The Pain of Being Single, Hatake Sakumo's Stirring Heart

After standing pressed together for quite a while, Tsunade could no longer hold back. She turned around and wrapped Uchiha Dan in a tight embrace.

Uchiha Dan froze for a moment, then hugged Tsunade in return.

They had waited too long for this moment.

Over five years, they had already left the deepest marks upon each other's souls.

Tsunade had always clamored about sparring with Uchiha Dan, about defeating him, constantly seeking him out.

But later on, wasn't that simply her way of concealing how badly she wanted to see him?

A girl's feelings were always a little difficult to voice.

As for Uchiha Dan, he had indeed intended to use Tsunade at first. But later on, hadn't he also come to look forward to her appearing?

He was merely afraid he would be unable to bear that overwhelming guilt, so he had refused to admit it.

At this moment, any words were superfluous. They only wanted to hold each other like this, until the end of time.

"Cough, cough..." After a long while, a series of light coughs suddenly came from a nearby tree.

Hatake Sakumo simply could not stand watching any longer. You two had been hugging for a whole hour already—were you done yet?

A little token gesture was enough, wasn't it? Didn't you know I was still single? Was this really necessary?

"Hatake Sakumo, I'm going to kill you today..." His sweet moment interrupted, Uchiha Dan immediately flew into a rage and was about to charge at Hatake Sakumo to show him the iron fist of fury.

"Enough!" Tsunade hurriedly grabbed Uchiha Dan and shook her head, saying gently, "We should spare a thought for him too. I heard Senior Sakumo is still single even now!"

"Cough, cough..." Hatake Sakumo coughed again. This time, it was not deliberate—he had choked.

Were you two done yet?

Don't expose people's sore spots when insulting them. So what if I'm single? I...

Wasn't it all because of Uchiha Dan?

Nearly five years had been wasted on this brat. It was fucking infuriating!

"Hatake Sakumo, Tsunade and I are going to have a private conversation now. Do you want to come listen?" Uchiha Dan asked Hatake Sakumo after calming down somewhat.

"Brat, just you wait. One day, I'll make you regret this!" Hatake Sakumo gritted his teeth in fury.

How many times had this happened already?

Had anyone ever seen a person under surveillance openly, brazenly, without a shred of restraint, and in broad daylight dismiss the person surveilling them whenever they felt like it?

This was simply insane!

Forget it. I'd already been held up enough. I couldn't hold up these two bastards too.

Once Hatake Sakumo had gone far away, Uchiha Dan took a deep breath and said, "Tsunade, actually, I..."

Tsunade raised a finger to Uchiha Dan's lips, cutting him off as she spoke first. "Dan, I know you once intended to use me, but I never blamed you."

Uchiha Dan was stunned. He immediately wanted to explain, but when the words reached his lips, he could not utter a single one.

He had sworn he would never lie to Tsunade again, so any explanation now would only be pale and unnecessary.

Letting out a long breath, Uchiha Dan took Tsunade's hands and said with utmost sincerity, "Tsunade, I'm sorry!"

Tsunade shook her head firmly and said seriously, "You don't need to apologize, because you had no choice back then."

"I only hate that I didn't realize it at the time and let you suffer for so many years."

"Fool." Uchiha Dan gently tapped Tsunade's nose with his finger and comforted her, "Even if you had known, what could you have done back then?"

"I could have stayed with you!"

Tsunade raised her head, her blazing gaze meeting Uchiha Dan's captivating eyes. The atmosphere suddenly turned intimate.

Beneath the streetlamp, caressed by the evening breeze, the shadows of their heads slowly drifted together beyond their control.

The chirping insects and birds around them sounded especially clear and pleasant, as though they were playing a melody for two souls merging as one.

Couples in love were always reluctant to part. On a park bench, the two chatted for four whole hours.

Only when drowsiness overcame Tsunade and she let out a yawn did Uchiha Dan realize it was already late at night.

"I'll take you home." Though reluctant to part, Uchiha Dan could not bear to let Tsunade wear herself out.

"I don't want to go home!" Tsunade pressed tightly against Uchiha Dan and said coquettishly.

"Fool, we'll see each other tomorrow, and we can spend the whole day together!" Uchiha Dan kissed Tsunade's forehead and smiled. "Besides, Lady Mito needs someone to look after her."

"All right!" At the mention of her grandmother, Tsunade finally agreed.

After seeing Tsunade home, Uchiha Dan felt as though he was floating the entire way back.

He had never experienced such happiness before. He had not even dreamed of it.

Halfway home, Uchiha Dan calmed down somewhat and suddenly thought of something. His eyes instantly turned cold.

Orochimaru, well played.

As smart as Uchiha Dan was, how could he not have guessed that Orochimaru had come up with the drinking plan?

My Tsunade is innocent and pure. How could she possibly have the brains for that?

But you didn't think that helping me from the sidelines would earn you my gratitude, did you?

If you could help me this way today, then you could hurt me this way tomorrow.

There had to be an explanation for this matter, and anything like it must never be allowed to happen again.

Hatake Sakumo, who had caught up again, finally found an opportunity. In a dark, deserted corner, he suddenly appeared in front of Uchiha Dan.

"Kid, how are you going to thank me?" Hatake Sakumo removed his mask and asked irritably.

"Senior, my gratitude is beyond words!" Uchiha Dan said with a smile. "When I get married, I'll definitely invite you to be my best man."

"Heh, didn't you say you were going to kill me today?" Hatake Sakumo said coldly.

"How could you take something said in anger seriously?" Uchiha Dan showed no remorse whatsoever and turned the tables on him. "I haven't even complained about you yet. Tsunade and I had only just embraced when you interrupted us. Don't you think that was too much?"

"You little brat, you..." Hatake Sakumo's chest heaved violently with anger.

You'd been hugging for an entire hour. I was afraid you two would drop dead from it, and you call that "just embraced"?

Just as Tsunade had said, this kid had a hundred and eight blades growing out of his mouth, each one stabbing straight into people's hearts and lungs.

"Alright, you're a senior. You wouldn't stoop to arguing with a junior like me, would you?" Uchiha Dan played the moral blackmail card before changing the subject. "Did you suddenly show up because you had something to say?"

"Kid, I don't want to monitor you anymore. You have to help me. I know you definitely have a way," Hatake Sakumo said angrily.

"Senior, has our bond really grown so weak?" Uchiha Dan asked with a face full of surprise, disbelief, and utter incomprehension.

"That's enough!" Hatake Sakumo practically roared. "How the hell do I look like a surveillance agent? Every day, you order me around like I'm your nanny. I've had enough of this life."

"Senior, don't tell me you want to date?" As if suddenly thinking of something, Uchiha Dan quickly said, "Tell me about it. Which family's young lady caught your eye? I'll help you weigh your options."

Hatake Sakumo's face reddened. His eyes darted away, and after a light cough, he asked with utmost seriousness, "Really?"