Back at the inn, Tsunade sat alone on the pale yellow tatami mats.
At the low table beside Tsunade, Shizune brewed her a cup of hot tea.
Tsunade accepted the bluish-gray teacup and slowly drank the tea, gradually recovering from her hemophobia.
Thinking back to what had happened at the izakaya, Senya's words began replaying in her mind again.
"After all, women need to take care of themselves once they get older."
The more Tsunade thought about it, the angrier she became. Her face full of fury, she turned and demanded of Shizune beside her.
"Shizune, am I really that old?"
Seeing Tsunade like this, Shizune forced a smile onto her face.
"Of course not, Lady Tsunade. Don't listen to that Uchiha brat's nonsense. You look barely over twenty. That lecherous little punk was clearly being disrespectful."
As she spoke, her words became slightly hesitant.
"Didn't he... didn't he stare at Lady Tsunade a few extra times...?"
After hearing Shizune's explanation, the anger on Tsunade's face gradually faded.
Taking small sips of tea, she began to ponder what Senya had said earlier.
He wants me to return to the village and become the Fifth Hokage? What kind of joke is that? I'm living freely now, eating, drinking, and having fun every day. Why would I go back to that utterly decayed village?
At that thought, Tsunade gradually felt a little dejected.
That's right. The village now isn't the village it was when Grandpa Second was in office. The higher-ups are rotten to the core. I left because I couldn't bear to watch the village wither away any further.
I left because I was weak, because I didn't have the courage to shoulder Grandpa's and Grandpa Second's will.
But why did they send that Uchiha Senya guy this time?
*It wasn't