Healer Knight [Please Vote]

Healer Knight [Please Vote]

Konoha's prohibition against alcohol meant nothing in the face of absolute strength.

The reception staff who had wanted to stop Toneri from entering let him in without any trouble after Tsunade's "persuasion."

Though they said they were drinking, Tsunade was the only one actually drinking. Toneri merely sat obediently beside her.

After a few bottles of liquor and several snacks to go with it, Tsunade was soon tipsy, a faint flush appearing on her porcelain-like skin.

Toneri remained well-behaved from beginning to end. Only after Tsunade emptied her cup would he stand and refill it for her.

The two barely spoke. Mealtime had long passed, and they were the only ones left in the tavern.

After a long while, Tsunade seemed slightly drunk.

"Sister Tsunade, isn't that enough? If you keep drinking, you'll get drunk. It's bad for your health," Toneri said after some hesitation.

Having once been a doctor, he knew better than anyone how harmful alcohol was, especially getting drunk.

"Kid, you know what? Back when I drank, Nawaki would silently pour my drinks like this. Whenever I had drunk enough, he would tell me not to drink anymore, just like you did." Holding her cup, Tsunade looked at Toneri with eyes full of reminiscence. For that moment, Nawaki's figure seemed to overlap with Toneri's.

Nawaki's death had dealt Tsunade a devastating blow.

He had been her only family in this world, and the person she cherished most, yet he had died on the battlefield.

Though she had prided herself on being one of the finest Medical Ninjas in the shinobi world, she had been powerless in the face of her own family's death. That feeling only made her suffer more.

With the crisis of the Second Shinobi World War constantly weighing on her, she had kept all her emotions suppressed.

After returning to Konoha, she spent every day either gambling or drinking herself into a stupor.

Today, because Toneri had called her "Sister," she was finally able to vent all the emotions she had kept bottled up inside.

Clink—

The wine cup fell to the floor.

Tsunade bent over the table and began to cry, her body trembling uncontrollably, growing more severe by the moment.

Seeing Tsunade like this, Toneri had no idea what to do.

But when he hesitantly approached to comfort her, Tsunade, still slumped over the table, hooked an arm around his neck again and pulled him into her embrace. Her stifled sobs turned into wailing cries. "Nawaki—your sister is sorry—"

Toneri's expression stiffened, and he did not dare move.

Drunk Tsunade had clearly mistaken him for Nawaki and was venting emotions she had suppressed for far too long.

If she failed to control her strength at a time like this...

Gradually, Toneri felt his clothes become soaked through.

So women really were made of water.

After a while, Tsunade finally calmed down and realized that she had been somewhat improper.

But was Tsunade the kind of person who cared about details?

If not for the fact that Toneri was genuinely underage, he probably would have already become her drinking buddy.

In the end, with Toneri supporting her, the drunken Tsunade staggered out of the tavern.

Don't ask who paid the bill. Toneri did, and it hurt.

Anyone familiar with Tsunade would have sensed that she was much better now than when she had first returned from the battlefield.

Though she looked drunk, this was how Tsunade should have been.

As the biological granddaughter of First Hokage Hashirama Senju, she bore the title of Princess Tsunade, a title recognized by the Feudal Lord of the Land of Fire. In other words, her true title was Princess Tsunade—the princess of the entire Land of Fire, Konoha's princess.

It was only because of her immense strength that people placed her power first and her true status second.

Tsunade's residence was quite conspicuous. With her directions, they found it quickly.

Though they took a few unnecessary turns along the way, that was not important...

By the time they returned home, Tsunade had sobered up considerably.

"Kid, thank you for today." Tsunade laughed as she vigorously rubbed Toneri's hair. It felt quite nice beneath her hands, much like Nawaki's had.

Unable to resist, Toneri could only wear a helpless smile and let Tsunade do as she pleased with his head.

The moon had already risen high into the middle of the sky. The cool evening breeze brushed against them, leaving their minds exceptionally clear.

The two sat in the courtyard of Tsunade's lavish estate.

Perhaps all powerful people owned such mansions, and perhaps all of those mansions were empty.

"Orochimaru told me that, if I had the chance, I should try teaching you Medical Ninjutsu and see whether you have any talent for it. If you do, he'll owe me a favor." Tsunade was nearly completely sober now.

Rubbing Toneri's head even more forcefully, Tsunade said with some surprise, "Even Nawaki never made Orochimaru care this much. Why is he looking after you so closely?

"Not only did he tell me some things about you, he even asked me to teach you Medical Ninjutsu.

"That isn't his style at all. He even brought out a favor debt. Tsk, tsk. You know what a favor from him represents, don't you?"

Of course Toneri knew the value of a favor from Orochimaru, one of the Three Sannin. Calling it priceless would not be an exaggeration.

For the sake of a disciple he had only taken in two weeks ago, he had promised such a favor. That clearly was not the way Orochimaru, as Tsunade knew him, would act.

Toneri's identity...

That was why Tsunade had been so curious about him and recognized him the moment she saw him.

Tsunade did not understand, but Toneri vaguely guessed at some of it.

Was Orochimaru planning to train him into an assistant like Kabuto?

Not only to provide help with experiments, but also to assist with future research.

There was only one possibility that could make Orochimaru make such a major concession.

Orochimaru and Danzo's cooperation had most likely already begun...

"Ultimately, the wheels of history are still moving along their original track?" he thought silently.

However, for him, if he could learn Tsunade's Medical Ninjutsu—even just a portion of it—then combined with some of his experience from his previous life, his ability to protect himself in battle would definitely become much stronger.

Although he still did not know what role he would be assigned in Orochimaru's plans, there was no doubt that someone Orochimaru was willing to pay such a high price to train would not simply be discarded later.

For now, it was nothing but beneficial to him.

But Toneri knew where things were headed in the future. How should he conduct himself when that time came?

"Hey, brat, what are you spacing out for? Let me make this clear first: I'm willing to teach you, but if you don't have the talent, don't force yourself to pursue it.

"A person's energy is limited. It's better to master one or two things than to know everything without excelling at any of them. Do you understand what I mean?" Tsunade interrupted Toneri's daze.

Hearing that, Toneri immediately nodded!

Who cared what Orochimaru's plan was? For now, if he wanted strength and safety, he had to rely on Orochimaru. If Orochimaru was going to defect, it would have to wait until after the Third Shinobi World War. By then, no one could say what the situation would be.

Besides, by then he might have a top-tier Tool Number Two and Tool Number Three. Why would he need to fear Orochimaru?

So, Tsunade's Medical Ninjutsu—he would learn it! He had to learn it!

If a fighter couldn't heal, could he still be called a fighter?

Say no more. Let me heal myself first!

Shameless plug for a book, Conan: I'm Not a Snake Spirit. It's one of the few truly excellent Conan fanfics around right now, maybe even among the top three overall. It's seriously addictive—interested readers can check it out.

Tsk, lately Jin Mu seemed to have turned into some kind of social butterfly. I don't want that... Should he walk in front or behind?

Thanks to reader Que Shiyi for the ten-thousand reward, and thanks to kidito, the tenderest little pig in the village, and the others for their tips.