Raven fixed Tsunade with a calm stare, her tone level but unyielding. "I'm going to help you get over your fear of blood, Tsunade. This is the first step toward your recovery. Once you've faced it, then in the future… we can talk about bringing your brother back."
Tsunade arched a brow, waiting for her to continue. Raven's lips curved slightly as she added, "I don't think you really need to quit drinking or gambling. You enjoy them. They're recreational—therapeutic, even."
Realizing Raven was handing her a justification, Tsunade straightened with mock dignity, folding her arms. "Of course. Gambling and drinking are therapeutic. Everyone in the elemental nations knows they cure all trauma. Everyone."
Raven chuckled softly. "That's right. But your blood phobia… that can't be solved at the bottom of a sake bottle. That needs experience. Practical, bloody experience."
Her voice turned harder. "When you've dealt with this, I'd like you to make periodic visits to the sanctuary I'm building—help watch over the children from Kirigakure and the bloodline clans I'm protecting. And you can help me study kekkei genkai and counter Orochimaru's insane seal work."
Tsunade's eyes sharpened instantly. "You know about Orochimaru's experiments?"
Raven waved her hand dismissively. "Tsunade, you'd have to be blind not to know Danzō and Orochimaru are experimenting with your grandfather's cells. They're trying to recreate Wood Release."
The table cracked beneath Tsunade's fist as she slammed it down, her strength leaving a crater in the wood. "Those bastards… using Hashirama's cells for their experiments? Defiling my family's legacy?"
Raven shrugged with chilling calm. "We'll deal with them later. The one thing we have now is time. I need to grow up. This is just a shadow clone. Bigger issues can wait. But your phobia? That we can deal with today."
Tsunade exhaled sharply, her jaw tight. "Fine. How do you propose we deal with it?"
Raven's eyes gleamed faintly. "The best cure for a phobia of blood… is blood itself."
Tsunade stiffened, already trembling. "Raven, I don't like where this is going."
Raven's expression hardened. "I didn't expect you to." With a flick of her wrist, she tossed several explosive tags against the door. The seals flared, then—BOOM—the door blew apart in a shower of splinters. Raven tossed three more tags into the casino floor beyond. BOOM. BOOM. BOOM.
Yumi leapt onto her paws, tails flaring, her tone sharp. "Raven… destruction and mayhem again?"
Raven's voice was almost amused. "You know me, Yumi."
Tsunade's glare cut between them. "Nobody knows her better than me."
Raven inclined her head faintly. "That's true."
The chaos outside drew immediate response. Shouts rang through the casino floor, dice and money scattering as patrons fled. A squad of shinobi mercenaries stormed into the ruined chamber, their hitai-ate scratched, their movements sharp. Their killing intent was raw but unrefined. Chūnin-level at best.
One snarled as he leveled his blade at Raven and Tsunade. "You little bitches don't know the trouble you've stirred. This casino is owned by Gatō, and his vengeance will crush you."
Tsunade scoffed, her voice flat and unimpressed. "Please. He's nothing compared to me."
Shizune came running in, breathless, eyes wide with panic. "Lady Tsunade, do you need help?"
Tsunade cut her off without hesitation, her voice sharp. "Stay out of this, Shizune."
Shizune faltered. "But my lady, you—"
"I said stay out. That's an order."
Shizune's lips pressed together tightly, but she bowed her head, stepping back reluctantly.
One of the mercenaries lunged first, kunai flashing for Tsunade's throat. Her eyes narrowed. She pivoted on her heel and let her fist fly. Her monstrous strength detonated the man's skull on impact, the head sailing across the chamber before smashing against the far wall.
A geyser of blood erupted, drenching her from head to toe.
Tsunade froze where she stood, trembling violently. Her wide eyes locked on the blood splattering her arms and chest, on the warmth soaking through her clothes. Her breath came shallow, broken.
Another mercenary roared and charged, blade raised high. Shizune's body tensed, ready to move, but Raven threw out her arm, stopping her cold.
"No," Raven said, her voice like steel. "This is Tsunade's trial."
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