Treating Tsunade to a Meal

"I am the leader of Root. I had Kitahara Jo pick you up at noon. Blame me for my poor discipline; I didn't expect Kitahara Jo to resort to such extreme measures. I have already punished him. I deeply apologize for the harm caused to you," Danzo said in a deep voice.

Kitahara Jo, standing behind him, stepped forward at the opportune moment. Suppressing his humiliation and unwillingness, he knelt before Watanabe with a thud and said hatefully, facing the floor, "I'm sorry, please forgive me!"

Watanabe: "..."

To be honest, he was shocked by the display of apologies from Danzo and Kitahara Jo.

He had initially assumed Mito would at most just greet Danzo on his behalf, and whether he would be troubled further would depend entirely on Danzo's mood. He never expected Mito to personally bring Danzo over to offer him an apology.

What kind of existence did Grandma Tsunade have in Konoha? He suspected even the current Hokage didn't have that much influence!

After a moment of silence, Watanabe looked down at Kitahara Jo kneeling before him, trying his best to make his tone sound indifferent. "Whether I forgive you is another matter. Don't bother me again in the future."

Kitahara Jo gritted his teeth. "Naturally, I won't!"

In reality, he was seething with anger. Kneeling and apologizing to a brat from the Ninja Academy was the most humiliating thing he had ever done in his life, yet he had no choice.

Danzo also said, "Not just Kitahara Jo, but no member of Root will bother you again."

Watanabe nodded calmly. "You may leave."

Danzo brushed past Watanabe and said something with deep meaning: "Some people are Konoha basking in the sun, while others are Root buried deep underground. Watanabe, I bear you no ill will."

As his voice faded, he stepped out the door, and Kitahara Jo quickly got up and left with him.

Watanabe watched their retreating figures, utterly bewildered, pondering the meaning of Danzo's words.

After leaving the civilian district, Kitahara Jo suppressed his emotions and said, "Lord Danzo, I'm not convinced. We did nothing wrong. Everything we did was for Konoha!"

Danzo's expression was unreadable. "We did nothing wrong, but Lord Mito felt we did."

"Then... does Root really have to disband?"

This was what Kitahara Jo found most unbearable. If Root was ultimately forced to disband because of his actions today, he felt he would become a sinner of Konoha.

Danzo did not answer.

If Mito insisted on disbanding Root, then so be it.

Danzo had observed very carefully that several wrinkles had appeared on Mito's exquisite and beautiful face. Even the Yin Seal couldn't slow down her aging. This was quite telling.

Of the previous generation, only Mito remained. As long as she was alive, she could naturally keep Danzo in check. But if she were to disappear one day, Hiruzen alone wouldn't be able to control him.

"Senior Mito is too awesome!"

Watanabe deeply sighed as he closed the newly replaced iron door.

Mito had not only completely resolved the threat of Root for him but had also done so with incredible speed, all within a single afternoon.

He couldn't help but recall the elegant and noble red-haired woman in the study at noon, feeling that Mito exuded mystery from the inside out.

She was Grandma Tsunade, yet her appearance and figure were still like a young girl's. He wondered if it was due to excellent maintenance or some secret technique she practiced.

"I need to get closer to Tsunade from now on and try to become friends with her," Watanabe decided.

The reason he hadn't actively approached Tsunade before was that too many people were trying to curry favor with her, and he simply didn't make the cut. Moreover, even if he became familiar with her, it wouldn't be very useful. His own strength was the true foundation of a ninja.

But now it was different. He realized Tsunade was a treasure. If he could maintain a good relationship with her, she could genuinely step in when he encountered trouble.

Furthermore, as friends, they could spar regularly. Watanabe urgently needed to spar with others; relying on slacking off to improve his strength was too slow. Ideally, Tsunade would beat him seventeen or eighteen times a day.

That night, Watanabe made detailed plans for his future life.

The next morning, Watanabe went to the Ninja Academy for class as usual.

Osaka Rukawa had clearly been briefed by his superiors. When he saw Watanabe, who should have graduated the previous day, reappear in class, he wasn't surprised, only his gaze seemed slightly complex.

The Ninja Academy lessons were uninspiring. Watanabe, having gone through nine years of compulsory education in his previous life, spent the entire morning slacking off to improve his strength and figuring out how to get closer to Tsunade.

Getting closer to a girl would be impossible without spending money. The financially poor Watanabe felt his heart ache as if it were bleeding every time he thought about it.

You can't catch a wolf without sacrificing a child. He would pay this price!

When the dismissal bell rang at noon, seeing Tsunade about to leave for home, Watanabe didn't let her go this time and quickly caught up.

"Tsunade."

Tsunade glanced at Watanabe, who was walking beside her, and asked casually, "How is it? Hasn't Root bothered you again?"

Watanabe: "No, Danzo brought Kitahara Jo to apologize to me last night."

Tsunade breathed a sigh of relief. "That's good. I told you, you'd be fine with my grandmother intervening."

"Thank you and Senior Mito for your help. We owe it all to you this time."

"It's nothing. The matter started because of me, so it's only natural I'd help you resolve it. We're even now."

Tsunade didn't mind. She disliked owing others and always felt that helping Watanabe was her duty. She never expected any particular gratitude from Watanabe.

Watanabe saw her indifferent demeanor and figured too many people usually tried to flatter her, so he probably wasn't high on her list.

After a moment's hesitation, Watanabe stated his purpose: "Are you free for lunch? I'd like to treat you. I said last night I wanted to take you out."

Tsunade stroked her chin and considered for a moment. "Sure, lead the way."

She felt that if she didn't let Watanabe treat her to a meal, he'd keep dwelling on it.

The two walked out of the school gate. Tsunade surveyed the restaurants they passed along the way, wondering which one Watanabe would take her to.

But as they walked, Tsunade suddenly felt something was off. Why had Watanabe turned into the wet market?

"What are you doing at the wet market?" Tsunade couldn't help but ask.

"Buying ingredients," Watanabe replied.

Tsunade: "Huh?"

So you're going to cook yourself?

Tsunade fell silent afterward, skeptical of Watanabe's cooking skills. After all, he was only twelve years old and could, at most, stir-fry a couple of dishes of meat slices and vegetables.

But Watanabe's next actions greatly exceeded her expectations. She watched as he skillfully bought ingredients from various stall owners – things that flew, things that ran on the ground, things that swam in the water, he had it all.

"Buying so much, can he cook it all?"

Tsunade was very curious.

Fifteen minutes later, the two left the wet market.

Watanabe spent a total of 700 Ryo, a tenth of his savings. If not for the 7,200 Ryo Kitahara Jo had compensated him yesterday, he would have emptied his entire fortune.

"Cooking yourself is indeed more economical,"

Watanabe sighed inwardly. Taking Tsunade out for a big meal would have cost at least 2,000 to 3,000 Ryo, but doing it himself was different.