After delivering Lee to the Regular Ward, the two returned again to the Chamber. This time, Tsunade asked Anya to take off her shirt and lie down for a medical checkup. No funny ideas—this was just a standard checkup.
Tsunade conducted the examination with great care, and Anya didn't mind at all—having the strongest medical ninja in existence examine her could potentially uncover ways to accelerate recovery.
After thoroughly checking from head to toe, Tsunade frowned and fell into deep thought.
Finally, after a long pause, she spoke, "Your body is quite strange. Your cellular activity is incredibly high—even higher than my grandfather's—but every single cell seems to be starving. In short, it's like having an elephant's body but a mouse's strength."
Anya couldn't help but acknowledge, "That's spot-on. Exactly what I'm going through. Any idea how much longer the recovery will take?"
Tsunade shook her head. "This is actually my first time encountering such a case. Moreover, the chakra inside your body isn't anything I recognize—it's entirely Sage Chakra, and not just one type either. I can't even imagine how you managed that."
Anya didn't hide anything from Tsunade and explained the entire process of reconstructing her own body.
Only then did Tsunade understand just how dangerous the process had been—any slight mistake would've caused immediate bodily explosion. Now it made sense why Anya said she'd always been on the edge of life and death.
Puzzled, Tsunade asked, "Then why didn't you wait until fully recovered before coming out?"
Anya sat up and pulled Tsunade into an embrace. "I didn't know how long it would take," he said. "I was afraid that by the time I fully recovered, the people I cared about might no longer be around. This works—I finally have you back by my side."
Tsunade didn't resist the hug, though she muttered, "Hmph, always saying sweet things. No wonder I've been losing so much chakra these past few days—it must've been absorbed by your cells because of their nature."
"That's true," Anya admitted with a wistful smile. "When we're completely connected, our chakras naturally link. My Sage Chakra instinctively absorbs your chakra for conversion. Your body currently cannot absorb Sage Chakra, so all that energy ends up within me—it becomes my power."
Tsunade muttered, "I knew it. You weren't like this before…"
"What was that?" Anya raised his voice slightly, his hands unconsciously starting to wander and tease.
Tsunade blushed as she realized her body had become increasingly sensitive to Anya's touch. She slapped away his mischievous hands and snapped, "We still have something important tomorrow. Stop fooling around."
"This isn't fooling around," Anya whispered persuasively. "Orochimaru developed a cursed seal that grants a low-grade version of Sage Chakra. To control Sage Chakra, the first requirement is immense chakra reserves—which you already possess. The second condition is being able to withstand the wild nature of natural energy. With me here, that won't be a problem either—I can tame that untamed natural energy and channel it into your body through our connection."
Realization dawned on Tsunade. "You're suggesting I learn Sage Mode too?"
"Why not?"
Anya spoke solemnly, "Once you master Sage Mode, your Yin Seal will be released. Why risk your life like that when there's a better way?"
Tsunade hesitated, though deep in thought.
Before she could react, Tsunade suddenly realized her clothes had somehow been completely removed. Her smooth skin gleamed like flowing silk, now completely exposed to Anya's gaze, like a helpless lamb before the tiger.
Angry and flustered, Tsunade said, "Wait! How did you do that so fast?"
"Hehe, I've got these nimble little fingers. Haven't used them much before, but today they finally come in handy," Anya joked, then turned serious again. "Don't get distracted. Focus on sensing your body's changes. Let me teach you how to harness Natural Energy."
With things already at this point, Tsunade could only nod in agreement, wrapping her arms around Anya to let him proceed.
Anya was already getting carried away, but upon second thought, decided it might not be safe enough. He casually added, "Hmm, let's bring someone else out to assist too."
[Summoning Jutsu]! Katsuyu, come forth!
The slug wearing blue-and-white stripes instantly appeared, immediately witnessing such an intense scene. Its entire body turned pink as it didn't know where to look, muttering under its breath, "Oh no, my innocence is ruined."
In a hurry, Anya explained, "Katsuyu, I need your help drawing in Natural Energy for Tsunade so she can master the [Shikkotsu Forest Sage Art]. Please protect her body and heal her promptly."
"Fine." The slug closed its eyes while crawling up onto Tsunade's body.
However, from the slug's words, Tsunade vaguely sensed something odd. Before she could even ask questions though, a fierce storm of sensations surged over her, instantly dragging her consciousness away, leaving no room for thoughts.
Bright and early the next morning, masses of Konoha ninja gathered beneath the Hokage statues, waiting for the inauguration ceremony of the Fifth Hokage. Numerous high-level officials were also already waiting on the platform, but the main character hadn't shown up yet.
Koharu Utatane hurriedly called over the Anbu, ordering, "Find Shizune immediately and bring Tsunade here. This princess is simply too reckless—she can even be late on a day like today."
Receiving the notification while in the hospital, Shizune showed great alarm on her face. She clearly remembered reminding someone repeatedly about this. How could she still forget? Where could she possibly be?
Thinking about scenes she'd once accidentally witnessed between the two, Shizune immediately understood where to find them. She then told the Anbu member, "Go inform the higher-ups that Tsunade-sama will arrive shortly."
After sending off the Anbu member, Shizune quickly reached outside the secret chamber, frantically knocking on the door while shouting, "Tsunade-sama, are you inside? Wake up quickly! You surely haven't forgotten what today is all about."
As soon as her voice faded, sounds emerged from within the chamber, followed by a loud complaint: "All your fault. I told you there was something important happening today."
"Don't worry. Being Hokage means they should wait for you naturally."
These two voices immediately helped Shizune understand the situation. Sighing while shaking her head slightly, Shizune continued, "I've already placed the Hokage garments prepared yesterday outside the door. Please hurry up, you two."
Fifteen minutes later, beneath the cliff of the Hokage Rock, the wind roared with fierce gusts. Tsunade, wearing exclusively tailored clothes made by Anya, removed her Hokage hat and proudly addressed the ninja looking up at her: "Starting today, I will lead the Hidden Leaf Village. I am the Fifth Hokage."
As soon as she finished speaking, cheers erupted from the crowd below. Clearly, despite her long absence, Tsunade's status among the Konoha ninja had not diminished in the slightest. Only Jiraiya had ever stood a chance against her for the Hokage title.
Anya remained hidden within the crowd, watching the woman standing tall and radiant with authority before him. Just yesterday, she had been lovingly held in his arms. A sense of pride naturally rose within him. Even more delightfully surprising was that Tsunade's body was now beginning to hold Sage Chakra—still just a little, but it was a promising start.
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