Blood trickled from the corner of Yusuke's mouth, mixing with the rain as it dripped onto Tsunade.
Suppressing the exhaustion brought on by the poison, Tsunade reached out and pressed a hand to Yusuke's chest, activating the Mystical Palm Technique.
Thankfully, Tsunade was a medical ninja. Otherwise, Yusuke might have lost half his life right there and ended up lying flat on his back.
"Do you think the Amegakure ninja will come after us?"
Tsunade took the initiative to start a conversation. Clearly, she knew Yusuke's condition and was afraid the jolting along the way would make him fall asleep.
Though she phrased it as a question, she sounded certain. As an elite jonin, she had already worked it out.
"Yeah, they definitely will. If I were Hanzo, I wouldn't pass up a prize that was already in my grasp."
"He didn't use the Summoning Technique he's best at, and since he didn't know anything about me, I only managed to gain a slight advantage."
"But if we'd fought much longer, he would've worn me down."
Yusuke answered with difficulty. His body was being torn apart and healed at the same time. The pain brought with it a strange sense of relief—a clash of fire and ice.
Tsunade snuggled closer into Yusuke's arms. It was rare to see her act so vulnerable.
She didn't ask how Yusuke knew so much about Hanzo the Salamander. All she needed to do was make sure he wouldn't pose a threat to Konoha.
"I won't tell the higher-ups in the village that you have a divine weapon, but you'll need to be careful."
After a moment of silence, Tsunade spoke again.
"Okay, thanks."
"Why did you become a medical ninja?"
Yusuke asked, looking for something to talk about.
"Because I never want to watch another loved one die in front of me."
On a stormy, dark night, the two of them chatted on and off about everything from the embarrassing things they'd done as children to their dreams for the future.
Their spirits seemed to lift a little.
The night slipped away. Watching the rain fall from the sky, Tsunade asked in a hoarse voice, "This doesn't seem to be the way back to Konoha."
Judging by the distance they'd traveled and Yusuke's speed, they should have left the Land of Rain by now. But the downpour overhead made it clear they were still within its borders.
"That's right. We're not going to Konoha."
"If they know that our final destination is Konoha, they'll chase us along the routes that lead there."
"The heavy rain can mask our tracks and scent. But once we leave the Land of Rain, we'll lose that protection."
Yusuke answered with difficulty. His eyes were bloodshot, and the long run had pushed his body to the brink of collapse.
What he needed now was to find somewhere relatively safe and rest as quickly as possible.
Tsunade didn't ask anything else, but she couldn't help admiring Yusuke's seasoned instincts and quick reactions.
Fortunately, a few minutes later, they spotted a cave.
Mustering their remaining strength, the two of them used what little chakra they had left to kill a black bear inside.
After hastily covering the entrance, they could no longer keep going and collapsed.
When Yusuke slowly came to, the first thing he saw was a snow-white ceiling.
"Where am I?"
He quietly circulated his chakra and found that it flowed without resistance.
Looks like no one sealed my chakra.
One moment, he remembered being hunted down with nowhere left to run; the next, he was in a relatively safe place.
Even his exceptionally capable mind struggled to keep up with the sudden change.
As he activated Sensory Ninjutsu to check his surroundings, he carefully turned his head to look around.
The room was furnished in a clean, simple style, mostly white. It looked like a hospital room.
Yusuke finally felt at ease when he spotted a familiar figure.
She wore a white T-shirt, a tight red skirt, and black fishnet armor underneath.
She was fast asleep with her head on the bedside table, her tight shirt outlining her curvy figure.
Whatever she was dreaming about, she smacked her lips now and then.
A scroll beneath her cheek had a small wet patch from her drool.
Yusuke sighed helplessly. He didn't know whether to feel touched that this tigress had stayed by his bedside or laugh at how adorably silly she looked.
Just then, he noticed a small head peeking in from outside, furtively checking the room.
Yusuke raised his stiff hand and beckoned to the figure.
The kid realized he'd been spotted and gave an awkward smile before slipping inside.
He looked about ten years old, with short, dark brown hair and a Konoha Forehead Protector. An innocent smile spread across his face.
"Is this Konoha Hospital?" Yusuke asked. The boy nodded.
"You know Lady Tsunade?" Yusuke continued.
"You've got a pretty sharp eye. No wonder you were able to go on missions with my sister."
"My name's Nawaki."
The boy adjusted his Konoha Forehead Protector and flashed a cheerful smile.
Wait, is this Hashirama Senju's grandson—the poor kid who gets killed by an Explosive Tag during the Second Shinobi World War?
He was one of the most famous people to get killed by an Explosive Tag—the first, in fact. He could sit at the same table as Nagato, who got his legs blown off by one.
Yusuke suddenly looked at the boy with sympathy, leaving Nawaki confused.
Yusuke gently patted his shoulder and spoke earnestly.
"Nawaki, remember this. Whenever you go on a mission in the woods, check carefully and make sure you don't miss any Explosive Tag traps."
Nawaki: Huh? What's this guy talking about?
Perhaps the two of them had been talking a little too loudly. Tsunade yawned and woke up.
She sat up groggily and smacked her lips.
She squinted as she looked around. A few seconds later, her foggy brain rebooted.
"Oh, you're finally awake."
"Hm? Nawaki? What are you doing here?"
Tsunade sounded delighted.
Nawaki naturally wasn't going to admit that he'd come to eavesdrop and get a look at the man his sister had carried back even though she'd nearly used up all her strength.
"Oh, Grandma asked me to come get you for dinner."
Nawaki casually made up an excuse.
Tsunade glanced at the sky outside and asked in confusion, "But isn't it only early afternoon?"
"Ahaha, is it? Maybe I got the time wrong." Nawaki awkwardly scratched his head.
"Nawaki, are you free? If you are, could you go buy us something to eat?"
Unable to watch the siblings' awkward conversation any longer, Yusuke interrupted.
"Sure, sure." Nawaki bolted out, as if he'd been granted a pardon.
"That brat is always rushing around without thinking. I'd better keep him away from Jiraiya," Tsunade muttered.
A few seconds later, Nawaki poked his head back through the doorway and awkwardly scratched his head. "Brother-in-law, all my money's with my sister. She said she'd hold on to it for me."
"So... heh heh." He looked embarrassed.
Yusuke immediately gave him a look like someone on the subway who'd spotted a fellow passenger watching a phone. "Nawaki, you need to be more careful. You'll believe anything the legendary Great Sucker tells you."
He resolved right then and there never to let Tsunade manage his money.
He glanced at Tsunade with a hint of disdain, as if to say, You even cheat kids out of their money?
Tsunade's face turned bright red, right up to her ears.
She curled her toes, wishing she could dig a hole in the floor and hide in it.
She didn't know whether it was because Nawaki had called Yusuke "brother-in-law" or because he'd exposed her in front of everyone.
What made it even more awkward was that she only had a few coins on her. As for the rest of her money, she'd lost it at some casino long ago.
Tsunade: I'm tired. Let it all burn.
Before you continue