Knock. Knock. Knock.
The steady rapping at the door hit like three heavy blows, pounding straight into the hearts of three people—each with their own secrets.
Shizune jolted, instantly clamping her mouth shut.
Tsunade's expression shifted too. With her heightened senses, she caught that familiar chakra outside immediately—one that always gave her a headache.
That old man… why is he here?
Chigen reacted the fastest. Almost at once, his eyes flicked to Tsunade.
Tsunade was looking at him too, her gaze carrying a question—and a trace of panic she didn't want anyone to see.
Hide, first.
Chigen lowered his voice and mouthed the words to her.
Tsunade gritted her teeth. She was one of the Legendary Sannin—since when did she end up sneaking around in some genin's house like this?
But the moment she pictured that old man's lecturing face, she gave in. She snatched the half-written IOU off the table, stuffed it into her clothes, and scribbled a few more strokes on it at lightning speed.
"Take it!"
She shoved the crumpled slip into Chigen's hand.
"You served well last night. I said I'd pay you back, and I will."
Chigen took it on instinct and unfolded it. Across the top were two bold words written with wild, messy strokes:
IOU
Below it was a string of zeros—no more, no less—exactly fifty thousand ryō.
Signed: Tsunade.
He hadn't even had time to mock the horrible handwriting or the "trust me" level of credibility before Tsunade blurred into motion and vanished from the spot.
Almost simultaneously, Chigen felt it—an extremely faint chakra presence blending into the background up in the rafters.
He quietly folded the IOU, tucked it into his pocket, then walked to the door. He straightened his tattered clothes and opened it.
Three people stood outside.
At the front was the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Beside him was Orochimaru, radiating that cold, snake-like chill.
And behind them, Shizune kept her head down, hiding and refusing to meet Chigen's eyes.
"Hokage-sama."
Chigen bowed slightly—just the right amount of respect for a genin.
"Chigen. Sorry to visit unannounced—did we interrupt you?"
Hiruzen's expression was gentle, almost apologetic, but his eyes swept the room without drawing attention.
Three bowls of ramen. One untouched.
"Hokage-sama, not at all."
Chigen stepped aside.
"The place is small. Sorry it's not much of a welcome."
Hiruzen entered. Orochimaru followed, golden snake eyes studying Chigen like an interesting specimen on a slab.
"What happened during today's exam… the village was in the wrong."
Hiruzen went straight to the point, voice sincere.
"Aburame Ryūma has already been imprisoned. He will pay for what he did."
He pulled out a scroll and a brand-new green flak jacket.
"This is your chūnin vest. And this…"
He handed the scroll to Chigen.
"A secret jutsu from the Leaf Style Sword Arts—Dance of the Crescent Moon. Consider it compensation from the village, and a reward you've earned."
Dance of the Crescent Moon…?
Chigen's eyes flickered. That was an advanced Leaf sword jutsu—powerful, and useful as reference material to refine his own style.
The old man had actually paid out big this time.
"Thank you, Hokage-sama."
"Heh. What a touching scene."
Orochimaru chuckled at the worst possible moment. He licked his lips, his gaze lingering on Chigen briefly before losing interest.
"Chakra this weak, and you still managed to survive one of Danzō's kill boxes… interesting."
Then he pivoted, eyes drifting toward a particular spot on the roof.
"But Tsunade's taste is getting worse and worse."
Up in the rafters, Tsunade's fist clenched with a quiet crack.
Hiruzen shot Orochimaru a warning glare, then turned to Shizune, his tone softening.
"Shizune. I know Tsunade is nearby. Tell her this for me—the war is coming. I want her back in the village."
His voice hardened.
"I'm not asking her to fight. I'm not asking her to step into the hospital. I just need her in the village—where everyone can see that Tsunade of the Sannin has returned. For morale and stability, that matters."
Shizune nodded rapidly, about to speak—
When Orochimaru laughed again. He tilted his head up toward the roof.
"Hiding isn't your style, Tsunade."
Before anyone could react, several black shadows shot from his sleeve.
Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!
Venomous snakes lunged upward with terrifying speed, snapping at the roof beams.
"Orochimaru!"
Hiruzen barked, too late to stop him.
Shizune screamed.
Chigen instinctively took a step back, only one thought in his head:
My roof—!
BOOM—!!
Wood splintered. Roof tiles exploded outward.
A massive hole was blasted open overhead, sunlight pouring through the breach and lighting up a storm of dust inside the room.
A golden figure dropped straight down and landed solidly on the floor.
Tsunade smashed the snakes into pulp with one punch, then lifted her head—her beautiful face burning with fury.
"Orochimaru… you want to die?!"
Her voice was cold enough to cut.
"Heh. So you're not completely dull yet."
Orochimaru stared at her, golden eyes glittering with excitement.
"Tsunade. You finally came out."
Hiruzen looked between his students, expression complicated.
Tsunade ignored Orochimaru and turned to Hiruzen.
"Old man. This war you're talking about—are you serious?"
Hiruzen nodded grimly.
"The Four Great Shinobi Countries' villages have allied again. The Leaf… needs your strength."
"My strength?"
Tsunade let out a bitter laugh.
"You mean my medical ninjutsu? Or you want me to watch comrades die in front of me again?"
The light in her eyes dimmed. Her refusal was immediate.
"I'm not going back."
Then something occurred to her. She turned to Orochimaru with a hint of provocation.
"What about you? Haven't you always wanted to prove you're stronger than me? Are you going to the front lines this time?"
"Of course."
Orochimaru's answer was terrifyingly frank.
"And I'll become the Fourth Hokage."
"You?"
Tsunade looked like she'd heard a joke.
"Why not?"
Orochimaru stepped closer and lowered his voice so only she could hear.
"Better than some woman drowning in the past… who also went after a minor."
Tsunade's face flushed bright red—like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.
"What the hell are you talking about?!"
"If I'm lying, you'll know it."
Orochimaru's lips curled into a nasty little smile.
Tsunade trembled with rage—and couldn't refute a single word.
She took a sharp breath, then abruptly changed gears and stuck out her hand toward Orochimaru.
"Give me some money."
Orochimaru's smile froze.
Hiruzen and Shizune both stared.
That kind of whiplash logic—only Tsunade could pull it off.
"How much?"
Orochimaru ground out the words.
"One hundred thousand ryō."
Tsunade named it without blinking.
Orochimaru's eye twitched. He pulled out a thick wallet, didn't even bother counting, and tossed the whole thing at her.
"Take it. And don't bother me again."
He turned and left, his back practically dripping with disgust.
"Thanks! Knew you had it in you—rich boy!"
Tsunade weighed the wallet in her hand and made a face at his retreating back, her mood instantly improving.
Hiruzen watched the absurd scene, sighed helplessly, and followed after them.
Finally, only three people remained in the house:
Chigen. Tsunade. Shizune.
Shizune looked from Tsunade to the gaping hole in the roof and spoke in a tiny voice.
"Lady Tsunade… you kind of… destroyed his roof…"
Only then did Tsunade register the damage. A flash of awkwardness crossed her face.
Chigen folded his arms, leaned against the wall, and let out a long, hollow sigh.
"So… where are we sleeping tonight?"