Mao must have been led astray!

"Lady Tsunade, the jonin instructors for those three Konoha genin are already waiting at the foot of the mountain."

The next day.

Shizune, having just returned from the base of the mountain, woke Tsunade from her deep slumber.

"Mmm... I know..."

Tsunade responded in a daze, letting out a soft, sweet, and lazy nasal hum that sounded like sticky honey.

Her eyelashes fluttered a few times as she struggled to open her sleepy eyes. She stretched her arms out in a long, languid yawn before exhaling with a puff of air.

"Haa, sleeping on this stone is truly miserable. I feel like my back has aged decades in just one night..."

Tsunade grumbled and complained while rubbing the back of her neck, yet the corners of her mouth curled upward uncontrollably. Her eyes were bright and spirited, as if she had been injected with new vitality.

Shizune stood to the side, feeling genuinely happy for Tsunade's current state.

After all, the Tsunade before her now was like a completely different person compared to the decadent, lost woman she had been after every bout of heavy drinking.

This was indeed the most peaceful sleep Tsunade had enjoyed since the end of the Second Shinobi World War. The appearance of Dongfang Mao, while not having completely smoothed over the scars in her heart, had at least dispelled a large portion of the gloom.

If not for the fact that Dongfang Mao's body was now no different from a normal young man's, and the subtle flutter she had felt in her heart when he hugged her leg and threw a tantrum yesterday, Tsunade would have wanted to pull him into her arms and use him as a body pillow—that way, she could deepen their bond without worrying about him running off.

"Let's go, Shizune. We should take those three naughty little ones down; we mustn't keep their jonin instructors waiting."

Rubbing her still-aching waist, Tsunade led Shizune out of the stone chamber one after the other.

The morning breeze from the mountains, carrying the fragrance of grass and trees, rushed to meet them.

Tsunade took a deep breath, and the stagnant air that had been pent up in her chest for so long seemed to dissipate along with it.

She was about to head toward Dongfang Mao's cave, but a glimpse from the corner of her eye made her footsteps falter. Her gaze shifted to the open space not far away.

At this moment, Yasuke was directing the seventy-odd uninjured men to move supplies, preparing for their departure.

Watching this scene, a flash of surprise crossed Tsunade's eyes.

She had already figured out that Dongfang Mao and his group had been driven to this point after their mountain stronghold was breached by the Land of Fire's government troops.

Logically speaking, after so many days of fleeing, their morale should have been at an all-time low.

Yet, these people before her, aside from a hint of weariness on their faces, showed no obvious signs of fear or anxiety.

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

Tsunade had been on the battlefield and had experienced brutal campaigns; she knew deep down how rare it was for a unit to remain unbroken after a defeat.

Tsunade crossed her arms over her chest, quietly watching the busy crowd in the clearing, and formed a new opinion of these bandits.

But immediately, Tsunade shook her head, a cold glint flashing in her eyes as her golden hair swayed in the morning breeze.

Bandits were bandits, after all, living off killing and looting. If not for Dongfang Mao, she would have wiped these people out long ago.

More importantly...

Tsunade's gaze drifted involuntarily toward the cave where Dongfang Mao resided.

He carried the last bloodline of the Senju clan and was the final anchor for her soul. In the future, he would have to carry on the legacy of the Senju, a family that had once stood proudly over the ninja world. How could he spend his days with a group of thieving bandits?

Tsunade subconsciously avoided the fact that Dongfang Mao was the leader of these bandits, and she ignored any evil deeds he might have committed in the past, placing all the blame on the people around him.

Her slender fingers tapped rhythmically against her arm as she calculated how to get Mao away from this environment and sever his ties with the bandits who were leading him astray.

While lost in thought, Tsunade arrived at the entrance of Dongfang Mao's cave.

As she stepped inside, she saw him.

The morning light filtered through the cracks in the stone, casting a soft halo around him.

Having tidied himself up, he no longer looked as dirty and disheveled as he had when they first met yesterday.

His ink-black hair was tied high with a plain white ribbon, revealing the sharp, handsome contours of his face.

His eyes, bright as stars, flickered. Upon seeing her arrive, he wore a look of pleasant surprise and stepped forward, calling out.

"Sister Tsunade, you're awake!"

In that instant, Tsunade felt her heart fill with something, a long-lost warmth rippling through her chest.

"Mm~"

Tsunade's voice was softer and sweeter than ever before. She suppressed the corners of her mouth that kept wanting to curl upward, and she suppressed the impulse in her heart to pull Dongfang Mao into her arms and dote on him fiercely.

She simply reached out and ruffled the top of his hair.

The sensation of those strands slipping through her fingers instantly reminded her of the feeling of lulling Nawaki to sleep when he was a child.

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

Yet, the warmth from the top of the boy's head, transmitted to her palm, was so real it made her heart tremble.

"E-excuse me... are you Lady Tsunade?"

Just as Tsunade was lost in her memories, dazed, a weak voice suddenly came from the side.

Tsunade snapped back to reality at the sound, only then noticing that behind Dongfang Mao, the three trembling little ones were following along.

"Ahem! That's right, I am Tsunade. Rest assured, you are safe now; I will take you to find your jonin instructor immediately."

Tsunade gave an awkward cough, having been so distracted by Dongfang Mao just moments ago that she had completely forgotten the task at hand.

Upon hearing this, Yuhi Kurenai finally let out a long sigh of relief.

However, she did not immediately run over, instead casting a timid, shrinking glance toward Dongfang Mao.

Yesterday's ordeal had thoroughly shattered the pride she had carried since childhood, and the image of Dongfang Mao was now deeply etched into the depths of her soul.

Even though she knew the person standing before her was Tsunade, one of the legendary Sannin of Konoha and the entire ninja world, capable of ensuring her safety, she dared not act without Dongfang Mao's consent.

Feeling her gaze fixed upon him, Dongfang Mao couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.

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

At these words, Yuhi Kurenai turned deathly pale with fright. She shook her head like a rattle and, with a whoosh, darted directly behind Tsunade. Her slender fingers gripped the hem of Tsunade's coat tightly as she peeked out from behind her shoulder, looking like a startled little rabbit.

Watching this scene unfold, Tsunade's eyes darkened.

In her view, Dongfang Mao had been far too deeply influenced by those mountain bandits; his every word and action left others terrified. It seemed she would need to help him break free from that group of bandits as soon as possible.

Just as Tsunade was lost in thought, she suddenly noticed that only two people had walked over.

There was still one child remaining, standing right beside Dongfang Mao, not moving an inch.