"Alright, I understand. Let me treat your hidden injuries first."
There was no time to be jealous. Tsunade pulled Yusuke over to the sofa and began using the Mystical Palm Technique to treat his lingering injuries and hidden ailments.
Yusuke immediately felt a warm current begin to flow through his body. It felt incredible.
I wonder if there'd be anything to combining Tsunade's Medical Ninjutsu with Hyuga Aya's Byakugan to locate the acupuncture points and give a targeted massage.
Yusuke couldn't help thinking.
"Ahem." Hyuga Aya coughed twice from where she stood nearby.
Yusuke got the hint. She's still here. She must be waiting for me to keep my promise and talk to Tsunade about what I promised her earlier.
My fault, my fault. It really was my fault. That had felt so good that I'd temporarily forgotten.
"Tsunade, there's something I'd like to talk to you about."
"Could you do me a favor and look for Lord Tobirama's research notes on the Caged Bird seal?"
Hearing Yusuke's words, Tsunade's jealousy, which she'd just managed to suppress, surged back.
She shot a sidelong glance at Hyuga Aya beside her.
She hadn't gotten a good look at her before, but now she could see the girl was every bit as pretty as she was.
She was a little taller and had longer legs, though her chest wasn't as full.
The sour feeling wouldn't go away. Tsunade went straight for a chokehold and then a rear naked choke. "I'm giving you one minute to get your thoughts in order. You'd better explain yourself properly."
Though his neck was buried in her cleavage and being smothered by her breasts felt wonderful, Yusuke's survival instinct kicked in, and he hurriedly explained.
"Ahem. I promised her earlier that I'd help her and the members of the Hyuga Branch Family try to break the Caged Bird seal."
"In return, if they manage to overthrow the Main Family, they'll support you at the next Hokage election meeting."
Yusuke patted Tsunade's hand around his throat to signal his surrender.
Tsunade froze for a moment, then loosened her grip.
She let out an involuntary sigh, her tone softening. "You know I don't want to be Hokage. I don't like all the political maneuvering that comes with it."
Yusuke slipped out of Tsunade's rear naked choke and had her straddle him.
He looked into Tsunade's eyes and said earnestly, "I'll help you."
Hyuga Aya: You two aren't treating me like a person, either!
Feeling sour, Hyuga Aya had no choice but to stand obediently to one side and wait for Tsunade to decide. She needed their help, after all.
Only then did Tsunade notice how intimate the two of them looked. She hurriedly got up and tried to play it off. "Alright. Since you've agreed, then I agree too."
Tsunade turned to Hyuga Aya. "I can get my granduncle's research notes, but I can't promise I'll be able to help you break the Caged Bird seal."
"After all, even my granduncle couldn't undo it."
Hyuga Aya looked excited. "That's more than enough. Thank you for your effort, Lady Tsunade."
Tsunade nodded and took a few steps toward the door, then sensed something was off.
She stood silently in the doorway, unsure whether to go in or out.
Yusuke was utterly confused, but Hyuga Aya reacted quickly. "In that case, I'll leave you to rest, Captain."
With that, she hurried after Tsunade. Tsunade thought to herself, At least she knows how to read the room.
She cleared her throat. "Then let's go together."
The two of them slowly left Yusuke's house.
Yusuke immediately realized that a woman's thoughts were harder to predict than any scheme.
After Tsunade treated him, Yusuke felt refreshed, and his complexion had improved as well.
It was already noon, and he was getting hungry, so he started preparing food in the kitchen.
Before long, Tsunade sneaked back in, tiptoeing over before stretching her neck and resting her chin on Yusuke's shoulder.
"What's for lunch?"
She sounded a little coy, like a newlywed returning after a long separation.
Yusuke smiled helplessly. "Your nose sure is sharp. Alright, alright, I'll make a few more of your favorites."
After they devoured the meal, the two of them sprawled out on the sofa.
