Roshi pushed open the familiar courtyard gate, his gaze sweeping across the quiet garden. The dry landscape remained unchanged; the stone steps were cool beneath the shade—yet the woman with golden hair and a sake cup in hand was nowhere to be seen.
The veranda lay empty.
His eyes drifted toward the closed paper door. Silence lingered beyond it—not even the faint clink of glass or the rustle of movement.
He walked to the edge of the veranda, hesitated, and instead of opening the door, sat down on the polished wooden floor, his back resting against it.
"Do you need Chakra replenishment?"
No answer.
He continued calmly, "Katsuyu can transfer your Chakra to others. So I assume… the transfer isn't one-way."
Still, silence filled the space.
Inside, Tsunade leaned against the wall, half-hidden by shadows. Her amber eyes were half-lidded, her expression unreadable.
In theory, it was possible. But she was Senju Hashirama's granddaughter and Uzumaki Mito's descendant—both powerhouses of Chakra. Combined with her Yin Seal, Tsunade had always been the one to heal others, not the one to receive aid. For her, letting someone replenish her energy was almost unthinkable.
Yet the boy outside… his Chakra was powerful.
"Itachi's condition isn't good," Roshi said after a pause. "Shizune-senpai believes that to completely remove the insects from his body, it'll take your personal intervention."
"Itachi's injury isn't external."
A soft, almost mocking snort escaped from within. Of course she knew—Katsuyu was her eyes, and what Katsuyu saw, she knew.
After a long silence, the paper door slid open just a fraction—enough for a single hand to slip through.
A large summoning scroll was pushed out, landing beside Roshi with a muted thud.
"To channel Chakra through Katsuyu, you'll need to sign a contract," Tsunade's voice said, cool and steady.
Roshi hesitated for a moment.
"If I gave you the wrong impression—I don't seek Katsuyu's power for myself. But… if you're willing, there are some things I'd like to ask."
"Don't flatter yourself!" Tsunade's voice rose sharply, tinged with irritation. "I just don't want that old hag Momoka bothering me again, ordering me to save someone's life!"
She exhaled softly, closing her eyes. Whether in strength, judgment, or resolve, this boy could probably bear more than her worn self could now. If that was true… then she'd count this as the price for her retreat. A passing of power.
"This is a one-time opportunity," the Senju Princess said flatly. "Consider it payment for saving Shizune."
Roshi nodded. Since she'd said that much, there was no need for false modesty. He unrolled the scroll, bit his finger, and signed his name and seal in blood.
Then—he summoned Katsuyu.
Ordinarily, it wouldn't be this easy.
Normally, one needed to form a bond with the summoned creature first—trust before contract. But the Three Great Summoning Sanctuaries were special. Their summoning populations were hereditary; a signed scroll was enough to establish a connection.
Mount Myōboku and Ryūchi Cave followed that path.
Only Shikkotsu Forest was different.
The being there—Katsuyu—was singular. Every other slug was merely a split body of the Shikkotsu Forest's Slug Sage. The scale of the summon depended solely on the summoner's Chakra.
And Katsuyu… was kind. Its voice was soft, its temperament gentle—polite even to strangers. Unlike other summons, it required no test of strength to acknowledge its partner.
"Summoning Jutsu!"
A wisp of white smoke drifted away, revealing a small, palm-sized slug—pure white, soft, and faintly luminous. It lifted its antennae, black eyes gleaming like ink droplets as it regarded Roshi.
Its voice was serene and melodic, carrying a strangely soothing warmth.
"Greetings, Roshi-kun. Thank you for summoning me."
Clearly, this Katsuyu already knew of him—its shared memories linking it to the other split bodies that had served Tsunade.
"Hello, Lady Katsuyu." Roshi gave a respectful nod, his tone steady yet respectful. "This summoning isn't for battle. I've come to ask a favor."
The small Katsuyu tilted its soft body slightly, its voice as gentle as ever. "Please speak, Roshi-kun."
"I wish to use you as a medium to transfer my Chakra to Lady Tsunade," Roshi said plainly. "She needs to recover her strength to heal my teammate."
For a moment, the little slug seemed to freeze, its tiny antennae twitching with surprise. "…To replenish Lady Tsunade's Chakra?"
It quietly attuned itself to the flow of Chakra pulsing from Roshi's body. After a brief pause, its warm voice returned. "Understood. With your level of Chakra, this is indeed possible, Roshi-kun. As long as you trust me and are willing to open your chakra network, I will ensure a safe and stable transfer to Lady Tsunade."
Katsuyu added softly, "Also… since Lady Tsunade has permitted you to sign the contract, you may summon me anytime. No matter my size, I will always do my best to assist you."
"I'm deeply grateful," Roshi replied with a sincere bow.
The little Katsuyu climbed slowly onto his shoulder, its tiny voice calm and reassuring. "You may begin, Roshi-kun."
Inside the room, Tsunade's body trembled faintly.
An immense, warm current of Chakra surged through her, flowing into her exhausted body like spring water into parched earth. Her overdrawn energy refilled rapidly; her fatigued spirit, dulled from strain, began to shine anew.
Leaning against the doorframe, she closed her eyes, long lashes fluttering as she surrendered to the warmth that coursed through her veins—soothing, restoring, steadying.
Time slipped quietly through the still courtyard. Only that unseen stream of energy connected the two through the paper-thin door.
After a while, the faint glow surrounding Katsuyu dimmed. The small slug moved its antennae slightly. "Roshi-kun, Lady Tsunade's condition has mostly stabilized."
Hearing this, Roshi slowly drew back his Chakra.
A sharp whoosh broke the silence as the paper door slid open completely.
Tsunade stood there, golden hair gleaming once more. Though her expression carried its familiar languidness, the fatigue between her brows had vanished. In the depths of her amber eyes, a brilliant, molten light flickered back to life—the fire of the Legendary Sannin reignited.
She glanced briefly at the small Katsuyu on the floor, then fixed her gaze on Roshi. Her eyes lingered, searching his calm expression for something unspoken.
At last, she gave a short snort, bent down to pick up a fallen sake cup, and saw a thin pool of clear liquid at the bottom. Tilting her head back, she drank it in one smooth motion, then tossed the empty cup carelessly onto the veranda.
"I'm going to check on that Uchiha brat," she said, her tone cool but no longer weary. "As for you—you've got your own tasks, don't you?"
Without waiting for a reply, Tsunade turned on her heel and strode down the corridor toward Itachi's room.
Roshi watched her retreating figure disappear around the corner, then looked down at the small Katsuyu at his feet. "Lady Katsuyu, you may return for now. Thank you for your help today. I'll have more questions for you later."
"I am always happy to serve you, Roshi-kun," the small slug replied warmly. With a soft thud, it vanished alongside the Shikkotsu Forest summoning scroll.
Roshi straightened, exhaling quietly. Summoning Katsuyu—that had been an unexpected gain. And with Tsunade's strength restored, Itachi's situation should finally be under control.
Still… there were other loose ends to tie up.