Tsunade's expression grew more serious by the second. The warm, fair hand resting on Seiryū's forehead brought him no comfort. Instead, it left him uneasy.
"D-doctor... no, Tsunade-sama... can I still be saved... no, I mean, I'm not sick, right?"
'What's with that grave look on your face?'
'Could I really be ill?'
'That shouldn't be the case. I feel perfectly normal, no different from anyone else.'
'Strange…'
Tsunade withdrew her hand, her brow knitted even tighter. Honestly, she hadn't found anything wrong.
Yet this brat was clearly off.
Could it be a psychological disorder?
Something like her own hemophobia?
The kid must have experienced some kind of trauma, just like she had. If so, it would be troublesome. She hadn't even cured her own fear of blood...
She exhaled lightly. Patients like this needed encouragement and comfort. She flicked Seiryū on the forehead and smiled. "Maybe you just have unique tastes. We'll keep an eye on it."
Of course, that was only a white lie.
She was certain. Seiryū was sick. Mentally. And it wasn't mild.
Seiryū breathed a sigh of relief, ignoring the forehead flick. "See? I told you I couldn't be sick. Thank you for the check-up, Tsunade-sama!"
Look, an all-clear from Konoha's strongest Medical-nin.
Who would still dare claim he was sick?
Pure slander!
Tsunade shot him a sidelong glance. "Don't thank me yet. I never said the exam was free. My services are expensive. Let's say fifty thousand ryo."
Her consultation fees were sky-high.
Still, perhaps because she saw a bit of her own past in him, she was willing to treat his condition.
Treatment cost money. She couldn't work for free.
Hearing the price, Seiryū balked. "What? Fifty thousand? Why not just rob people?"
That kind of money could support the Yūhi family for several months.
Tsunade chuckled. "Robbery isn't as fast as billing. If I wanted to, I could become a tycoon just off medical fees."
Seiryū shook his head frantically. "No way. I never asked for an exam. This is forced trade. And I should charge you for emotional damage. I was scared stiff!"
He had money, but that didn't mean he was a sucker.
Tsunade's smile only brightened. "No one stiffs Tsunade-sama on her bill."
Seiryū: "…"
He was doomed. He had run into a bandit.
The longer he stayed in Konoha, the more he realized the village was full of strange people.
"I'm just a kid. Take it up with my guardian. And Tsunade-sama, this is coercion. Daylight robbery. Oppression. Injustice…"
"Save the speech. Who is your guardian? I'll collect in person. Treatment isn't free."
"That's twisted logic!"
"Hmph."
Seiryū left in despair. He hadn't expected Tsunade to be so shameless. And to think Medical-nin could make so much money.
Fifty thousand ryo, gone with a head-pat.
Faster than robbery.
He made a silent decision. Once he had some free time, he'd study Medical Ninjutsu and surpass Tsunade.
Then… collect his own fees.
Once he mastered the craft…
He'd rent out the Forest of Death as a tourist spot, buy billions of explosive tags, and blow things up for fun…
"Haha, this little brat is hilarious…"
Watching the indignant boy leave, Tsunade could barely hold back her laughter. His expressions had been priceless.
He hadn't shown the usual deference others gave to a Sannin and the village's princess.
He'd even dared to haggle and talk back.
She found him oddly entertaining. A truly interesting little fellow…
"…"
The other three were silent, suspicion in their eyes.
The Tsunade they knew wouldn't normally act like this.
"Tsunade-nee, is Seiryū really all right?"
Kushina asked, her voice tinged with concern. She doubted he was fine. She hadn't tasted the "soldier pill-flavored ramen," but just hearing about it was enough to make her stomach churn.
Yet Seiryū had slurped it down happily.
That definitely wasn't normal…
Tsunade's smile faded, and she exhaled slowly. "There's a problem, and it's not small. Most likely a psychological issue. That boy has been through something painful."
Minato's expression turned serious. "Tsunade-sama, Seiryū is an orphan. The Hokage said his village was attacked by rogue ninja. Everyone except him was killed."
"Could that be the cause?"
He and Kushina had only learned this after asking the Third Hokage when they first met Seiryū.
"So that's it."
Hearing Minato's words, Tsunade sighed. The ninja world was never peaceful. "After something like that, to still be so cheerful… he's tougher than we thought."
If Minato hadn't told her, she never would've guessed the boy had endured such tragedy.
Most people would have collapsed.
Yet he remained upbeat. Stronger than she was…
"It's just…"
"Yes, his behavior is also odd. He knew who I was, met me for the first time, and still dared to argue and haggle?"
"I didn't mind. In fact, I found it amusing. But it's definitely not normal."
Besides his bizarre taste, Tsunade had noticed something else.
Seiryū's behavior was off.
It didn't seem like he was pretending. It came naturally. That was simply his personality.
But even that wasn't normal.
What kind of kid acted like that?
"True."
"You're right!"
Minato and Kushina exchanged glances, both agreeing.
They had spent enough time with Seiryū and had noticed it long ago.
He would often say things they couldn't understand and do things they couldn't make sense of.
But they had gotten used to it. That was simply Seiryū.
If someone used Transformation Jutsu to disguise themselves as him, they would be spotted instantly.
No one could replicate that unique aura.
Kushina, worried about her clansman, asked, "Tsunade-nee, could all of this really stem from what he went through?"
"Hard to say."
Tsunade tapped the table lightly. "I still know too little. This afternoon, I'll ask the Old Man or Shinku for more details…"
(To be continued.)
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