What embarrassed her even more was that, after soaking in the Medicinal Bath for so long, her body had gone a little weak.
The feeling made Tsunade panic.
She looked up and met Qingyu's dark eyes.
They were so close she could almost feel his breath.
Her heart began to race.
"Tsunade, you're awake?"
Qingyu looked down at her.
"...Mm."
Tsunade sat up in his arms, and hot water streamed off her with a splash.
She pressed the back of her hand to her cheek. It was burning hot.
I soaked too long.
Tsunade found herself an explanation.
"I'm going to change."
She stepped out of the wooden tub, took a dry towel from the rack beside her, draped it over herself, and hurried out of the Camp Tent's partitioned bathing area.
By late July, the fighting along the Eastern Coastline had temporarily eased.
After the Third Raikage died in battle and the Two-Tails' Jinchuriki was badly wounded, Kumogakure's offensive had slowed markedly.
According to intelligence, Cloud Village was waiting for funding from its daimyo. A large-scale attack was unlikely before new military funds arrived.
Iwagakure was still facing off against Konoha at the Land of Grass border, but under Ōnoki's cautious command, it had also pulled back for the time being.
Konoha took advantage of the brief respite to rotate its forces, sending some ninja who had spent more than half a year on the front lines back to the village to rest.
Qingyu and the others were among them.
When the returning group reached Konoha's gates, Obito stretched with all his might.
"Finally, we're back!"
He looked up at the familiar emblem above the gates, his voice full of emotion.
"Nothing beats the village. Those camp beds nearly broke my back."
"Obito, your bed at camp wasn't that