The First Time Little Tsunade Met Shirou Emiya

"Sorry."

"I'm not interested in any of that."

Just as Tobirama Senju had expected, Shirou Emiya rejected Hashirama Senju. He did not even intend to accept a newly refreshed mission from his mission list.

D-Rank Mission: Defeat Tsunade once at the Gambling Table.

Shirou Emiya's mission list had remained in the incomplete missions (2/3) state for years. Normally, he could only accept one more mission at most.

To avoid any mishaps, Shirou Emiya never dared to accept missions carelessly, such as the mission of making Shimura Danzo take the blame.

When Shirou Emiya had been in the Land of Iron, he tried accepting a mission and made Shimura Danzo take the blame once as punishment for deceiving him. It took quite a while to complete, forcing Shirou Emiya to be more cautious.

Of course.

Most importantly...

Shirou Emiya did not particularly trust his own luck.

As a transmigrator, his luck had been bad enough to send him back to the Ancient Era over a thousand years ago. He had only managed to piece together a path to rebirth through every possible means, using the Sage of Six Paths and Black Zetsu.

If he could never beat Tsunade and had to remain in the Shinobi World for the reward of a D-Rank Mission, that would truly be a disaster...

If he happened to beat Tsunade when he merely wanted to try a round, then accepted the D-Rank Mission and proceeded to lose at the Gambling Table again and again, never beating Tsunade even after dealing with Kaguya Otsutsuki, that would be an even bigger disaster...

A mastermind's thousand-year plan, all for the sake of completing a mission and leaving the Shinobi World, only to be ruined by three tiny dice—if that happened, it would be enough to make anyone lose their mind.

"Huh?"

Little Tsunade had only just finished counting the money before she curiously looked Shirou Emiya over. "You're not even interested in gambling?"

"Because there are more worthwhile things to enjoy in this world."

Shirou Emiya's gaze fell upon Little Tsunade. His eyes remained deathly still, yet even that stillness could not conceal the radiance around him.

Whenever anyone saw Shirou Emiya, they seemed able to see the compassion and kindness on his face from every angle. Even an Impure World Reincarnation body could not conceal that radiance.

"Little Tsuna, let me introduce you."

Hashirama Senju put away the dice cup and asked his granddaughter with a smile, "Do you remember the stories Grandpa and Grandma tell you every night before bed?"

"Stories about Lord Shirou?"

A gleam immediately appeared in Little Tsunade's eyes.

As a child who had not yet grown up, she was naturally most interested in bedtime stories, especially since Hashirama Senju's stories suited her tastes perfectly.

How could a little girl of only five possibly dislike fairytale-like stories with beautiful, happy endings?

Especially when Little Tsunade felt sad for the people in the bedtime stories, whose loved ones had fallen gravely ill and died one after another, while the survivors also gradually became sick and could only struggle painfully as they waited for death, the true protagonist of the story, Shirou Emiya, would appear. He would cure people of their painful illnesses and save one village and town after another from destruction.

Of course.

Hashirama Senju's bedtime stories were rather simple.

To Little Tsunade, they could only be considered a sweet treat before bed.

In comparison...

Mito Uzumaki's stories were more complicated and even more captivating.

That was because Mito Uzumaki's stories often contained strange elements. Even Shirou Emiya's image was more vivid than in Hashirama Senju's stories, and the contents were incredibly realistic. Whenever someone in the stories questioned Shirou Emiya's medical skills, Little Tsunade would become furious.

Without a doubt.

Those stories were even more engrossing.

In particular, the protagonist of Mito Uzumaki's stories, Shirou Emiya, would have a Slug resembling a snot worm perched on his shoulder. He would ride in a cart pulled by a Nine-Tails fox larger than their house, descending upon suffering villages like a god.

A humble young man with superb medical skills...

A cute little Slug who was always helpful...

A great Nine-Tails fox that was sometimes obedient and sometimes bristled like a pet...

The strange yet adorable stories of this group traveling through the Shinobi World fascinated the little girl. When the great Nine-Tails fox worried that its size would frighten patients and voluntarily asked to be sealed away, Shirou Emiya refused because he believed that would imprison its freedom. In the end, the great Nine-Tails fox had no choice but to leave the group, and that matter had saddened her for a long time.

