Return of Tsunade to the Village

Chapter 13: Tsunade's Return to the Village

The reason Shen Mo had bought Hikari was exactly as he had said.

To dispel his loneliness.

Being alone in the New World was not easy to bear. Even though this world had many characters Shen Mo had once liked, they were all strangers to him now.

Besides, as a fully mature adult,

Shen Mo understood this very well.

His affection was best placed in someone who valued him just as much.

For example, the little kitten on his shoulder.

Her initial loyalty was as high as ninety percent.

Under such circumstances, as long as he treated her well, she would likewise repay his efforts.

He could not help reaching out to scratch her chin again. Only after receiving several meows did Shen Mo contentedly put away his tender expression and turn his attention to today's "customers."

The other families in this town.

In his meticulous formal attire, the mysterious Jar Merchant had appeared once again.

While Shen Mo carried out high-profit deals and made a huge fortune,

Tsunade, after two days and two nights of hurrying along,

finally returned to Konoha.

Looking at this familiar yet strange environment, Tsunade unconsciously slowed her steps, a trace of complicated emotion in her eyes.

"Is that Lady Tsunade?" someone exclaimed at the village entrance.

Even though she had not returned to the village for several years, the guards at the gate recognized her at a glance.

Of course, that was also because her appearance had not changed at all.

"It really is Lady Tsunade!"

"Lady Tsunade is back!"

"Lady Tsunade!"

"You've finally returned!"

From the guards at the gate to passing ninja and even ordinary people in the shops, everyone of a certain age greeted Tsunade excitedly. It was clear just how popular she was in Konoha.

She was not merely one of the renowned Sannin, a war hero, and the granddaughter of the First Hokage.

It was also because of her superb medical ninjutsu.

During the war, she had saved the lives of countless ninja and even civilians.

"Lady Tsunade..."

Shizune followed closely behind Tsunade. Feeling the villagers' enthusiasm, her eyes grew slightly red.

"Hmph, these people haven't changed at all."

Tsunade's expression was instead somewhat gloomy, but her steps quickened unconsciously. Her slightly clenched fists also showed that her heart was not as calm as she appeared.

Along the way, people kept greeting her with delighted expressions.

She reached the Hokage's office without hindrance.

She pushed the door open directly.

Inside sat the Third Hokage in the Hokage's seat, along with several ninja who had come to relay missions.

"I heard you were back, but I could hardly believe it." The Third Hokage looked at Tsunade with a beaming smile. "It's good that you're back. You still look as young as ever."

"Teacher, you're the one who..." Tsunade opened her mouth, then finally said, "Have you really become an old man now?"

"Hahaha."

The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, did not mind his pupil's words at all. He laughed heartily a few times, then waved his hand and motioned for the other ninja to leave.

"Are you back this time temporarily, or did something happen?"

In fact, Hiruzen Sarutobi had received word a day earlier that Tsunade was returning to Konoha.

After all, even though Tsunade had left,

there were still ninja spies around her, and even the various Ninja Villages had their own.

So Hiruzen Sarutobi had vaguely learned some information, though it was far from complete.

"Take a look at these."

Tsunade took out a sealing scroll and placed it on the desk. When she opened it, there was a light sound, and many small bottles, medicinal ingredients, and strange objects appeared.

"What are these?" Hiruzen Sarutobi examined the items.

"I bought them from a mysterious merchant." Tsunade's expression grew solemn. "They're incredibly wondrous. The effects of some of the potions are beyond imagination. That merchant claimed to be from the New World."

"The New World?" Hiruzen Sarutobi was taken aback.

As Hokage, he knew many secret techniques.

For example, the Dead Demon Consuming Seal, which summoned the Grim Reaper.

At the very least, the world after death existed.

But what Tsunade was talking about was clearly not that.

"He showed me many scenes." Tsunade described what she had seen. "Scenes of completely different worlds. He said he was a merchant from an organization called the Omniscient and Omnipotent Merchant Guild, and the goods he sold—Jars—really did contain all kinds of wondrous products. Some of the medicinal ingredients and potions were things even I had never heard of."

"Tell me everything that happened in detail." Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression also turned serious.

Although the Ninja World seemed to be in a rare period of peace,

the storm had never truly gone away.

The Akatsuki Organization, the other Ninja Villages, and all kinds of threats still existed.

Tsunade recounted her entire encounter and conversation with Shen Mo, while Shizune added details from time to time.

Finally,

she took out the Badge Shen Mo had given her.

"You mean that when you examined his body, you confirmed that he was just an ordinary person?" Hiruzen Sarutobi keenly noticed the crucial point.

"I can confirm that. But when he left, he did display a technique resembling the Flying Thunder God Technique. And when that pattern appeared on his forehead..." Tsunade recalled Shen Mo's appearance when he activated the All-Knowing All-Seeing Eye, and her brows drew tightly together.

That sense of nobility.

It was truly impossible to describe.

"I understand, Tsunade."

Hiruzen Sarutobi smoked his pipe, lowering his head in silence as though deep in thought.

Tsunade's impressions, the wondrous objects before him, and the countless signs all seemed to reveal the merchant's mystery.

From the New World?

Whether or not that could be believed, faced with these wondrous objects, they could not afford to underestimate him.

After a while,

"Tsunade." Hiruzen Sarutobi suddenly smiled, his aged face filled with an affectionate warmth. "You're not leaving again after coming back this time, are you? I've kept the position of Head of the Medical Department open for you all this time. By the way, your illness..."

"It's already cured." After a moment of silence, Tsunade took the cross from around her neck. "This was the only item I obtained from the Level 2 Chest I bought. It's the Cross of Courage. As long as you wear it, you can possess courage..."

"Oh?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi's somewhat cloudy eyes stared at the silver-glittering necklace.

"It suits you very well."

In this world, the cross also carried connotations of healing.

Tsunade took a deep breath and looked at her teacher as she slowly said, "He said that the Level 3 Chest contains a treasure capable of bringing people back to life."

The room suddenly fell silent.

Hiruzen Sarutobi puffed on his pipe again and again, and soon the Hokage's office was filled with smoke.

"Tsunade."

In the end, Hiruzen Sarutobi broke the silence. His voice was filled with the weariness of age, yet it also seemed to carry a certain strength.

"I understand how you feel. But Nawaki and Dan Katō both burned themselves away to protect Konoha and the village. Even if they truly came back to life, they would not want your love for them to be exploited, or even used to harm the village."