Tsunade's sharp accusations made Mei Terumi blush, but she quickly realized the gravity of the situation.
Wait… does that mean…
She thinks I'm one of Uchiha Hikaru's women?
That thought shattered whatever brief fantasies she'd entertained, and a sudden emptiness settled in her chest. Still, she composed herself and began to explain.
"Godaime Hokage, I think there's been a misunderstanding."
"Kisame and I are prisoners of war in Konoha."
"It's not what you're thinking."
Tsunade's expression cooled slightly as she regained her composure, but her eyes still burned with suspicion as she locked eyes with Uchiha Hikaru.
"That part I'm fine with."
"But!"
"Explain this—there's still another woman's scent in this house."
"What's going on?"
Her eyes narrowed, sharp and unrelenting.
Uchiha Hikaru just raised his hands in mock surrender, looking every bit like someone who'd given up trying to explain.
"Who else could it be? It's Kurenai."
"It's not like you don't know her… you just haven't spent much time with her."
"How about I arrange for all three of you to sit down together one day?"
"Like sisters—you can talk things out?"
Tsunade stared at him, a mix of amusement and frustration bubbling in her chest.
Without warning, her fist flew into his chest.
But Uchiha Hikaru was already moving. He hooked his heels around the chair's lower rail and swung to the side, catching Tsunade around the waist as he moved.
With a smooth twist, he pulled her onto his lap, flipping her upside down in the process.
Kisame respectfully turned his back to the scene, while Mei Terumi stared blankly, watching Uchiha Hikaru and Tsunade openly flirt in front of her.
Her heart soured with jealousy.
Still, with others around, Uchiha Hikaru didn't take things too far. He simply pressed Tsunade firmly into the chair.
"Okay, okay—don't be mad."
"Eat something first. You shouldn't be angry on an empty stomach."
Tsunade snorted but didn't resist. She picked up her chopsticks and reached for the sashimi Kisame had just prepared.
Dipping it in wasabi and soy sauce, she popped it into her mouth.
Uchiha Hikaru silently walked to the kitchen, retrieved a charcoal grill, and set it on the table.
He couldn't help it. Even though he knew sashimi was supposed to be eaten raw, it still felt off to him. Something inside just twitched at the thought.
So he grilled it instead.
Kisame continued preparing more food for both of them.
Watching the contented expressions on Tsunade and Uchiha Hikaru's faces as they ate filled Kisame with a deep sense of satisfaction.
Compared to slitting comrades' throats on bloody missions in Kirigakure, this kind of life… was a hundred times better.
And the looks of delight on customers' faces after tasting the food he made were worth more than all the hollow praise he'd ever received from Kirigakure's higher-ups.
As for Mei Terumi, she simply turned away with a bitter expression.
In this house, both she and Kisame held the lowest status… or so she thought. But now, Kisame's standing in Tsunade's eyes had just skyrocketed thanks to his cooking.
That only deepened Mei Terumi's frustration.
She could sense Tsunade's thinly veiled hostility toward her—and not just between Konoha and Kirigakure.
It was something more primal: pure, woman-to-woman tension.
But she had no choice but to suppress it.
Still, her mind was already racing—plotting ways to earn a place in Uchiha Hikaru's heart.
After all, she'd just learned something shocking.
He already has three women…
Later that night, once the meal was finished, Uchiha Hikaru and Tsunade headed into the bedroom—Mei Terumi's eyes silently following them the entire way.
Before closing the door, Uchiha Hikaru even remembered to activate a sound barrier.
That night, their long-overdue reunion burned especially hot—Tsunade was unusually eager, her passion ignited by all the emotions swirling inside her.
By the time it was over, Tsunade lay nestled against him, spent and satisfied.
Uchiha Hikaru, however, had already entered Sage Mode.
After all, he and Kurenai had gone at it earlier that day. Now, with his desires fully extinguished, he was completely calm—his mind as clear as polished glass.
Tsunade pressed her cheek to his chest and asked softly, her voice tinged with sorrow.
"What were the losses… from the war?"
Uchiha Hikaru gently rested his hand on her back and replied.
"About two thousand Konoha shinobi died…"
"Two… thousand?" Tsunade whispered the number, her voice barely audible.
Even though she knew it was relatively small compared to the past three Great Ninja Wars, it still struck her like a kunai to the heart.
"And the Sandaime…"
"To stop the rampaging Three-Tails Jinchuriki, he used the Demonic Sealing Technique… and died with him."
"…The old man's dead!?"
Tsunade bolted upright, fists clenched, her expression conflicted.
She had long since severed her ties to Sarutobi Hiruzen—she despised much of what he had done, and could never forgive him for what happened to Nawaki.
But even so… he had once been her teacher.
The emotions swirling in her heart were a tangled storm.
And as those feelings settled, her gaze grew resolute.
This wouldn't have happened if she and Uchiha Hikaru had been in the village. The enemy had taken advantage of their absence.
If only I were stronger… If I could master Grandfather Hashirama's Wood Release…
Tsunade lifted her head, meeting Hikaru's eyes with fierce determination.
Uchiha Hikaru understood immediately what she was thinking.
"Tsunade… is Orochimaru working on anything lately?"
Her voice was calm, but firm.
His expression darkened slightly.
"Orochimaru is currently working on optimizing the Caged Bird Seal…"
"…You want to transplant your grandfather's Wood Release cells?"
Tsunade nodded.
"Yes. If I could gain Grandfather's power…"
"No other village would dare threaten Konoha again."
"That's what it means to be Hokage."
Uchiha Hikaru knew there was no stopping her now.
Objectively, the technique had come a long way—Orochimaru's research had improved the safety of the transplant dramatically.
But even so, it wasn't without risk.
Even with Hashirama's bloodline, success wasn't guaranteed.
But then he remembered—he still had a workaround.
Izanagi.
Their clan had a good number of three-tomoe Sharingan in reserve. With Izanagi, they could rewrite reality if something went wrong.
Even if the transplant failed, Izanagi could force the Wood Release cells to integrate into Tsunade's body and chakra system. She might not awaken Wood Release—but her chakra capacity would increase significantly.
Uchiha Hikaru quietly explained the plan to her.
As she listened, the tension in her brow gradually eased.
Now… Hokage-sama was about to reward her loyal right hand man~ (｡•̀ᴗ-)✧
-------
Send Power Stones
Bonus Chapter at 150 Power Stone
Second Bonus Chapter - 300 Power Stones
---------------------
Join my Patreon and get access to 50+ early chapters before anyone else! 🔥
https://www.patreon.com/UK21
Your Support is Truly Appreciated 🫂