At the entrance to Konoha Village, a black-haired girl clutching a small pink pig was anxiously scanning her surroundings.
"Tonton, are you sure Lady Tsunade's scent went this way?"
Shizune gently patted the pig's head, worry written all over her face.
She'd barely managed to escape that pack of ferocious debt collectors. Following the scent Lady Tsunade had left behind, she'd tracked it all the way to the village—only for it to become chaotic and hard to distinguish here.
Tonton sniffed the air vigorously, then let out two confident grunts, pointing his little hoof toward the depths of the village.
"…Alright. Let's go in and look."
Holding Tonton tight, Shizune hurried through Konoha's gates.
---
The first rays of morning sunlight slipped through the cracks in the window, falling across Sakuya Chigen's face.
He wasn't woken by the light—
—but by a piercing, high-pitched scream.
"AH—!!"
Chigen jolted awake, a hangover-like headache making him frown.
He sat up and looked toward the source of the sound.
Tsunade was sitting on the bed, wrapped tightly in the blanket. Her breathtaking face was filled with shock and utter confusion.
Fragments of last night's memories crashed into Chigen's mind like shattered glass—
A kiss gone out of control.
Burning breath.
Entwined bodies.
And that final, suppressed whimper, trembling with something close to tears…
His gaze dropped instinctively to the bed sheets.
A vivid streak of crimson bloomed against the white fabric—like a plum blossom in winter.
Buzz.
Chigen's mind went completely blank.
You've got to be kidding.
The legendary Sannin of Konoha.
The peerless medical ninja.
The bold, carefree Tsunade who dominated gambling halls—
…was this her first time?
His throat went dry.
This was bad. Very bad.
[Ding! Host has formed a deep bond with special target "Tsunade." Hidden task "Fateful Encounter" completed beyond requirements.]
[Task Rating: Mythic]
[Reward: 5000 EP]
[Special Reward: Host's bloodline has gained trace "Senju of the Forest" factor. Physical constitution and chakra recovery speed permanently increased (minor).]
The system's notifications rang out in his mind—but Chigen had no mood to celebrate.
He looked at Tsunade, clutching the blanket, her expression shifting from shock to embarrassment… and finally to an icy calm that looked dangerously close to murder.
This wasn't trading lifespan for pay anymore.
This was gambling with his life in a relationship.
"Um… Lady Tsunade…"
Chigen spoke with difficulty, trying to explain something.
Tsunade didn't look at him. Her eyes were locked on the bloodstain, her body beginning to tremble uncontrollably.
Hemophobia.
Chigen's heart skipped.
Without thinking, he sprang out of bed, ripped the blood-stained sheet free, balled it up, and stuffed it into the hidden compartment beneath the bed. Then he pulled out a clean set from the wardrobe and spread it out.
Only after finishing did he finally breathe out and turn back to her.
Tsunade's face was still pale, but her breathing had steadied, and the trembling had stopped.
She finally raised her head and looked at Chigen with an expression too complex to read.
Chigen got dressed, walked over, and gently pulled the blanket up to cover her bare shoulders.
"You drank too much last night," he said carefully.
"It was… an accident."
Tsunade stayed silent, just watching him.
There was no killing intent in her eyes now—but something else had appeared. Something Chigen couldn't decipher.
The atmosphere in the room was so awkward it felt solid.
Chigen felt like he should say something like "I'll take responsibility"—but he absolutely could not bring himself to say it.
Taking responsibility with one of the Legendary Sannin?
That sounded like a shortcut to getting beaten into paste.
Just then—
Knock. Knock. Knock.
The sound echoed through the quiet room.
Chigen's heart skipped a beat.
Who was that?
He instinctively looked at Tsunade and gestured for her to stay quiet.
Tsunade reacted instantly, holding her breath and curling fully into the blanket.
"Chigen-senpai, it's me. Hatake Kakashi."
A cool, calm teenage voice came from outside.
Kakashi?
Why was he here?
Chigen's mind raced as he walked to the door.
He opened it only a crack, positioning himself to block the view inside.
"Kakashi? What is it?"
Kakashi stood outside, his short silver hair glaring in the morning light.
He gave Chigen a once-over.
"The Chūnin Promotion Exam. Today at nine a.m., Training Ground Three."
His tone was flat.
"It's the Hokage's order. Seems someone forgot to inform you."
Danzo.
Chigen understood instantly.
That old fox wanted him to miss the exam publicly and cement the charge of "ignoring regulations."
"I know," Chigen nodded.
"I'm getting ready now."
He was about to close the door when Kakashi suddenly spoke again.
"The smell on you…"
Chigen's body stiffened.
Kakashi sniffed slightly. His visible eye flashed with curiosity.
"A strong scent of alcohol. And…"
He paused, as if distinguishing it.
"…a woman's perfume."
Chigen's heart nearly leapt out of his throat.
He forced himself to stay calm and lied without blinking.
"Ah, yeah. I was drinking with some friends last night and spilled it on myself."
Immediately changing the subject, he stepped out and closed the door behind him.
"Let's go. Didn't you say the exam's about to start?"
He slung an arm around Kakashi's shoulder and half-dragged him away, moving with the urgency of someone fleeing disaster.
Kakashi let himself be pulled along for a few steps, then glanced back at the tightly closed door—but asked no further questions.
As they exited the courtyard, they saw a black-haired girl holding a small pig, pacing anxiously at the end of the alley.
Shizune spotted them and hurried over.
"Excuse me, have you seen a blonde—"
Before she could finish, Tonton suddenly started snorting excitedly at Chigen, his nose pressing insistently toward him.
Chigen's face turned green.
Shizune froze.
She looked at Tonton's reaction… then at Chigen.
Her expression became very strange.
Why was Lady Tsunade's scent so strong on this man?
---
Training Ground Three.
A large crowd had already gathered—mostly villagers watching the spectacle, along with shinobi here to observe.
Rin Nohara stood among them, standing on tiptoe and searching for familiar faces.
"Rin!"
A familiar voice called out as Shizune squeezed through the crowd with Tonton.
"Shizune? What are you doing here?" Rin asked in surprise.
"I'm looking for Lady Tsunade," Shizune said anxiously.
"Tonton says her scent is strong here… and then it just vanished."
Rin looked around as well, but didn't see any sign of the legendary Sannin.
"Don't worry," she said gently.
"Maybe Lady Tsunade just passed through."
Just then, a ripple of excitement spread through the crowd.
"Look! Kakashi's here!"
"Who's that next to him? His hair's a mess—he looks half-dead."
"That's Sakuya Chigen! The 'Ultimate Repeater Student'!"
Amid the chatter, Chigen and Kakashi walked into the training ground side by side.
Chigen yawned, looking utterly sleep-deprived, while internally screaming.
I'm doomed.
Leaving Tsunade alone at my place—once she fully sobers up, will she tear the house down?
And that pig—its nose is way too good.
Right now, he just wanted to get this damned exam over with and go home to beg for mercy.
Maybe… he could ask the system if there was some kind of skill that made getting beaten hurt less.