Tsunade parted her red lips and said softly, "Nara-kun, I'd like to ask you for a favor."
Uchiha Nara sat up straight. He had a great deal of respect for Princess Tsunade, one of the Sannin.
"Miss Tsunade, please go ahead."
Tsunade was twenty-six or twenty-seven. In the early-maturing world of shinobi, she was already a ninja who could stand on her own.
But her actual age was what it was, and she was still unmarried. Addressing her as Lady Tsunade or respectfully as Miss Tsunade would both be proper.
Tsunade hesitated, then began to tell her story in a measured voice.
"My younger brother, Nawaki..."
A long while passed.
Nara didn't interrupt. He listened quietly as Tsunade spoke, occasionally offering a word or two of comfort.
"Miss Tsunade, there's still a long road ahead of you. You're in the prime of your life, so please don't grieve too deeply."
After hearing Tsunade out, Nara understood. The renowned Tsunade of the Sannin had suffered severe emotional trauma after her younger brother, Nawaki, and her lover, the jōnin Dan Katō, were killed in action. That trauma had manifested as Hemophobia.
For the captain of the Medical Corps and the director of Konoha Hospital, this was simply unthinkable.
Konoha's most famous and gifted medical ninja had developed Hemophobia and couldn't stand the sight of blood. How could she treat patients or save the wounded like that?
"What I've told you is a Konoha secret. If you reveal it, you'll face severe punishment. Do you understand?"
Though Tsunade looked downcast and had opened her heart to him, she still remembered to remind Uchiha Nara to keep this confidential.
Confidentiality was a shinobi's first rule when carrying out a mission.
"I understand, Lady Tsunade! I promise I won't tell anyone."
At that, Nara addressed her with an honorific and gave his word.
At that moment, Nara didn't know how to put his feelings into words.
The Sannin Tsunade had summoned Nara to treat her emotional wounds, see if she could move on from the past and the darkness it had left behind, and cure her Hemophobia.
Konoha hadn't yet rotted to its core. It had its problems, but overall, it was still stable—a village people loved.
The Third Hokage hadn't grown senile, Danzo hadn't become utterly shameless, and the two advisors really were working for Konoha. Many jōnin, including the Sannin, poured their hearts and souls into the village. The powerful each had their own agendas, but most of them loved Konoha and were willing to give everything for it.
Konoha's decline had probably begun when it started suppressing the White Fang of Konoha. From then on, it grew increasingly unscrupulous, driving many of its shinobi, Tsunade among them, to turn away from the village. In the end, they either met untimely deaths or left Konoha.
Those with average strength and influence could only expect to meet untimely deaths. Only people like the Sannin, or leaders of certain shinobi organizations, could leave Konoha under the pretext of retirement, recuperation, or a vacation. Ordinary shinobi weren't afforded such treatment.
After finally speaking aloud about the painful memories that had tormented her for so long, Tsunade looked despondent and sorrowful. But she didn't lose her composure in front of Nara; she still held herself together.
"Miss Tsunade, I can only try. Please watch."
Nara spoke softly. Once he had drawn Tsunade's gaze, their eyes met, and he activated his Three-Tomoe Sharingan genjutsu.
"Genjutsu: Sharingan!"
[The three Genin on Nawaki's team followed Orochimaru and Tsunade on a mission. Two jōnin led the three Genin. Orochimaru swept his hand forward, and the three Genin darted ahead.
Nawaki charged at the front and rushed into a valley. It was a reckless move, made out of overconfidence. Orochimaru and Tsunade tried to stop him, but a deafening blast rang out. A fireball rose like a mushroom cloud, and a necklace was flung away by the explosion's shock wave, landing right at Tsunade's feet.
Nawaki had triggered an Explosive Tag trap hidden in a depression.
"Nawaki!"
Tsunade paled with shock and immediately rushed into the blasted trap.
"Tsunade, don't be reckless!"
Orochimaru was calm, but he couldn't stop Tsunade in time; she had already rushed in. Faced with the sudden disaster, he kept his composure, shouting in the hope of calling her back.
