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Three months had passed in a flash.
During this time,
Tsunade's team had been working nonstop for the sake of Konoha's service industry.
All they received were D-rank missions—unclogging sewers, catching cats, chasing dogs, hauling cargo, weeding courtyards...
All manual labor. Nothing dangerous.
Naturally, the pay was pitiful.
Even worse, the mission office would skim a portion off the top.
After being split three—or four—ways, the remaining amount was barely pocket change.
No wonder the Might family always lived hand-to-mouth. The mystery was solved.
D-rank missions simply didn't pay!
Outside the mission office.
Seiryū stared at the coins in his palm and sighed. "Platforms really are sweet—taking a cut from both sides. Makes me want to start one myself..."
Running a platform was truly profitable.
Squeezing both clients and contractors. A classic middleman scheme.
Konoha's mission platform was a monopoly. One system, no competitors.
Monopolies never lose money.
If it were possible, Seiryū really did want to create a rival platform and grab a slice of the business.
Arms crossed, Tsunade gave him a sideways glance. "Try it if you've got a death wish. Even I couldn't protect you—you'd be going up against the Hokage."
Seiryū was well aware of that. He rolled his eyes and made a suggestion. "Bad woman, let's go into business together. With your reputation, we could—"
"Stop right there."
Tsunade cut him off with a cold laugh. "You think I don't see through you? If I wanted money, I wouldn't need to stoop that low."
"Who am I? The strongest Medical Ninja alive. Just that name alone makes people line up to hand me money."
And this little brat actually wanted to rope her into some scheme?
"Stubborn as ever. When I find a money tree, I'm not sharing it with you."
Seiryū curled his lip.
A perfectly good cash-cow wasted on someone with grand dreams but no ambition.
His tone sharpened. "I asked Guy's team—other Jōnin Instructors barely take anything from their Genin. Just admit it. You're scamming us."
"You'd even rob us of our sweat-money. Is there anything you won't do?"
As their Jōnin Instructor, Tsunade basically did nothing, yet still pocketed a cut—a cut even bigger than what the Genin doing the grunt work received.
At first, Seiryū assumed all Jōnin Instructors were the same.
But then he asked around and learned that Tsunade's cut was far steeper.
The woman was rotten to the core!
"So what?"
Tsunade was completely shameless. "I'm not like those other Jōnin. Just being part of my team is a privilege worth paying extra for."
Seiryū: "..."
Furious, he turned to recruit allies. "Kurenai, Shizune—aren't you two fed up with her?"
Shizune looked away. "Um... all my living expenses come from Tsunade-sama..."
Kurenai tapped her chin. "Tsunade-sama treats us from time to time—those meals aren't cheap. You should show some gratitude."
Seiryū froze on the spot.
Traitors. These two were traitors!
Actually siding with that bad woman?
Wait—
What did Kurenai mean by "Tsunade treats us"?
When had Tsunade ever paid for anything?
"Hold on!"
Seiryū's hands trembled as he pointed at Tsunade, eyes wide. "You treat? What do you mean you treat?"
"These past three months—aside from meals at my place, when have you ever paid for anything? Tell me. I'm dying to remember!"
Tsunade was a broke gambling addict.
Where would she even get the money to treat anyone?
Every single bill had been paid by him!
How did that somehow become "Tsunade's treat" in Kurenai's mouth?
Damn it. He'd been framed by Tsunade!
Hearing Seiryū's angry outburst, Tsunade tilted her head with a look of pure innocence. "Did I ever say I was treating? Kurenai, why would you think that?"
She clapped her hands like she had suddenly realized something. "Oh—maybe I forgot to mention it. It's always been Seiryū paying. You must've misunderstood. What a mix-up."
Kurenai blinked. "It... wasn't you?"
Thinking back...
Tsunade-sensei had never clearly said she was treating.
But every time they went out, she acted as if she were the host.
Turned out it was Seiryū footing the bill?
So this is the adult world...
Full of traps and deception.
Now she understood why Seiryū always called their Sensei a "bad woman."
So sneaky. Twisting words to manipulate them.
"Alright, enough."
Tsunade waved it off like it was nothing. As if she'd just been misunderstood all along.
She turned toward the three Genin and spoke.
"Three months have passed. Your D-rank mission quota is complete."
"From now on, your easy jobs are over."
Her voice turned serious. "The moment you put on your forehead protectors, you accepted the weight that comes with it."
"A Ninja kills. If you haven't seen blood, you're not truly a Ninja."
"This world is cruel. Kill or be killed. That's the reality."
She paused, drawing in a breath, her gaze sweeping across the three of them.
"From this point on, you'll be fighting, bleeding... possibly dying. You'd better adapt quickly."
Even during peacetime, Ninja mortality remained high.
Their fate was to live and die by the blade. There was no way around it.
From the moment they became official Genin, that fate had already been sealed.
Unless peace came to the Shinobi World or the profession itself disappeared.
Otherwise, this curse would follow every Ninja for life.
Rather than being afraid, Seiryū grinned. "No more chores? Finally. I'm ready."
From the day he entered the Ninja Academy, he had prepared himself for this.
Battle was unavoidable.
Now that he was leaving the "starter village," he wondered what quests and rewards awaited.
He couldn't wait to find out.
(To be continued.)