Beside her was someone very considerate, though sometimes he would make her feel embarrassed and angry beyond endurance. Yet the next second, he'd use the tactics of a shy little ghost to make her unable to even get mad, as if he couldn't resist taking advantage of her every moment.
Before she turned thirty, Tsunade seemed to always be losing something, but now, everything she lost had come back to her.
One day, after finishing training, the four of them had made significant progress.
Tsunade had already mastered using Armament Aura and Monster Strength simultaneously, and she had also mastered Observation Aura during combat, which made it much more difficult for Uchiha Yoichi to fight her using Taijutsu.
Nawaki had also fully mastered Rokushiki. Once he becomes proficient, and after modifying his body to inherit the Wood Release Bloodline, he could start training in Armament Aura and Observation Aura.
The improved Rokushiki required less physical strength and relied more on the application of Chakra, and so did the Aura techniques.
Shizune also mastered the A-Class Medical Ninjutsu Mystical Palm Jutsu, and the four of them each had achievements, so Tsunade decided to go have a good drink.
During this month or so, Uchiha Yoichi also talked with Tsunade about the difficulty of training Genetic Primordial Energy, as well as the initial information on the Desperate Virus.
Although Tsunade was somewhat interested and had some ideas, she couldn't start the research in the Land of Tea. At the very least, she had to return to Konoha first.
Without human experiments, relying on the information alone wouldn't make any progress.
After drinking, everyone went to enjoy a hot spring and then comfortably returned to the inn. Tsunade initially suggested gambling a round, but was rejected by Shizune and Nawaki's disdain.
Nawaki, although not having the impression of his granduncle Senju Hashirama, somehow didn't like Tsunade gambling, especially since she might vent on him after losing.
"Damn Nawaki, even you are against me gambling a round. You didn't help me just now. If you stood by my side, it would be two against two."
After returning to the room, Tsunade was still somewhat angry and, seeing Uchiha Yoichi who entered the room with her, she unhappily kicked him a little. Of course, she didn't use force, it was just a little temper tantrum because he didn't take her side, even though they were lovers...
Uchiha Yoichi sat on the bed and explained, "Actually, I'm against it, too, because there's something more important than gambling tonight."
"More important? What is it...."
Before Tsunade could finish asking, she was pulled into Uchiha Yoichi's arms, her waist embraced, almost sitting face-to-face on his lap.
"Shy little ghost...."
Seeing the fiery look in Uchiha Yoichi's eyes, how could Tsunade not guess his intentions? Her anger from moments before instantly vanished, replaced only by confusion.
The current Tsunade had no Monster Strength left. Embraced in Uchiha Yoichi's arms, her delicate white hands pushed against his shoulders, trying to push him away, but her strength was no different from an ordinary woman's.
"Shy little ghost, not here....mm...."
The words were unfinished as her lips were sealed. Facing such passionate advances, especially when the other is a partner she fully accepts and loves, how could Tsunade resist?
She had been lonely and empty for over a decade. Tonight's gesture was like pouring hot oil onto a bonfire on dry straw.
Everything was perfectly natural.
"...Nawaki and Shizune are next door~"
"I know Barrier Jutsu, no one else will hear us....."
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Near noon, the sleeping Tsunade's nose suddenly twitched; she seemed to smell the enticing aroma of food. Then she slowly opened her eyes to see Uchiha Yoichi placing the food on the table.
"Awake? You've only slept for three hours.... I was thinking of letting you sleep a bit more; Shizune came looking for you earlier, and I sent her away."
Uchiha Yoichi said, it was truly a night of dreams fulfilled; he might never forget it, as he and Tsunade didn't rest until dawn.
"It's all because of you....."
"This is magic lamb I brought, had the chef prepare it a bit."
"Hmm? Let me wash up a bit; I'll be right there!"
Upon hearing this, Tsunade's eyes lit up and she wanted to immediately get up for a meal. As soon as she woke up, she'd already felt hungry.
However, when she got out of bed, her legs felt weak, and then she embarrassedly glared at Uchiha Yoichi. Only after circulating her Chakra did she manage to stand up.
When Tsunade came out after washing up, Uchiha Yoichi had already tidied up the bed; since they did quite a bit last night, even though they changed the sheets before sleeping, they couldn't use them again upon waking.
As Tsunade sat down to eat, Uchiha Yoichi suddenly spoke, "Tsunade, I might need to go back."
Before he could finish the sentence, Tsunade's good mood vanished, and even the delicious lamb on the table didn't taste good. So she asked unhappily, "Is it because of Uchiha Mikota and Minami!?"
Uchiha Yoichi shook his head and said, "No, something serious happened in the village, Namikaze Minato has died, Jiraiya is seriously injured, and the memories from my clone left in the village indicate that Senior Sakumo wants me to return immediately...."
"What? Namikaze Minato is dead, and that Jiraiya is seriously injured? Has war started in the village again?"
Hearing this, Tsunade was already filled with shock and hurriedly asked.
"There is an enemy, but you know them too; it's Jiraiya's students from Hidden Rain Village. Among the three, one has the Rinnegan....."
Uchiha Yoichi explained the situation and also talked about the recent intelligence on the Akatsuki Organization. They brought a group targeting the Rinnegan, yet suffered heavy losses.
"Damn Jiraiya, even if he didn't listen to Orochimaru, he should have reported the Rinnegan's information to the village then. What was he thinking..."
Tsunade also realized the severity of the situation, thinking while biting her finger.
"Minami has already healed the wounded, and Hatake Sakumo calling me back is to discuss strategies because Nagato, who has the Rinnegan, seems to have other companions, allowing them to take the team by surprise."
Uchiha Yoichi continued, "Tsunade, you shouldn't return now. Nawaki's revival is also important. Let me handle this matter, even if it's the Rinnegan...."
"Don't say that, not even a little. Once you return, don't go off trying to complete missions alone!"
Tsunade immediately grabbed Uchiha Yoichi's hand, telling him anxiously with a worried look.
Then she saw the smile on Uchiha Yoichi's face and, even more anxious, instructed, "Promise me, or don't think about leaving!"
"Don't worry, Tsunade, I won't easily die. I still want to spend hundreds of years with you!"
"....Shy little ghost, you're always so sweet, having others yet still reaching out to me. Anyway, remember my words. I don't want the Senju family necklace to become a cursed one."
Uchiha Yoichi's words gradually eased the anxiety in Tsunade's heart. Her face flushed as she turned her head slightly and spoke.
Upon hearing those words earlier, she suddenly felt a wave of fear. If something happened to Uchiha Yoichi, Tsunade genuinely wouldn't know what would become of her, for she had barely managed to grasp happiness in her hands.
"I'll stay out with Nawaki for a while. If the village needs me, contact me immediately; also, I still want to develop that Jutsu, it's nearly complete..."
Tsunade was referring to the Yin Seal and the Strength of a Hundred Seal, though now she wasn't hoping to use the Yin Seal in battle; its use in maintaining youth was still crucial.
Compared to the others, her age wasn't small, and now without her little ghost, she naturally had to pay a little more attention to these matters.
"I understand. I'll notify you when the time comes, but if you think it's time, return to Konoha."
"I'll...have to think of an excuse when the time comes!"
Tsunade said with a blush, indicating that her reason wasn't Nawaki, but her relationship with Uchiha Yoichi; although she could disregard people's gazes and words, hearing too much could be annoying.
After discussing some matters, Uchiha Yoichi said goodbye to Tsunade and the others and left, returning to Konoha.
He hadn't expected Jiraiya and Namikaze Minato to fail together. In that case, the enemy must include more than just Nagato, possibly involving Uchiha Obito as well!