The Disturbance Caused by the Slug Sage, Mikoto's Fear

"Chlorella bread..."

Tsunade got up, picked up the bread, and took a bite.

She looked completely useless.

Even her usually well-kept golden hair had become somewhat messy.

She chewed the bread expressionlessly.

Then she casually glanced at the Slug Sage.

That glance made Tsunade notice a few details.

"Sage Mode is pretty amazing... You can even make hairpins."

Clearly, unlike her appearance over the past few days, the Slug Sage had an extra hairpin accessory pinned into the hair above her forehead today.

It added a touch of cuteness to her.

Tsunade had mistaken it for something the Slug Sage had created with Sage Mode.

"Huh...?"

The Slug Sage froze, then realized what Tsunade was thinking.

"Mm... mm..."

She nodded, took a deep breath, and after thinking it over, decided to tell the truth.

"Actually, Senju Jueming gave me this accessory."

"Oh."

Tsunade picked up her cup and took a sip of water.

She thought it was perfectly normal.

After all, the Slug Sage had saved her. A gift of thanks was only reasonable.

Seeing that Tsunade was not suspicious, the Slug Sage inexplicably let out a sigh of relief.

After their brief exchange, Tsunade lay back down.

She pulled the blanket over herself, turned around, and left only the back of her head facing the Slug Sage.

"Tsunade... what exactly happened to you...?"

The Slug Sage looked worriedly at Tsunade, who had become a lazy, useless wreck.

What had Tsunade gone through during the past week?

Should she ask now?

"Um... Tsunade."

Having made up her mind, the Slug Sage asked anyway.

"Did something bad happen to you over the past week?"

Her well-meaning question instantly set Tsunade off.

"No~thing~!!"

Tsunade's voice shot up to the ceiling, startling the Slug Sage.

That furious reaction clearly meant something terrible had