Widow Tsunade

Widow Tsunade

A day and a night after breaking contact with the Third Raikage, Sakumo's Team took the fastest route around in a wide detour, completely evading Cloud Village's patrol units as they prepared to head toward the Land of Fire.

But before that, the team encountered another major problem.

A very serious problem.

"Type O! Other than those two, does anyone else have Type O blood?"

"Secret Technique: Blood Coagulation Slowdown Jutsu."

"Hey, you! That's not the hemostat!"

"Don't move the Shadowless Lamp. Shin, hold it up for him for a while."

The entire Anbu medical team bustled around a bloody, mangled figure, while other ninjas with some medical knowledge helped from the side.

Kunugi Mokume lay on the cave floor, suffering from multiple compound fractures, severe internal damage, and nearly complete chakra depletion. He was already in shock, and there was not even enough blood for transfusions.

Major full-body surgery in the wilderness was an immense undertaking for any village, let alone for these Anbu medical personnel, most of whom had only switched to medicine halfway through their careers and had trained for less than two and a half years.

However, a veteran Jonin skilled in Taijutsu and several large-scale Ninjutsu was an extraordinarily valuable asset to the village. As long as there was even the slightest chance, they had to find a way to save him.

So even if they had to grit their teeth and force themselves through it, they had no choice but to try.

Sahara Mizu was not type O and had no medical training, so he could only remain nearby. Most of the others were busy with their own tasks—standing guard outside, organizing ninja tools, or resting quietly like him.

Even though no one said anything,

the silent glances gathering upon him still carried considerable weight.

While the Anbu medical team worked frantically, everyone occasionally glanced from the corners of their eyes toward the pale figure sitting deep within the cave.

Tsunade, the "Medical Saint" renowned throughout the Ninja World, had been excluded from the medical team.

No.

More precisely, she had not been "excluded"; she simply could no longer fulfill medical duties.

From the moment she had been brought back, Lord Tsunade had displayed an extremely obvious war trauma response. Her entire body had trembled uncontrollably because of the bloodstains on her clothes.

After they stopped moving, she did not even care about appearances. She used muddy rainwater from the ground to scrub the blood from herself, reacting intensely to anything red.

It was only nearly a day later that the trembling eased slightly.

Later, in order to treat Jonin Kunugi Mokume, the leader of the Anbu medical team specifically invited her for a consultation. Considering her current mental state, they only asked her for guidance rather than having her operate directly.

Out of a sense of responsibility, Tsunade forced herself to take a look.

Then she crouched outside the cave and vomited intermittently for nearly two hours.

After returning from outside, she sat there alone, hugging her head without uttering a word.

Everyone present was a seasoned ninja. Even the Anbu medical team leader could only shake his head in pity at the sight.

Hemophobia.

One of the most common forms of psychological stress response caused by war trauma.

Tsunade's ninja career was probably over.

However, unlike the others, who worried for her,

Sahara Mizu had been staring at Tsunade for an entirely different reason.

Ever since she had vomited violently that morning, a white halo had appeared above Tsunade's head.

"Shallow Heart Knot"

Yet no matter how long he stared at it, no information came back from within the halo.

Comparing her to the previous two people with Heart Knots, Sahara Mizu figured it was probably because he had no "bond" with Tsunade.

If so, then how to interfere with her "Heart Knot" became a major problem.

"Psst, psst."

Hearing the sound from the cave entrance, Sahara Mizu turned to look over.

Then he saw Miss Yayoi waving at him mysteriously.

"What is it?"

Sahara Mizu walked out with a puzzled expression.

Miss Yayoi pulled him farther away and whispered, "Let's stay a little farther away. Wouldn't want blood splattering all over us later."

"Huh?"

Sahara Mizu looked completely bewildered.

Then Miss Yayoi said mysteriously, "I heard it just now."

"Lord Sakumo was talking with those two Jonin from the Kurama Clan. He said he hoped they could use Genjutsu to help adjust that woman Tsunade's mental state."

"If they bring Tsunade back like this, that old man Third Generation is definitely going to dump the blame on him."

"Dump the blame?" Sahara Mizu instinctively lowered his voice as well.

"Hmph." Miss Yayoi muttered irritably, "Our clan head said at the clan meeting that the Sarutobi Brat is too weak, so he can only be ruthless within and submissive without. He sees small gains and forgets righteousness, cherishes his own life when undertaking great deeds, and is utterly hopeless."

"Right now, the village is locked in a fierce struggle with the west, and he doesn't dare start a war in the north. He can neither avenge them nor explain the deaths of so many elites, so someone has to take the blame for Tsunade's Team's failure."

"Just wait. At the Jonin Council, someone will definitely say the reinforcements arrived too late."

Hearing that, Sahara Mizu could not help but regard Miss Yayoi more highly.

What an insightful assessment.

But after hearing this, Sahara Mizu suddenly realized something and asked, "Can Genjutsu treat war trauma too?"

"Normally, it can." Miss Yayoi raised her voice slightly and puffed out her chest. "Our Uchiha Clan even has elders who use the Sharingan to reverse the psychological trauma of fellow clan members. The success rate is just rather low."