Tsunade ignored him. After a few Body Flickers, she was already in the crater.
Nawaki lay on the ground, covered in blood and unconscious. His injuries were severe, and he needed emergency treatment.
Faced with the situation, Tsunade had no time to think. She didn't care about her Hemophobia; she cast aside her fear of blood and rushed over to save Nawaki.
"Nawaki! Hang in there!"
Nawaki's unconscious body stirred. He slowly opened his eyes, even managing a smile as he raised a hand with effort and flashed a V sign. In a halting voice, he said, "I'm... okay, Sis. I... didn't disgrace... the Senju Clan, did I...?"
"Don't talk! Don't talk!"
Seeing Nawaki try to act tough, Tsunade was already weeping. She scolded him, telling him to stay quiet.
In her concern and panic for Nawaki, Tsunade overlooked how wrong the scene was. After such a terrible explosion, Nawaki still had all his limbs and his body was intact.
He was just covered in blood, with his skin split and his flesh torn.
Tsunade had no time to think about it. She poured chakra into him without stopping, using the Mystical Palm Technique to heal the wounds and lacerations all over his body.
After more than half an hour of Tsunade's desperate efforts, Nawaki's injuries had completely healed. He was just exhausted.
Tsunade knew these were the effects of recovering from a serious injury. If he returned to the village and rested for a while, he would be back to normal.
Tsunade didn't even notice how tired she was. Tears covered her face, but at last she smiled. In that moment, her smile looked awful, almost like she couldn't decide whether to laugh or cry. It was a little comical.
Tsunade swept the boy Nawaki into her arms.
"You idiot! Don't ever do that again. Don't ever do that again. Don't ever do that again..."
"You don't have to carry on the Senju Clan's bravery. I'll make the Senju Clan proud."
"You idiot, you idiot..."
Tsunade could hardly get her words out. In the end, she could only cry and scold Nawaki.
Nawaki had recovered, but he was a little tired.
"I'm fine, Sis. I just let my guard down. I'm going to be Hokage! How could I let you stand in front of me?"
Nawaki had regained some strength. Though he was still a little weak, he was no longer speaking haltingly.
"The Senju Clan has already withdrawn from the world. You don't have to carry on its bravery and traditions. I just want you to live!"
"I know, I know. Why are you so naggy today, Sis?"
"Let's send Nawaki back to Konoha to recover." Orochimaru had come over as well. Though the sight had unsettled him, Nawaki had just escaped death and truly needed to rest.
"I'm fine. I can keep going on the mission. Don't worry, Teacher Orochimaru!"
Nawaki smiled, but he couldn't hide how tired he was.
"I said you're going back, so you're going back! Why do you have so much to say?"
Tsunade smacked Nawaki on the head and scolded him sharply.
"Fine, fine. I'll go back, I'll go back."
"The fighting at the front is intense, and I can't leave Tsunade here alone. I'll take Nawaki back to Konoha. Tsunade, you keep going to the front."
The Second Shinobi World War was raging. They couldn't waste too much time here, so the levelheaded Orochimaru proposed the best course of action.
"Okay. I'm counting on you, Orochimaru."
"I'm going back, Sis. Take care of yourself. Make sure you stay safe."
Nawaki seemed a little strange. His normally sunny face now held an uncharacteristic look of reluctance and sadness, as though this ordinary parting were a final goodbye.
"Don't miss me, Sis. Carry on the Senju Clan's legacy, and live a good life..."
After standing up, Nawaki looked at Tsunade and headed toward Konoha. He moved incredibly fast, not at all like someone who had just recovered from a serious injury. In fact, he was moving faster than usual, and he seemed to glow as he headed toward the village.
Tsunade finally realized what was happening.
"Nawaki! Come back, Nawaki!"]
Uchiha Nara was drenched in sweat. Tsunade, one of the Sannin, had an enormous amount of chakra. Controlling her with genjutsu was no easy feat.
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