"Are you really planning to help the Hyuga Branch Family?"
"There's a lot involved."
Tsunade asked with her eyes half closed.
Instead of answering how he felt about the Hyuga, Yusuke changed the subject. "This is my first time taking part in a Ninja World War."
"On the battlefield, I saw too many corpses and heard too many screams."
"Enemies' and comrades' alike."
"I used to want nothing more than to live in peace in the Ninja World. Now there's one more word I need to add."
"We have to live in peace in the Ninja World."
Yusuke opened his half-lidded eyes. "Without power like Lord Hashirama's, we need to find our own allies."
"Or build our own organization."
"Either way, we won't end up fighting on two fronts the next time war breaks out."
Tsunade turned her head to look at Yusuke, her amber eyes flickering.
"I spoke to Grandma. She'll help research a way to break the Caged Bird seal."
Yusuke breathed a sigh of relief when he heard that. At least he'd have an answer for Hyuga Aya.
Tsunade leaned against Yusuke's chest and spoke softly. "This afternoon, I'll take you somewhere. Once you finish training there, your strength will make a huge leap."
"Alright." Yusuke didn't press her for details. He simply ran his fingers through Tsunade's hair.
He considered, Should I start an organization? Maybe I'll call it 'Night Raid.'
After resting for a while, Tsunade flipped over and stood up.
"Alright, just wait for my good news," Tsunade said confidently.
Yusuke asked suspiciously, "Are you trying to get out of washing the dishes again?"
Tsunade gave a light cough and turned around, her cheeks flushed at having her excuse exposed. "Who says that? I, Princess Tsunade, am not that kind of person."
"I'm going to get something good for you." With that, she hurried away, practically fleeing.
Yusuke smiled helplessly and tidied up the dishes the two of them had used.
An hour later, Tsunade returned with a large scroll on her back.
Seeing the clean table, she thought smugly, I got out of it again.
"This is the Summoning Scroll for Shikkotsu Forest. Sign your name on it, and you can go to Shikkotsu Forest to train in Senjutsu."
Tsunade put away her smile, unrolled the scroll, and turned to a blank page.
This piqued Yusuke's interest. When he'd watched the anime before, he'd only seen the Senjutsu of Mount Myoboku and Ryūchi Cave.
He hadn't expected that the first Senjutsu he'd encounter in this world would be from Shikkotsu Forest.
Following Tsunade's example, Yusuke used his blood to write his name on the Summoning Scroll beside hers, then pressed all ten fingers down to leave his prints.
"Alright, don't resist." Tsunade put away the Summoning Contract and spoke to Yusuke.
Yusuke immediately felt a space-time fluctuation around him. It was very similar to the Flying Thunder God Technique, so he did as she said and didn't resist.
In the next instant, boom—
White smoke billowed up, and Yusuke and Tsunade vanished from the house.
When Yusuke came to, he was in a stretch of pitch-black mountains. Strange rocks jutted up around him like a tangle of ribs, reaching straight into the sky.
Looking more closely, he saw that they were the enormous bones of countless dead sea beasts.
Huge shadows passed overhead now and then. Yusuke looked up and saw what seemed to be enormous fish-shaped creatures.
It felt like being in an underwater tunnel, admiring the wonders of the ocean.
"Are we underwater?" Yusuke asked, looking at Tsunade beside him.
"That's right. This is the Sage Slug's home, Shikkotsu Forest."
"It wasn't easy for our ancestors in the Senju Clan to find it, either."
Tsunade was clearly proud, evidently taking great pride in her Senju ancestors.
Yusuke tried to sense the Flying Thunder God marks in the outside world. He could still feel them, which meant he could use the Flying Thunder God to travel back and forth from the Sacred Land.
Yusuke continued thinking through the practical applications, but a woman's voice interrupted him.
"You have finally arrived, one who has not been anchored by fate." A gentle, melodious female voice rang out.
Before you continue