Luckily It Didn't Give Me Away; This Job Is Becoming More and More Impossible to Keep Doing

"My first request is that you do everything in your power to keep him in Konoha," Tsunade said solemnly.

Orochimaru remained expressionless, but inwardly, he was grinning with delight.

It seemed she really had let concern cloud her judgment!

After all I said today, why still didn't you understand, Tsunade?

Once your plan succeeds and the two of you truly establish a relationship, even if you try to drive Lord Dan away, he won't leave.

Those involved can't see clearly, those involved can't see clearly...

So this was not an issue at all for Orochimaru.

"I agree!" Orochimaru pretended to ponder it before nodding heavily.

"My second request is that you guarantee his safety."

"Does Sensei still want to get rid of him?" Orochimaru asked in confusion.

He was willing to eliminate such talent?

Was Hiruzen Sarutobi's head full of shit?

"Some people never intended to let him have an easy time," Tsunade said angrily.

"Fine, I agree to that as well!" A promise made by Orochimaru before he turned dark still carried weight.

However, Orochimaru felt that both of Tsunade's requests were far too simple.

Dan had managed to survive even under the collective targeting of Konoha's entire upper echelon. There was no need to doubt his intelligence or methods.

With Tsunade protecting him, Orochimaru supporting him from the shadows, and Uchiha Dan's own strength, his safety was not a problem at all.

Seeing Tsunade determined to make this happen, Orochimaru was thrilled and filled with anticipation for his meeting with Uchiha Dan.

At Konoha Hospital, in the private office shared by Uchiha Dan and Tsunade.

Seeing Tsunade arrive late, Uchiha Dan raised his head and met her gaze, asking worriedly, "Has Lady Mito's condition worsened again?"

Before Tsunade could even speak, Uchiha Dan had handed her the words she needed, sending a surge of joy through her heart.

"Ah..." Tsunade sat down listlessly, forcibly suppressing all her excitement as she said sadly, "Grandma probably doesn't have much longer."

It was no wonder Uchiha Dan had asked. Ever since Tsunade began sharing an office with him, she had almost never been late. She could practically be called a model worker.

The few times she had been late were because Uzumaki Mito's condition had worsened.

"We need to think of something," Uchiha Dan said with a frown, sinking into thought.

Uzumaki Mito's declining health was not because her lifespan was nearing its end.

On the contrary, members of the Uzumaki Clan lived very long lives. Under normal circumstances, Uzumaki Mito could easily live for several more decades.

But as the Nine-Tails' Jinchuriki, she had always relied on her own overwhelming strength to forcibly suppress the Nine-Tails.

Uzumaki Mito had been powerful as well, so naturally there had been no issue when she was young.

Now that she had grown old, her bodily functions had declined, her Chakra had diminished, and her strength had steadily weakened. The seal had begun to loosen as well.

Seeing this, the Nine-Tails caused trouble day and night, using his body to batter the seal.

Left with no choice, Uzumaki Mito had to constantly mobilize massive amounts of Chakra to suppress him. This had caused her vitality to be depleted too quickly, and her health had visibly deteriorated.

"Dan!" Tsunade suddenly spoke, interrupting Uchiha Dan's thoughts. Somewhat nervously, she asked, "Can you have a drink with me after work?"

The moment the question left her mouth, Tsunade nervously clenched the corner of her clothes so tightly that her toes practically dug a three-bedroom apartment into the floor.

"Ah, fine." Uchiha Dan nodded helplessly.

He truly disliked Tsunade's heavy drinking, but an occasional drink was not a problem. At a time like this, he naturally would not refuse.

Tsunade nearly jumped up in excitement, but she forcefully held herself back.

"I... I'll go check on the patients first..." With a grief-stricken expression, Tsunade stood up and hurriedly left without caring about Uchiha Dan's reaction.

Only when she reached the hospital rooftop could Tsunade finally hold herself back no longer. Covering her mouth tightly, she trembled with joy from head to toe, jumping and dancing across the rooftop without any way to stop herself.

Finally...

Her long-cherished wish was finally about to come true...

Meanwhile, Uchiha Dan in the office nearly jumped out of his chair.

He had just been so worried about Tsunade that he had extended his senses to check on her.

Was this woman... crazy?

But Uchiha Dan immediately thought of the reason.

How could someone like him, who had transmigrated here, not know what Tsunade was planning?

Ah, forget it!

Uchiha Dan sighed inwardly.

Let her do as she pleased!

For some reason, Uchiha Dan himself had begun to feel a faint sense of anticipation.

After jumping around for five minutes and taking another full ten minutes to calm down, Tsunade finally composed herself and returned to the office.

Seeing that Uchiha Dan looked as normal as ever, Tsunade let out a huge sigh of relief.

In her excitement just now, she had actually forgotten that Uchiha Dan possessed extraordinarily strong sensory abilities.

Luckily, she hadn't given herself away!

"Oh, right!" Finally remembering Orochimaru's request, Tsunade said, "You know that guy Orochimaru, right?"

The moment Uchiha Dan heard that name, he laughed. "He finally couldn't hold himself back?"

"Uh... you already knew?" Tsunade asked in surprise.

"That guy's a research fanatic. He's been keeping an eye on me on and off for three years. What else could he be after?"

"Fine!" Tsunade didn't even know what to say.

She had lost track of how many times Uchiha Dan's intellect had shocked her.

"Are you going to agree to it?" Tsunade asked after coming back to her senses.

"That depends on what he's researching. If it interests me, I'll agree. If it doesn't, I'll just refuse."

"You agreed to meet him?"

"It's just a meeting. No big deal!"

At this point, Uchiha Dan showed no emotional change on the surface, but his heart had already turned cold.

Well, well, Orochimaru. You actually dared to scheme against me through Tsunade.

You even seized upon Tsunade's weakness, helping her come up with ideas so she'd speak on your behalf.

Very good!

Looks like I need to give you a proper warning. Otherwise, once you get a taste of success, who knows what you might say in the future that you shouldn't.

Beware fire, thieves, and best friends—the best friend here was Orochimaru.

The sky was blue, the sun was mild, and Konoha beneath the sunlight was harmonious.

But work was unbearably hard to endure.

Neither Uchiha Dan nor Tsunade had ever felt that a single day could be so long. It was maddening torture.

Both wanted to suggest skipping work to the other, but they were afraid a severely injured patient might appear halfway through their drinking, followed by some tactless fool barging in to interrupt them. So, in perfect unspoken agreement, neither said anything.

Today, absolutely nothing could go wrong.

When quitting time finally arrived, Uchiha Dan and Tsunade both felt like crying.

Work was becoming more and more impossible to bear.

Then everyone saw Uchiha Dan and Tsunade, who were clearly bursting with joy inside.

One pretended to be unconcerned, while the other wore an unshakable look of gloom. Without saying a word, they walked side by side toward the tavern.

Anyone who didn't know better would have thought the two had had a falling-out.

Nothing must happen, nothing must happen...

After sitting down in the tavern, Tsunade prayed continuously in her heart.

My happiness is on the line today. Whoever dares interrupt at a time like this will be my mortal enemy for the rest of my life.