Tsunade's Condition for Taking a Disciple

"I..."

Faced with Tsunade's questioning, Wuye fell silent for a moment.

He couldn't exactly tell her that he hadn't spent much time with his mother, that his desire to avenge her was born of gratitude rather than pain, which was why he wasn't all that heartbroken, could he?

That wasn't what she wanted to hear.

"Lady Tsunade," he said softly, looking into Tsunade's eyes, "only if I live happily will she be happy... If you lose a bond, then work hard to forge new ones. I think she would be comforted by that."

Kaguya glanced sideways at him, her expression unreadable.

That part about forging new bonds seemed to be something she had said yesterday...

"If I live happily, then my deceased loved ones will be happy," Tsunade murmured absentmindedly. "If you lose a bond, forge a new one..."

"What an interesting kid."

She suddenly pursed her red lips and smiled softly. "Kaguya, I can take him as my disciple, but..."

Tsunade raised her eyes to Kaguya's flawless, snow-white face, a sly look suddenly appearing in her expression. "You have to pay back the money you owe me first."

What? Someone actually owed Tsunade money?

Wuye could hardly believe his ears... Since when could such a huge sucker let someone else owe her money?

"When did I ever owe you money?!" Kaguya's delicate brows shot up.

Still propping up her head, Tsunade picked up the bottle and poured herself a cup. She slowly slurped it into her mouth. "Alcohol really is a wonderful thing, second only to gambling..."

"Explain yourself!" Kaguya said coldly.

Sipping her drink, Tsunade said leisurely, "Have you forgotten? The year you had just become clan head, that Grand Elder secretly drained the clan finances dry. With no other choice, you came to me for help. Then, out of the kindness of my heart, I lent you thirty million ryo. Not only did it plug the hole, it also secured your position as clan head."

Wuye blinked... Good grief, that was the price on Asuma's head!

"How did you know about that? And when did you ever lend me money... Hm?" Kaguya suddenly froze. "That day at the casino, you... you did it on purpose?"

Tsunade grinned. "A ten-year-old girl sneaking into a casino with the Transformation Jutsu? I saw through you at a glance."

"No wonder you asked me to gamble with you one-on-one."

Kaguya silently lowered her head.

"Of course. I also knew I always lost at gambling, so I never gambled one-on-one. The odds for the other side would be far too high that way. I always played against multiple people, lowering each individual's odds. Then all I had to do was win one round, and I could win it all back several times over... Though I never succeeded, of course." Tsunade curled her lips.

Kaguya remained silent for a long while, then pulled Wuye to his feet.

"What, you can't pay it back, so you're not going to let him become my disciple?" Tsunade immediately raised her head.

Wuye suddenly had the feeling that Tsunade had intended to accept him from the very beginning.

"No." Kaguya shook her head. "Give me some time. I'll find a way to gather it."

Tsunade looked surprised. "Though your Hyuga Clan has family businesses, surely they can't let you move thirty million ryo around?"

"That's none of your business."

Kaguya flicked her snow-white hair, grabbed Wuye by the wrist, and was about to drag him out of the barbecue restaurant.

"Hey, don't forget to pay the bill. You were the one who asked me here, so don't tell me you're too stingy to pay for one barbecue meal," Tsunade suddenly called out.

Wuye clearly felt Kaguya's grip around his wrist tighten before she slowly exhaled and turned to settle the bill.

"No need, no need. Put it on Wuye's tab. Consider it his treat for you all, hahaha."

Akimichi Torifu, who had noticed Wuye long ago, walked out and generously waved away the bill.

Kaguya glanced at Akimichi Torifu, then at Wuye. Her beautiful eyes blinked once. "Thank you."

After leaving the barbecue restaurant, Kaguya, whose expression had just softened, let out a cold snort. "That awful woman!"

Wuye kept sneaking glances at her... Since meeting her, this was the first time he had seen her emotionally unsettled.

So what exactly was her relationship with Tsunade? Interesting...

"Why are you looking at me?" Kaguya suddenly asked blandly. "Are you planning to come up with those thirty million ryo yourself?"

"Uh..."

Wuye scratched his head. "I'm not worth that much even if you sold me, am I?"

"Not necessarily. The Uchiha Clan would surely be willing to pay that much." Kaguya's expression remained blank.

Wuye wisely shut his mouth.

Along the way, Kaguya's expression kept shifting between light and dark, as though she were struggling with an extremely difficult decision.

"If I divert clan funds, the Grand Elder will definitely seize on it. The favorable situation I worked so hard to create will all be ruined."

"That awful woman!"

"If she were part of my Hyuga Clan, I'd make sure to teach her a proper lesson."

"Better yet, I should make her marry into the Hyuga Clan. Let's see if she still dares oppose me all day!"

Lost in thought, Kaguya did not say a word the entire way.

Seeing her troubled appearance, Wuye could not help falling into thought as well...

He couldn't just sit back and let her pay those thirty million ryo. No matter how he looked at it, she didn't owe him that much.

I can't really live off a woman. I need to think of something too...

Wuye pondered miserably.

Meanwhile.

Tsunade was still drinking at an unhurried pace.

"Tsunade, do you really intend to take those thirty million ryo?"

Akimichi Torifu suddenly pulled out a chair and sat across from her.

"Uncle Torifu seems to have a good relationship with that Hyuga Wuye," Tsunade said with a smile.

Akimichi Torifu was Senju Clan Tobirama's disciple, so naturally Tsunade knew him.

"That kid is pretty good. I've watched him grow up since he was three or four," Akimichi Torifu said thoughtfully. "If you're short on gambling money again, how about I pay those thirty million ryo for Wuye?"

"That won't do. I just want to watch Kaguya fret herself sick. How can I let that be spoiled?"

Tsunade waved her hand and gave a mischievous grin. "Once she finally makes up her mind to divert clan funds, I'll tell her it's no longer necessary and give her the thirty million ryo instead. I wonder what her expression will look like."

Akimichi Torifu was instantly caught between laughter and tears. "You never intended to collect those thirty million ryo in the first place?"

"Of course not." Tsunade waved her hand grandly. "How could I ask for back money I lost? This concerns my gambling integrity!"

"Hyuga Wuye!"

On the street, Wuye suddenly snapped out of his thoughts at the sound of a somewhat familiar voice. He realized that Kaguya's figure had vanished from in front of him at some point.

At the same time, a sharp whistle cut through the air behind him as he turned around.

"Hyuga Naoya!"

Wuye cried out, but an aged palm had already slammed fiercely into his chest. Chakra penetrated his meridians, instantly sealing the acupuncture points that controlled his chakra flow.

"You!"

Wuye staggered back more than ten steps before finally dissipating the force of the impact.

"My plan was destroyed completely! It was all because of you!"

Hyuga Naoya closed in instantly, his palms slicing through the air like blades. With a series of impacts, he sealed nearly every acupuncture point across Wuye's body in an instant.

"You think someone like you can defeat me within five years?"

A kunai appeared in his hand, and his aged face was filled with cruelty. "I'll cripple you right now. Let's see how you plan to surpass me then!"

Wuye could only watch as the kunai stabbed toward his heart...