Tsunade's Choice

Kumogakure, Ninja Academy.

"Yugito Nii, I want to graduate with you!" A little boy tightly clutched the girl's hand.

The girl had long, straight beige-blonde hair that she usually wore in a braid. Her features were delicate, and her skin was fair and soft.

"Konosuke, stop fooling around. You're still too young. How can you graduate?"

Yugito Nii looked gently at the child. Everyone else avoided her like the plague; who would ever want to get close to her? It was because the Two-Tails had been sealed inside her!

Tailed beasts were the incarnations of ferocity and hatred, containing overwhelming power that people feared.

Ever since the tailed beast had been sealed within her at the age of two, the people of the village had disliked her. They either mocked or cursed her, and that lonely environment had forced her to grow up quickly.

But Konosuke was different. He was the only one willing to get close to her, giving her warmth. He even kept shouting, "When I grow up, I'll marry Yugito Nii!" It left her both amused and helpless.

Konosuke turned Yugito Nii's face toward him and stared straight into her eyes. "Sis, I mean it. And when I grow up, I'm definitely going to marry you!"

After saying that, he hugged Yugito Nii tightly and lay in her arms.

Yugito Nii looked utterly helpless. They were both orphans, and after they had grown close, Konosuke had pestered her to let him be her little brother. She had agreed.

But when she thought of his goal, Yugito Nii's face flushed red. Forget it. They could talk about it later!

After school, Konosuke waited to leave with Yugito Nii.

"Look, it's those two monsters. One big monster and one little monster, together at last!"

"Shh! Keep your voice down. What if she hears you and eats you tonight?"

"I heard she turns into a monster in the middle of the night and eats anyone she runs into!"

Gulp! The children all swallowed hard in fright before turning and leaving.

Yugito Nii ignored them. She faced such prejudice every day and had long since grown used to it.

After dinner, Konosuke pulled Yugito Nii along, saying he wanted to show her how capable he was.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

From more than ten meters away, dozens of kunai and shuriken accurately struck the wooden targets.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

After the smoke cleared, he performed the Transformation Jutsu, Substitution Technique, and Clone Technique in turn. The perfection of his techniques astonished Yugito Nii. In her eyes, that frail figure gradually grew taller.

"Listen carefully. Don't move around. If you dare pull anything, I won't sleep with you anymore!" Yugito Nii warned.

Every time she woke up before, Konosuke would be clinging to her embarrassing places, drooling all over her.

"Okay, okay, okay!" Konosuke promised repeatedly. Hmph, once you're asleep, that won't be up to you!

Late at night, Konosuke woke up. Looking at Yugito Nii's lovely sleeping face, he could not resist kissing her. Konosuke was Su Zheng's Identity Vest, and he had a major plan aimed at Kumogakure!

Holding the girl in his arms, Su Zheng fell into a deep sleep.

After Konoha had stabilized, Tsunade left the village with Shizune and set out on a journey...

Inside a casino in the Land of Fire, Tsunade was having the time of her life!

The petite Shizune watched from the side.

"Come on, keep it going..." How could the gamblers at the table let such a fat sheep get away? Since they had found her, they had to fleece her thoroughly!

"I refuse to believe my luck can be this bad today!" Tsunade rolled up her sleeves, determined to settle the score.

Ever since Nawaki's death, Tsunade had drowned herself in gambling and drinking. Only then could she temporarily forget the pain of losing Nawaki.

As expected, Tsunade lost again, gambling away every last bit of the money she had taken out!

"I'm done, I'm done. My luck's terrible today. I'll come back next time!" Tsunade turned and pulled Shizune away.

The gamblers had already had their fill and did not stop her.

Inside a tavern in the small town.

Tsunade ordered a children's meal for Shizune and several dishes to go with her drinks, then began drinking.

Click!

A young man pushed open the door and walked in. He had short black hair and a handsome face. Without a forehead protector, he was clearly not a ninja, so no one paid him any attention.

Unexpectedly, the young man walked straight toward Tsunade's table. The drinkers around them looked curious. They were all admiring the beauty, but anyone who dared strike up a conversation with her would definitely get beaten senseless. Who did not know that she was the violent "Princess Tsunade"?

