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The inn.
Everyone sat together around a low table, eating Tanzaku Street's famous take-out dishes. Tsunade and Jiraiya were already a little tipsy from the sake, their faces flushed and warm.
Leo felt uneasy.
Ever since the meal started, Tsunade kept glancing at him from time to time.
Come on… was she really planning to use this as an excuse to squeeze some "compensation" out of him?
Hey, it wasn't like he didn't treat Shizune well!
Leo buried himself in his food, pretending he didn't notice anything.
Jiraiya suddenly asked, "Tsunade, when are we heading out tomorrow?"
"When," Tsunade said without looking up, "did I ever say I was going back?"
She paused, then added softly, "Tomorrow… take Shizune back for me."
Leo, sitting to the side, really wanted to help push things in the right direction—but he also knew opening his mouth now would only make things worse.
Jiraiya, Shizune… come on, back me up here!
"L–Lady Tsunade, I'm not leaving! Your condition—"
Shizune shot to her feet, anxious and flustered.
She knew the truth better than anyone.
Tsunade was strong—legendarily strong—but hemophobia was a fatal weakness. If someone wanted to capture her, all they had to do was make her see blood. That alone could cripple her.
How could Shizune possibly feel safe leaving her?
Jiraiya frowned. "Tsunade, you know your situation. Are you really planning to take that risk?"
Kakashi and Kurenai exchanged puzzled glances.
Lady Tsunade… what's going on?
They wanted to ask, but the atmosphere made it impossible.
Tsunade let out a cold laugh. "A medical ninja with hemophobia—what exactly am I supposed to do if I go back?"
"What?"
Kakashi and Kurenai instantly froze.
Hemophobia?!
No wonder Lady Tsunade left the village!
With a condition like that, anyone who suffered from it was basically done with their career as a shinobi.
For a medical ninja, it was even worse.
Treating injuries meant blood—lots of it. A surgeon who couldn't handle blood was finished.
And Tsunade… was the pride of Konoha's medical corps.
Leo was also a little surprised.
Tsunade had finally dropped her guard.
And before Jiraiya could say a word, she turned her gaze straight onto Leo.
"You seemed pretty talkative before, brat. Go on—tell me. What good am I if I go back?"
Her eyes were shadowed, hard to read.
Leo blanked for a second. Then a spark lit up inside him. He straightened his back, already working out what he wanted to say.
This is it. My moment!
"I don't know much about medical ninjutsu or hemophobia," Leo said, "but I do know that a ninja like you—your experience, your skill, your reputation—they're all priceless. Take Shizune, for example. Under your teaching, her medical ninjutsu grows stronger every day, right?"
Shizune nodded without hesitation.
But Tsunade didn't answer. She just poured herself another cup and drank it.
Leo pressed on, voice steady. "And if being a teacher isn't your calling… then why not try becoming Hokage? If there are policies you disagree with, change them—with the authority of the Hokage."
His expression turned serious. "Konoha's medical system—built because of you—has saved countless shinobi. And your status, your reputation… they're more than enough to qualify you for Hokage."
"Leo!"
Jiraiya froze.
This kid… he really had no filter.
Hokage…
That was the last topic Tsunade ever wanted to hear.
Tsunade let out a cold laugh.
"Kid, Hokage? What do you even know about that?"
"I'm young, sure, so I probably don't understand. But being Hokage is my goal. I'll do what I want to accomplish through that."
Leo's baby-face somehow looked serious and determined.
Kakashi and Kurenai didn't even blink.
The way Leo talked and carried himself made him feel like he was Tsunade and Jiraiya's peer, not a kid their age.
Also…
He was bold as hell.
They'd never dare say that out loud.
I mean—this was Tsunade!
Even Tsunade was stunned for a moment.
She finally understood what Jiraiya meant earlier about the kid's "mindset."
This child didn't think like normal children at all. It was like he was crushing them from a whole different tier.
In Leo, she could vaguely see the shadows of two other people.
