Mao Must Have Been Led Astray!

"Lady Tsunade, the jōnin instructors for those three Konoha Ninja are waiting at the foot of the mountain."

The next morning.

Shizune, who had returned from the foot of the mountain, woke Tsunade, who was still fast asleep.

"Mm... I know..."

Tsunade mumbled a sleepy reply, letting out a soft, sweetly languid hum, like sticky honey.

Her lashes fluttered a few times before she managed to open her bleary eyes. She stretched both arms out and gave a long, lazy yawn, then covered her mouth as she spoke.

"Haah, sleeping on stone is so uncomfortable. It feels like my back aged decades overnight..."

Tsunade rubbed the back of her neck as she grumbled, but the corners of her mouth lifted ever so slightly despite herself. Her eyes were bright, and she looked full of energy, as if someone had breathed new life into her.

Standing beside her, Shizune couldn't help feeling genuinely happy to see Tsunade like this.

After all, compared to the despondent, lost state Tsunade fell into after every drinking binge, she was like a completely different person.

This really had been Tsunade's most peaceful night's sleep since the Second Ninja World War ended. Dongfang Mao's arrival hadn't healed the wounds in her heart completely, but it had driven away much of the gloom.

If Dongfang Mao's body weren't now as healthy as any young man's, and if she hadn't felt that strange stir in her heart yesterday when he clung to her leg and threw a tantrum, Tsunade would have wanted to pull him into her arms and use him as a pillow. That way, she could grow closer to him without worrying that he'd run off.

"Come on, Shizune. Let's take those three little troublemakers down so their instructor doesn't have to wait."

Rubbing her still-aching back, Tsunade led Shizune out of the stone chamber.

The mountain breeze swept over them, carrying the fresh scent of grass and trees.

Tsunade took a deep breath, and it felt as if she had breathed out all the stale air that had built up in her chest lately.

She was heading toward Dongfang Mao's cave, but then she caught sight of something in the nearby clearing and came to a slight halt.

Yasuke was directing the more than seventy uninjured people as they carried supplies and prepared to leave.

A flicker of surprise crossed Tsunade's eyes as she watched.

She had already learned that Dongfang Mao's group had been driven from their stronghold by soldiers from the Land of Fire and chased all the way here.

After so many days on the run, their morale should have been utterly crushed.

Yet aside from a hint of exhaustion, the people before her showed no obvious fear or worry.

They worked in an orderly fashion, sorting the medicine, dry rations, and weapons before loading them onto carts.

Tsunade had been on the battlefield and endured brutal battles herself. She knew all too well how hard it was for a unit to suffer defeat without falling apart.

With her arms folded across her chest, Tsunade silently watched the people working in the clearing. Her opinion of this band of bandits began to shift.

But then she shook her head, a cold look flashing in her eyes as her golden hair swayed in the morning breeze.

Bandits were still bandits. They made their living by robbing and killing. If not for Dongfang Mao, she would have wiped them out long ago.

More importantly...

Tsunade's gaze drifted unconsciously toward the cave where Dongfang Mao was staying.

The last bloodline of the Senju Clan flowed through his veins, and he was the last thing her heart could cling to. One day, he would also have to carry on the legacy of the Senju, a clan that had once stood above the entire Ninja World. How could she let him spend every day among these bandits who robbed and raided for a living?

Without realizing it, Tsunade avoided thinking about the fact that Dongfang Mao was the leader of these bandits. She also ignored the possibility that he had committed misdeeds himself, and blamed all of it on the people around him.

Her slender fingers tapped lightly against her arm as she kept turning over in her mind how to get Mao away from this environment and separate him from the bandits who had led him astray.

As she pondered, Tsunade reached the entrance to Dongfang Mao's cave.

The moment she entered, she saw him.

Morning light filtered through the cracks in the stone and cast a soft glow over him.

After tidying himself up, he no longer looked as filthy and disheveled as he had when she first saw him yesterday.

His long, jet-black hair was tied high with a plain white ribbon, revealing his handsome, sharply defined features.

His bright, star-like eyes lit up when he saw her. He hurried forward with a delighted look, calling out at just the right moment.

"Big Sis Tsunade, you're awake!"

At that moment, Tsunade felt as if something had filled her heart. A long-forgotten warmth spread through her chest.

"Mm~"

Her voice sounded softer and sweeter than ever. She suppressed the smile threatening to spread across her face and the urge to pull Dongfang Mao into her arms and give him a good squeeze.

Instead, she simply reached out and ruffled his hair.

The feel of his hair slipping between her fingers instantly brought back memories of soothing Nawaki to sleep when he was little.

But all that remained of Nawaki now was a cold black-and-white photograph.

The warmth from the young man's head, against her palm, was real—and it made her heart tremble.

"Um... excuse me... are you Lady Tsunade?"

Just as Tsunade was lost in memory, a timid voice suddenly came from nearby.

Tsunade snapped out of it and realized that behind Dongfang Mao stood the three trembling little ones.

"Ahem! That's right, I'm Tsunade. Don't worry, you're safe now. I'll take you to your jōnin instructors."

Tsunade gave an awkward cough. Dongfang Mao had distracted her so much that she had forgotten what she was supposed to do.

Hearing this, Yuhi Kurenai finally let out a long breath.

But she didn't hurry over. Instead, she glanced timidly at Dongfang Mao.

Yesterday's ordeal had completely shattered the pride she had held since childhood. Dongfang Mao's image had also become deeply etched in her heart.

Even though she knew the person standing in front of her was the famous Sannin, Tsunade, renowned throughout Konoha and the entire Ninja World, and that Tsunade could keep her safe, she still didn't dare act without Dongfang Mao's permission.

Dongfang Mao noticed her gaze and raised an eyebrow.

"Why are you looking at me? Don't tell me you don't want to go back and would rather stay here as my bandit bride?"

At that, Yuhi Kurenai went deathly pale and shook her head like a rattle. In a flash, she darted behind Tsunade, gripping the edge of her clothes with her slender fingers. She peeked out over Tsunade's shoulder, showing half her face like a startled little rabbit.

Tsunade saw the whole thing, and her eyes immediately darkened.

In her view, Dongfang Mao had been influenced far too much by those bandits. Everything he did frightened people. It seemed she would have to help him get away from them as soon as possible.

Just as Tsunade was pondering this, she suddenly noticed that only two people had come over.

One child was still standing beside Dongfang Mao, completely motionless.