"With Tsunade-sama's ability, getting funding won't be hard at all."
Kitazawa looked at the furious Tsunade and spoke with a smile.
"And how exactly am I supposed to get that funding?"
Tsunade drew a deep breath but still ground her teeth as she spoke.
She had come back because Hiruzen Sarutobi had promised unlimited funds—but all these new rules were seriously rubbing her the wrong way.
"Create new jutsu."
Kitazawa explained, "As long as it's connected to psychological medical ninjutsu, even a low‑level technique can fetch a million ryō apiece."
Normally, only an S‑rank mission paid that much,
and S‑rank missions carried extreme risk and could take a long time.
Even for Tsunade, finishing one wasn't easy.
"That's generous enough," Tsunade muttered, frowning.
"But inventing jutsu takes time. Is there anything faster?"
"There is—but it pays less," Kitazawa admitted.
"Then what's the point?" Tsunade curled her lip.
"I'll go see the old man. If he won't pay, I'm leaving!"
"Tsunade-sama!" Shizune cried in alarm;
a life of wandering and being chased by debt collectors was the last thing she wanted.
"I have an idea," Kitazawa said, blinking conspiratorially.
"What idea?" Tsunade lifted her head to him.
"In the project budget there's an item for Yakumo's treatment," he hinted.
"Tsunade-sama could draft an herb list—just pick the most expensive kinds."
"Oh?" Tsunade froze, immediately catching on.
"Why are you suddenly willing to help me cheat?"
"I used to have no choice, but now I'm on your side, Tsunade-sama," Kitazawa answered solemnly.
The best motivation was a mix of stick and carrot.
Blindly following Hiruzen's rules would only drive Tsunade away—bad for the mission.
Besides, between Hiruzen and Tsunade, the right choice was obvious—for the child's sake.
"Excellent." Tsunade grinned, slinging an arm over his shoulder.
"You're a pretty good kid!"
Caught off guard, Kitazawa nearly toppled into her chest.
Realizing the awkwardness, Tsunade withdrew her arm and patted his shoulder instead.
"Come on—back to my place." She spoke gaily.
As the foremost medical‑nin, she knew how wildly herb prices fluctuated; she could treat Kurama Yakumo and pocket the markup.
Shizune stared wide‑eyed at Kitazawa.
I thought you were a rock‑solid ninja—how did you flip sides in a blink?
Your moral bottom line is way too elastic.
"Where are you staying now, Tsunade-sama?" Kitazawa asked as he followed.
"You'll see in a moment." Tsunade answered absently while composing the herb list.
After a short walk, Kitazawa realized the neighborhood looked familiar; they stopped at Kurenai Yūhi's front door.
"Shizune and I live next door," Tsunade said, pointing to the house on the left.
"It's more convenient for the project."
Kitazawa nodded and knocked.
"Kitazawa? Tsunade-sama?"
Kurenai opened the door, momentarily stunned. "Please, come in!"
Tsunade stepped in, bent to remove her shoes; Shizune followed.
Kitazawa closed the door behind them and entered the living room—where his eyes lit up:
from eldest to youngest, four pairs of long, fair legs and bare, pretty feet.
Tsunade's long pants showed only her toes, painted bright red; Kurenai, Shizune, and Kurama Yakumo all had snowy calves and bare feet on display.
"Paper and pen." Tsunade sat on the sofa and held out her hand.
"I'll get them," Kitazawa said, heading upstairs.
"Seems you two are pretty close," Tsunade teased with a raised brow.
"Kitazawa and I are classmates," Kurenai replied evenly, though her heart skipped a beat.
She did like the current Kitazawa—just not that much. Yet.
"Tsunade-sama." Kitazawa reappeared and passed her the stationery.
Tsunade crossed her shapely legs, setting the paper on her ample thighs.
As she leaned forward, her generous chest shifted; Kurenai glanced down instinctively and felt an indescribable sense of disparity.
"How far along is your original‑jutsu project?" Tsunade asked while writing.
"We've already created two: Talk Therapy Technique and Truth‑Reveal Technique,"
Kurenai explained their effects.
"Good jutsu—very targeted," Tsunade nodded.
"Kitazawa thought them up," Kurenai added, claiming no credit.
"You keep surprising people," Tsunade said, giving Kitazawa a look.
"Thank you, my lady." Kitazawa then described the third jutsu they were developing.
"Not a bad idea, but there are issues," Tsunade mused.
"Mental illness isn't only from negative emotion—genetics, physical health, personality all matter."
Now that is professional, Kitazawa thought.
"Reworking Demonic Illusion: Hell Viewing Technique is promising; it just needs refinement," Tsunade smiled.
"Let's discuss it tomorrow. Today we buy Yakumo's herbs."
"Understood," Kurenai agreed; Tsunade's help would save her and Kitazawa a lot of effort.
Shizune sighed—Shopping for herbs? More like embezzling.
"Kitazawa, we're off." Tsunade finished the list, beaming.
"Right." Kitazawa didn't mind skimming a little money off Konoha; Tsunade was too loyal to go overboard—just a bit of petty cash.
Seeing the list confirmed his hunch: Tsunade would probably net about 500,000 ryō in markup—not huge.
They soon reached the Hokage's office.
Hiruzen Sarutobi read the list, sensed something fishy, but chose to ignore it; if Tsunade wasn't given some perk, she'd bail like Orochimaru.
"Kitazawa," Hiruzen set the list down, "go to Anbu and draw the funds."
"Yes, sir."
Kitazawa returned from Anbu with a bank‑book for two million ryō.
"Give it here." Tsunade reached eagerly.
"Sorry, my lady—better if I hold the money," Kitazawa said, gripping her wrist.
Tsunade glared daggers at him; Kitazawa only smiled.
"You're such a pain!" Tsunade retracted her hand, shot him a look.
"Fine—let's buy the herbs now!"
She realized she had no leverage over him; the man simply wasn't afraid of her.
Once the shopping was done, Tsunade pocketed the leftover cash.
"See you tomorrow." She tucked the bank‑book into her cleavage and headed straight for the casino, smiling ear to ear.
Watching her, Kitazawa thought wryly,
Truly a woman with… a big heart.