Tsunade paused.
Leo just kept eating, totally unaware he'd become the center of attention.
He ate calmly.
Jiraiya sipped his sake, but his eyes never left Tsunade.
He was terrified she'd slam the table.
Break it, actually.
But—
Tsunade only smiled. The smile was a little scary, sure, but…
She didn't move.
"You're not satisfied with the village?"
"Nope!"
Leo set down his bowl and chopsticks.
He said seriously, "We all lost family in the war. Why should we be satisfied with how the village is now? I want to become Hokage and end all wars."
"…"
Jiraiya's eyelid twitched.
This kid had the guts of someone dancing on a grave.
Tsunade rested her chin on her hand, giving Leo a sideways glance. Her expression was surprisingly calm.
"End all wars? Like that's so easy."
"If you never try, of course you won't be disappointed. But I think that's wrong."
Leo gathered his dishes.
He had delivered his speech—time to escape!
He stood and bowed.
"Sorry, I'm going to train."
Kakashi quickly finished his meal too, chiming in as he ran out the door.
The atmosphere was way too suffocating.
Training was better than this.
Tsunade leaned back a little, looking over at Shizune and Kurenai.
"Aren't you two training?"
"I-I'm full!"
Kurenai turned pale. She set her bowl down, bowed, and bolted out immediately.
Shizune still looked worried.
Tsunade right now was terrifying, but…
She was even more worried Tsunade would leave her and just walk off alone.
Tsunade could totally do that.
After hesitating, Shizune said, "I'll step outside for a bit."
Now it was only Jiraiya and Tsunade left.
They drank in silence.
A few seconds passed before Tsunade snorted, swallowed her drink in one go, and reached for another cup.
Jiraiya stopped her.
"Enough."
"Can't even drink now?"
Tsunade shot him a look, then finished the cup anyway, though she didn't pour another.
After a while, she tossed the bottle aside.
"I'm going."
"Where?"
"Roof. Need some air."
She waved her hand.
The two of them went up to the rooftop.
From there, they could see Leo, Kakashi, and the others training below.
"Hokage… what's even good about that position?"
"…"
Jiraiya had no answer.
He wasn't exactly enthusiastic about being Hokage either. Otherwise his name would already be on the list of candidates.
Tsunade glanced at him.
"So your student just lectured me, and you've got nothing to say? Shouldn't you back him up? Maybe take the lead and deal with those old geezers in the village?"
Jiraiya coughed, face turning red.
"If I become Hokage, the problems you all want solved… well, I'd basically be the new problem."
Tsunade toyed with the bottle, a cold glint passing through her eyes. "Let's go back first. We need to figure out who sent those guys. Once we know that, we'll talk."
"If it's safe, I won't stop you from leaving," Jiraiya said.
Tsunade lowered her head, not responding.
Below them—
The three kids were working their hearts out.
"We'll see," Tsunade murmured.
…
[You have successfully persuaded a wandering Kage-level ninja (partial) and a talented genin to return to the village]
[Successful recruitment is key to strengthening the village. Hokage, please keep up the good work]
[Reward: Super Strength (Beginner)]
Holy crap!
It actually worked!
Leo felt a shift inside him as the knowledge settled in.
Beginner-level Super Strength meant he only had the basic techniques and theory. Anything deeper had to be learned through training and personal insight, and the technique demanded extremely precise chakra control.
At beginner level, that part was all on him.
In other words—
Using it came with some risk?
Wait a second!
This reward felt wrong. Tsunade came back, but all he got was beginner-level Super Strength?
He looked at the description again.
"Temporary." "Partial."
Ah—
So that's where the issue was.
Fine.
Leo didn't have a better solution for now, so he comforted himself:
Why complain?
Learning Super Strength at all was already great!
He could slowly figure out the rest later. With practice—plus maybe squeezing a few more rewards out of Tsunade—he'd eventually get proficient. Maybe even better.
"....."