Konoha, inside a quiet room.
Chiyo pressed her palms together and placed them over Tsunade's abdomen, performing the secret forbidden technique—Rebirth Through Life (Isei Tensei).
When it was done, her life force drained away instantly. Before Tsunade could awaken, Tōshirō cast a sidelong glance toward Orochimaru. Orochimaru immediately understood and quietly carried Chiyo's lifeless body out.
The fewer complications, the better.
Counting everything together, Tōshirō had already spent three lives to bring Tsunade back.
Had she been alive to witness it, Tsunade's temperament would never have allowed such a thing.
The effects of Rebirth Through Life manifested quickly. Before long, Tsunade's thick lashes fluttered. Her eyelids lifted slowly, and her hazy gaze met a familiar face—his expression trembling between joy and relief.
"W-what… happened to me?"
Her memories ended shortly after seeing Tōshirō that last time.
"You fainted for a few days. You scared me half to death," he said softly.
"Fainted?"
Tōshirō offered a small lie, his voice gentle. "Nothing serious. Your body was just unstable after being brought back. You're fine now."
Tsunade pushed herself up from the bed. Her body felt completely normal. "I thought I'd never see you again."
"That will never happen. I'll never let you leave me again."
"...Thank you."
Tōshirō's tone lowered, feigning disappointment. "Just thank you?"
Tsunade blinked, then smiled mischievously, her tone playful and honeyed. "Then how about this—Master, shall I serve you in a maid outfit tonight?"
At that, Tōshirō perked up instantly. "Make sure it's the white, thigh-high stockings kind."
Tsunade giggled, playing along with the act. "As long as it pleases my lord, this humble maid will obey any command."
"Ahem…"
A third voice interrupted the scene. Both turned toward it—until that moment, Tōshirō hadn't realized there were others in the room.
A family of three—a woman with long black hair, a man in his thirties, and a quiet boy—stood nearby watching.
"You two are quite the lively pair," the black-haired woman teased, covering her mouth as she laughed.
Tsunade's face flushed pink as she stammered awkwardly. "And you are…?"
"Don't tell me you've forgotten me, Tsunade-sister?"
The woman smiled warmly and pointed at herself. "It's me—Mikoto."
"Mikoto? You've grown so much!" Tsunade exclaimed in surprise.
Then her gaze shifted to the man beside her. "And this must be…"
Mikoto nodded. "Yes, my husband—Fugaku."
Tsunade blurted out without thinking, "He looks so old though…"
Fugaku's face darkened instantly, the atmosphere of reunion taking a sharp nosedive.
Tsunade cleared her throat quickly, realizing the faux pas. "I mean mature! Unlike my Tōshirō here—so many years have passed, and he still hasn't grown up."
Crack.
Fugaku felt as though a kunai had pierced his chest. His face went even darker.
The more Tsunade spoke, the deeper she dug herself into a hole. Her eyes turned to the dark-haired boy nearby. "Is that your son?"
"Hello," said Itachi, bowing politely, though his mind was spinning.
He had watched their earlier flirtation unfold right before his eyes. So this is Uncle Tōshirō's lover? he thought. She's… not what I expected at all.
He had imagined someone graceful and dignified—not this teasing, bold, and unpredictable woman.
But the real shock was Tōshirō himself—completely overturning Itachi's calm, stoic image of him.
Mikoto continued warmly, "We have another one, but he's still at school right now."
Tsunade smiled. "Seeing you all so happy—it's wonderful." Her eyes drifted to Tōshirō, full of subtle, knowing meaning.
Then suddenly she clapped her hands. "Wait—where's Nawaki? He should have a family of his own by now, right?"
Mikoto hesitated, biting her lip. "Nawaki… he…"
Tsunade's brow furrowed. "What is it?"
Tōshirō sighed softly. "Let me tell her."
A bad feeling rose in Tsunade's chest. "What happened to him?"
After a brief silence, Tōshirō answered quietly, "Nawaki is dead."
"W-what…?"
He gave a concise explanation. By the end, Tsunade was pale and motionless, unable to speak, her heart crushed by grief.
Elsewhere — Intelligence Division.
Yamanaka Haiichi, wearing the cloak of the Eighth Division Captain, stared blankly at the corpse before him. If his eyes weren't deceiving him, this was none other than the former Sand elder—Chiyo.
"This body's information retrieval is up to you," Orochimaru said nonchalantly before turning to leave.
"W-wait, Lord Orochimaru—what's going on here?"
Though the two held equal rank, Orochimaru's seniority demanded respect. Haiichi frowned. "This corpse—it's from Sunagakure, right? The elder Chiyo?"
Orochimaru tilted his head, pretending not to understand. "Yes, and?"
And?!
Haiichi's face twitched.
You're seriously asking me that?
