"Oh? Is that so?"
"I didn't expect this, Chizan-kun. You actually have a kind heart."
Tagitsuhime looked at Gekko Chizan with surprise.
People who come to Ryūchi Cave are all seeking strength. In other words, none of them are exactly kind-hearted.
The three Snake Princesses were no exception. As examiners for Ryūchi Cave, their tests were all brutal and life-threatening.
Not only Tagitsuhime, but also Tagorihime and Ichikishimahime seemed genuinely surprised.
It was as if they were meeting Gekko Chizan for the first time.
Even under the scrutiny of the three Snake Princesses, Gekko Chizan showed no embarrassment. Instead, he looked quite proud.
"Of course!"
"Seeing Tsunade-sama in trouble, how could I not lend a hand?"
"Now that Sage Mode is activated, let's go! No time to waste!"
As he spoke, Gekko Chizan prepared to use Reverse Summoning to return to Konoha.
Seeing how eager he was, the three Snake Princesses agreed.
With a puff of smoke, Gekko Chizan was back at his own home.
"Wow, this is your house?"
"Looks pretty nice."
Tagitsuhime looked around with a cheerful grin. Though the room was simple, it was neat and clearly well-kept.
It was already nighttime. After all, the fusion of the Serpent Coiling Technique alone had taken twelve hours.
He glanced at the dark sky outside and smiled slightly.
Just as shameless as ever.
"It's already dark. Even the heavens are on my side this time."
"Tagitsuhime, can you sense where Tsunade-sama is?"
Hearing this, Tagitsuhime looked outside. Her human face twisted slightly, revealing her true serpent form.
Gekko Chizan knew she was using natural energy to locate Tsunade.
"Got it. She's inside a building, drinking."
"There's a small one with her."
A small one? That must be Shizune.
No problem. He'd just ignore the little one. She was just a kid, after all.
"Let's not dawdle. Let's go."
"Time to cure Tsunade-sama!"
Gekko Chizan activated Transparent Release, his body gradually becoming invisible.
As the technique took hold, he could feel the two types of natural energy within him blending like the yin-yang symbol.
One half was his own green energy, the other Tagitsuhime's crimson.
Since she was attached to him, Tagitsuhime also faded into an ethereal form as Transparent Release activated.
"Oh? This is Transparent Release? I've even turned invisible with you?"
"How fascinating."
Tagitsuhime looked at her transparent form in surprise.
But Gekko Chizan quickly stopped her.
"We might be invisible, but our voices still exist. Don't speak."
"Otherwise, we'll be exposed!"
Thanks to his reminder, Tagitsuhime instantly went quiet.
The two of them hurried toward the tavern.
Before long, Gekko Chizan reached the tavern where Tsunade was.
Standing on a rooftop across the street, he asked Tagitsuhime:
"Can you use Genjutsu to depict what she desires most and what she fears most?"
Tagitsuhime nodded.
Looking at Tsunade drinking inside, Gekko Chizan grinned.
"Tagitsuhime, I'm counting on you. Use your Genjutsu to conjure the two people she longs to see most."
Though puzzled, Tagitsuhime followed his request.
She began channeling her natural energy and cast the Genjutsu.
A red light gathered into a crimson serpent, slithering toward Tsunade.
When it reached her, it bit her neck.
Being a construct of energy, she didn't feel a thing.
But the illusion began immediately. The drunken Tsunade suddenly saw a wave of illusion wash over her.
This was Tagitsuhime's unique Genjutsu—using her venomous fangs to drag the target into a hallucination.
Everything on the table—the drinks, the bottles—disappeared.
Two people appeared before her.
"Where's my drink..."
"Hm? You two are..."
Tsunade sobered up instantly, for the ones before her were her dearest loved ones.
Senju Nawaki and Dan Katō.
"Tsunade..."
"Sis..."
Tsunade widened her eyes, trembling as she reached out her right hand and walked forward, her entire body shaking.
"Nawaki... Dan... you two..."
"I missed you so much..."
Tears streamed down her face. In an instant, she was a weeping mess.
No one truly knew how much she had lost during the Second Shinobi World War.
Her brother's death, her lover's passing—it had crushed her entirely.
Seeing them again filled her with indescribable joy.
Watching from outside, Gekko Chizan saw her tears and smirked.
The tears meant she had seen them. Now came the key part of the treatment!
"Tagitsuhime, begin the treatment. To cure hemophobia, she must confront it head-on. Bring blood into the illusion."
Sensing the mischievous tone in his voice, Tagitsuhime realized something.
"Alright, Chizan-kun, you're not trying to treat her—this is revenge! You know she has hemophobia, and you're still using blood to provoke her?"
"Hey, don't say that! This is just part of the therapy!"
"Hmph! Well, the illusion's already in place. Even if it is revenge, so what? We do things however we like in Ryūchi Cave."
Tagitsuhime's carefree voice echoed—this was the spirit of the Snake Princesses.
"Alright, alright, my dear Tagitsuhime-sama. Get to it! But keep it measured—I just want to see her cry."
"Oh? Really? Just tears?"
"Sigh... She's had a hard life. Losing both her lover and brother. Using their images to wake her up was my plan, but how to do it is up to you."
Under Gekko Chizan's urging, Tagitsuhime resumed the Genjutsu.
However, Gekko Chizan didn't notice the slight smirk on her lips. She clearly approved of his idea.
In the illusion, Tsunade had just embraced Nawaki and Dan.
"Don't leave me..."
Suddenly, she felt dampness on her chest. Alarmed, she opened her eyes.
To her shock, blood was slowly oozing from both of them.
"No! No!"
"Blood!"
Seeing the blood, Tsunade panicked. She quickly let go and backed away.
"Tsunade, what's wrong?"
"It's just a little blood. What's so scary about blood?"
Dan let the blood flow as he walked toward her, smiling calmly.
"Yeah, Sis, don't run."
"It's me, Nawaki. Don't you love me anymore?"
Tsunade was trembling again—but now from fear, not joy.
She collapsed to the ground as the two approached, smearing blood on her.
"Tsunade, blood isn't scary. We never left you."
"All these years, we've always protected you."
"Don't let a little blood destroy you. Don't let our deaths destroy you."
"You are the strongest! Believe in your hands! These hands can save lives!"
Dan grabbed her, facing her directly, and said solemnly.
Nawaki nodded fervently beside him.
"Sis, we never left! Don't be sad, don't grieve!"
"Blood is not scary! Face it! Overcome it!"
...
A/N: Hahaha, of course Chizan wouldn't truly prank Tsunade. Hemophobia treatment is ultimately a psychological process.
It's not easy. In the original story, it was Naruto's image overlapping with Nawaki and Dan that helped Tsunade recover.
But Ryūchi Cave's Genjutsu is incredibly realistic. It gave Tsunade the chance to see her brother and lover once more, to rise again from where she fell.
To overcome fear, one must face it directly!
Tsunade was the one who feared. Watching her cry her heart out, the protagonist had his revenge!