The little Shizune looked at the young man with a blush on her face. "He's so handsome!"

The young man was naturally Su Zheng. He walked up to Tsunade's table, placed down a photograph, and said with a smile, "Hello, Lady Tsunade!"

Tsunade was about to fly into a rage, but when her eyes swept over the photograph, she could no longer look away.

In the photograph, two young men had their arms around each other's shoulders. One of them had dark brown hair, brown eyes, and a joyful smile on his face.

Those features, that smile—it was undoubtedly Nawaki. Only his body had changed; he had grown taller!

Tsunade stared fixedly at the young man. "Who exactly are you? And who is the person in this photograph?"

It was as though she had seized a lifeline. Countless nights, she had awakened from sleep wishing that her younger brother were still alive. Even if he never became a ninja, that would have been enough!

Su Zheng revealed a gentle smile. "Lady Tsunade, don't be hasty. I'd like to ask you to come meet someone!"

Tsunade instantly rose to her feet and pulled Shizune outside. The drinkers around them did not understand what had happened, only lamenting that the beauty had slipped away before their eyes!

In the forest.

Tsunade stared directly at Su Zheng. "Where is he? Where is he?!"

Su Zheng formed hand seals with both hands. "Summoning Jutsu!"

Boom!

A cloud of white smoke dispersed, revealing a young man.

Tsunade walked up and studied him closely. His appearance had changed somewhat, but if Nawaki were still alive, this was what he should have looked like!

"Nawaki, how could you leave your sister all alone? Do you know how I've lived these past few years?!" Tsunade pulled Nawaki into her arms and wept bitterly, pouring out all the hardship she had endured over the years.

"No, you're not Nawaki. Who are you really?" A moment later, Tsunade pushed Nawaki away and demanded.

How could that be possible?! She had seen Nawaki's corpse with her own eyes. Orochimaru had been there as well. How could Nawaki possibly still be alive?!

Nawaki stared at Tsunade in confusion. This woman had rushed up, grabbed him, and cried. Now she was saying all sorts of inexplicable things!

In truth, this was all part of Su Zheng's strategy. Although Nawaki had been revived, Su Zheng had sealed away all of his memories. Only this way could he change Nawaki's future and hold the bargaining chip during negotiations with Tsunade!

Su Zheng stepped forward, draped an arm around Nawaki's shoulders, and said, "This truly is Nawaki!"

Seeing Tsunade's incredulous expression, he continued, "All of this was part of my plan..."

He told Tsunade how he had implanted his technique into Nawaki's body, and how Nawaki's death had merely been a substitution.

Tsunade's expression gradually changed, and she snapped, "Who exactly are you? How did you know Nawaki was going to die, and how did you happen to prepare for it?"

Su Zheng gave the prepared explanation. "I am someone from another world. My body was damaged in a future war, so I took on the identity of Su Zheng to restore myself..."

Su Zheng told her of the Divine Tree, the Ten-Tails, the Otsutsuki Clan... After all, he came from Blue Star, so he truly was someone from another world!

Tsunade could not calm down for a long time after hearing this. There was actually such a story in this world.

Was it a lie? No. He knew some things better than I did, and he could accurately predict our fates. Tsunade's thoughts were in turmoil as she asked, "How can you prove what you've said?"

Su Zheng smiled bitterly. "My body is damaged right now, and I'm still repairing what is missing. I can't prove it!"

"But you must believe that Nawaki is real, right?"

"Fine. Then what exactly do you want?"

Su Zheng smiled. "I want to make a deal with you, Lady Tsunade. I'll give Nawaki back to you, and you'll work for me. How about it?"

Tsunade raised her right fist. "Why should I work for you? If I defeat you, I can still take Nawaki away!"

Su Zheng smiled. "Do you think I would have brought Nawaki to see you without taking any precautions?"

"You only get one choice. If you miss it, you won't get another chance!"

Nawaki had only just returned. Tsunade could not let him be harmed again, so she lowered her fist.

She asked calmly, "What do you want me to help you with?"

"Help me train medical personnel," Su Zheng said blandly.

"That's all? I won't help you deal with Konoha," Tsunade said.

"Of course. I would never force someone to do something they dislike!"

But once I have you, it won't be up to you anymore!