It suddenly hit him—Tōshirō and Orochimaru had both been out of the village recently.
No way… Did Tōshirō cause trouble again?
The more he thought about it, the more likely it seemed. He was about to press further, but Orochimaru had already vanished down the corridor.
Swearing under his breath, Haiichi went to find the village's strategist—Nara Shikaku.
Shikaku was idly setting up a shogi board when Haiichi burst into the room. "Ah, perfect timing," Shikaku smiled. "Care for a game?"
"Game? Forget that—we've got a serious problem!" Haiichi quickly explained about Chiyo's corpse.
Shikaku's smile faded instantly. He covered his face with his palm, dragging it down his nose in frustration. "I knew it. That lunatic Tōshirō never comes back without trouble."
Even though Chiyo had been an enemy leader once, these were times of peace. If the Sand learned she'd been killed by Konoha's Hokage, it could easily spark another war.
"Where are you going?" Haiichi asked.
"To find that madman and ask what the hell he's done now."
Since Orochimaru had already returned, it meant Tōshirō must be back as well. The two immediately set out.
They arrived at the Hokage's office, where Izumi was struggling to clean up the mountain of paperwork Tōshirō had left behind.
"Has the Hokage returned yet?" Shikaku asked.
Izumi looked up, exasperated. "Not yet. But if you see him, please remind him there are dozens of documents waiting for his signature."
Haiichi: "…"Shikaku: "…"
Just as they were about to leave, fate intervened.
Tōshirō walked up the hall—freshly returned from visiting the Heroes' Memorial Stone with Tsunade to mourn Nawaki.
Mikoto, who was organizing files nearby, brightened immediately. "Lord Hokage! Perfect timing—Shikaku and Haiichi were just saying they needed to see y—"
She trailed off as her gaze fell on the woman beside him.
A golden-haired beauty, appearing about sixteen or seventeen, her radiant hair gleamed like polished gold. Her skin was pale and flawless, her features delicate—yet her brown eyes held a faint sadness.
Wow…
What a stunning woman.
Izumi blinked, genuinely awestruck.
There was a phrase—as beautiful as a flower that shames the moon. This woman embodied it perfectly.
But what truly left Izumi speechless was not her face—it was her figure. Though she looked barely older than Izumi, her curves were… impossible.
Unconsciously, Izumi glanced down at herself, squeezed her chest slightly, and nearly died of embarrassment. Itachi isn't the kind of man who cares about looks… right?
Tōshirō's calm voice broke the silence. "What's the matter?"
Shikaku didn't answer right away—he was too busy studying the woman beside him.
A beauty like that—he'd definitely remember if she were from the village.
Did Tōshirō bring her back from his last trip?
"Lord Hokage… this woman is…?"
"My girlfriend," Tōshirō said flatly.
"Oh, I see, your girlfr—wait, WHAT?!"
All three of them froze, minds going blank.
Tōshirō repeated evenly, "Girlfriend."
Tsunade, still pale and subdued from learning of Nawaki's death, managed a faint, bittersweet smile, playing along without protest.
"WHAT!?"
Their collective cry of disbelief echoed through the office.
Tōshirō had not only returned with a corpse from Sunagakure's leadership—but also with a girlfriend?
Was this a joke?!
Irritated by their reactions, Tōshirō frowned. "If there's nothing important, leave. I'd like to be alone with Tsunade for a while."
"Uh… understood…"
Shikaku and Haiichi exchanged a helpless look and wisely made their exit.
Tōshirō then turned his gaze toward the last remaining person.
"Do I… have to go too?" Izumi asked timidly.
He didn't respond—just gave her a look.
That was answer enough.
Awkwardly, she laughed and hurried after the others, catching up with Shikaku and Haiichi in the hallway.
"You two," she said, "you're older—do you know anything about this Tsunade woman?"
Shikaku rubbed his chin. "Doesn't that name sound familiar to you?"
Haiichi thought for a moment. "Now that you mention it… yeah, kind of."
Izumi clapped her hands together, her eyes lighting up. "Ah! Tsunade's name is the same as the First Hokage's granddaughter!"
Since Tōshirō's position was unique, Izumi had done her homework about Konoha's history.
Haiichi's eyes widened slightly. "No… it can't be."
Shikaku shook his head slowly. "No… maybe it is her."
"But she was supposed to be dead!" Haiichi protested.
"Do you remember what Tōshirō said in that village assembly when he first came back?"
Haiichi froze. "You mean… he actually did it?"
Shikaku nodded grimly. "Seems that way."
"This is… unbelievable."
Izumi, not having been present at that meeting, was completely lost. "Um—what are you two talking about?"
"Nothing," they said in unison, brushing her off before walking away.
"Ugh, come on!" Izumi pouted, stamping her foot in frustration, cheeks puffed with annoyance.
(End of Chapter)
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