"Why are you home so early today?" Kurenai opened the door, surprised to see Kitazawa standing there.
"I missed you, so I came back to see you."
Kitazawa stepped forward, embraced her, and casually patted her on the bottom. Her hips quivered slightly, soft and elastic.
"Get to the point!" Kurenai lifted her leg and kicked him. She naturally didn't believe his excuse.
"Has Yakumo arrived?" Kitazawa lowered his head, resting his chin on her shoulder, inhaling her faint scent.
"Why would she come?" Kurenai countered.
"Our Psychological Medical Ninja system has been officially established." Kitazawa's hand moved down her waist, finding the bandage on her thigh. "We're going to see our first patient today."
"Who is it?" Kurenai asked curiously.
"I'll tell you, but don't tell anyone." Kitazawa said in a low voice, "It's Lady Tsunade."
"How is that possible?" Kurenai's first reaction was disbelief.
"Do you want to come with us?" Kitazawa gently kneaded her thigh.
"You two go." Kurenai thought for a moment, then refused. "I'm not a Psychological Medical Ninja, and for something so confidential, I shouldn't know."
"Given Lady Tsunade's personality, she wouldn't mind," Kitazawa looked up at her and smiled. "Besides, once she's cured, it won't matter."
"I'll just practice Ninjutsu at home." Kurenai still didn't want to cause trouble for Kitazawa.
Moreover, during their trip to the Capital of the Land of Fire, although Infinite Darkness Genjutsu and Rasengan had proved very useful, she still felt a lack of strength. Especially when the enemy reached Jonin level, she couldn't help at all. She indeed wanted to improve her strength as quickly as possible.
"New Year is in two days; I still need to go out for some shopping later," Kurenai added after a pause.
Kitazawa was slightly taken aback. Is it New Year already?
He had been busy with missions in the Capital of the Land of Fire all week and had forgotten about it.
"Alright then, thank you, Kurenai." Kitazawa heard footsteps and turned to see Yakumo.
"Teacher Kitazawa." Yakumo immediately greeted him.
"Follow me."
After Kurenai closed the door, Kitazawa turned and walked out. Yakumo followed behind him, her mind full of curiosity. She really wanted to know who her first patient was—especially since Kitazawa had been so mysterious yesterday.
Just then, her eyes widened suddenly, because Kitazawa was walking towards the next door. If she remembered correctly, Tsunade and Shizune lived next door.
What was going on? But no matter how boldly she guessed, she wouldn't dare think her first patient was Tsunade.
Kitazawa raised his hand and knocked on the door.
"You're here? Come in."
A moment later, the door opened, and Shizune appeared before them. Because it had been discussed beforehand, she wasn't surprised by their arrival.
Kitazawa walked into the living room and saw Tsunade sprawled on the sofa like a dried fish. She was lying on her side, and due to gravity, her collar had fallen open, revealing her fair skin and subtle contours.
"Lady Tsunade."
Kitazawa cleared his throat, struggling to avert his gaze. There was no way around it; this mature and voluptuous body possessed a fatal attraction.
"Why didn't you come yesterday?" Tsunade sat up, yawned, and asked.
"Kurenai and I took on a mission; we just returned to the village yesterday afternoon, so we didn't want to disturb you," Kitazawa explained.
"Shizune, you two leave first." Tsunade waved her hand.
"Mm." Shizune pulled Rina Uzumaki back to the room. As for Karin, she was doing Water Walking Training at the Ninja Academy.
"Yakumo, your first patient is Lady Tsunade." Kitazawa patted Yakumo's head. "Begin the consultation now."
"What?" Yakumo froze in place.
Usually, Tsunade treated her, but now, suddenly being asked to treat Tsunade made her feel dizzy and under immense pressure.
And how could Tsunade have a psychological illness? She was one of Konoha's Sannin, the Ninja World's most outstanding Medical Ninja.
"You don't need to be nervous." Tsunade glanced at her, speaking calmly. "Just follow the steps we usually teach you."
"Ye—yes, Lady Tsunade." Yakumo took a deep breath and sat opposite Tsunade.
