Road to Hokage: Save the Hyuga Clan

Bloodlines

"You can do damage control--after I find that old she-bat!" Tsunade seethed. Kakashi sighed but did nothing to stop her exit.

Tsunade left the Hokage's office in a foul mood. She slammed the door behind her with so much force that the sound echoed in the hallway. Several ninjas froze at attention before disappearing away in quick puffs of smoke. She stalked down the hallway. Seconds later, Shizune hurried out of the Hokage's office. Shizune followed close behind Tsunade furiously scribbling down notes from the meeting. Shikamaru's report left Tsunade reeling. She found this new connection between Hyuga and Uzumaki Clans fascinating yet troubling that it remained undiscovered until now. Tsunade's own grandmother, the wife of the First Hokage, was an Uzumaki, and yet nothing in her clan records mentioned this connection to the Hyuga Clan.

"Shizune-where is she?!" Tsunade demanded, looking over her shoulder. Shizune jumped before answering her.

"According to her schedule," Shizune answered, thinking hard, "she should be...just finishing her weekly meeting with the other village elders. Third door to your right." Shizune rushed to the door, blocking Tsunade from entering. "My lady, please forgive me. But ...You should calm down before you talk to her. If we are going to get information out of her--"

"I'm prepared to do what it takes," Tsunade hissed, interrupting her apprentice. Shizune relaxed for a moment thinking her master understood. But then Tsunade moved her hands like she was strangling someone invisible between her and Shizune. Her assistant groaned in response. Tsunade tried to maneuver past Shizune, but she wouldn't budge.

"Lady Tsunade, please," Shizune pleaded. "For Sakura, Naruto, and Sasuke." Tsunade calmed down and nodded. Shizune moved away from the door.

"Okay, okay, okay," Tsunade relented, reaching for the doorknob. "For Sakura and Naruto." Shizune gave her a disapproving look, forcing Tsunade to continue."-- and Sasuke--- to get them back home safely." Before she slipped into the room, she gave Shizune a serious look. " Go to my lab and look at the curse marks again on Han and Hanami. If what Shikamaru is thinking is correct, then we should be able to find evidence of an Uzumaki sealing and possibly--"

"Possibly separate the Uzumaki sealing from the rest of the curse mark to have a better picture of the Hyuga chakra signature." Shizune finished. "That's risky- an untested theory that pushes our understanding of jutsu and chakra..."

"Yes, but it's our best shot right now. Compare what you find to the Uzumaki Clan Sealing Scrolls we found on that anbu and the books in my office." Tsunade answered. Shizune nodded and headed to the stairs at the end of the hallway.

"Tsunade?" Lady Koharu uttered, suspiciously as she watched her enter the room. "Not surprised to see you here, girl. I had no doubt that was you I heard stomping down the hall."

Tsunade bristled at the old woman's words. She hated being called a girl. Nevertheless, she composed herself as she walked across the room to take a chair across from the older woman. Koharu sat back with her arms crossed in her lap.

"Forgive me. I was in a hurry to meet you before you left the Hokage's Tower," Tsunade responded, evenly. " I thought you might like an update on the autopsy reports ."

"Has the Hyuga woman been caught?" Koharu asked, her eyes narrowing at the blonde woman.

"No," Tsunade answered, shortly. "That's not why I'm here. I analyzed the chakra signatures from the seals on the victims. Chakra signatures are similar to the fingerprints in a way."

Koharu leaned in towards her. "Yes? Out with it." She urged impatiently.

"The chakra signatures don't match any of the Hyugas in the Main family branch," Tsunade revealed. She studied Koharu's face as she spoke. The female elder's eyes widened in surprise then narrowed in suspicion.