Tsunade also furrowed her brows, her violet eyes filled with suspicion: "Naruto, Jiraiya is right. Curing hemophobia is not an easy task, even I am at a loss. How will you cure my hemophobia?"
Naruto's Shadow Clone, while secretly contacting his main body through the Underground City team badge left by him, gulped down the dango hurriedly, then chugged a large mouthful of barley tea to wash it down. Only then did he wipe his mouth, looking at Tsunade. There was no hint of a joke in his clear blue eyes, only a calm certainty: "I'm not boasting, Grandma Tsunade. I really can cure you."
"You—" Tsunade was stunned by his serious gaze.
"However, you have to come find me alone tonight."
Naruto's Shadow Clone answered confidently.
Because Naruto had just used Kotoamatsukami on Orochimaru, Kotoamatsukami was now on cooldown.
So, he had to wait until late at night when Kotoamatsukami's cooldown was over.
"Why do we have to wait until night, and why must Lady Tsunade come alone to find you?"
Shizune eyed Naruto suspiciously.
Jiraiya laughed heartily: "I believe Naruto. This kid has brought me too many surprises."
"If he says he knows a little, then he knows a lot. If he says he's ninety percent sure, then it's as good as done, something that will definitely be accomplished."
Jiraiya gave Naruto a meaningful look, as if to say, 'I already know about your habit of 'showing off'.'
"In that case, I'll come find you tonight. I hope you don't disappoint me, alright?"
Tsunade clasped her hands under her chin, her two large 'buns' resting on the table, seemingly to relieve the ache in her shoulders. She glanced at Naruto with her beautiful eyes and smiled faintly.
In truth, she didn't take Naruto's claim of being able to cure her hemophobia very seriously; she was merely trying a long shot.
Jiraiya struck while the iron was hot, saying: "Tsunade, if Naruto cures your hemophobia—"
Tsunade stood up and walked out of the izakaya, her laughter drifting back without looking: "What's the harm in agreeing to be Hokage?"
"Lady Tsunade, wait for me!"
Shizune, holding Tonton, quickly chased after Tsunade.
After they left, Jiraiya put an arm around Naruto's shoulder and asked suspiciously: "Kid, quickly tell me how you plan to cure Tsunade's hemophobia?"
The Shadow Clone smiled mysteriously: "It's a secret."
"Good heavens, you're keeping it from me too?"
"Then pay for this meal, and I'll tell you."
"Never mind, never mind, I just remembered I have something else to do. Besides the gambling in Tanzaku Street, the girls also seem pretty good. I'm off, hahahaha..."
Jiraiya ran off in a burst of laughter.
"Truly worthy of 'lust' and 'gambling'."
The Shadow Clone shook his head helplessly.
That night, Naruto stayed at the most luxurious hot spring inn in Tanzaku Street.
Money was not an issue.
He had plenty of money anyway.
The main thing was to get good rest and let Kotoamatsukami's cooldown pass quickly.
Naruto had a folded towel on his forehead, his hands resting on the rock edge of the natural hot spring, his eyes closed in meditation, enjoying the full body comfort of soaking in the hot spring.
When the moon was bright and the stars were sparse, and all was silent, the mist swirling around the hot spring pool stirred. A voluptuous blonde beauty, wrapped in a white bath towel, gracefully approached.
"Naruto, I've come as promised. How exactly are you going to cure my hemophobia? You're not inviting me to a hot spring, are you?"
"Grandma Tsunade—"
Tsunade glared at Naruto, saying with annoyance: "Brat, do I look that old?"
"Sis—sister?"
"Smart, you catch on quickly, much smarter than that idiot Jiraiya."
Tsunade took a step with her ample yet slender beautiful legs, tested the water temperature of the hot spring with her rounded toes, and then carefully stepped in. The hot spring water soaked her bath towel, making the wet towel cling to Tsunade's exquisite body.
Naruto took one more look at Tsunade, then quickly regained his composure.
In the Goblin Slayer World, figures like the Witch, the Sword Saintess, and the Wind Sage, their figures were no less impressive than Tsunade's. Naruto, possessing a hot spring-immune physique, had seen plenty, so he had some immunity.
"It's not about soaking in the hot spring; you'll know very soon."
Naruto moved in front of Tsunade, covering his right eye with one hand.
"Little Naruto, what are you trying to do?"
Tsunade's lips curved into a playful smile, curiously waiting to see what trick the young man in front of her was up to.
"Look into my eyes."
"Hm?"
As Tsunade was momentarily stunned, Naruto suddenly lowered his right hand. His originally azure right eye had strikingly transformed into a crimson Mangekyo Sharingan,
instantly locking gazes with Tsunade.
Kotoamatsukami!
"Buzz—"
An indescribable, vast, and mysterious ocular power erupted, instantly invading Tsunade's consciousness.
Tsunade's delicate body trembled.
She gazed at this Mangekyo Sharingan, without any resistance, nor could she resist, falling into a trance.
Naruto stared into Tsunade's eyes, his voice low, as if carrying a strange rhythm, directly entering the depths of her soul: "Tsunade, listen, that's not a curse. The things Nawaki and Dan protected with their lives are not meant to make you drown in fear, but to let you carry their strength to protect more people worth protecting—"
As Kotoamatsukami modified the target, the pain, fear, and struggle in Tsunade's violet eyes were gently smoothed away as if by an invisible hand.
In their place came a long-lost sense of ease and relief, as if a thousand-pound burden had been lifted.
Nawaki's sunny smile, Dan's gentle gaze—those memories once covered in blood, became warm again, no longer bringing a sting, only leaving deep nostalgia and strength.
Tears, without warning, like pearls on a broken string, streamed down Tsunade's fair cheeks.
Not tears of pain, but of release, of liberation.
It was the throb of rebirth.
The golden light slowly receded, and the Mangekyo Sharingan quietly vanished.
Naruto's eyes returned to their usual azure, and he looked at Tsunade with concern: "How do you feel, Sister Tsunade?"
Tsunade came back to her senses, paused, and asked in confusion: "Did something just happen?"
"—Why am I crying—"
Tsunade touched her cheek, her fingertips damp with glistening tears.
"How strange, I feel a sense of peace and tranquility, and a lot of strength inside," Tsunade murmured, wiping away the tears that traced her cheeks.
Naruto casually took out a prepared blood vial and shook it in front of Tsunade, "Are you still afraid of blood?"
Tsunade looked at the blood vial and replied with utmost calm: "No."
"It's incredible, even when I recall the snake blood splashing during the battle earlier today, I don't feel any fear—"
"I feel like I can—control my body and mind!"
She suddenly lifted her head, and the years of gloom and vulnerability that had clouded her amethyst-like eyes completely vanished, re-emerging with the brilliant, confident, and powerful radiance she had in her youth!