"L-Lord Hokage."
Seeing Ronglin's gaunt face and much paler skin, Uchiha Diqin's eyes reddened, and she nearly burst into tears.
"You still remembered to come back? Half a year—were you too stupid, or did I overestimate you?"
Ronglin's return naturally delighted Tsunade, but she still could not resist teasing him.
"Silly girl, I'm back already. Why are you crying?"
Jumping into the office, Ronglin smiled and patted Uchiha Diqin on the head. Then he turned to Tsunade and said irritably, "You've got the nerve to say that? Would I have ended up like this if it weren't for you? Hmph, I'll settle the score with you later!!!"
Tsunade shrugged and decisively turned her head away, wearing an expression that said she had no idea what he was talking about.
"Nothing major happened in the village while I was gone, right?"
After chasing Tsunade away, Ronglin sat down in his chair, still feeling somewhat dazed.
He had really left Shikkotsu Forest and returned to the Ninja World—to Konoha, to his own office.
"Wait, get me something to eat first. Anything is fine, as long as there's plenty of meat."
"I'll prepare it right away."
Uchiha Diqin had intended to give her report, but upon hearing that Ronglin wanted food, she immediately left the office to prepare some.
"Well?"
Only after Uchiha Diqin had left did Tsunade poke Ronglin and ask about the results.
"Pretty good. The process was just a little miserable. I hadn't eaten meat for months—I feel like I've lost a lot of weight."
Pinching his own cheek, Ronglin shook his head with a bitter smile. Katsuyu's reasoning had been far too powerful: Katsuyu did not eat meat, so neither could he. What a damn ridiculous reason.
Tsunade looked him over from head to toe and nodded in agreement.