Whose Scheme Succeeded? Tsunade's Temptation

"Hmph! You should be thinking about how to thank me instead!" With that, Tsunade tossed a scroll to Uchiha Dan across from her.

Curiously opening the scroll, Uchiha Dan's expression shifted sharply, then turned excited.

The long march had finally taken its first step. With such a good start, things would be easier from here on out.

It hadn't been easy!

That bastard Hiruzen Sarutobi had actually allowed him to train in the Chakra Extraction Technique.

Though he'd already mastered it and didn't need permission, this was a sign that restrictions were slowly being loosened for him!

Once the limits were relaxed a bit more, he'd bolt immediately—from then on, the vast sea for fish to leap, the high sky for birds to fly.

"Why would the Third Hokage..." Uchiha Dan feigned confusion, then, as if remembering something, looked at Tsunade in surprise.

Tsunade was brimming with pride at that moment, unable to hold back a laugh, because Uchiha Dan's reaction was exactly what she'd expected.

That's how it should be!

"Tell me, why are you helping me?" Uchiha Dan reined in his emotions, rare seriousness in his tone toward Tsunade.

"Because I don't want to see you waste your talent. Is that reason enough?"

"Enough!" Uchiha Dan sighed. "I owe you this favor, so I must repay you."

Before Tsunade could refuse, Uchiha Dan was already stuffing things into a cardboard box, saying urgently, "And the first step of repayment is giving you this best office—wishing you joy!"

With that, he picked up the box with both hands and bolted for the door.

But at the doorway, he found the door wouldn't open no matter what. Flustered, he set the box aside and twisted the doorknob with both hands, sweat beading on his forehead.

Just then, Tsunade's chilling voice came from behind him: "Need some help?"

"Sure, your help would be great... ouch..."

Tossed straight back into his chair, Uchiha Dan looked up at the smug Tsunade with a face full of grievance.

Tsunade, however, was exceptionally delighted.

For five years, she'd always been the one getting the short end of the stick with Uchiha Dan. Now, it was finally his turn.

To Tsunade, this feeling was better than New Year's.

And she'd also found a way to handle Uchiha Dan.

You want to stay away from me? I won't let you have your way—it'll drive you mad!

In Konoha, could you really bully me?

Yet amid her joy, Tsunade felt a bit frustrated.

So many people tried every trick to get close to me, but you, Uchiha Dan, are the only one I've actively approached who just wants to run away.

"Do you really dislike seeing me that much?" Tsunade broke the silence, speaking first.

"You have the nerve to ask?" Uchiha Dan said gloomily. "Let's not even mention the random encounters on the street."

"In five years, we've met at the hospital forty-nine times, and you've brought me forty-nine troubles."

"So whenever I see you, my scalp crawls—I always feel something bad is about to happen."

"Hmph, then give me back the scroll!" Tsunade held out her hand to Uchiha Dan, feigning anger.

"No way, no matter what!" Uchiha Dan quickly hugged the scroll, turning sideways to shield it tightly, terrified Tsunade would snatch it. "Why should I give you what's mine?"

Seeing Uchiha Dan's shameless behavior, Tsunade was speechless.

How could there be a person like this in the world?

If it weren't for your high talent and commoner status, I'd have beaten you to death long ago.

Uchiha Dan's mood, however, was the complete opposite.

Since he'd resolved to use Tsunade three years ago, everything he wanted had come to him so far.

So he couldn't help reciting a poem in his heart:

Smoothly passed to become a medical peer, everything's in my grasp, drawing closer to Sister Tsunade, my mood now is so different, so different!

Of course, there had been some bumps along the way.

To avoid truly repulsing Tsunade while still making her angry every time, and to keep everything natural and reasonable, he'd racked his brains.

Poor, innocent Tsunade back then—Uchiha Dan, forced by survival over the years to constantly read human nature, had her completely wrapped around his finger.

No help for it—the sins of your great-uncle must be repaid by you.

My hope of escaping Konoha rests entirely on you.

"So..." After a long pause, Uchiha Dan asked tentatively, "Are you really going to start working at Konoha Hospital from now on?"

"Otherwise?" Tsunade replied with a smile.

"Then why do you have to share an office with me?" Uchiha Dan asked, his face falling.

"Naturally, to make it easier to exchange ideas on Medical Ninjutsu." Tsunade's eyes burned with curiosity. "That move you pulled before—I'm very interested in it."

Finally took the bait!

Uchiha Dan was filled with boundless emotion.

This was way too damn hard.

"Heh, don't even think about it. This is my trump card jutsu." Uchiha Dan refused without hesitation.

"I'm not learning it for free!" Tsunade said seriously. "I'll trade you."

"What do you have to trade?" Uchiha Dan looked Tsunade up and down, a hint of disdain in his voice.

"I can learn Mystical Palm Technique after seeing it once. I don't need you to teach me."

"As for that technique with the blue diamond pattern on your forehead, my chakra isn't enough yet. I can't learn it."

"And that technique you use to summon Katsuyu—it's a Summoning Technique, right? Could you even teach me that?"

"Even if you were willing, the Third Hokage wouldn't dare bother you, but he'd sure as hell make my life miserable."

"So, here's the question: what are you trading me?"

Before Tsunade could answer, Uchiha Dan spoke first: "Don't you dare say something like 'I'll give myself to you.' Even if you agreed, I wouldn't!"

"Go to hell!" Tsunade grabbed the pen holder beside her and hurled it straight at Uchiha Dan, her face red. "Even if every man in Konoha died, I wouldn't look twice at you."

"You should've said that sooner. You scared me—I thought my life was over!" Dodging the pen holder, Uchiha Dan patted his chest in mock relief, relentlessly needling Tsunade.

"So don't even think about it. I'm not interested in anything else either."

"I can give you money!" Tsunade suddenly thought of something and said seriously, "A lot of money!"

"Do you really know how much my monthly salary is at Konoha Hospital?"

"I get commissions. Every day, countless people line up, willing to pay any price to see me. Do you think I'm short on cash?" Uchiha Dan said dismissively.

"And do you even have money? I've heard you, Tsunade, like to gamble a little now and then—and you always lose."

"That was before!" Tsunade shot back immediately. "I haven't gambled in three years. I've saved up a lot."

With the rumor confirmed, Uchiha Dan had a clearer picture.

When someone can suppress their own desires, they must have something more important to do.

Tsunade had even quit gambling.

That meant, under his provocation, she had an incredibly strong drive to improve her Medical Ninjutsu.

This laid a solid foundation for Uchiha Dan's next plan.

"Change the terms. I don't need money!" Uchiha Dan shook his head.

"When your chakra is sufficient, I'll teach you the Yin Seal." Tsunade said seriously.

"That's way off in the future. What if you don't follow through?"

"Would I, Tsunade, be the type to welch on a deal?"

"How would I know? I'm not close with you. Change the terms again!"

"I can let you sign a Blood Contract with Sage Katsuyu—secretly, that is—and you might even get a chance to learn Sage Arts." Tsunade coaxed him temptingly.