Yue slowly regained consciousness.
Opening his eyes, he found himself wrapped head-to-toe in bandages like a mummy.
His right arm was in a cast, hung from his neck with another layer of bandages.
He took a deep breath—
A wave of pressure hit his chest.
His throat tightened, and he coughed up a small mouthful of blood.
His internal organs had taken quite the beating.
"Huh? You're awake already?"
Shizune walked in from outside, surprised.
"I thought you'd be unconscious for at least two or three days.
Didn't expect you to wake this fast.
Then again, Lady Tsunade said you have the First Hokage's cells in your body—your recovery rate is abnormal."
"Your entire arm—every bone—was shattered when you exchanged blows with Lady Tsunade.
Anyone else would have been crippled.
But she said you'll probably recover fully in about three months."
After listening to Shizune's calm explanation, Yue felt like dying.
Why did he provoke Tsunade for no reason?
The injuries were so severe he almost spat another mouthful of blood from frustration.
"Where is Lady Tsunade? I need to speak with her."
Yue asked, face gloomy.
"What do you want with me, brat?"
Before Shizune could answer, Tsunade staggered in with a small sake bottle, cheeks flushed.
"Kid, you're Konoha's Wood Release user—Yamato, right?
I only gave you a little lesson for daring to swing at me."
Yue froze.
Yamato's reputation had already spread to Tsunade?
Although she had every right to hit him—he attacked first—her final punch, after knowing he was from Konoha, was definitely excessive.
He felt a deep bitterness rise.
"My bodyguard is Yamato.
I am your junior.
You can call me Senju Yue."
The moment Tsunade heard that name—
she seemed thunderstruck.
Her body trembled.
The bottle slipped from her hand and shattered on the floor.
Her voice shook.
"You… Which branch of the Senju are you from?"
"I don't know. After the Senju Clan went into hiding, many chose their own paths.
When I was little, I was traveling with my parents when we were attacked.
I ended up in a small village, and they took me in."
"One day, rogue shinobi attacked that village.
I awakened the Senju bloodline, used Wood Release to defeat them, and happened to be found by Jiraiya-sensei.
He took me in and brought me back to Konoha."
"After arriving in Konoha, because I bore the Senju bloodline—
and inherited the First Hokage's kekkei genkai—
the Third Hokage nurtured me carefully."
"And that's when I learned about you."
"One of the Legendary Sannin—Lady Tsunade.
The First Hokage's last living descendant.
The pride of the Senju."
"I always admired you.
But the more I investigated…
the more devastated I became."
"Even at my young age, I understand what it means to carry the honor of the Senju Clan.
To restore our glory.
To inherit the Will of Fire and protect Konoha."
"But you—Lady Tsunade—granddaughter of the First Hokage—
why have you fallen to this state?"
"Because your lover died?
Because your brother died?"
"And that makes you forget all responsibility as a Senju?"
"I lost my parents when I was a child.
I witnessed my teacher's death with my own eyes during the Third Great Shinobi War.
My comrades died around me.
So what?"
"They live forever in my heart.
I carry their hopes forward."
"I don't drown myself in alcohol.
I don't run.
I don't gamble my days away."
Yue's voice grew cold and sharp.
"People call you the legendary big sucker—the one gamblers dream of meeting."
"What a glorious title for the Senju Clan."
"That is why I swung at you when I first saw you.
I hated you so much I wished you had just killed me."
"Seeing the once-glorious Lady Tsunade fall this low—
that hurts more than dying."
Yue unleashed every ounce of resentment in his chest.
He wanted to pierce her heart.
To scold her from the perspective of both family and village.
Tsunade had been shocked at first, learning his identity.
But as Yue's words continued—
as each phrase cut deeper—
she froze.
Two silent tears slid down her cheeks.
She let out a long sigh and turned to leave.
"Hmph! Lady Tsunade isn't like what you said!"
Shizune protested angrily, though her voice trembled.
She didn't know how to refute anything Yue said.
She had never seen Tsunade so shaken.
Worried, she hurried after her.
