First Meeting

"Two women?"

Dongfang Mao's brows couldn't help but furrow slightly.

"Yes, one big and one small..."

After hearing the scout describe the physical characteristics of the two, Dongfang Mao's heart skipped a beat.

A blonde woman with a large chest wearing a green coat, and a little girl with short black hair, holding a pink pig in her arms?

Isn't this the duo of Tsunade and Shizune?

How could they be here?

Dongfang Mao's mind went blank for a moment. He had just captured the Konoha ninja, and now Tsunade had come knocking; it was hard not to suspect that she had discovered something and come for revenge.

Given Tsunade's strength, wouldn't a single punch be enough to split this small hill they were occupying right open?

Could it be that they really wouldn't be able to leave the Land of Fire alive?

However, after a brief moment of panic, Dongfang Mao quickly steadied himself.

According to the information he had previously obtained, the Second Shinobi World War had just ended, and Tsunade should already be suffering from hemophobia.

The fact that she didn't charge in to kill them directly, but instead sent someone to announce her arrival, was likely for this very reason.

"Go, invite those two up, and remember, do not be disrespectful!"

"Yes!"

After the man retreated, Dongfang Mao still felt restless. He looked down at his blood-stained clothes and felt it wasn't quite safe enough. After all, the blood had already dried; if it wasn't fresh, would Tsunade still faint?

After pondering for a moment, Dongfang Mao stood up abruptly.

"Yasuke, quickly, carry all the injured brothers into the cave, and then remove their bandages."

Hearing Dongfang Mao's order, Yasuke looked completely bewildered.

"Don't ask questions, just go do it."

Seeing Yasuke's hesitant expression, Dongfang Mao simply waved his hand.

"Yes..."

Yasuke muttered under his breath as he walked out of the cave.

Although Yasuke didn't understand Dongfang Mao's decision, he acted quickly. Before long, the cave was filled with injured men lying in disarray.

For a time, the cave was filled with wailing, but to Dongfang Mao, it sounded like celestial music. The thick, pungent smell of blood permeating the air was fragrant to his nose, filling him with a sense of security.

Tsunade followed the sentry into the cave, and a thick, almost suffocating stench of blood hit her instantly.

Before she could react, what came into view were the injured men lying in disarray, wailing on the ground.

They had no bandages on, their gruesome wounds exposed right before Tsunade's eyes, compounded by the foul-smelling black blood flowing on the ground, nearly forming a small stream.

Tsunade's vision went dark; she felt dizzy and her body trembled uncontrollably, causing her chest to heave violently.

Dongfang Mao, who had been staring intently at Tsunade since she entered, saw this and finally let his suspended heart drop.

However, he didn't push his luck and quickly stood up to greet her.

"The renowned 'Sannin' Lady Tsunade, to be able to see you in person today, this humble one is truly fortunate!"

At this moment, a very flattering smile hung on Dongfang Mao's handsome face.

Perhaps he could ignore others, but Tsunade's strength was undeniable.

Moreover, anyone who came out of Konoha had some reputation to uphold.

If he caused trouble and Tsunade had a burst of potential, getting so angry that she overcame her hemophobia prematurely, wouldn't he be left crying with no tears?

However, Tsunade had no time to care about Dongfang Mao's attitude. After giving Shizune a look, she turned her back, refusing to look at the bloody scene in front of her.

Shizune immediately understood. Holding the little pink pig, she watched Dongfang Mao vigilantly, as if facing a great enemy, ready to alert Tsunade at the slightest sign of trouble.

"Since you know my name, then hand over the Konoha children you just captured. I won't pursue what you did earlier."

Although Tsunade specialized in taijutsu, she knew a thing or two about low-level genjutsu. Back at the foot of the mountain, she had already gathered the general situation here from the sentry.

"Since Lady Tsunade has spoken, this humble one will naturally comply, but..."

As Dongfang Mao spoke, his gaze drifted involuntarily toward the graceful curves of her back, and he couldn't help but click his tongue in secret.

"But what!"

Tsunade's voice became sharp.

"But please, Lady Tsunade, wait a little while. I need to ask the three little ninjas for a small favor. I can guarantee that the three little ninjas will return unharmed afterward!"

Dongfang Mao quickly withdrew his gaze. The cooked duck was about to fly away; he had no heart to think about messy things.

He would definitely return the people, but he had to drag out the time as long as he could—at least until those three brats wrote down the chakra refinement technique.

"And if I say no?"

Although Tsunade had no idea what Dongfang Mao was planning, she knew for certain it was nothing good.

"Hmph! If Lady Tsunade were in her prime, naturally, whatever you said would be law. But looking at your state since you walked in, Lady Tsunade, you don't seem to be doing so well."

"So, would you prefer to wait a little while, Lady Tsunade, or are you insistent on pitting yourself against the long blades held by my hundred-plus brothers?"

Seeing that Tsunade was unmoved by soft or hard tactics, Dongfang Mao couldn't help but let out a cold snort.

"Bastard!"

Hearing Mao's words, Tsunade was instantly enraged. From childhood to adulthood, even the Third Hokage wouldn't dare threaten her so blatantly, yet now, she was being threatened by such a petty thief.

Suddenly, Tsunade's blood surged, and even her hemophobia seemed momentarily suppressed. She spun around sharply, the anger on her exquisite face cutting through the air like a blade.

Dongfang Mao could not sense that massive chakra, but he could feel the surrounding air being sucked away in an instant, as if he had plummeted into the depths of the ocean. An invisible pressure threatened to crush his entire body!

He widened his eyes, filled with shock.

He couldn't understand it. Orochimaru had dragged her ex-husband back from the underworld right in front of her, and Tsunade had fainted on the spot.

Why, when it came to him, did Tsunade explode with power after just one sentence? Was she being a bit too sensitive?

Dongfang Mao felt a pang of regret and hurriedly wanted to speak up, intending to return those three plagues to Tsunade and be done with it.

However, before he could open his mouth, the terrifying pressure surrounding him suddenly vanished. In an instant, everything was calm, as if nothing had ever happened.

Dongfang Mao was stunned, then realized that Tsunade, who had been on the verge of a violent outburst, was now staring directly at his face. Her almond-shaped eyes flickered with shifting light, as if a thousand emotions were surging within them.

Dongfang Mao subconsciously touched his own face.

Could it be that his looks were so handsome that they had made Tsunade abandon her intent to kill?

"You... what is your name?"

Tsunade's voice was no longer as aggressive or oppressive as before; instead, it carried an inexplicable tone.

This only served to confirm Dongfang Mao's suspicions. Although it was a bit sudden, he reacted quickly.

He hurriedly smoothed his messy hair, tilted his head slightly upward, and did his best to showcase his handsome face.

Then, flashing what he considered to be a perfect smile, he spoke his name in a low, husky voice.

After all, the chance to woo a wealthy woman was right in front of him; he had to seize it. Whether his brothers would be living the high life in the future all depended on this move.

"Dongfang Mao?"

However, after hearing his answer, Tsunade's expression faltered. She seemed to realize something, then followed up with a question.

"Is your father's name Yosuke?"

Tsunade's question left Dongfang Mao, who was busy preening, completely dumbfounded. How did his deadbeat old man have anything to do with this?