Chapter 284: Orochimaru's Temptation, Tsunade's Choice
"We'll talk about it tomorrow."
Akiyama Makoto shrugged and returned to Tanzaku Town with Tsunade.
As they approached the hotel, he took a step back and said, "You go first. You have many acquaintances here. From now on, you can pretend you don't know me."
"You—"
Tsunade hesitated. Although she had said that after a week they would owe each other nothing, that was before the week began.
Who could have imagined that he would leave her with memories she would never forget in her life during this week?
But even considering this condition, she didn't know what to say.
It wasn't that she was at a loss for words, but that she didn't know how to describe the complex relationship between them now with precise language.
Finally, she just nodded in silence, leaving his sight for the first time in a week, and returning to the room where Shizune was.
"Lady Tsunade?"
Seeing Tsunade, Shizune was both surprised and happy. She rushed over, held Tsunade's wrist to check, and breathed a sigh of relief when she found Tsunade's body was normal.
For this week, Shizune had been worrying every day about whether Tsunade would starve to death on the street.
Fortunately, Tsunade came back in one piece, and even looked better than when she was taking care of her.
But she felt something was different about Tsunade.
Shizune's nose twitched, and she lowered her head to sniff.
Tsunade's pupils constricted, and she immediately checked her body. Could she have left his scent somewhere?
Damn little bastard, didn't even wash his hands before playing with me.
Just as Tsunade began to blush from a guilty conscience, Shizune said in surprise, "Lady Tsunade, did you change your clothes every day? Where are your previous clothes?"
"Also, you're wearing new clothes. They look pretty good."
Tsunade breathed a sigh of relief and smiled at Shizune's praise, but then her face changed slightly.
Her clothes, and even all her belongings, were still with him!
Tsunade knew sealing jutsu herself, so sealing some daily necessities wasn't a problem.
However, her current minimalist and cool style didn't look like she could carry a bunch of scrolls with her.
She should have asked for everything back just now, but because of the atmosphere of parting, she completely forgot about it.
This little bastard won't do anything bad with my clothes at night, will he?
No, I have to go check later!
"Lady Tsunade?"
Shizune tilted her head. Why was the Tsunade in front of her so distracted?
Tsunade snapped out of it and quickly said, "Just some unsatisfactory things, threw them away."
"Ah, what a waste."
Shizune complained, but had no intention of asking further.
Maybe Lady Tsunade wants to say goodbye to the past and welcome a new life in this way... Thinking this, Shizune turned around and pushed Tsunade. "Lady Tsunade, go take a bath first. What do you want to eat? I'll go buy it for you."
Tsunade nodded. "No need. We'll just go out to eat for lunch."
She was about to go shower when Shizune grabbed her arm again. Then Shizune screamed, "Lady Tsunade, your necklace is missing!"
"That's a relic of the First Hokage! You didn't throw it away too, did you?"
"How could I? I just... uh."
Tsunade touched her chest. Makoto was right next door.
If her relationship with him was normal, she could just tell Shizune the truth.
But now, she didn't dare to see him, or even think about him.
She could only stammer with a flushed face, unable to speak, which made Shizune even more anxious.
Shizune dragged Tsunade to go out and look for it. Tsunade couldn't resist Shizune and was secretly complaining when his figure appeared.
Carrying a huge pile of clothes, various cosmetics, and even some bouquets, he pushed open Shizune's door.
"Tsunade, you forgot your things."
Then he handed the stack of things, as tall as a person, to Tsunade.
Tsunade hugged them in a panic, while Shizune stared dumbfounded at the scene.
If it were ordinary things, it would be fine, but there was clearly Tsunade's change of underwear inside, and even her toiletries.
Shizune turned blankly to look at him, and then saw the First Hokage's necklace hanging on his chest. Her whole person fell into immense shock.
"Shizune, don't just stare. Help me pack."
Realizing this was bad, Tsunade stuffed the things into Shizune's arms. But this didn't dispel Shizune's shock. She stammered, "L-Lady Tsunade, you gave the necklace the First Hokage gave you to him?"
"You actually—"
Thinking Shizune was angry, Tsunade quickly said, "No, not gave. Just lent it to him to play with. He'll return it tomorrow—"
Before Tsunade could finish, Shizune threw the things onto the bed, then held Tsunade's hands with a face full of tears. "Lady Tsunade, congratulations! You've finally found true love!"
"I thought you would be decadent until death. Now I can see you show your past heroism!"
"Alright, alright, you don't need to worry about things here. Hurry up and accompany Makoto-kun. Leave the rest to me."
Then Shizune pushed Tsunade towards Makoto at the door without explanation. Tsunade and Makoto looked at each other in dismay. Then, the ashamed and angry Tsunade reached out, trying to grab the necklace back.
Tsunade realized that letting him wander around Tanzaku Town wearing this necklace might cause unpredictable trouble later.