Such stories, which embodied truth, kindness, and beauty without losing their fun, were perfect for coaxing an innocent five-year-old girl to sleep. They also made her deeply envious, and the protagonist of those stories, Shirou Emiya, was someone she greatly admired.

The little girl also dreamed of becoming a Medical Ninja like Shirou Emiya.

"We tell her stories about Lord Shirou every day."

Remembering his own childhood, Hashirama Senju said with a cheerful smile, "Little Tsuna is just like I was when I was young. After hearing Lord Shirou's stories, she also wants to become a Medical Ninja..."

"And..."

"She has already begun refining Chakra..."

"Her Chakra control is even better than mine was at her age!"

Hashirama Senju happily praised his little granddaughter before Shirou Emiya, imagining his childhood dream being realized by a younger generation. "Maybe Little Tsuna will be even stronger than me. Perhaps she really can become an outstanding Medical Ninja in the future!"

"I definitely will!"

Little Tsunade stood up indignantly. Thinking that her granduncle was looking down on her, she did not even care when the money in her arms scattered all over the ground. "I won't give up like Grandpa did! I'll become the greatest Medical Ninja, just like Lord Shirou! I'll endure the pain that ordinary people cannot endure and work hard to save those who cannot escape their suffering!"

"..."

Shirou Emiya fell silent for a moment as he looked at the little girl before him. Then he suddenly said, "I'll be staying in Konoha for a while. If there's anything you want to ask, you can come ask me."

"Ah?"

Hashirama Senju looked at Shirou Emiya in surprise.

"..."

Tobirama Senju, however, was not surprised at all.

Because Tobirama Senju understood Shirou Emiya's personality.

This Medical Ninja from the Ancient Era had never cared about teaching his medical knowledge to others. He carefully compiled every case and treatment plan.

In fact...

Shirou Emiya's treatment plans were all usable by ordinary Medical Ninjas.

Over the course of ten years, whenever Tobirama Senju sent people to contact them, those who returned would bring back piles of Medical Record Scrolls. Those Medical Record Scrolls, enough to fill an entire Secret Chamber, were all precious treasures he wanted to leave behind for the world.

Unfortunately...

Those Medical Record Scrolls were not what Tobirama Senju was interested in.

Shirou Emiya would only willingly share knowledge related to Medical Ninjas. He had never been willing to share knowledge that could improve a ninja's combat strength.

"I am Shirou Emiya."

Shirou Emiya introduced himself. Under Little Tsunade's dumbfounded gaze, he stood up and seriously extended his hand toward the little girl. "I am a Medical Ninja."

"..."

Little Tsunade stared at him with her wide eyes in disbelief.

At that moment...

Shirou Emiya was so solemn and serious.

So much so that Little Tsunade was slow to react. She could only stare blankly at Shirou Emiya, then imitate him and extend her chubby little hand.

"My name is Tsunade..."

Little Tsunade's face was still filled with confusion and shock. She still could not believe that the person before her was Shirou Emiya himself, the protagonist of her bedtime stories.

"..."

Hashirama Senju's expression also became incomparably solemn.

Even Tobirama Senju, who was usually indifferent and easygoing, could not help but grow serious.

This scene...

Perhaps they would never forget it.

In their eyes, they had witnessed a great figure who had established the Medical Ninja system a thousand years ago, crossing life, death, and a millennium of time to sincerely acknowledge a child's dream and pass his convictions and will on to the future.

Of course.

No matter what, they would never know...

Whether it was the Senju Clan's Crystal Coffin or the spare Crystal Coffin in Shikkotsu Forest, both had actually been prepared for Tsunade all along.

This little girl...

Had always been the sole intended recipient of the Crystal Coffins in the Shinobi World.

If Tobirama Senju had not taken the risk of using the Impure World Reincarnation early to summon Shirou Emiya, Tsunade would have been the one truly destined to reveal Shirou Emiya's Crystal Coffin to the world.

Even at this moment...

The person chosen to possess the second Crystal Coffin...

Was still her.