Sister Tsunade... Will You Still Help Me?

The first meeting held since the Magistrate Office was renamed the Grand Governor's Mansion had finally drawn to a close.

Watching the fluttering robes of Luzhen's retreating figure, Yasuke nudged Kyuzo with his elbow and lowered his voice.

"Do you have any idea what that strange talk of Luzhen's to the Governor was about? It was all so bizarre."

Kyuzo rubbed his chin, his eyes narrowing slightly.

"I know a little. The Governor gave Luzhen a book a while back, and he hasn't been quite right since he finished reading it a few days ago."

Yasuke nodded, looking thoughtful at the news.

"I'm going to find Luzhen and borrow that book to study it myself. You coming, Kyuzo?"

"Count me in!"

Everyone had witnessed the appreciation Dongfang Mao had shown toward Luzhen just moments ago.

At this moment, who wouldn't want to figure out how Luzhen's strange words and actions had managed to win the Governor's favor?

This was the nature of "what the superior practices, the subordinates follow."

And those harboring such thoughts were far from limited to just Yasuke and Kyuzo.

In an instant, many eyes were secretly locked onto Luzhen and his book.

On the other side, once the crowd had dispersed, Tsunade finally managed to corner Dongfang Mao alone.

She stood with her arms crossed over her chest, supporting those two staggering, bountiful fruits.

Her scrutinizing gaze was as sharp as a hawk's, locked directly onto Dongfang Mao, a meaningful, cold sneer playing at the corners of her mouth.

Feeling the chilling pressure radiating from Tsunade, Dongfang Mao felt cold sweat break out across his back, his heart wailing—it seemed there was no escaping this today.

Resigned, he hardened his resolve, letting his head droop and his eyelids fall, his long lashes casting shadows across his face.

"Sister Tsunade, I shouldn't have lied to you. I was wrong..."

His voice was low, sounding exactly like a child caught red-handed in a misdeed.

Even his shoulders began to tremble slightly; anyone who saw that look of utter grievance would inevitably feel a pang of pity.

Seeing this, the corner of Tsunade's eye couldn't help but twitch.

If she hadn't just witnessed the majestic, commanding presence Dongfang Mao held at the head of the table, she might have been fooled by this brat once again.

Yet, even knowing this, the nameless fire in her chest inexplicably dissipated by more than half upon seeing Dongfang Mao's pitiful appearance.

"What a spineless brat..."

She cursed herself inwardly, but in the end, she couldn't bring herself to continue her outburst.

"Enough, enough!"

Tsunade waved her hand irritably to cut him off.

"You've already renamed the Magistrate Office to the Grand Governor's Mansion; do you think playing the victim here still works?"

A flash of joy crossed the depths of Dongfang Mao's eyes—this tone clearly meant her anger had subsided.

But he still feigned trepidation, testing the waters.

"Sister Tsunade... you're not angry anymore?"

"Hmph!"

Tsunade snorted coldly, then, as if remembering something, her expression suddenly turned grave.

"I've already stopped caring about what you did with the 30 million ryo you swindled out of me.

But are you certain you want to implement Luzhen's strategy? Do you have any idea how many people in this city will starve or lose their families once that policy is issued?"

Upon hearing this, Dongfang Mao was stunned for a moment, then his expression tightened, and all traces of grievance and helplessness vanished instantly.

At this moment, Tsunade even felt a chill radiating from him.

He remained silent for a long time before speaking slowly.

"My people will not starve. As for those who are not my people..."

Dongfang Mao paused, took a deep breath, and in that moment, his eyes became incomparably cold and resolute.

"What does that have to do with me?"

"You!"

Tsunade's pupils constricted, staring at him in disbelief, her mind momentarily blank.

She never expected that Dongfang Mao would say something like that.

"Sister Tsunade, I have a question I want to ask you."

Dongfang Mao stood with his hands behind his back, walking slowly to her side to stand shoulder-to-shoulder.

Tsunade's figure trembled slightly, her gaze locked firmly onto his handsome, cold face.

Yet he merely looked through the window, overlooking Tsukimiura below, his deep eyes flickering with unfathomable emotions.

"Sister Tsunade, you are so good to me—is it because I am the last survivor of the Senju clan, and you have placed your hopes for the revival of the Senju clan upon me?"

Tsunade was stunned for a moment upon hearing this; she had indeed thought exactly that at the beginning.

Yet, after spending this time with Dongfang Mao, she realized that, without her noticing, the care she felt for him had long since transcended so-called familial duty.

What she felt now was more of a genuine, heartfelt concern for Dongfang Mao, along with an indescribable, lingering sentiment that surfaced whenever she thought of him.

But how could she ever voice such thoughts? She could only grit her teeth and nod.

"Very well. As of now, there is no longer a so-called Senju clan in Konoha, and this Tsukimiura shall be the new starting point for our family—the beginning of our revival!"

At this moment, Dongfang Mao had turned his head to look straight at Tsunade, his expression serious as never before.

"Sister Tsunade, I will tell you the truth: my ambitions are vast. I do not wish to merely become a powerful ninja, nor do I want to be confined to a single village or a single clan."

"I want more; I want everything that falls within my line of sight!"

"Luzhen's strategy can help me stabilize my rule over Tsukimiura at the fastest possible speed, so I will certainly see it through."

"This might disappoint you, Sister Tsunade, but I still want to ask: will you... still help me?"

Meeting Dongfang Mao's gaze and seeing the resolute determination in his eyes, Tsunade suddenly felt a wave of inexplicable panic.

She had long since deeply experienced Dongfang Mao's stubbornness through their time living together.

Whenever he made a decision, even if she opposed it, Dongfang Mao would appease her, persuade her, or even coax her on the surface, only to eventually keep her in the dark while he steadfastly carried out his plans.

And if she were to disregard everything and stop him now...

She had a premonition that an irreparable rift would grow between them, perhaps even leading them to part ways entirely!

At the mere thought of such a possibility, the "Sannin" Tsunade—who in the past would have sneered at any obstacle before stomping it into the ground—felt a sense of cowardice and retreat in her heart.

Having come to rely on Dongfang Mao to gradually shake off the shadows of her past, she truly could not imagine what she would become if she were to lose him as well.

"Hoo... Mao, from now on, don't mention my name in front of others. If the people of Konoha find out I am here, you might invite some trouble upon yourself..."

Taking a deep breath, Tsunade spoke as if a heavy burden had been lifted from her chest.

After a brief internal struggle, she had made her final choice.

Although she pitied the civilians who might innocently perish because of Dongfang Mao's decisions later on—

If it were anyone else daring to do such a bastardly thing, she would have undoubtedly smashed their head in with a single punch without a second word.

But unfortunately, Mao was of vital importance to her; since she could not dissuade him, she could only offer her unconditional support.