"Lady Tsunade, let go!"
Shizune rushed forward and clutched Shinji's arm, desperately trying to pull him away. But no matter how hard she tried, she could not drag Shinji out of Lady Tsunade's embrace.
Lady Tsunade's hold on him was anything but gentle.
"You're so annoying, Shizune!"
Faced with Shizune's firm interference, Lady Tsunade finally let go helplessly and raised her hands in surrender.
"I'm sorry, Shinji!"
Shizune hurriedly lowered her head in apology. Having followed Lady Tsunade for so long, she had become exceedingly practiced at apologizing.
But Shinji inwardly lamented the missed opportunity. He had not resisted at all just now—in fact, he had wished Shizune would not pull him away.
He reached out to help Shizune up, then casually straightened the clothes Lady Tsunade had rumpled.
"I know Lady Tsunade meant no harm."
Shinji turned to Lady Tsunade and explained, "I was planning to come find you after speaking with Abbot Chūkaku, but we ended up talking for a while longer."
Lady Tsunade folded her arms and curled her lips. By now, the fear and helplessness she had shown at the sight of blood last night had completely vanished, and she had returned to her usual self.
"Perfect. We can talk as we walk. That Marushihiko fellow wants to head back to the Land of Fire's capital immediately."
Shinji paused slightly. "Mr. Marushihiko is in such a hurry?"
In his original plan, they could have rested at the Temple of Fire for another day.
Shizune scratched her head awkwardly, leaned close to his ear, and whispered, "Mr. Marushihiko is afraid Hiruko will come back, so he asked us to inform you all that we should leave right away."
Shizune left it at that, but Shinji immediately understood.
With the client making such a request, they could only