Just as Uchiha Byakuya was about to leave with Tsunade Senju unconscious in his arms, a squad of ANBU operatives suddenly appeared, blocking his path.
"Stop right there! Where are you taking Lady Tsunade!?"
"Put her down, now!"
The masked ANBU, each gripping their weapons, surrounded him cautiously. They had sensed the intense chakra clash earlier and rushed to the scene—only to find the legendary Sannin being carried away by an Uchiha.
Tsunade wasn't just any shinobi—she was the granddaughter of the First Hokage, a former member of the Sannin, and the disciple of the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen. Even the ANBU, typically unwavering, hesitated to act rashly against her or her captor.
However, recognizing the man before them as Uchiha Byakuya—infamous among the ANBU for repeatedly outmaneuvering their operatives—the situation grew more complicated. Some had even silently hoped Tsunade would humble him. But contrary to expectations, she had been defeated and subdued.
The lead ANBU narrowed his eyes. "Lady Tsunade is under the protection of the Hokage. You have no authority to detain her without direct orders."
Byakuya's expression darkened. "Authority? I act in the name of the Uchiha Clan's Police Force," he said coldly, producing his badge. "Senju Tsunade is charged with destructive behavior within the village, incurring massive debts through gambling, and tarnishing the image of Konoha. She's to be taken in for questioning."
"You're overstepping your jurisdiction," another ANBU retorted. "Such decisions rest with Lord Hokage."
Byakuya's Sharingan spun slowly. "Anyone who goes against the Will of Fire is a threat to the village. And threats will be dealt with."
He raised a hand.
At his signal, a dozen Uchiha shinobi emerged from the shadows—elite members of the Police Force led by Uchiha En. They flanked Byakuya swiftly.
"Reporting for duty, Lord Byakuya," Uchiha En said with a bow.
"Good. Prepare to escort the detainee."
At once, the Uchiha guards drew their blades, pointing them at the stunned ANBU.
"Captain... what now?" whispered one ANBU.
"They wouldn't really draw on us... would they?"
The ANBU squad looked toward their leader, visibly uneasy. They knew the Uchiha had grown more assertive lately, especially under Byakuya's rising influence. An open clash between ANBU and the Police Force would destabilize the village.
"Stand down," the ANBU captain said at last, gritting his teeth. "We'll report this to the Hokage."
Byakuya gave a thin smirk and turned away, carrying Tsunade with him under the tense stares of both factions.
"Damn it," one ANBU muttered as the Uchiha disappeared into the night. "They just took Tsunade-sama…"
"This is getting out of hand. The Uchiha are becoming bolder every day."
Once the area had cleared, the ANBU captain addressed his squad. "Maintain alert. I'll report everything directly to Lord Hokage."
He knew this would escalate. For all of Byakuya's claims about the Will of Fire, bypassing the Hokage's authority was a direct challenge. Yet even the ANBU, once the elite enforcers of Sarutobi Hiruzen's will, found themselves increasingly overshadowed.
Back at the Hokage's office, Sarutobi Hiruzen frowned deeply as he received the report.
"What!? Byakuya took Tsunade?"
His pipe trembled slightly in his hand.
Uchiha Byakuya had become a known factor in recent months—formidable, political, and dangerously efficient. But to defeat Tsunade?
Tsunade's medical ninjutsu was top-class, but her raw power was what made her feared across nations. Her superhuman strength could crack through fortifications, even shatter the ground beneath her feet. Even Sarutobi himself would think twice before engaging her directly.
"Lady Tsunade was overwhelmed by Uchiha Byakuya..."
"He used space-time ninjutsu..."
The ANBU knelt before the Hokage's desk, their masked faces betraying nothing, but their words left a heavy silence in the room.
"Space-time ninjutsu?!" Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression darkened. "Another Uchiha with such dangerous abilities... Dammit."
Even in his old age, Hiruzen remained a sharp tactician, but the emergence of another Uchiha prodigy—one who had seemingly mastered a technique akin to the Fourth Hokage's Flying Thunder God or the Mangekyō Sharingan's Kamui—was a deeply troubling development. He had long kept the Uchiha clan in check through political pressure and covert operations. The Konoha Military Police Force, under Uchiha oversight, had been carefully manipulated into isolation.
But now... this Byakuya was disrupting the fragile balance.
Not only had this Uchiha rebel undermined the system, but he had now subdued Tsunade—one of the Legendary Sannin, the granddaughter of the First Hokage, and the de facto head of the Senju clan.
This was unacceptable.
Grimacing, Hiruzen took a slow puff from his pipe, then said coldly, "Inform the Senju clan."
The ANBU glanced at each other but nodded.
Tsunade was more than just a powerful kunoichi—she was the last visible pillar of the Senju legacy. Though the clan had declined since the Second Great Ninja War, its name still carried weight. Many of its mainline fighters had perished during the war, leaving it politically weakened. But as the saying went, a lean camel was still larger than a horse.
Hiruzen's mind raced. If the Senju clan reacted strongly, it could reignite old tensions between them and the Uchiha. That was fine by him. Let the remnants of the Senju clash with the rising Uchiha.
He would step in only when both sides were weakened—under the pretense of restoring order.
He exhaled a long stream of smoke and muttered under his breath, "Divide and rule... just as before."