The Backer Tsunade Found

The next morning, the sunlight was a bit too harsh for Yusuke.

He rubbed his throbbing temples; he had spent almost the entire night studying the notes on the Flying Thunder God.

Although he possessed the experience of Tobirama Senju and Yusuke's own comprehension was heaven-defyingly high.

The anchoring of spatial marks was far more complex than he had imagined, and it would take some time to fully grasp it.

After a hasty wash and a quick bite to eat, a knock sounded at the door.

Tsunade was standing outside, dressed in a new outfit today.

She wore a kimono with a pale yellow base, adorned with a pattern of white butterflies.

Her hair was half-pinned up with a goldfish hairpin, with a few stray locks left framing her face.

This look made her appear... hmm, cute. Yes, definitely cute.

Seeing Yusuke staring straight at her, Tsunade's face flushed red.

She shot him an annoyed, icy glare and snapped, "What are you looking at? It's not like I did this for myself."

She turned and walked away quickly after speaking; Yusuke's strange gaze had indeed made her feel a bit awkward.

If it weren't to curry favor with Grandma Tohka so this guy could successfully become her apprentice, I would never have worn this outfit even if I were killed, Tsunade thought bitterly.

However, this abrupt and contextless remark left Yusuke feeling quite confused.

Is it that time of the month?

Yusuke guessed, grabbing a jacket and following after her.

They hadn't gone far when his powerful sensory perception caught a faint, lingering gaze, clinging to them like a maggot on a bone, trailing far behind.

The pursuer's tracking skills were highly sophisticated, hiding their presence so well they were almost indistinguishable from a passerby.

But the deliberately maintained distance and the subtle fluctuations of chakra still gave them away in Yusuke's perception.

Like a ghost that won't go away... Yusuke sneered inwardly. Shimura Danzō was clearly determined to dispose of him, this "traitor."

A strong sense of crisis lingered in his heart; being targeted by this poisonous snake meant his days in Konoha would likely be devoid of peace.

He tilted his head slightly and said in a voice only the two of them could hear, "We have a tail. They've been following us since we left."

Tsunade didn't stop walking, her expression unchanged, though her eyes turned a shade colder. "Mm, I know."

"Don't worry about him. After today, they will restrain themselves." Her tone carried confidence.

Yusuke said no more, burying his vigilance deep in his heart as he followed Tsunade through several blocks, finally arriving before a relatively secluded courtyard.

The yard was surrounded by a traditional wooden fence, and inside, it was lush with greenery, appearing quaint and serene—a stark contrast to the bustling residential area around it.

With a smile on her face, Tsunade stepped forward and knocked on the door.

A moment later, the door opened a crack, and a woman appeared behind it.

She looked to be in her forties; although her features were beautiful, she exuded a detached, icy coldness.

Dressed in a martial arts outfit, she stood there, naturally radiating a powerful aura and an unapproachable arrogance.

"Little Tsunade? It's been a long time since you visited Grandma."

Seeing Tsunade, the frost on the woman's face melted slightly. She stepped forward and gently stroked Tsunade's blonde hair, just as one would a granddaughter.

"Grandma Tohka, sorry to disturb you." Tsunade's tone was respectful, even carrying a hint of a junior's coquettishness.

Grandma? She looks only in her forties, but is she actually in her fifties or sixties?

Yusuke gained a new understanding of the Senju Clan's constitution.

Tohka Senju's gaze shifted past Tsunade and landed on Yusuke. That look felt tangible, filled with scrutiny and assessment.

It made Yusuke feel as if he were being stared at by a wild beast, and a thin layer of cold sweat broke out on his back.

In terms of mental pressure, it was far more formidable than when he had faced Hanzo the Salamander.

"Is he the Yusuke you mentioned?" Her voice was cold, revealing neither joy nor anger.

"Yes, Grandma Tohka. Yusuke, this is my grand-uncle's right-hand woman, and a senior I deeply respect."

Tsunade smiled as she introduced them to each other.

Yusuke suppressed the awe in his heart, stepped forward, and bowed respectfully. "Greetings, Senior Tohka."

Tohka Senju was a powerhouse who had been famous since the era of the First Shadow, Hashirama Senju. Renowned in the ninja world for her genjutsu, she was one of the pillars of the Senju Clan.

He just hadn't expected her to live in such a simple, humble courtyard.

Tohka Senju nodded slightly and stepped aside. "Come in."

The three entered the house. The furnishings inside were even simpler than the exterior suggested, with almost no unnecessary decorations, making the space feel somewhat empty.

On the wall of the main hall hung a shrine, upon which a wooden tablet was enshrined. The grain of the wood was ancient, emitting a faint aura of life.

Below this shrine sat a simple altar, upon which two memorial tablets were placed.

"Sit." Tohka Senju gestured for the two of them to take a seat on the tatami mats in the living room.

The atmosphere was somewhat silent and oppressive, with only the ticking of a clock remaining.

Tohka Senju poured herself a cup of tea, took a light sip, and set the cup gently back onto the table.

Yusuke sat obediently, waiting for the interrogation to follow.

Time ticked away second by second, and suddenly, his eyes grew vacant as everything around him blurred.

Only the sound of Tohka Senju's fingers tapping against the tabletop and the ticking of the clock remained.

Tsunade appeared somewhat nervous, her hands clenching involuntarily.

"Grandma Tohka, there's no need..."

Tohka Senju cut her off: "Little Tsunade, you cannot trust others so easily."

"Rest assured, this is merely a genjutsu; it will not harm him." Tohka Senju's voice carried an unquestionable authority.

Tsunade, standing nearby, felt her heart leap into her throat; she knew the level of Grandma Tohka's mastery over genjutsu, which even many members of the Uchiha clan would find themselves inferior to.

She had not expected Yusuke to fall into the trap so easily.

"What is your name?" Tohka Senju began her questioning.

"Yusuke." Yusuke's voice was somewhat mechanical, yet his answer flowed smoothly.

"Age."

"Eighteen."

"Are you a member of Shimura Danzō's Root?" Tohka Senju's questions began to cut to the core.

A trace of struggle flickered across Yusuke's face, but under the suppression of the powerful genjutsu, he still answered honestly.

"I was, but in my current memories, matters regarding Root are very blurry; I can barely recall them."

"Perhaps... something went wrong with the curse seal from before."

This answer was consistent with the explanation Yusuke had previously given Tsunade, and she visibly breathed a sigh of relief.

Tohka Senju continued her pursuit, her voice carrying an even stronger penetrating power: "What is your purpose in approaching Tsunade?"

This question once again caused Tsunade to subconsciously hold her breath.

Although she believed what Yusuke had told her, who could truly know the real answers hidden within another person's heart?

This time, Yusuke hesitated almost not at all; under the influence of the genjutsu, he followed his heart's most truthful thoughts and answered.

"I have no special purpose. Performing missions with her, experiencing life and death—I feel very at ease, and I like her very much. That is all."

This candid confession caused Tsunade's cheeks to flush crimson instantly outside the illusion.

Having received confirmation once more, the final boulder in her heart finally fell, and the gaze she cast toward Yusuke grew even more tender.

Tohka Senju carefully observed Yusuke's mental fluctuations, confirming that this was no lie.

She remained silent for a moment before asking the final, and most critical, question.