"Kitazawa, sit next to me." Tsunade suddenly called out.
Kitazawa paused for a moment, and although a bit confused, he complied. After he sat down, Tsunade turned her head, leaned slightly, and whispered into his ear.
Kitazawa's body stiffened slightly. He felt her breath on his ear and the soft pressure on his shoulder.
"If I lose control, don't let Yakumo see it," Tsunade whispered.
"I understand." Kitazawa immediately replied.
Although he hadn't seen Tsunade's hemophobia attacks in person, he had seen them in the anime. In short, it would severely damage her image. It was understandable that she didn't want Yakumo to see it.
After Tsunade finished speaking, she sat back in her original position.
She suddenly realized a problem. Why didn't she mind Kitazawa seeing her lose control? Was it because he had already seen her lose control several times when she was drunk? Or was it because he had stood in front of her during the previous conflict with Root to prevent her from seeing blood?
Tsunade found she had unconsciously come to trust Kitazawa immensely.
"Lady Tsunade." Yakumo used the Art of Speech Technique, making her voice sound extremely kind.
"Mm." Tsunade could dispel the Art of Speech Technique, but she didn't.
"What did you have for breakfast? Was it grilled fish? I had ramen today." Yakumo chatted casually, bringing up many unrelated topics.
Tsunade, relaxed by the Art of Speech Technique, chatted with her cheerfully for half an hour.
"How has your sleep been recently?" Yakumo asked subtly. "Have you had any nightmares?"
"Not long ago, I had a nightmare." Tsunade was silent for two seconds, then said, "I dreamed of Nawaki."
"Nawaki?"
Although Yakumo didn't know who Nawaki was, she was certain he was a key figure. Since Kitazawa had her treat Tsunade, it meant Tsunade had a psychological illness.
There were many factors that could cause psychological illnesses, and close individuals were one of the most common.
"Mm." Tsunade nodded and said, "He was my younger brother."
Younger brother? But Yakumo had never heard of him. There was only one explanation: Nawaki had died a long time ago.
"This is the first I've heard that Lady Tsunade had a younger brother." Yakumo asked softly, "Lady Tsunade, could you tell me his story?"
"I can." Tsunade's face showed a look of reminiscence.
At the same time, she lifted her legs, placed her bare feet on the sofa, and hugged her thighs.
Yakumo's gaze narrowed involuntarily. This was a defensive posture.
While she was considering whether to use the Art of Truth Technique, Tsunade began to talk about Nawaki, from his childhood, to graduating from the Ninja Academy, becoming Orochimaru's student, and finally dying on the battlefield.
Yakumo hesitated after listening. Because Tsunade hadn't said what her psychological illness actually was.
The death of a younger brother could indeed cause a huge blow, but everyone's reactions after suffering a blow were not entirely the same.
Should she use Genjutsu: Magic Heart?
"It's hemophobia." Kitazawa glanced at Tsunade and said slowly.
A psychological illness involving fear of blood? Yakumo felt enlightened.
But she could also understand why Tsunade would develop hemophobia. As the Ninja World's most outstanding Medical Ninja, yet being unable to save her own younger brother — how desperate must that have been?
"What are the specific symptoms?" Yakumo paused for a few seconds, then returned to the main topic.
She was a Psychological Medical Ninja; without seeing the specific manifestations, she couldn't provide targeted treatment.
"Lady Tsunade can't help but tremble all over and become unable to move when she sees blood," Kitazawa replied.
"A physiological reaction caused by psychological factors?" Yakumo fell into thought.
"You can use Genjutsu: Magic Heart." Tsunade looked up and suddenly said, "Seeing the symptoms firsthand will allow for more accurate treatment."
"Lady Tsunade." Kitazawa's heart jumped; he shook his head and quickly said, "There's no need."
"Kitazawa, you are also a Medical Ninja; you naturally understand what I'm saying." Tsunade bit her lip and said, "And since I've already agreed to you, I won't back down now."
