In the courtyard of the tavern, Sasuke stood silently, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.
"I finally got Tsunade to take the bet."
This had been his plan from the very beginning.
The stakes started small—simple bets with money, nothing too risky. For someone like Tsunade, who had a legendary losing streak, Sasuke was confident he could win without fail.
Sure enough, in no time, he had cleaned her out.
After that, he gradually escalated the stakes, intending to use the game to push Tsunade into returning to Konoha and accepting the position of Hokage. However, her resistance to the idea was stronger than he expected.
Left with no choice, Sasuke changed tactics. He deliberately provoked her, wagering on whether he could defeat Orochimaru.
On the surface, it was an absurd bet.
Orochimaru—the man who had taken down two Kage-level opponents, a feared Sannin with knowledge of countless forbidden jutsu.
There was no logical way Sasuke should be able to win this gamble.
Which was precisely why Tsunade agreed without hesitation.
"Looks like I'll have to show some real power this time."
Sasuke clenched his fists slightly. Even if Orochimaru were at full strength, he was confident in his victory. But now, with his hands sealed and his body weakened, the odds were overwhelmingly in Sasuke's favor.
As he stood in thought, a voice interrupted him.
"Sasuke, um… do you still have any of that wine from yesterday?"
Tsunade scratched her cheek, looking a little embarrassed.
That wine—she had never tasted anything like it in all her years of traveling. It was simply divine.
Sasuke smiled. "Of course."
With a flick of his wrist, he pulled out a scroll, channeled his chakra, and unsealed several bottles of the fine liquor.
Tsunade's eyes sparkled.
"Ahh~, this is heaven!" she sighed in satisfaction, savoring the first sip.
Shizune, standing beside her, hesitated before asking, "Sasuke, where did you buy this?"
"I didn't buy it," he replied with a smirk. "I brewed it myself."
Tsunade and Shizune exchanged surprised glances.
"You made this?" Tsunade asked in disbelief. "I didn't think the Uchiha had any talent for brewing."
"Brewing is just a hobby," Sasuke said lightly. "If anything, my cooking is even better."
Intrigued, Tsunade crossed her arms. "Is that so?"
Without another word, Sasuke got to work.
Shizune quickly fetched ingredients, and within moments, the courtyard was filled with the rich aroma of expertly prepared dishes.
One by one, plates of mouthwatering food appeared.
Just the scent alone made their mouths water.
Tsunade took a bite—and immediately froze.
"This… this is amazing!"
She looked at Sasuke in shock.
The rich, balanced flavors, the perfect texture—it was unlike anything she had ever tasted.
"You… how did you do this?"
Sasuke just chuckled.
Shizune, meanwhile, was nearly in tears. "This is the best meal I've ever had!"
Even Tonton, the little pig, was drooling so much that Shizune had to hold him back.
"Hey, slow down! Leave some for me!" Tsunade complained, quickly reaching for another dish.
Sasuke watched the scene, amused.
"She's just like a normal person when she's eating," he thought with a smile.
Suddenly, his gaze flickered toward a shadowy corner of the courtyard.
His expression darkened for a brief moment.
"Hmm…"
Not far away, hidden in the darkness, Yakushi Kabuto murmured to himself, "Uchiha Sasuke is here too… His senses are sharp."
Then, without another word, he disappeared into the night.
---
In a dimly lit chamber, Kabuto stood before Orochimaru, delivering his report.
"Sasuke and Tsunade are together," he stated.
Orochimaru's lips curled into a sinister smile. "Oh? That's perfect. Saves me the trouble of looking for him."
His golden eyes gleamed.
"I'll take him myself. His hatred for Itachi will make him an easy target."
Kabuto adjusted his glasses. "Shall I make a move now?"
Orochimaru chuckled. "Getting impatient, are we?"
He turned to Kabuto, his voice dripping with amusement. "You didn't seem this eager to fight during the Chūnin Exams."
Kabuto remained silent.
Orochimaru smirked. "I know Tsunade well. She won't refuse my offer. But… just in case, do not act recklessly in front of her. My hands are more important than your impatience."
Kabuto nodded. "Understood, Orochimaru-sama."
"If she refuses…" Orochimaru's voice turned cold. "We'll use force."
Kabuto narrowed his eyes. "But she's just a—"
"Don't underestimate Tsunade," Orochimaru cut him off sharply. "The Sannin aren't that simple. If she unleashes her Hundred Healings technique, she'll be a nightmare to deal with."
A cruel smile played on his lips.
"But, she does have weaknesses…"
Kabuto sighed. "What a shame."
---
"Hiccup~ That was the best meal I've had in years!"
Tsunade patted her stomach contentedly.
"Sasuke, thanks for the treat!"
Sasuke nodded but hesitated.
Tsunade noticed. "Something on your mind?"
"Yeah," he said seriously. "I want to learn your superhuman strength technique. The chakra control method behind it."
Tsunade raised an eyebrow. "Huh. Well, I suppose there's no harm in teaching you."
She tapped the Hundred Healings Seal on her forehead.
"But this isn't something you can master overnight."
Her chakra-enhanced strength wasn't just raw power—it was a skill honed over years of precise chakra accumulation and control.
However, Sasuke remained unfazed.
Tsunade sighed. "Alright, come with me."
The two arrived at an open field.
Standing before a massive boulder, Tsunade clenched her fist, channeled her chakra, and—
BOOM!
With a single punch, the rock shattered into dust.
"Listen closely, Sasuke," she said, turning to him. "I'll explain the mechanics behind chakra-enhanced strength."
As a medical ninja, her understanding of chakra flow and the human body was unparalleled.
Her explanation was clear, direct, and precise.
And Sasuke?
He understood immediately.
[You have studied the principles of superhuman strength. You have grasped the essence of chakra control.]
[You have awakened Tsunade's legendary strength!]
The moment she finished speaking, Sasuke turned to a boulder of his own—
And smashed it to pieces.
Tsunade's jaw dropped.
"You… already learned it?!"
She stared at the rubble, stunned.
It had taken her years of grueling training to master this technique!
Yet this kid picked it up instantly?!
"Not too hard," Sasuke said casually, dusting off his hands. "Just needed a little practice."
Tsunade clenched her fists.
"Damn brat! Just because you're talented doesn't mean you have to rub it in!"
---
Night fell over Kirigakure.
Standing atop a rocky cliff, Sasuke gazed at the moonlit sky.
"What's wrong?"
Terumi Mei approached, wrapping her arms around him from behind.
"Nothing much," he said. "Just… on the verge of a breakthrough."
Terumi Mei stepped back as Sasuke focused his chakra.
A mysterious energy pulsed within him.
Moonlight gathered around him, drawn into his body.
"This power…" Terumi Mei whispered, feeling the energy shift.
In his mind, Sasuke's spiritual power condensed, forming a crescent moon—a new phase of his evolution.
"Finally, I've reached the next stage…"
He opened his eyes, his Sharingan gleaming with newfound strength.
With this power, he was more than ready to face Orochimaru.