"Kakashi, thank you so much for this time!" Tsunade walked a few steps toward Kakashi, speaking lazily while her eyes rested on a freshly built rock grave.
If it hadn't been for Kakashi's team appearing when they did, they might've faced a catastrophe during the encounter with the Raikage and the Nokizaru group. They could've even died right there!
After all, once she made a move, her Hemophobia was bound to erupt, and given her identity and value, she would undoubtedly be at risk of death.
"Thank you for the compliment, Lady Tsunade." Kakashi smiled modestly, clearly not wanting to dwell on it. "If we must thank someone, then it should be Ishikawa—and you, Lady Tsunade. Honestly, I thought we were done for."
Thinking back on the earlier situation, Kakashi couldn't help but shiver. If Ishikawa hadn't stepped up in that desperate moment, they might all be lying in that grave now.
"Let me thank that pervert?" Tsunade curled her lip and snorted in annoyance. Even though what Kakashi said was true, she'd really been taken advantage of!
After all these years, from a young girl to a middle-aged woman, it was the first time someone had kissed her—and the brat even grabbed and pinched it hard...
"Ahem... Anyway, the result turned out great. And from now on, you won't have to worry about Hemophobia anymore!" Kakashi coughed and chuckled before his expression turned serious. "So, you who left the village because of Hemophobia... are you willing to return with us this time? The Third Hokage is hoping that either you or Jiraiya-sama will come back to help."
"Go back?" Tsunade was momentarily stunned, and her mind flashed with warm memories—followed by...
"Hmph, not interested. A village that demands self-sacrifice for the collective is no longer the Konoha I want to protect. Let the old man and those stubborn elders enjoy themselves." She snorted coldly and rejected the idea without hesitation.
"Because of the Byakugan incident and the Uchiha matter, huh?" Kakashi's expression revealed a quiet "I thought so." He wasn't surprised in the slightest.
Though he understood the Third Hokage's difficulties, the village—having lost the Fourth Hokage—could no longer afford another war and had to focus on recovery.
Still, the two incidents had deeply damaged the Third's reputation. Even Kakashi, though respectful, held his own doubts about the aging Hokage's leadership.
"Well, let's not talk about these heavy things! Kakashi, why were you here anyway?" Sensing the shift in mood, Tsunade stretched and deliberately changed the subject.
"Suppressing bandits," Kakashi replied briefly, then gave a helpless smile. "Originally, I just wanted to use this C-rank mission to give Ishikawa and the others some real ninja experience."
"But now, that mission seems unnecessary. Their performance has far exceeded my expectations—whether it's talent, strength, or their ninja mindset."
"Is that so..." Tsunade nodded thoughtfully. She had been on similar missions before. They were always about killing and letting blood and tears transform you into a true shinobi.
"Let's head back and rest." Seeing that it was about time, Tsunade turned to leave, waving for the others to follow.
As she turned, her eyes locked with the slug's. After years of cooperation, the message was clear. The slug understood immediately and split apart, ejecting both Ishikawa and the Raikage.
With a loud bang, the slug disappeared into a puff of white smoke...
"Shizune, take the Raikage back to the inn to rest," Tsunade instructed, then walked up to Ishikawa, whose wounds were already mostly healed.
"As punishment for what happened earlier, you'll handle the rest of your recovery on your own."
"Ah? It's not over yet?" Ishikawa's face crumpled in disbelief. Did that mean he'd be hobbling for ten days or more? Was Tsunade really this petty??
"Pfft..." Seeing Ishikawa's dismayed expression, Tsunade's mood lifted instantly. Her eyes sparkled. "But! Considering you helped me overcome my Hemophobia and earned 500 million Ryo in medical fees—I'll grant you one request as a reward."
"What? There's such a good deal?" Ishikawa's eyes lit up. Almost instinctively, his gaze drifted toward the First Hokage's necklace dangling on Tsunade's chest.
This is the Wood Release Crystal that can suppress the Tailed Beasts. Do you want to take it and give it to Nohara Rin to help her out? Then you could pack up the Three-Tails and take it away, leaving Kirigakure and Madara-sama at a loss!
"What are you looking at, little brat? I said you could make a request that's not excessive—but there's a bottom line!" Tsunade followed Ishikawa's gaze downward, then immediately stepped forward in anger and smacked him across the face.
"Ouch~~" Ishikawa yelped, rubbing his head and quickly apologizing, "Misunderstanding, misunderstanding! I was just looking at the necklace..."
"Necklace?" Tsunade's expression shifted slightly as she heard this. Her anger eased, and she instinctively touched the necklace in her hand.
"Is that too much to ask..." Ishikawa muttered under his breath, sneaking a glance at the pair of beautiful mounds that had brought him infinite comfort earlier. Then, with a sudden flash of determination, he raised his head, eyes burning. "I want the summoned beast contract of Katsuyu-sama!"
"What? You want to contract Katsuyu?" Tsunade blurted out in shock. She hadn't expected that kind of request.
If it weren't for the fact that Ishikawa had helped her so much and that he was Kakashi's student, part of the Hokage lineage, with solid talent and decent character, he wouldn't even be qualified to ask.
This wasn't just an excessive request. It was outrageous.
"Kid, do you know what it means to contract a slug? Only disciples I personally recognize are allowed to form a contract with it." Tsunade bit her lip slightly, her expression troubled as she tried to turn him down politely.
The slug was essentially a legacy of the Three Sannin. Even Shizune, who had followed her loyally for years, wasn't qualified to inherit it. So, how could someone like Ishikawa?
"That's all I want. At worst, I'll just take you as my master..." Ishikawa said shamelessly, seizing the opportunity. His expression looked as if he were the one making a sacrifice.
"Get lost! I have no intention of taking a pervert as my disciple. Pick something else!" Unsurprisingly, Tsunade refused without hesitation.
Seeing Tsunade on the verge of exploding, Ishikawa's heart skipped a beat. He hadn't expected her reaction to be this intense. Sigh... the fate of a side character, huh?
"Then... that Creation Rebirth thing you used just now! That should work! It looked super powerful—you recovered so fast!" After some hesitation, Ishikawa clenched his teeth and said it while facing Tsunade's increasingly hostile glare.
Oh god! Dealing with Tsunade's temper is killing me!
"That's it. Take it or leave it." Tsunade had finally reached her limit with Ishikawa's unreasonable demands. She tossed a scroll at him and walked off.
Whether Ishikawa had the talent or not was beside the point—his chakra was far too weak to support summoning or Yin Seal: Creation Rebirth!
Even if he managed to store chakra using a Yin Seal, it was meaningless if the base chakra reserve was low!
Tsunade could see Ishikawa's future far more clearly than he could.
"Chakra Enhanced Strength!!" Ishikawa shouted instinctively after opening the scroll, his eyes lighting up at the title alone.
"Maybe this technique suits you better. You wanted to learn the Raikage's moves, right? Well, speed is useless without strength." Just as Ishikawa was still stunned by what he saw, Kakashi's faint voice echoed beside him.