Kitazawa couldn't help but fall silent. He looked at the determined Tsunade and felt a tremor in his heart. Although she had been avoiding it before, she was now choosing to face her fear head-on.
"Yakumo." Kitazawa looked at Yakumo.
"Genjutsu: Magic Heart!" Yakumo immediately formed hand seals.
Tsunade's eyes glazed over, and a large amount of blood appeared before her. Her body began to tremble.
"Blood—so much blood—" Tsunade's hands unconsciously spread open, her pupils dilated in shock, and her face was filled with terror.
The usually decisive Tsunade now looked like a startled rabbit.
Yakumo's eyes widened. She watched Tsunade's intense reaction and realized that her hemophobia was more troublesome than she had imagined.
Kitazawa stood up and blocked her view. He faced Tsunade, raised his hand, and Chakra surged out, dispelling the Genjutsu she was under.
Tsunade subconsciously gripped his hands. As the Genjutsu: Magic Heart was dispelled, the bloody scene before her vanished.
Tsunade gradually stopped trembling; she slowly took deep breaths, her chest rising and falling. Kitazawa's gaze shifted downwards, feeling a bit dazzled.
"Thank you." After Tsunade spoke, she released his hands.
But seeing the red marks on Kitazawa's wrists, she paused again. In her unconscious action, she had used too much strength, leaving finger marks on Kitazawa's skin.
Fortunately, there was no bleeding, not even a minor injury.
"Yakumo, do you have anything else you want to ask?" Kitazawa sat back down next to Tsunade.
"Besides Nawaki's death, were there other reasons?" Yakumo asked with hesitation.
"There—there was something else." Tsunade closed her eyes, and a wave of panic rose in her heart again.
Just then, she felt her hand being covered by warmth. She looked down and saw that Kitazawa was holding her hand.
"This is called 'returning a favor'." Kitazawa said seriously. He was referring to how Tsunade had held his hand earlier.
"During a meeting in the Second Great Ninja War, I suggested that Medical Ninja should be permanently assigned to Ninja Teams." Tsunade ignored Kitazawa, but she didn't pull her hand back, allowing him to hold it.
Yakumo looked at her in confusion.
"At that time, only a Jonin named Kato Dan responded to me," Tsunade said slowly.
Kato Dan? Yakumo thought back but had no impression.
Then, like Nawaki, there was only one explanation: he was already dead. After all, a Jonin associated with Tsunade — if alive now — would surely be famous.
"Because of this, he and I became close friends, and I even thought we could... after the war ended, but he quickly died in battle."
Tsunade subconsciously gripped Kitazawa's hand tightly. In her mind, there was that omnipresent blood again.
"I—I watched him die right in front of me." Tsunade said haltingly, her voice trembling. "His—his injuries were too severe, I—I couldn't—"
Kitazawa looked at her. Her eyes were already moist.
He remembered Tsunade's earlier instruction not to let Yakumo see her overly distressed, so he raised his hand and covered her eyes.
With proficient Chakra control, the Chakra absorbed her tears.
Yakumo opened her mouth but didn't know what to say. Did the usually carefree Tsunade really have such a tragic past?
"I'm fine." After a few seconds, Tsunade moved Kitazawa's hand away.
But she didn't release his other hand; she still held it tightly, as if that was the only way she could find the courage to continue speaking.
"Yakumo." Tsunade said in as calm a voice as possible, "To treat hemophobia, we must start with these two memories."
"Understood." Yakumo nodded and asked, "Lady Tsunade, do you wish to retain these two memories, or seal them away?"
"Retain them," Tsunade said after a moment of silence.
Sealing memories was no different from forgetting. She wouldn't run away to that extent, no matter how much she tried to avoid it.
"Then we'll need to use the Emotion Displacement Technique." Yakumo mused, "Displace or weaken the emotions associated with these two memories."
"Okay, let's try that first." Tsunade paused, then reminded her, "But you also need to consider what to do if the Emotion Displacement Technique fails."
"I'll prepare a treatment plan when I get back." Yakumo said halfway, then added apologetically, "But—I haven't mastered the Emotion Displacement Technique yet."
