Yugito Nii stopped paying attention to Mabui and instead opened the gift bag Ryōsuke had sent over. Inside were several pairs of shoes, clothes, sour dates, and medicine.
She was deeply puzzled. Were these just everyday items? They seemed slightly different from ordinary supplies, appearing more like things intended for wear around the house. She picked up the bottle of medicine; the label identified it as prenatal health supplements.
A strange sensation welled up in her heart. 'Is this so I can give birth more easily?' she wondered. He had prepared things quite thoroughly.
Mabui leaned in at that moment and saw the items. She was somewhat surprised that he had actually made such preparations for her. With these supplies, they would be able to give birth smoothly. This would allow the two of them to successfully bear the bloodline of the Uchiha Clan.
Mabui felt a sense of pride in her heart. She wondered if that man would ever regret doing this in the future.
---
At the orphanage on the outskirts of the Leaf Village, a female shopkeeper also delivered the items Ryōsuke had purchased. She presented them to the orphanage director, Yakushi Nonō.
When Nonō saw the items, her heart felt a mix of joy and worry. She cared deeply for the orphans, but she now had her own bloodline and her own lover. She had never imagined that one day she could have a life like a normal woman.
Her worry stemmed from the fact that she still had to manage the orphanage. Once she was further along in her pregnancy, her movements would likely become restricted. Her belly would grow larger and larger, making things very inconvenient.
Fortunately, she had Yakushi Kabuto to help her. Ryōsuke had previously helped her bring him back from the Root base. He was very sensible and could handle some of the workload. However, he was still just a child, and she felt it was a bit hard on him.
Nonō was considering whether she should hire some help. Under her careful budgeting, she had ensured the children's nutrition while saving some money. This money should be enough to hire staff. However, since the funds were provided by Ryōsuke, she felt she should discuss it with him first. At the time, she had promised to use the money for the orphans, not for herself.
---
In the afternoon, inside the Hokage's office, Tsunade felt a bit stifled and out of sorts. She was worried about her pregnancy. Although she hadn't performed a formal test, her belly had been filled by him, and she was already experiencing bouts of nausea. It was highly likely she was indeed pregnant.
Even for someone as boisterous as her, such a thing was a major event for any woman. Moreover, she had truly never intended to bear a child for Ryōsuke, which left her feeling rather frustrated. In truth, uniting with that man had originally been a move to protect the Leaf Village and keep him under control.
While she had thoroughly enjoyed the feeling of it, if a child was born, they would be in an inseparable relationship. They would truly become a family.
Thinking of this, she couldn't help but blush. Actually, such an outcome didn't seem entirely unacceptable.
Nara Shikaku, who was working nearby, noticed Tsunade's state and felt quite confused. Was Lady Tsunade too tired?
"Lady Tsunade," he began, "if you are feeling fatigued, you can head back to rest early. I can handle the remaining matters myself."
The remaining tasks were just minor details that he could arrange properly without Tsunade's personal involvement. He didn't want Lady Tsunade to overwork herself. He even speculated that her exhaustion might not just be physical; since she was a medical ninja herself, there might be other issues at play—perhaps involving the strongest man in the Leaf Village, Uchiha Ryōsuke.
However, he couldn't intervene in such matters. Given that man's personality, he wouldn't allow others to meddle. Previously, Ryōsuke had even threatened the Daimyō's envoy against cutting the budget. Within a few days, the Daimyō had sent someone back to the Leaf Village to express apologies, stating that the previous considerations had been highly inappropriate.
The funding for the Leaf Village was restored to its original amount. The Daimyō was the nominal supreme ruler of the Land of Fire, yet he had responded to the Leaf Village with such a low posture. That was entirely because of the Uchiha Clan—or more accurately, because of Uchiha Ryōsuke.
Giving Lady Tsunade more time to handle her private affairs was the top priority. Fortunately, since Lady Tsunade took office, the Uchiha Clan had stopped causing trouble. The village was more peaceful than ever before.
Hearing Shikaku's words, Tsunade let out a sigh. She was indeed feeling a bit worried and weary. Facing this mountain of documents made it impossible not to feel frustrated.
"Fine. I'll leave the rest to you and get off work early."
Shikaku had worked under her for a long time and had fully demonstrated his talents. He was a massive help to her. With his assistance, Tsunade had been able to quickly sort out the village's affairs despite being away for so many years.
Tsunade stood up and walked out of the Hokage's office, eventually leaving the building and heading toward the streets of the Leaf Village. She wanted to clear her head. Passersby greeted her warmly as she walked.
"Lady Tsunade!"
"Fifth Hokage!"
Tsunade nodded to each of them in greeting. Seeing the smiles on their faces, she knew that the villagers and the village itself were regaining their vitality. Her mood naturally improved. This was the place where she had lived the longest. This sight was wonderful.
She wandered around aimlessly. As she reached a corner, she heard a boisterous noise. Turning her head, she saw a gambling parlor. Tsunade was instinctively drawn to it, and her spirits lifted instantly.
She hadn't gambled since returning to the Leaf Village. Now, her gambling itch was starting to act up. There was no worry that couldn't be relieved by a round of gambling. Her excitement peaked as she stepped inside the casino.
As Tsunade entered, the gamblers inside were instantly delighted. The scene went quiet for a moment.
'Lady Tsunade, the Big Fat Sheep!' was their first thought. They could make a fortune again.
But on second thought, given her current status as the Fifth Hokage, she was the supreme leader of the village's shinobi. She was the head of the village, no longer just the wandering Tsunade of old. They didn't quite dare to win her money anymore, which left them feeling quite regretful.
Seeing the atmosphere, Tsunade immediately grew displeased and frowned. How could a casino not be noisy?
A few gamblers said hesitantly, "Lady Tsunade, you are the Fifth Hokage now. It might not be appropriate for you to come to a place like this."
Tsunade felt annoyed upon hearing this. Why couldn't the Fifth Hokage come here? Her grandfather, the First Hokage, used to come to places like this to gamble all the time. He was the one who used to bring her, saying it was a way to relax. She had only learned to gamble and developed the hobby because of him.
"Stop being so wordy. Today, I'm not here as the Fifth Hokage; I'm here as a gambler. Do you understand?"
Hearing her words, the gamblers relaxed and grew excited. Tsunade's character was reliable; she might get red-eyed when losing, but she would never flip the table or use her power to bully others.
The corners of the gamblers' mouths began to curl up. Since Lady Tsunade had said so, wouldn't it be just like the old days where they could win her money again? Tsunade was truly a Big Fat Sheep who was terrible at the game but loved to play. They could make a killing once more.
"Lady Tsunade, please come to the table!"
"Those without money, make room for Lady Tsunade!"
Tsunade successfully made her way to the gambling table. She was equally full of fighting spirit. She had to make a big haul today; it wasn't often she got the chance to come here.