The Sharingan?

Sahara Mizu imagined that famous sort of scene.

A lunatic treating another lunatic.

It would be a miracle if that worked.

"If it can work, why did you tell me to stay far away?" Sahara Mizu asked in confusion.

"Because—"

"Boom!"

Before she could finish, a terrifying tremor shook the cave. The Kurama Clan Jonin staggered outside, and even the medical team carrying out the operation brought their patient out.

"Get... get out!"

Tsunade's voice was nearly hoarse.

Uchiha Yayoi's voice paused for half a beat as well.

Only after seeing that there was no further movement did she continue, "Normally, this kind of Genjutsu treatment can only be carried out slowly after the patient has calmed down for some time."

"Using Genjutsu to treat a patient now can only make her immediately recall the person she misses most, or the thing she fears most."

Upon hearing that, Sahara Mizu immediately understood what had happened inside. He looked at Miss Yayoi with a hint of helplessness.

"Why didn't you remind Lord Sakumo?"

Miss Yayoi complained softly, "How could they not know?! For Genjutsu users, that's common sense."

The girl's tone was clearly a little aggrieved.

"Hm?"

Sahara Mizu froze.

Only then did he understand.

Hatake Sakumo had probably been desperately grasping at any possible remedy.

"Sorry, sorry."

"I want ice cream~!"

"Mm, how about adding ramen too? And three-colored dumplings."

"Hehe, you said it."

Miss Yayoi was really easy to placate.

As the two spoke, Sahara Mizu touched his Ninja Tool Bag and suddenly remembered something. His hand paused.

Genjutsu.

Mental treatment.

Heart Knot?

Kyoka Suigetsu, Complete Hypnosis, common-sense alteration, ethical oblivion.

Widow Tsunade and the Hypnotic Ring!

All at once, a massive spark of inspiration rose from the depths of Sahara Mizu's heart.

If it's Kyoka Suigetsu, it should be possible, right?

Tsunade is still in a state of massive chakra depletion.

In that case...

He immediately stood up and walked toward the cave.

"Mizu?"

Miss Yayoi instinctively tried to follow him.

"Yayoi, wait here for me a moment." Sahara Mizu waved to her. "I have an idea I want to try."

"Huh?"

Before long, Sahara Mizu strode into the cave.

Only Tsunade remained inside, crouching in a corner with her head buried between her legs, her fingers deeply tangled in her hair. Faintly, he could hear the pained sobs she was trying desperately to suppress.

But she seemed to hear his footsteps. Her voice abruptly dropped, and she rasped,

"Didn't I tell you to get—"

Only after lifting her head and noticing that the visitor was the young man she had met once before did Tsunade's voice falter.

"It's you..."

"What is it?"

Her voice was hoarse, but her tone softened slightly.

When someone was under extreme pressure or on the verge of a mental collapse, they did not have the energy to worry about others.

Being able to speak to him this calmly was already her limit.

"No."

"I just suddenly remembered that there's something I forgot to return to you."

Sahara Mizu stood before her, his tone gentle.

From his Ninja Tool Bag, he took out a Necklace with Blue Crystal.

The moment she noticed the necklace in his hand, Tsunade's eyes froze, and her fists suddenly clenched.

"..."

After a long silence, she murmured in a heavy voice, "Sorry. It isn't mine."

"If you like it, keep it."

"You can throw it away too."

"Is that really okay?"

Sahara Mizu bent down slightly. The childishness had gradually faded from the fifteen-year-old boy's face, though he still possessed the innocence unique to his age.

Those azure eyes met Tsunade's.

"I can see them."

"Inside are soul imprints belonging to Lord Tsunade, a middle-aged man with long hair, a short-haired child, and a young man with long hair."

"I don't know how this crystal was condensed from chakra, or why it possesses such enormous vitality that it can bear so many memories."

"But the traces inside are extremely deep."

"?!"

Almost the instant his words fell, Tsunade jerked her head up to stare at him.

Her expression was stunned.

This necklace was something private to her. The fact that it had been condensed from her grandfather's chakra was among the greatest of secrets. Since her grandfather gave it to her, she had only passed it on to Nawaki and Dan.

How could he...?

Wait!

Tsunade suddenly realized something. Impulsively, she grabbed Sahara Mizu's sleeve and stared straight at him.

"You said... soul imprints?"

"How can I see them!?"

Sahara Mizu was slightly startled. He had not expected her to take the bait so easily.

He did not realize that this woman, who had only just suffered mental trauma, was at the most vulnerable point of her life.

However, Mr. Sahara did not dwell on it too much.

"You can see them."

Sahara Mizu looked troubled and said rather helplessly, "But because they're only fragmented soul traces, even if you see them, you can't change anything, Lord Tsunade."

"As long as... as long as I can see them again, even just once."

Tsunade raised her head and gripped his hand tightly. Her reddened eyes were faintly wet, her pale and beautiful face filled with grief, and her voice carried an almost weak plea.

"I'll do anything."

"I'm begging you."

"Please help me!"

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