"It's alright, today isn't suitable for treatment anyway." Tsunade shook her head and said.
Her emotions were unstable right now, and given her strength, the Ninjutsu Yakumo performed might not be effective on her.
"Yakumo, how much longer do you need to learn the Emotion Displacement Technique?" Kitazawa asked.
"A week at most!" Yakumo promised.
"Alright then." Kitazawa nodded and said, "That's perfect, right after the New Year."
"New Year?" Tsunade paused, and a complex expression appeared on her fair, jade-like face again. The last proper New Year she had celebrated was with Nawaki.
"Yes." Yakumo breathed a sigh of relief.
"You've worked hard today, you can go back now." Kitazawa didn't stand up because his hand was still being held by Tsunade.
"Lady Tsunade, Kitazawa-sensei, goodbye." Yakumo was very independent; she didn't ask further questions, stood up, and turned to leave.
Kitazawa withdrew his gaze and felt a weight on his shoulder. He subconsciously turned his head and saw Tsunade. She was leaning on his shoulder, and her body was pressed tightly against him. But her eyes were vacant; she didn't know what she was thinking.
Kitazawa hesitated to speak, but ultimately said nothing, just leaning there with her, falling into silence.
Time slowly passed.
"I let you see a bad side of me today." Tsunade suddenly spoke.
"Lady Tsunade, are you going to silence me?" Kitazawa asked, feigning alarm.
Tsunade burst out laughing. She sat up, stretched, and said, "I won't silence you, but you should still be careful, you know."
With her movement, her clothes seemed precarious, half-erect.
"Lady Tsunade, I've rendered meritorious service!" Kitazawa said seriously, "If you're going to kill anyone, you can't kill me!"
"I still can't bear to kill you." Tsunade's lips curved slightly as she said, "After all, it's hard to find another one as fun as you."
Most Ninja were subservient in front of her. Only a few Ninja, like Jiraiya and Orochimaru, treated her normally. But the former was rather perverted, and the latter was quite gloomy.
Compared to them, Kitazawa, who was handsome, unafraid of her, and could crack jokes, was very pleasing to the eye.
"Then I'm relieved!" Kitazawa patted his chest and said.
Tsunade rolled her eyes at him upon hearing that.
"Lady Tsunade, the New Year is in two days." Kitazawa asked with a smile, "How about we all celebrate the New Year together?"
"Fine," Tsunade said casually. Her past New Year's were always spent with Shizune.
"Alright then." Kitazawa calculated for a moment and said, "Then Kurenai and I will go buy groceries, and with Shizune-senpai, the three of us will cook."
"Hmm." Tsunade returned to normal, her voice lazy and self-deprecating, "Anyway, you wouldn't dare eat my cooking."
"Lady Tsunade's cooking must be excellent." Kitazawa praised her offhandedly.
"Since you're so interested, I'll specially cook for you on New Year's Day." Tsunade turned her head, looked at him, and said with a smile.
"No need for such trouble!" Kitazawa's expression stiffened, and he quickly refused.
Seeing his reaction, Tsunade couldn't help but laugh again.
Kitazawa felt that when she laughed, it was quite spectacular, making it hard for him to turn off his auto-aim.
"You have Kurenai, why are you still looking around?" Tsunade noticed his gaze, a playful expression on her face, and asked, "Aren't you afraid I'll tell Kurenai?"
"You can't blame me!" Kitazawa said very seriously, "You can only blame Lady Tsunade for being too charming!"
"You're just—a smooth talker!" Tsunade glared at him and said, "No wonder Kurenai is so easily fooled by you."
"I'm sacrificing myself to make you feel better." Kitazawa blinked and said.
"Alright, go do what you need to do." Tsunade paused, a smile appearing on her face, and said, "If you're bored, you can come to the casino with me."
"I still have to go to the Ninja Academy to train my students." Kitazawa stood up and said, "Lady Tsunade, see you next time."
Tsunade watched his figure disappear through the doorway. She couldn't help but stare blankly.
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P@atreon/Arvinstorm (45+ Advanced Chapters)