was able to accomplish? You'd be going against the whole world if that were the case."

"Someone has to take responsibility!"

Avatar Korra shook her head once again. "Nothing good ever comes out of revenge. Only bitterness, sadness and more revenge. The cycle will never end."

"It will end with Madara!" Tenten argued. "You say that because you weren't the one left behind! You say that revenge will bring nothing but more pain but how would you really know? If there was no revenge, then what's the point for the weak to keep on living? Are you saying we should just accept everything as it is? Be content with what we have? Tokiya-sama had the same thinking as you and look what happened to him!"

Avatar Korra looked at Tenten with melancholic eyes. "It's true. I was never really given the chance to either put down or take up revenge. And it's also true that Tokiya suffered the same fate all over again for choosing to live a peaceful life. But I ask you. If you were in my brother's place, would you be willing to allow all the lives you've tried so hard to create to be drowned in war and death and pain? Would you force them to take on that road just to satisfy your vengeance?"

Tenten remained silent, not knowing what to answer.

"He had just started a family back then. I could understand why he would want his children to live in a world that knew nothing of war. A world that lived in peace and love. Not one that breeds only hate and contempt." Avatar Korra smiled wistfully. "Tokiya was that kind of person. He was too warm-hearted and good-natured. He never would have allowed a child's hands to be stained with blood."

"I understand what you're saying." Tenten began, her eyes were distant and merciless. "But I am not my grandfather. I am not you. I am not my mother. I can't just throw away the past and forgive. I know in my heart I will never be satisfied until I kill Madara. Once wouldn't even be enough. He took four lives away from me. And I will make him suffer twice as more until he finally begs me to just kill him."

Avatar Korra released a resigned sigh. "No words will ever be able to convince you, my child. I see that. But as much as I would like to understand, I can't. I feel saddened that you feel such a strong hatred towards someone that you are willing to taint your hands with his blood."

"My hands have long been tainted." Tenten looked on indifferently. "If I am to kill him, then I will need power. More power than ever before! I won't sugarcoat my words. I'm not doing it for honor or prestige anything else most people would value. I want to get stronger because I want to avenge the people I love. I'm doing this for my own personal retribution and peace. I will never be able to forgive myself if I let this moment pass." Tenten's eyes were burning with determination now. "I know I won't be able to convince you to help me in any way, right after what I just said. But if you know anything at all about my current dilemma, please, I'm begging you."

Avatar Korra released a sigh of resignation. "My child, the answer you have been seeking has long been yours. It's just a question of whether you have the resolve to take control."

"What are you talking about?" Tenten furrowed her eyebrows in confusion.

Avatar Korra smiled knowingly. "The Avatar state."

Tenten's eyes widened. "That's impossible! I've only ever entered that state three times my entire life! Each time I've never been able to get a hold of myself. I don't even remember what happens when I turn."

Avatar Korra continued to smile. "Only your resolve can tell you in time, what you are really capable of."

Tenten watched in panic everything slowly faded to black. Tenten's hand tried desperately to reach out to the figure. She still had too many questions left. Things couldn't end this way.

"Wait!"

Tenten brought her hand down slowly when she was met with nothing but darkness. "Don't go…" She whispered. She was back to her prison.

"Who were you talking to?"

Sasuke reappeared before her once again much to her dismay.

"My inner self." Tenten deadpanned.

Sasuke narrowed his eyes. "I'm tired of waiting. Give me an answer."

"I thought you were going to make me rot in here if I refused?" Tenten raised an eyebrow defiantly.

"I have other ways to make you agree."

Tenten narrowed her eyes as she rose to her feet. "Like dropping me in a pot of melting black goo?"

Sasuke blinked, and in that short fraction of a second, his Eternal Magekyo was out in a silent threat.

Tenten initially couldn't understand why she kept on feeling a growing rage towards the Uchiha avenger. But now she knew. Sasuke had too much of a resemblance to that man – the spiky black hair, the haughty tone, the merciless onyx eyes, and those blood red orbs. He was like a younger version of the very object of her hate.

"You know, I never had anything personal against you." Tenten began.

Sasuke looked on warily at Tenten's bowed head and hunched form.

"But you just keep getting in my way. Every. Single. Time." Tenten raised her head to gaze at him through blood red eyes. "And you look… Everything about you…" Her eyes slowly narrowed and glazed; she had the look of a mad woman. "Just like him."

Tenten raised both her hands onto the sides of her head as images of death flooded her mind. Mifuyu. Griselda. Yue. Lucas.

"No…" Tenten whispered as she fell onto her knees. "No. No. No." Tenten was shaking her head slowly, her hands gripping onto her head as if her life depended on it. "NO! NO! NO!"

Sasuke took a step back at the strange energy enveloping Tenten's deranged form.

Tenten raised her head, gazing into the blood red eyes that stared uncertainly at her own. "You make it so hard…" Raising a shaky hand, Tenten slowly aligned it eerily on Sasuke's silhouette before fisting it around the area of his neck as tightly as she could. "…To not hate you."

Neji stood in the middle of the crater of what was once the Valley of the End. Just what was powerful enough to create such demise? Glancing at the crater from a bird's eye view, Neji could hardly see himself standing there. And by the looks of things, he couldn't help but feel that this entire clearing was the result of one single explosion.

Before Neji could take another step, he felt the entire ground rumble to some extent. It was faint, but he was sure he felt it. Scanning the area, he was surprised to see a cloud of smoke emerge from behind one of the mountains about 500 meters away. Looking further, he realized he was staring at gate of the abandoned Uchiha compound. And there, in the middle of a lake surrounded by a cloud of mist and smoke, stood Tenten and Sasuke.

