"Minato? That's rare… seeing you like this."
When Namikaze Minato and Hatake Kakashi slipped into the room Shizune had booked—like thieves—Tsunade raised an eyebrow in surprise.
"As far as I remember, you've been the perfect, stylish shinobi since the Academy."
"You're just here to see me, aren't you? Why are you sneaking around like this?"
"This is still the Land of Fire, last I checked."
"Circumstances force caution," Minato said, straightening. "It's been a long time, Tsunade-sama."
"I've heard your 'legend' plenty, Minato," Tsunade said, sipping from her cup.
"Defeating the Cloud's A and B… making Stone shinobi allowed to abandon missions if they see you…"
Then she narrowed her eyes at his side.
"But for even you—Flying Thunder God heir—to be hurt this badly…"
"Has the Mist quietly grown stronger than the Cloud and Stone?"
"Overall… no," Minato admitted, shaking his head.
"But the Mist produced a monster."
"And I'll be honest—this is the second time I've been injured and defeated by him."
"What?! How is that—"
Shizune clapped a hand over her mouth, eyes wide.
"Someone can beat you, Minato-sama?"
Minato's face fell.
"Not only me. Kushina fought with me… and she was defeated too."
Tsunade glanced between Minato's expression and the clenched fist of Kakashi beside him.
She sighed.
"Shizune, treat him first."
"For the Third to allow you to drag an unhealed wound all the way here… Konoha must be in serious trouble."
"Yes, Tsunade-sama!"
Shizune hurried over and began using Mystical Palm Technique on Minato's wound.
Minato's heart tightened as he asked quietly, "Tsunade-sama… your hemophobia… is it still not better?"
"It isn't," Tsunade said, voice bitter.
"You can see it."
"Even treating you through cloth like this makes me shake. I can barely circulate chakra."
She looked away, fingers trembling as she played with her hair.
"I know why you're here."
"You want me to return and treat Kushina—or someone else."
"That's why you came looking for someone who already left Konoha."
"But it's no use."
"I can't be a medic-nin who sees blood every day anymore."
Minato opened his mouth, then had no idea what to say.
If her knot were easy to untie…
Jiraiya-sensei would've brought her back long ago.
Without Tsunade…
How long would Kushina have to fight that strange chakra from her bed before she recovered?
"If it's truly that urgent," Tsunade said finally, "then take Shizune back with you for a while."
Shizune's face panicked. "B-But if I go back, who will take care of you, Tsunade-sama?"
Tsunade gave a tired laugh.
"Relax. I was called one of the Sannin."
"No matter how broken I am, I'm not helpless enough to need someone to dress me."
"That's not what I'm worried about," Shizune said carefully, biting her lip.
"I'm worried that if I'm not with you… you'll borrow money and gamble even more often."
Tsunade waved her off.
"What does it matter?"
"I'm just taking money from one pile of trash and losing it to another."
Then she tapped the diamond on her forehead.
"Besides, I can adjust my appearance and change clothes."
Even if casino thugs pass right by me, they won't connect me to their 'big fat sheep'…"
"…Ah."
As if remembering something, Tsunade turned to Minato.
"Minato… that 'monster' from the Mist."
"Tell me his intel."
"Of course, Tsunade-sama."
Minato summarized what he knew, efficient and concise.
"His name is Huiye Lian. Kaguya bloodline, around fifteen."
"High mastery of Shikotsumyaku. Skilled in taijutsu and Water Release."
"Chakra reserves enormous. Vitality abnormal. Defense and recovery terrifying—like a humanoid tailed beast."
"He also has Sage Mode."
"And a gray bone variant far more destructive than ordinary Shikotsumyaku."
"Kushina was heavily injured by that gray bone. She still hasn't woken."
"You know what that makes me think of?" Tsunade asked quietly.
"What?"
"My grandfather."
"First Hokage—Senju Hashirama."
Minato and Kakashi both froze.
"Tsunade-sama… are you serious?" Minato asked, voice heavy.
"Who knows?" Tsunade murmured, staring out the window.
"I'd need to see him. Fight him."
"But chakra and vitality like a tailed beast… self-taught Sage Mode… bloodline power surpassing his clan…"
"Those traits really do resemble Grandpa Hashirama."
Then her eyes sharpened slightly.
"Minato. You were so cautious coming to see me…"
"Don't tell me…"
"That Huiye Lian is in this town."
Minato exhaled and nodded. "As expected of you, Tsunade-sama."
"I left an unremovable Flying Thunder God formula on him. I can sense his position."
"When I came for you… I realized the formula was inside town."
"To be honest, I thought he came here for you, too."
"Me?" Tsunade scoffed bitterly.
"I'm just a washed-up gambler who runs from her life."
She stood, walked into her room, and paused at the door.
"Minato, rest."
"Give Shizune time to pack."
"When she's ready, take her back to Konoha."
"I'm tired."
The door closed, cutting off whatever Minato wanted to say.
Alone in the room, Tsunade inhaled—and a memory surfaced unbidden.
She and Shizune had been at a roadside shop, eating while laughing at casino thugs passing outside.
Then the boy at the table beside them had turned his head.
That calm, mountain-like presence.
That thoughtful gaze.
She hadn't cared then.
But now…
That boy might have been Huiye Lian.
And if he was truly as dangerous as Minato described…
He might have already pieced together her identity from Shizune's earlier complaints.
Minato was injured.
Kakashi was too young.
Shizune wasn't a combat shinobi.
If Huiye Lian attacked…
She couldn't protect them.
"Leave quickly, Minato…" Tsunade clenched her fist, whispering to herself. "I don't want to watch more young people die in front of me…"
…
Elsewhere.
The boy Tsunade feared was sitting in a steadily rolling carriage, silently using his curse mark to sense changes in natural energy.
"The curse mark is activating faster than before…"
"So Ryuchi Cave really is somewhere north of the Land of Fire."
"But if I keep heading north along this route…"
"At my closest, I'll be only a bit over a hundred kilometers from Konoha."
Huiye Lian's lips curled.
"Can you sense me at this range, Orochimaru~?"
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