Some wounds cannot be healed by fists or medicine. They heal only when the heart dares to look upward again.
"Ridiculous! How could I possibly shackle myself in chains?"
Tsunade snapped back, but the sharpness in her voice couldn't hide the hesitation flickering in her eyes.
Despite her denial, Ayato's earlier words had already taken root.
"If you truly weren't bound," Ayato said calmly, "then why can't you face blood? In the end… you're afraid of death."
Golden light flickered across his palm as geo energy gathered and condensed.
He brought his hands together.
With a soft rumble, a stone tea table emerged from the earth, followed by two matching chairs. A complete tea set rested neatly atop the surface, sculpted with precise detail.
Tsunade stared.
"…What are you trying to do?" she asked warily, though curiosity had already overtaken her irritation.
"That takes a bit of explaining," Ayato replied. "Care for some tea?"
He pulled a small pouch of tea leaves from his sleeve.
Tsunade didn't answer — but after a brief hesitation, she lowered herself into one of the stone chairs.
"…We're missing water."
Ayato paused.
Right.
He had created everything except the most important part.
Water.
"…Minor oversight," he admitted lightly.
"Hmph."
Tsunade snorted. With a casual flick of her wrist, a stream of water filled the kettle. A burst of flame followed beneath it.
In seconds, steam rose from the spout.
"That's convenient," Ayato chuckled as he prepared the tea.
A gentle fragrance spread through the grove, blending with the cool night air.
Tsunade inhaled despite herself, her shoulders easing slightly.
"This tea comes from the Land of Tea," Ayato said, lifting his cup and savoring the aroma. "Not as potent as Awakening Tea, but still quite rare."
Unlike him, Tsunade had little patience. She tipped the cup back and swallowed in one gulp.
"Hot!"
She rarely drank anything but alcohol these days. The scalding liquid burned straight down her throat.
Yet strangely, the turmoil in her chest seemed to quiet after that single mouthful.
"…You really have a solution?" Tsunade asked suddenly.
"I do — and I don't."
She frowned. "What kind of answer is that?"
"It depends on you, not me."
Ayato lifted his gaze toward the star-filled sky.
"…What are you talking about?"
"For example," he said calmly, "pick up the cup."
Tsunade followed his instruction and lifted the teacup again.
At the same time, Ayato raised the still-boiling kettle and continued pouring.
He didn't stop.
Scalding water overflowed, splashing onto Tsunade's hand.
Reflexively, her fingers released their grip.
Clang!
The cup shattered against the stone ground.
"What the hell are you doing?!" Tsunade snapped, fury surging as she raised her fist. The water hadn't truly injured her — but she hated being toyed with.
"When something hurts, you let go," Ayato said evenly, setting the kettle down.
"Just like you."
His eyes met hers.
"Do you really need to wait until someone is once again covered in blood in your arms before you understand… pain?"
Tsunade froze.
Pain… before letting go?
"Jiraiya. Orochimaru. Shizune. Even… the Third Hokage," Ayato continued quietly.
"Your bonds with them aren't the same as with Dan and Nawaki. Are they?"
His words struck her like thunder.
That's right.
She still had people.
She still had students, comrades, teachers.
She was still a medical ninja.
If another disaster struck Konoha — like last night —
Was she truly willing to wait until another loved one died in her arms before waking up?
"Look at the sky," Ayato said softly.
Tsunade unconsciously raised her head.
"They say when people die, they become stars, watching over those they love," Ayato continued. "That means… Nawaki and Dan may be up there right now."
He gestured toward the vast starlit heavens.
The night was clear. Endless constellations shimmered above.
"…Stars," Tsunade whispered.
"Then tell me," Ayato asked gently, "would you want them to worry even more about the way you're living now?"
Her breathing trembled.
While Tsunade remained lost in thought, Ayato quietly checked the system.
[Host: Ayato]
[Active Role: Zhongli]
[Synchronization: 5.7%]
[Remaining Time Today: 29 / 30 minutes]
Only one minute left.
"Think carefully," Ayato said. "Do you wait until it hurts to understand pain… or—"
He waved his hand.
The stone table, chairs, and tea set dissolved into glowing particles, fading into the night air. Ayato clasped his hands behind his back and turned away.
"The market has closed, and the noisy harbor has fallen silent," his voice drifted back softly. "Go get some rest."
His figure vanished into the shadows.
Only Tsunade remained beneath the starlight, silent tears sliding down her cheeks.
"Nawaki… Dan… are you really watching me from up there?"
—
[Ding. Second roleplay session ended.]
[Zhongli roleplay time for today has been used up.]
[Current Synchronization: 5.7%]
[Unlocked Skills: None]
Ayato exhaled quietly as the prompt appeared.
He'd managed to say everything he needed within that final minute.
Whether Tsunade would truly change… only time would tell.
Still —
A faint chuckle escaped his lips as he headed back toward the Odd Jobs Shop.
He'd been dragged out of bed once already tonight. Now he'd need to reclaim some sleep.
Just as he reached the door, another system prompt appeared.
[Ding]
[Hidden Task Triggered: Tsunade's Knot of the Heart]
[Objective: Resolve Tsunade's inner conflict]
[Reward: Zhongli Synchronization +0.2%]
[Status: Completed]
[Current Synchronization: 5.9%]
Ayato paused.
Hidden tasks?
So the system rewarded deeper influence as well.
His gaze sharpened thoughtfully.
Earlier, he had spoken Zhongli's signature line again — yet no synchronization increase had occurred.
Did those lines only count once?
Or was there a hidden condition?
Ayato narrowed his eyes slightly.
Things were getting… interesting.
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