Sasuke stared in shock at the form before him. Long gone were the blood red eyes that mirrored his own. Instead, Tenten's eyes were nothing but a pair of glowing blue lights. The rickety wooden platform where they once stood was reduced to ashes. Now he was left standing on one edge of the lake while Tenten's form floated a few feet above, enveloped by strong gusts of air.

Sasuke blinked, and in that fraction of a second, he felt a sudden shift in the air around him before a force collided with his torso sending him flying into the forest. He struggled to gain momentum, avoiding century old trees along the way. Landing on his feet, Sasuke spat out some blood. His eyes narrowed at Tenten's form, still exactly where it was, unmoving and uncaring. He was at least 250 meters away now. He had no idea how she attacked him, but the intensity of the blow rivaled that of Naruto's Rasengan.

Before Sasuke could counter, he felt the ground open up to engulf him. Jumping off, he cursed when he realized the descending land beneath him was rising up to further trap him in a cage of rock and soil. Pulling out Kusanagi, Sasuke channeled his Amaterasu onto the blade before slashing his way out of the dome-shaped prison.

Landing on his feet, Sasuke cursed as crystalized projectiles were now headed straight for him. Their sizes ranged from that of a kunai to a full grown human. He cursed again. How was it possible for Tenten to utilize such strange attacks without him feeling a shift in her chakra signature? It was practically impossible for him to sense or predict any of her attacks. He was surviving on his instincts along and nothing else.

Dodging an icicle the size of Kusanagi, Sasuke cringed as it suddenly exploded into hot steam of air, sweltering his left forearm in the process. He clicked his tongue in annoyance as he gritted his teeth to ease the pain.

Before Sasuke knew it, every single icicle would explode into steam at unpredictable intervals. Some would explode in midair, some after hitting an obstacle, forcing him to use his Katon techniques to singe the icicles long before they would gain a favorable distance.

The unending barrage of ice crystals succeeded in keeping Sasuke a good distance away. In annoyance, Sasuke aligned himself onto Tenten's form, hoping to end the pointless rain of frozen spears.

"Katon! Gōkakyū no Jutsu! (Fire Release: Great Fire Ball Technique)"

Sasuke watched in satisfaction as the gigantic fireball headed right for Tenten; but his smirked disappeared quickly when the giant ball of fire disintegrated from the middle, stretching outward to form a ring around the rain of sharp crystals. In a split second, the icicles exploded to envelop the entire forest in a rain of boiling hot water and scorching steam.

Neji arrived at the scene in shock and utter confusion, speechless at the events transpiring before his eyes. Even with his Byakugan, he could not, for the life of him, sense a single ounce of chakra into any of the attacks headed towards Sasuke. He glanced at Tenten's immobile form floating atop the lake, before shifting his attention onto the heavy steam shrouding the entire Uchiha compound's grounds.

Even though Neji was at least a mile away, the heat from the air was unbearable. Raising an arm against his face and moving a few meters back, Neji searched for whatever remained of the Uchiha avenger. To his surprise, there standing in the middle of the inferno, hiding within the steam, was Susanoo aiming an arrow straight for Tenten. Sasuke stood in the middle of his monster unharmed, with every intention to kill.

"Are there any more concerns that have yet to be raised?" Tsunade gave each member of the council a pointed look. "If there are might as well state them now before I adjourn this meeting."

Silence was all that greeted Tsunade in response. She sighed. Finally. "Then we are adjourned."

The doors of the meeting hall flew open in a rush. "Tsunade-sama!"

"Shizune, what is the meaning of this?" Tsunade glared at her long-time right hand. "This is a closed-door meeting-"

"I apologize for the interruption, but I have urgent news from the border!" Running towards Tsunade's side, Shizune handed the crumpled parchment over as she panted for air.

Tsunade began to read the note in silence, before fisting her hand around it in dismay.

"Tsunade?" Koharu called out in anxiety at the sudden silence of the Godaime.

"What's wrong?" Homura narrowed in eyes in suspicion.

"It seems Kumogakure (Hidden Cloud) won the war against Iwagakure (Hidden Rock)." Tsunade began, her tone struggling to remain neutral.

"And?" Ibiki was preparing himself for the worst. He had an inkling on what was coming next.

"The watchers at the border have spotted troops from both the Kumogakure and Otogakure (Hidden Sound) a good hundred meters away." Tsunade paused to gaze at every member of her council. "Based on the direction they are headed, the watchers believe they will be targeting the Land of Fire."

"What?!" Anko stood up from her seat in disbelief, knocking over her chair in the process.

"How many?" Genma inquired rather calmly.

"At least 200."

Genma sighed. "Fuck."

"I'm reinstating this meeting. Our agenda…" Tsunade stated with determination as she slammed a fist on the table. "War."

End of Chapter 36!

Again, took me forever to update I know. I finally found time in my busy work schedule to update this all thanks to my illness. I am currently on 'forced' sick leave so I was able to get this thing going once again. Like I said I will finish this until the end, and I plan to finish it in 40 chapters (so expect really long ones I guess). And yes, I have it all all planned out until the end as well. It's really all just a matter of when I get the time and inspiration to keep going. And also, my perfectionist side keeps on making me want to rewrite the whole thing all over again. Ugh. I probably will when I finish the story or something, I dunno. I'm really just trying to focus on finishing it (even if I really really wanna rewrite it).

Thank you so much for reading and I really hope to get a constructive review! Happy New Year to everyone!