But her move was easily neutralized by him. He even turned his hand and pressed Tsunade's back against the door, then lowered his head.
Tsunade was shocked and quickly said, "Wait, what are you doing? Shizune is still here, and aren't we finished—"
"It's only over tomorrow. We're still within the time limit. I didn't want to provoke you, but who told you to grab my necklace just now?"
He made up a random excuse. In reality, he just wanted to forcefully kiss Tsunade in front of Shizune.
Not only that, but he also wanted to wander around wearing the necklace, letting everyone know that Tsunade's necklace was with him.
Next, he planned to make a replica and wear it, telling everyone he met that his necklace was a pair with Tsunade's.
Whether Tsunade believed it or not didn't matter; it was enough if others in the ninja world believed it.
If Tsunade knew what he was thinking now, she would probably try to kill him desperately.
Unfortunately, she had no chance to know his thoughts. Her mind even went blank.
The familiar kiss came, instantly calming her restless body, and she even began to react subconsciously.
This was a habit she had developed after being kissed by him over a hundred times during the week. Although she realized afterward that she shouldn't be intimate with him right now, it was too late.
Shizune's scream spread throughout the inn, but it was a scream of happiness and joy.
Seeing Shizune holding her face with the excited look of a fangirl, Tsunade was both ashamed and annoyed, and the fist she clenched couldn't strike out no matter what.
"Alright, don't be angry. After today passes, you can explain it to Shizune however you want."
"But since today isn't over yet, even if I broke the rules and lost, I'm still your boyfriend, understand?"
He lowered his head and kissed her again. Beside them, Shizune was about to faint.
Tsunade finally pushed him away and said with a red face, "I'm going to take a shower. Don't bother me if there's nothing important."
Although her tone was fierce, being forcibly kissed by him in front of Shizune without even being able to throw a punch showed how much she had changed.
He didn't stop her, because he knew this wasn't the time to continue being intimate.
Not because Shizune was here, but because Shizune's scream had alerted someone.
Just as Tsunade was about to shower, she saw a small snake sitting in the shower room with a scroll in its mouth.
She narrowed her eyes, knowing this was Orochimaru's means of communication. She pulled out the scroll and opened it.
The next second, she flipped out, leaving Tanzaku Town in a few leaps.
When she stopped, Orochimaru and Kabuto were waiting for her in the shadow of a big tree.
"Long time no see, Tsunade—Eh? You seem younger?"
"Interesting, interesting. Can the Yin Seal achieve this level? If I had known, I wouldn't have needed to research any reincarnation jutsu."
Tsunade looked Orochimaru up and down, then noticed his crippled hands. She revealed a mocking smile. "Orochimaru, who beat you into this state? With your strength, falling to this state... did you provoke some long-established Jinchūriki?"
"Lady Tsunade, Lord Orochimaru encountered a powerful sealing jutsu. The only one who can heal him is you, one of the legendary Sannin, known as the greatest medical expert."
Kabuto spoke, trying to cover for Orochimaru.
Unfortunately, Kabuto couldn't match Orochimaru's temperament. Orochimaru said bluntly, "It was the Third Hokage's Reaper Death Seal. I killed him, and he sealed my hands."
Orochimaru disdained lying. Moreover, killing Hiruzen Sarutobi was something worth boasting about in his eyes.
He had completed his revenge, allowed Konoha to be reborn, given Hiruzen a decent ending, and even found a candidate for his subsequent reincarnation.
If he hadn't sacrificed his hands, his plan this time would have been perfect, a complete victory. Why hide it?
Tsunade looked at Orochimaru with a sinister face, then suddenly revealed a smile. "Orochimaru, you know my personality. If you're teasing me, be prepared to be killed by me."
Then she stomped heavily, creating a one-meter deep pit under her foot. This scene made Kabuto's scalp tingle.
"I'll count to five. Disappear from my sight, or—I'll kill you."
Orochimaru licked the corner of his mouth and continued, "Don't be in such a hurry. Now we can discuss my conditions—"
"Five—"
"I can use a forbidden jutsu to revive your brother and that man, letting you see them again. What do you think of this condition?"
Orochimaru calmly stated his preparation. Tsunade froze on the spot.
See them again— The image of her brother's smile and his tragic death instantly appeared before her eyes.
But what appeared before her eyes had changed into her brother with a complete body, and Akiyama Makoto, who had accompanied her through the difficult times.
Tsunade knew his genjutsu was still working.
However, at this moment, there was no disgust in her heart, only warmth. Scenes from the past week even flashed through her mind.
"Since you haven't acted yet, does that mean the negotiation is established?"
Orochimaru smiled triumphantly. Just as he was about to say something more, a sandbag-sized fist rapidly enlarged before his eyes.
With a loud bang, the big tree behind Orochimaru and Kabuto turned into powder.
And Tsunade's cold voice came from the ruins.
"Don't disturb their rest, you stinking snake!"
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