"Hmph! You'd better think about how you're going to thank me!" Tsunade said and threw a scroll at Uchiha Ran.
He unrolled it with suspicion—and instantly, his expression changed. A second later, his eyes lit up with excitement.
The first step on the endless path had finally been taken! Now, with this as a starting point, everything would become much easier.
It had been hard—damn hard!
That old fox Hiruzen Sarutobi… he'd given me permission to train in chakra extraction techniques.
Even though I mastered it long ago and don't need his "approving" glance—this is a signal: the restrictions are starting to loosen!
As soon as they ease up even a little more—I'm out of here. The world is vast; birds should fly where they please, and fish should swim free in the boundless sea.
"Huh? Since when did the Third Hokage suddenly become so…" Ran pretended to hesitate, then looked at Tsunade with a startled expression, as if something had just occurred to him.
Tsunade laughed openly, unable to hide her satisfaction—Ran's reaction was exactly what she'd expected.
Just as planned!
"Tell me, why are you helping me?" Ran dropped his smile slightly, speaking seriously to Tsunade for the first time.
"Because I don't want you to waste your talents. Is that reason enough?"
"More than enough," Ran sighed. "I owe you for this. I'll make it up to you."
Without waiting for her to reply, he began stuffing things into a cardboard box in a hurry.
"And the first step in showing my gratitude is handing over this amazing office. It's yours now—enjoy!"
He grabbed the box with both hands, jumped up, and rushed toward the door.
But when he got there, he was surprised to find the door wouldn't open. Setting the box down, he began yanking on the handle furiously—working up a sweat.
Behind him, a menacing voice rang out:
"Need help?"
"Oh, of course, with you around, everything's going to—hey!" he didn't get to finish the sentence before she flung him straight back into the chair with expert precision.
With a look of wounded indignation, he stared at the triumphant, grinning Tsunade.
She was absolutely delighted.
Ever since she'd met Uchiha Ran, she'd always ended up on the losing side. But today… she'd finally caught him.
And it felt better than winning any match.
Even more importantly—she'd finally figured out how to keep him on a leash.
"You're trying to run away from me? Not a chance. I'm not letting you go that easily—sulk all you want!"
You think I'll just let you keep messing with me here in Konoha?
Everyone else wants to get closer to me, but you—Uchiha Ran—you're the only one I ever reached out to. And all you dream about is escaping from me.
"You really don't want to see me?" Tsunade was the first to break the silence.
"You're still asking?" Ran muttered darkly. "Running into you on the street by chance—that's one thing."
"But in all the time we've spent together at the hospital, you've orchestrated 49 meetings—and 49 disasters."
"So yeah, just the sight of you gives me goosebumps. I know something awful's coming."
"Then give me the scroll!" Tsunade held out her hand, pretending to be angry.
"No way!" Ran immediately clutched the scroll to his chest, turned sideways, and hugged it tightly like it was his lifeline. "Mine! Why would I give it back?"
Tsunade was struck speechless by such a shameless display.
How can someone like this even exist?
If not for his innate talent and his status as a civilian, I would've—
But Ran's feelings were completely different.
From the moment he decided, three months ago, to get close to Tsunade—everything he wanted, he had already achieved.
And right then, a little rhyme formed in his head:
> I've done it—I'm in with the docs,
It's all unfolding like my plots.
Closer now to Tsunade-chan's side,
And my mood? Hard to hide!
Of course, it hadn't been easy.
To provoke Tsunade just enough each time—without pushing her to true disgust—while keeping everything logical and natural on the surface, Ran had to twist every mental muscle.
Poor Tsunade, so naive back then... But he, after years of scraping by, had come to understand human nature far too well. That's how he snared her in his trap.
Nothing to be done. Grandfather's sins would be repaid by the granddaughter.
All hopes of escaping Konoha now rested on her.
"Uh…" After a pause, Ran asked hesitantly, "Are you really going to work at the Konoha hospital now?"
"What if I am?" Tsunade replied with a smile.
"Then why are we in the same office?!" Ran grimaced.
"Why else? So we can conveniently discuss medical ninjutsu," Tsunade said, watching him intently. "That technique you used back then… it intrigued me."
She took the bait! Ran barely held back his excitement.
That had been so hard to pull off…
"Ha! Don't get your hopes up. That's my secret ninjutsu—I'm keeping it to myself!" he said, without hesitation.
"I'm not asking for free!" Tsunade leaned in. "Trade."
"And what exactly can you offer me?" Ran looked her over with a faint smirk.
> "Shōsen Jutsu—I only need to see it once to master it on my own.
That blue diamond seal on your forehead—I don't have enough chakra for that yet.
The slug summoning technique—that's Kuchiyose no Jutsu, right? Could you teach me that?"
"Even if you could, the Third wouldn't dare touch you—but I'd be tortured half to death."
"So, the question is—what exactly are you offering in return?"
Without waiting for an answer, he added:
"And don't even think about spouting something like 'I'll give you myself.' Try asking me first—do I even want that?"
"Drop dead!" Tsunade, flushed to her ears, grabbed the nearest pen cup and hurled it at Ran. "Even if every man in Konoha died, I still wouldn't pick you!"
"Now that's more like it!" Ran dodged, clapping his chest like he was relieved. "For a second there, I thought my life was over!"
"So forget it. I don't need anything else."
"I can pay you!" Tsunade said suddenly—seriously this time. "A lot!"
"Do you even know how much I make at the hospital?" Ran scoffed. "I get a percentage of each treatment. Every day, there's a line—people will do anything just to be seen by me. You really think I care about money?"
"And besides, you don't have any. Word is, you're Tsunade—always gambling. Always losing."
"That was in the past!" she retorted quickly. "I haven't placed a single bet in three years. I've saved up a lot."
Once he confirmed the rumors were true, Ran noted mentally:
> When someone suppresses their vices—it means they have a greater goal.
She'd even given up gambling.
That proved it: Tsunade, driven by her internal resolve, truly burned with the desire to develop her medical ninjutsu.
Which meant his long-term plans now had a solid foundation.
"Money doesn't interest me. Offer something else," Ran said with a shake of his head.
"When your chakra is sufficient, I'll teach you the Yin Seal," Tsunade said, now genuinely serious.
"Yeah, and when will that be? What if you change your mind?"
"Do I look like someone who breaks her word?"
"I wouldn't know. We're not that close. Think of another deal."
"I could let you form a contract with Katsuyu. Quietly. And you'd have a shot at learning Sage Mode," she added softly.