Chapter 73 – Tsunade's Mixed Feelings
"Lady Tsunade?"
Hearing that name, Fugaku Uchiha, who was chewing on sashimi, turned back in surprise. He saw a woman with twin ponytails of light yellow hair sitting down, the large red "Gamble" character on the back of her green jacket unmistakable.
"How did I run into them here…?" Fugaku thought, bewildered as he looked at Tsunade and her attendant, Shizune.
"Shizune, hurry up and order, I'm starving," Tsunade said, rubbing her stomach.
Shizune placed Tonton on a chair and replied, "Alright, Lady Tsunade, I'll go now."
With that, she hurried to find the shop assistant. Before long, she returned—just as the waiter from before arrived, carrying eel rice.
Tsunade sniffed the aroma and assumed it was their order. She eagerly picked up her chopsticks. "Oh, this place is quick! Not bad at all."
Shizune blinked in confusion. "Lady Tsunade, I just finished ordering."
The next second, she noticed the waiter walk past them. Tsunade slammed her chopsticks on the table in disappointment. "What the heck? Not ours?"
Shizune smiled helplessly. "Lady Tsunade, food doesn't come out that fast."
Following the aroma, Tsunade watched the waiter set the fragrant eel rice on the table just behind her. Sitting there was a man with a dignified expression, leisurely eating sashimi.
She glanced at him again—and froze.
Her eyes widened in shock. "Uchiha Fugaku!?"
She stood abruptly, pointing at him.
Shizune, startled, looked up from teasing Tonton. She followed Tsunade's gaze and also froze when she recognized the man.
"Isn't this… Naruto's uncle?" she thought, recalling seeing Fugaku with Naruto at the bun shop that morning.
But then the realization struck. "Wait… this Uchiha Fugaku? The Uchiha clan leader who led the coup, assassinated the Third Hokage, and became the Fifth Hokage? That Uchiha Fugaku, rumored to be ruthless and powerful?"
Her pupils shrank in disbelief.
"And he's Naruto's uncle?"
Shizune's mind spun. Tsunade had just told her that Naruto was the Fourth Hokage's son, and the Third Hokage had been the Fourth's teacher. So why was Naruto so close to the man who killed him?
Meanwhile, Fugaku remained calm as he ate his eel rice. Inwardly, though, he sighed. He hadn't expected to be recognized so quickly.
He had planned to leave quietly after eating. But now, there was no point hiding. He had nothing to conceal. He only avoided Tsunade before because she was troublesome. He already had a gentle, loving wife—Mikoto—and he was content.
Still, he couldn't help but sigh in his heart: Mikoto, I tried my best.
His gaze lingered on Tsunade. Her forehead protector was absent, revealing the Byakugou Seal. Her bright brown eyes, light red lips, and fair skin gave her a striking beauty, complemented by her curvaceous figure.
She truly was a remarkable woman.
Can't even hold with one hand… is that really just a D-cup? he thought, before catching himself.
Tsunade sensed his gaze and her eyes narrowed dangerously. "Bastard, what are you staring at?"
Fugaku replied evenly, "Don't misunderstand. It's just appreciation."
Her fist clenched, but his calm tone made her pause. After a moment, she exhaled and sat down again.
Strangely, she felt no rage at the sight of her master's killer. No burning desire for revenge. Her heart was still, empty.
Perhaps it was because of what she had just learned at the fish market: her last refuge, her old home, had been demolished five years ago to build the Sarutobi clan's commercial street.
Her master had destroyed even that.
The man she had once respected—when had he changed? Perhaps it was when he became Hokage, when power consumed him. From turning a blind eye to Sakumo's downfall, to human experimentation, to the annexation of land…
No wonder Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and she herself had all left Konoha.
Her thoughts were interrupted when nearby customers suddenly murmured at hearing her exclamation. One by one, they craned their necks, recognizing the man.
"Hokage-sama!" voices called out.
Excited villagers rushed to greet Fugaku.
He smiled, waving politely. "Hello everyone, haha. I'm just here to eat. Please, enjoy your meals."
The villagers bowed respectfully before returning to their seats, though they continued sneaking glances filled with admiration.
Fugaku knew why they adored him—after all, he had exempted the people from three years of agricultural and commercial taxes.
But Tsunade, who had only just returned to Konoha, didn't know this. Watching the villagers' devotion to Uchiha Fugaku, her heart grew heavier with conflicted emotions.
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