Tōshirō's mind went completely blank when he heard those words—his head buzzing in disbelief.
He had gone through all that effort to resurrect her, and the first thing she asked was this?
Couldn't she at least show some gratitude?
He suddenly had the urge to bang his head against the wall. "You're misunderstanding me! How could I possibly do something like that?"
Tsunade looked skeptical. "Really?"
Tōshirō's eyes were clear and sincere. "Really. Truer than pearls."
Tsunade pouted. "Hmph. Liar."
Tōshirō was speechless. "How am I lying?"
"The way you answer so quickly—it's obvious you rehearsed that line beforehand," Tsunade accused logically, hands on her hips. "With your lecherous nature, you expect me to believe you've stayed pure for me all these years?"
"You make such a good point I can't even—wait, no, that's not—"
Tsunade folded her arms with a triumphant expression, as if she had just caught him red-handed. "Aha! So I was right!"
Tōshirō's mouth opened slightly, his expression deadpan.
You've said everything yourself; what am I even supposed to add?
"Oh, now you can't even be bothered to explain yourself?" she snapped.
For crying out loud…
Tōshirō waved his hand in frustration. "Can you not be unreasonable for once?"
"Oh, I'm being unreasonable? And now you're yelling at me?" Tsunade's voice trembled as if she were about to cry. "You weren't like this before… You've changed. All you had to do was say you're sorry, and I'd forgive you."
Tōshirō turned his head away, rubbing his temples as though his skull might split open.
He'd worked so hard to bring her back from the dead—and apparently only managed to revive her body, not her brain.
"Fine! I'm sorry, alright?!"
"Hmph."
Tōshirō blinked in disbelief. "What now? Why are you still not satisfied?"
"I'm mad."
He froze. "...Huh?"
"Hmph."
"What's that supposed to mean now?"
"You're not even going to ask why?"
Tōshirō groaned. "Okay, fine—Tsunade, why are you mad?" he said in an attempt to placate her.
She slapped his hand away. "Don't touch me! You're freezing—colder than ice! What, do you think I didn't stay dead long enough, and now you want me to freeze to death too?"
Tōshirō forced a smile. If it had been anyone else talking to him like this, he would've punched them into next week. "Why are you mad?"
"Can't you figure it out yourself?"
"What?"
"Every time I get angry you just ask me why! Can't you ever think for yourself? You say you love me, but you don't even have the smallest bit of understanding?"
"But—you just told me to ask!" Tōshirō bit back the curse that almost slipped out.
"Oh, so now you're arguing with me?" Tsunade huffed.
"I—! You—!" He clenched his fists and glared. "Hey! Don't push it! I have a temper too, you know! Just because I love you doesn't mean you can walk all over me!"
"Oh yeah? I'm walking all over you—what are you going to do about it?" Tsunade shot back, hands on her hips. "Come on, hit me if you dare!"
Good grief…
Tōshirō had never met such an outrageous woman. He lifted his hand—then sighed and dropped it again. There was no helping it. He liked this woman, after all. Even her madness was… oddly endearing.
Tsunade tilted her chin proudly, her beautiful amber eyes sparkling with smug satisfaction.
Tōshirō hung his head, utterly defeated. He genuinely wanted to shove her back into the dirt with Edo Tensei and re-bury her.
Women, once they started being unreasonable, were truly impossible creatures.
Then came a soft "pfft," followed by laughter as light as wind chimes.
"...Huh?"
Tōshirō looked up.
Tsunade was laughing sweetly, her bright smile radiant like sunlight piercing through the clouds. "I'm teasing you, silly! Look at you, all panicked and serious!"
"…"
"At first I just wanted to mess with you a little, but when I saw how much you cared, I couldn't help it—it was too much fun!"
"Hmph."
"Oh, don't be mad."
"Hmph."
"Alright, alright! My bad! I shouldn't have played with your feelings."
Tōshirō crossed his arms and said coldly, "Now you know you were wrong? Too late."
Tsunade clasped her hands behind her back, smiling playfully. "Don't be angry~ I'll make it up to you, okay?"
Tōshirō frowned seriously. "No. I won't forgive you no matter what."
"Then… how about I let you touch something?" she hinted suggestively.
"What are you—" Tōshirō froze mid-sentence, his stoic expression breaking apart. "What did you just say?"
"Oh, you're terrible!" Tsunade giggled, pressing her blushing cheeks with both hands. "I didn't even say where."
Tōshirō: "…"
She stepped closer, looping her arms around his neck and pulling his head into her soft, ample chest. "But this much… I can manage."
Warmth. Fragrance. The faint, sweet scent of her body surrounded him, and for a moment, Tōshirō's mind melted into bliss.
Then he sighed softly. "Forget it… You know my body's cold. I'll end up freezing you."
Tsunade trembled slightly from his icy touch, but instead of letting go, she held him tighter. Her voice was gentle. "It's fine. Even if you really turn into ice, I'll hold you tight until you melt again."
Tōshirō's eyes welled with tears. "Tsunade…"
For him, as long as she was happy, that was enough.
Her smile alone gave meaning to his every day.
In the shadows, Orochimaru watched quietly. From the moment Tsunade had been resurrected, Tōshirō's aura had changed—the cold, oppressive chill around him had softened.
Orochimaru murmured, "So this is the power of love, hmm?"
Just then, both Tōshirō and Tsunade turned toward him, giving him an icy look.
Orochimaru paused. "Ah. Am I… interrupting something?"
Tōshirō quickly pulled back from Tsunade's embrace and cleared his throat, pretending to cough into his fist. "Let's… head back to the village."
Orochimaru's gaze drifted to Rōran's lifeless body on the ground. What a waste.
He'd hoped to study that corpse more closely—but with Tsunade present, it wasn't the right time.
Tsunade looked around. "Where are we right now?"
Tōshirō answered, "In the Land of Grass."
"The Land of Grass?" Tsunade frowned. "Then it'll take some time to get back to the village."
"It won't take that long," Tōshirō said calmly. "We'll be there soon."
She was about to ask how when her eyes widened in awe. Behind Tōshirō, a colossal, blazing-blue figure rose from the ground—like a giant made of pure flame. Its size alone rivaled that of a tailed beast.
Tsunade gasped. Just as she was about to speak, she noticed Tōshirō's eyes—blood-red irises with complex, snowflake-like patterns instead of the usual three tomoe.
"Tōshirō, your eyes…"
"This is the power of my Mangekyō Sharingan," he said quietly.
"Mangekyō Sharingan!?" Tsunade exclaimed.
The spectral blue giant—his spirit flame—extended a hand toward them, palm upward. Tōshirō leapt lightly onto it. "Let's go. From now on, I swear—no one will ever hurt you again."
Tsunade nodded softly. Though full of questions, she decided to save them for later.
Just as they began to move, Tsunade suddenly felt dizzy. The world seemed to blur and crumble beneath her feet.
"Tsunade—!"
Tōshirō reacted instantly, catching her before she fell. But to his alarm, her eyes fluttered closed.
Tsunade had lost consciousness.
(End of Chapter)
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