The inn.
The group sat together, eating a famous takeout dish from Tanzaku Quarters. Tsunade and Jiraiya were drinking sake, clearly getting a bit tipsy.
Kyohiko felt uneasy.
From the start of the meal until now, Tsunade's gaze had occasionally landed on him.
Was it because he had taken advantage of the situation to try and gain some benefits?
But he really did have Shizune's best interests at heart!
Kyohiko kept his head down, focusing on his food.
Jiraiya spoke up. "Tsunade, when are we heading back tomorrow?"
"Who said I'm going back?"
Tsunade lowered her head. "Tomorrow, you take Shizune back."
Kyohiko, sitting nearby, really wanted to add fuel to the fire, but he knew it wasn't his place to speak up now.
Jiraiya, Shizune.
You two need to step up!
"Lady Tsunade, I won't leave! Your condition..."
Shizune stood up in a panic.
She knew very well.
Although Tsunade was powerful, her hemophobia made her vulnerable. If someone really wanted to capture her, all they needed to do was make her bleed.
How could Shizune possibly feel at ease?
Jiraiya said, "Tsunade, you know your own situation. Are you really willing to take that risk?"
Kakashi and Kurenai were full of questions.
Lady Tsunade...
What exactly was wrong with her?
They were curious but didn't dare to ask.
Tsunade sneered. "A medical ninja with hemophobia—what good would I be back in the village?"
What?
Kakashi and Kurenai were shocked.
Hemophobia!!
No wonder Lady Tsunade had left Konoha!
With such a condition, it was basically the end of her ninja career.
Especially for a medical ninja.
Healing and treating injuries inevitably involved blood. With this condition, she could no longer perform surgeries.
And yet, Tsunade was the pride of Konoha's medical ninja...
Kyohiko was also slightly surprised.
Tsunade had let her guard down.
What he didn't expect was—
She didn't wait for Jiraiya to respond. Instead, she looked directly at Kyohiko.
"Kid, you were quite talkative earlier. Tell me, what good would I be if I went back?"
Tsunade's gaze was dark.
Kyohiko was stunned for a moment, then felt a surge of joy. He quickly organized his thoughts.
This was his chance!
"I don't know much about medical ninjutsu or hemophobia, but I do know that a ninja like you, with your experience, skills, and reputation, is incredibly valuable. For example, Shizune's medical ninjutsu has improved significantly under your guidance, hasn't it?"
Shizune nodded repeatedly.
But Tsunade didn't respond, silently drinking another cup of sake.
"If teaching isn't your goal, then why not try becoming Hokage? If you're dissatisfied with certain policies, you can change them as Hokage."
Kyohiko's expression was serious. "Konoha's well-established medical ninja system has saved countless lives, and your status and reputation are more than enough to make you Hokage."
"Kyohiko!"
Jiraiya panicked.
This kid was hitting all the sensitive topics.
Hokage...
This was Tsunade's most sensitive subject!
Tsunade sneered.
"Kid, Hokage... what do you know about it?"
"I'm young, so I don't know much, but I will aim to become Hokage to achieve what I want to achieve."
Kyohiko's youthful face was filled with seriousness and determination.
Kakashi and Kurenai didn't blink.
Kyohiko's thoughts and words made him seem like a peer of Jiraiya and Tsunade, not someone their own age.
Moreover—
So bold!
They would never dare to say such things.
This was Tsunade they were talking about!
Tsunade was also taken aback.
She began to understand what Jiraiya meant by "thinking and mindset."
This kid's way of thinking was on a completely different level, almost like a dimensional leap.
In Kyohiko, she vaguely saw traces of two other people.
Tsunade paused.
Kyohiko continued eating, completely unfazed by being the center of attention.
He calmly finished his meal.
Jiraiya sipped his sake, but his eyes were fixed on Tsunade.
He was terrified that Tsunade would slam the table!
And break it.
But.
Tsunade just smiled, though her smile was a bit terrifying...
At least she didn't lash out.
"You're dissatisfied with the village?"
"Very much so!"
Kyohiko put down his chopsticks.
He said earnestly, "We've all lost loved ones in the war. How can we be satisfied with the village's current state? I want to become Hokage and eliminate war!"
"..."
Jiraiya's eye twitched.
This kid had the audacity of someone dancing on a grave.
Tsunade propped her head up, looking at Kyohiko with a calm expression.
"Eliminate war? It's not that easy."
"If you don't try, you'll never know. I think giving up is wrong."
Kyohiko gathered his dishes.
He had said his piece. Time to make a quick exit!
He stood up and bowed.
"Sorry, I'm going to train."
Kakashi also finished his meal quickly and hurriedly excused himself, eager to escape.
The atmosphere was too tense!
Training was a better option.
Tsunade leaned back, looking at Shizune and Kurenai, her tone calm.
"Aren't you two going to train?"
"I, I'm full too!"
Kurenai's face turned pale with fear. She immediately put down her chopsticks, bowed, and left in a hurry.
Shizune was still worried.
Tsunade's intimidating aura was frightening, but—
She was more worried that Tsunade would leave without her.
Tsunade was capable of that.
After a moment of hesitation, she said, "I'll wait outside."
The room was now just Jiraiya and Tsunade.
The two drank in silence.
A few seconds later, Tsunade snorted, downed her sake, and reached for another cup.
Jiraiya stopped her.
"Don't drink anymore."
"Can't I even drink now?"
Tsunade glanced at him, then silently finished the next cup but didn't pour another.
After a while, she tossed the bottle aside.
"Let's go."
"Where to?"
"The rooftop. I need some air."
Tsunade waved her hand.
The two went up to the rooftop.
From there, they could see Kyohiko, Kakashi, and the others training below.
"What's so great about being Hokage?"
"..."
Jiraiya couldn't answer.
Because he wasn't particularly interested in the position of Hokage either. Otherwise, he would have been a candidate for the next Hokage.
Tsunade looked up.
"Your student just lectured me like that. Aren't you going to say something? Like, you could step up and take the position, change things in the village?"
"Cough, cough... If I became Hokage, I'd be the one you'd have problems with."
Jiraiya's face turned red.
Tsunade fiddled with the sake bottle, a cold glint in her eyes. "Let's go back and see who sent those guys. We'll figure it out first."
"If it's safe, I won't stop you from leaving."
Jiraiya said.
Tsunade lowered her head, not responding.
Down below—
The three were training hard.
"We'll see."
...
[You have successfully persuaded a wandering Kage-level ninja (weakened) and an elite genin to return to the village.]
[Successful talent recruitment is key to the village's prosperity. Keep up the good work, Hokage.]
[Reward: Strength of Hundred Tecnique (Beginner)]
Holy crap!
It actually worked!
Kyohiko took a moment to understand the basics of the Strength of Hundred Tecnique.
At the beginner level, it only provided the basic techniques and knowledge. Deeper understanding and practice were required, and the technique demanded extremely precise chakra control.
At the beginner level, he would have to manage that on his own.
In other words.
There was some risk in using it?
Wait!
This reward didn't make sense. Tsunade's return only gave him beginner-level Strength of Hundred Tecnique?
Kyohiko scanned the description.
"Temporary," "weakened."
So...
That's where the issue lay.
Alright then.
Kyohiko didn't have a better solution for now. He could only console himself—
Beginners can't be choosers!
Learning Strength of Hundred Tecnique was already a win!
With more practice and maybe some more rewards from Tsunade, he could eventually master it.