Tsunade Is a Drunkard, Confirmed

At the Daimyo's Mansion, after strolling from east to west, then from north to south, Hikari, who did not want to go back, was ultimately betrayed by his own brother and Brother Tetsu in the name of righteousness and forcibly sent back.

It was noon. Time to eat.

Tsunade was still waiting at the Guest Villa. If she got tired of waiting, Hikari might be fine, but underlings like them would have to endure their leader's oppression.

Under such circumstances, sacrificing himself for others became Hikari's only choice.

With the food and wine prepared, Hikari pushed open the door to Tsunade's room.

"Lady Hokage, the food and wine you requested!"

Inside, Tsunade lay there lazily. The pale softness visible through the gaps in her clothes nearly made it impossible for Hikari to look away.

Amitabha, form is emptiness, emptiness is form!

"Put it there!"

Even Tsunade's voice was languid, carrying a tingly sensation as it entered his ears.

Hikari obediently set down the food and wine, then turned to leave.

All he wanted now was to go back, eat, and take a good nap in the afternoon. Keeping Tsunade company was far too draining, and Hikari did not want that sort of thing.

If he had a choice, he would rather pick a big bed and spend every day lying around, eating and waiting to die.

That was the life he wanted.

Of course, snacks, sunflower seeds, watermelon, and beautiful women were absolutely indispensable accompaniments.

"Come back. Sit here and have a few drinks with me!"

In Tsunade's heart, Shizune was the best drinking companion. The girl could pour drinks and attend to people, ensuring Tsunade could comfortably finish drinking before going back to sleep without having to worry about anything.

Now that she was away from home and Shizune was not by her side, Hikari became her backup choice.

Turning around, Hikari smiled. "Lady Hokage, wouldn't that be inappropriate? A lone man and woman sitting together would invite gossip."

Tsunade had already sat down in a chair. She picked up the bottle herself and took a swig straight from it.

"Not bad. You didn't try to fob me off with the usual cheap stuff!"

After praising Hikari's efficiency, Tsunade pointed at the seat beside her.

"Come over and sit here. I told you to come over, so what are you afraid of!"

"A lone man and woman—you aren't wrong about that. But think about it carefully. In this situation, you're the one benefiting while I'm the one losing out, aren't I?"

Hikari stopped pretending. He curled his lip, looking disdainful.

"I don't want that kind of benefit!"

"Heh heh!"

Tsunade was not so easy to deal with. Hearing Hikari refuse, she lifted the bottle and gave it a shake, then smiled.

The moment he saw that smile, Hikari had a bad feeling.

This old hag is up to no good!

Hearing Hikari's inner thoughts, Tsunade's smile widened even further.

"If you leave, call your brother Kotetsu Hagane over and have him drink with me."

"Today, it will be either you or him. Choose for yourself!"

Should he go himself, or call his brother over?

Hikari hesitated for a moment before slowly walking over.

Fine, he had figured it out.

By now, in everyone else's eyes, his innocence had long since vanished.

Even if he called his brother Kotetsu Hagane over, his brother would probably find a way to send him back.

Rather than go through all that trouble, he might as well stay here himself!

"Lady Tsunade, why are you so especially fond of me? You're favoring me so brazenly. I'm truly touched!" Hikari spoke sarcastically, hoping Tsunade would discover her conscience.

However, he was wrong.

Tsunade had long since traded away something as unimportant as a conscience for money.

"First, that face of yours makes me feel very close to you. It looks far too much like my Second Grandfather!"

Tsunade stared straight at Hikari, a trace of nostalgia flashing through her eyes.

In Tsunade's memories, Great Grandfather Hashirama Senju occupied only a small part, while most of them were filled with the figure of Second Grandfather Senju Tobirama. Looking at Hikari, even though she knew he was not Senju Tobirama, Tsunade was still willing to keep him by her side.

As for the second reason, Tsunade could hear Hikari's inner thoughts, allowing her to consider matters more thoroughly.

That was also why she wanted Shizune to marry him.

As for Hikari's fantasies, Tsunade said she was magnanimous. As long as he gave her one or two hundred million as a betrothal gift when he married Shizune, that would be enough.

She did not want any more than that.

"There's nothing I can do about that!"

When it came to his face, Hikari could only sigh helplessly.

He could not exactly get plastic surgery just to avoid resembling the Second Hokage.

"Second, I feel there's something different about you, something mysterious that makes you difficult to see through. To ensure you don't harbor any ill intentions toward the Hidden Leaf Village, I can only keep you by my side!" Tsunade casually came up with an excuse, giving Hikari a reasonable explanation.

She did not know why she could hear Hikari's inner thoughts. To safeguard her own interests and those of the Hidden Leaf Village, she had made a choice that was good for everyone.

"All right, since you're being so honest, I'll have a drink with you!" Hikari picked up the bottle and poured himself a full cup.

The wine was only a little over ten degrees. It was mellow and smooth, drinking more like fruit wine.

It tasted good, and the price was just as lovely.

"By the way, you're about the same age as Shizune, so I imagine you took part in the Third Shinobi War too. What do you think of that war now?"

The Third Shinobi War!

Why had Tsunade suddenly brought that up?

Hikari glanced at Tsunade suspiciously. Seeing nothing unusual about her, he answered on his own initiative.

"To me, war is something I hate. As long as there is war, there will be casualties, and it will also cause enormous financial losses. Even if the victorious nation can wring a batch of tissues out of the defeated nation, compared to the ninja lost, it is still insignificant!"

"During the Third Shinobi War, I was still a genin. Every day, I lived in fear, never knowing when I might lose my life. Fortunately, the Fourth Hokage shone brilliantly and hastened the war's end. Otherwise, by the later stages, I don't know whether I would have survived."

Back then, being reincarnated from an ordinary society into the ninja world was bad enough, but then he ran into the Third Shinobi War during his childhood. At that time, aside from having slightly better overall judgment, Hikari's personal strength was basically no different from Tsuchiko's. He could only muddle along in the rear.

Those who had never experienced war would never understand its cruelty.

During the three Ninja Wars, if the Hidden Leaf Village had not seen Minato Namikaze rise so suddenly, the outcome of the later battles might very well have been different.

"Yes, something like war is truly too cruel!"

Tsunade raised her cup. "Cheers!"

"Honestly, I never realized you kid thought so much."

"When I asked Shizune what she thought of the Third Shinobi War, she didn't know anything at all!"

Hikari shook his head and smiled self-mockingly.

"If I could, I would like to understand nothing either. I could just stay in the Hidden Leaf Village every day, marry a beautiful wife, have children, and then spend the rest of my life eating and waiting to die!"

"Unfortunately, time waits for no one!"