22: Konoha Female Ninja Defeated in One Second

"When learning medical ninjutsu, feeling life revive or fade away in their hands—for those Chunin who have already reached eighteen, only at this age can they truly grasp the importance of life. Only then will they understand the key things they never cared about as Genin: their comrades, the village, and themselves."

Listening to Sakuya's words, Hiruzen Sarutobi could not help but nod.

"Sakuya, you always think more than others... just like Kagami did back then."

Looking at Sakuya, Hiruzen Sarutobi seemed to return to the days when Tobirama Senju was still alive, back when he, Kagami Uchiha, Danzō Shimura, and the others were in the Hokage Guard Platoon.

At that time, Kagami was just like this, always thinking a little further ahead than the rest of them.

Even Danzō, who was filled with hostility toward the Uchiha, had to admit that Kagami was a comrade they could trust, the "strategist" of the Hokage Guard Platoon.

The Sakuya of today was exactly like the Kagami of the past.

A nostalgic smile appeared on Hiruzen Sarutobi's face: "Sakuya, I have heard your thoughts. Once this period passes, Konoha will attempt to implement your proposal."

"Thank you, Lord Hokage."

Sakuya nodded: "However, when it is announced, could you attribute the decision to Tsunade?"

"Oh?"

An expression of surprise appeared on Hiruzen Sarutobi's face: "Why?"

He asked in confusion: "For you, isn't fame a good thing?"

"Especially since this involves the prestige of being a pioneer in medical ninjutsu; if word reaches the ears of the Daimyo, you might even be granted a title."

Take the name Princess Tsunade, for instance—it is unique in the ninja world. Whenever people in the ninja world meet Tsunade, who doesn't respectfully call her Princess Tsunade?

Yet Sakuya actually refused, wanting to give this monumental credit to Tsunade.

"This was Tsunade's initial idea to begin with."

Sakuya's expression remained unchanged, his tone calm: "I merely added the finishing touches and made minor adjustments. If I were to steal the credit of 'author' from her because of these additions, it would be too unfair to her."

He paused, his gaze falling on the lingering autumn rain outside the window.

"Besides, the current Tsunade... needs this credit."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes flickered: "She needs it?"

"She needs it."

Sakuya turned his head, meeting the Third Hokage's gaze, and smiled slightly: "Her younger brother needs it, too."

"Nawaki?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi was slightly startled, then suddenly realized, a complex emotion flashing in the depths of his eyes.

"No wonder Tsunade was so irritated before... so it was about Nawaki."

He paused, his gaze toward Sakuya filled with more scrutiny and profound meaning.

"How did you know?"

"That blockhead wears everything on his face."

Sakuya's tone was indifferent, yet carried a hint of an imperceptible smile.

"The day Nawaki made a fuss about going to the Land of Fang, the way Tsunade looked at him—I understood everything."

Tsunade stood outside the door, her face flushed red, taking in every word of the conversation between Sakuya and Hiruzen Sarutobi.

That guy... he actually knew everything.

Her fingers, clutching the lunch box, tightened quietly.

She bit her lip, her cheeks burning so hot they felt like they were on fire. Suddenly, a surge of emotion welled up in her heart: a mix of the shyness of having her thoughts seen through, and something else... something she couldn't quite name.

She had only proposed a draft; it was Sakuya who truly perfected it. He understood that, and Hiruzen Sarutobi understood it too.

Yet, he chose to give such credit to me.

Tsunade's hand pressed against her chest involuntarily.

Her heart was beating so fast.

"Alright, then we shall do as you say. It is getting late, so you should get some rest. I will take my leave now."

The sound of Hiruzen Sarutobi rising came from inside the ward. Like a startled rabbit, Tsunade turned and ducked into the empty ward next door.

She pricked up her ears, leaning against the door frame, listening to Hiruzen Sarutobi's footsteps fade away before she leaned against the door with a complex expression.

First, he said those things to me about the Land of Fang, and now this...

How can there be such an Uchiha?

She felt a sense of restlessness in her heart.

That innate boldness of hers seemed to have lost its direction at this moment, crashing wildly within her chest, yet unable to find an exit.

What is this feeling?

Tsunade did not understand.

But she was not the type to hide or suppress her nature.

Just as Hiruzen Sarutobi had said earlier.

She is Princess Tsunade, the princess of the Land of Fire.

She is a woman determined to become the future Fourth Hokage!

She must never shrink back when faced with a challenge.

She must ask Sakuya clearly and obtain the answer she desires!

Tsunade stormed into Sakuya's hospital room with a fierce momentum.

Sakuya was currently leaning against the headboard, gazing at the rain outside the window; hearing the sound of the door opening, he turned his head to look over.

All her words became stuck in her throat at this very moment.

That handsome face was turned directly toward Tsunade, and those pitch-black eyes were observing her. His dark hair, which hadn't been trimmed since his admission, had grown to his shoulders, yet it didn't look messy in the slightest.

Good grief... why does he have to be so good-looking?

Tsunade is a standard fan of aesthetics.

She really likes boys who are handsome.

In the original story, a large part of the reason she accepted Dan Katō's confession was because he was a beautiful man.

And now, Tsunade has to admit it.

This Uchiha Sakuya is the most handsome person she has seen in her twenty-plus years of life.

Even this face is still maturing, still just a slightly green flower bud that will bloom into even more beautiful scenery in the future.

She couldn't help but take a step back.

This isn't right, this isn't right at all.

She had clearly intended to have a proper talk with this guy, or at least get a definitive answer from him, hadn't she?

Even just starting with a sentence about what he likes about her would have been fine.

Why is it that standing here now, she... she can't even say a single word?

She shouldn't be this kind of person.

"Good morning, Tsunade."

His voice is the same, sounding so pleasant, just like freshly brewed Bamboo Green—crisp and refreshing, with a hint of sweetness.

It's... it's too unfair.

"Ahahaha... mor, morning."

She greeted Sakuya with some nervousness, but the moment the words left her mouth, she regretted it.

What are you doing, Tsunade!

You are Princess Tsunade, the princess of the Land of Fire and the future Hokage of Konoha.

How can you go soft like this just because of one ordinary sentence from Uchiha Sakuya?

You need to be tough, you need to act like you don't care about his words at all!

First, you need to...

"What did you bring? It smells so good."

A simple sentence from Sakuya caused everything Tsunade had planned in her heart to fall apart.

"It... it's just that Nawaki wanted meat soup this morning, and this is what was left over. It is abso... absolutely not a tonic I made early just to thank you for saving me, so don't get the wrong idea! I just brought it along, just brought it along!"

You're so useless, Tsunade!

Tsunade knows she looks pathetic right now, but she still wants to tighten her expression, to make herself look a bit more cold and aloof, a bit more like her former self.

But looking at Sakuya's handsome face, watching his dark eyes observing her, and hearing his voice—gentle and pleasant, yet possessing a power that makes one ignore their own thoughts—she just couldn't help it.

So, there was simply no way around it.

Who told him to be so good-looking?

Realizing this, Tsunade slumped down like a deflated ball.