—
Tsunade sat beneath the eaves, staring blankly at the moonlit sky, sighing over and over.
"Lady Tsunade…"
Shizune called softly.
"Shizune. Bring me more sake."
"Yes."
This time Shizune didn't try to stop her.
She understood her master's turmoil too well.
—
The next morning.
Shizune brought Yue a rich breakfast and helped him eat.
Neither spoke—
she was clearly still angry about last night's accusations.
"Where's Lady Tsunade?" Yue finally asked.
"Hmph. You still dare ask?
Do you know how much your words hurt her?"
Shizune snapped.
"And do you know how much her punch hurt me?"
Yue shot back immediately.
Shizune froze, speechless.
"You… You're only good with your mouth!
Fine. Since you're her clansman, I'll tell you."
"Lady Tsunade left Konoha because of hemophobia.
Do you know how crippling that is for a shinobi—especially a medical ninja?
The world's greatest medical ninja!"
"And so what?" Yue said coldly.
"Hemophobia—hah.
From what I see, Lady Tsunade simply can't face the deaths of those she loved.
The sight of blood triggers those memories, so she runs."
"And that is why people look down on her."
"Who doesn't lose loved ones?
I lost my parents.
I saw my teacher die.
My comrades died.
So what?"
"I carry their will and move forward.
I don't fall apart."
"Unlike Lady Tsunade—who abandoned everything, drowned herself in alcohol and gambling, ignoring her duties and the hopes of her clan."
Every word left Shizune breathless and unable to reply.
After a long silence, she stomped her foot.
"Hmph! You're impossible. I'm done arguing with you!"
She turned and stormed off.
Unbeknownst to Yue—
Tsunade had been standing outside, quietly listening.
In Yue's stubborn eyes, she saw the shadow of Nawaki—
inheriting the Will of Fire, unyielding, determined.
(If Yue heard that she compared him to Nawaki, he would definitely complain: "How does a handsome guy like me resemble that silly kid?")
Tsunade remained under the eaves, staring dazedly at the sky as the breeze brushed her hair.
—
"You finally showed yourself."
Jiraiya appeared.
He'd spent the whole day hiding, assuming Tsunade had cooled down.
"That kid came to find me because of you?"
Tsunade stared at him, expression complicated.
Seeing her so lost pained Jiraiya—but faced with the woman he loved, he never knew what to say.
If he had been even a little braver, Tsunade might have been his long ago.
"Tsunade… was I wrong?" she whispered.
Jiraiya was completely confused.
He had no idea what Yue had said that devastated her so badly.
If Yue hadn't already been beaten half-dead, Jiraiya would've gone in to teach him a lesson.
Tsunade had always been the one he cared for most.
"You're right. I was wrong.
Since you're here… let's go see the kid.
I'll apologize."
Not waiting for Jiraiya's stunned reaction, Tsunade stood and motioned for him to follow.
—
When Yue saw Tsunade entering with Jiraiya behind her, he grew annoyed.
Jiraiya must have been hiding the whole time because he feared Tsunade after seeing Yue get flattened.
Tsunade took a deep breath.
"Child—Yue, was it?
I was wrong.
I'm sorry.
I failed your expectations."
"I also heard what you said to Shizune.
I promise you—I will overcome my hemophobia.
I will carry the hopes and will of my loved ones… and move forward again."
Behind her, Jiraiya looked absolutely shocked.
When had he ever seen Tsunade apologizing so earnestly?
And even rediscovering her resolve?
What did Yue say to her!?
He was dying of curiosity.
Seeing Tsunade apologize, Yue felt most of his resentment fade.
He opened his mouth but didn't know what to say.
The room fell into awkward silence.
"L-Lady Tsunade… you don't need to be like this.
You're still the pride of the Senju Clan.
As for your achievements—someone like me can only look up to them."
Yue felt secretly proud of himself.
If Naruto could "talk no jutsu," then so could he.
"Pride, huh?"
Tsunade sighed lightly, then nodded to him.
~------------------------------------
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