Blocked the Way

The three left the restaurant and headed down the street, looking for an optician to custom-make a pair of tinted nonprescription glasses for Tsunade.

What they did not know was that Miyamoto had learned of their whereabouts the moment they left the restaurant.

"Beauty?" Yizhe, who was walking ahead, turned around and called out to Tsunade.

"What is it?" Tsunade was leisurely taking in the local customs of the Land of Iron as she replied.

"You took all the money. If you keep gambling every day, what are we supposed to eat?" Yizhe asked helplessly.

He hoped to persuade Tsunade to give back at least some of his funds.

"Look, Shizune has followed me for so many years. Didn't she get by just fine?" Tsunade gestured toward Shizune with a glance.

"Lady Tsunade..." Shizune cast Tsunade a resentful look and let out a powerless groan.

Who knew how much bitterness that contained!

"All right, all right!" Tsunade felt a little embarrassed under Shizune's stare and turned to say, "Starting today, you'll have company!"

"Aren't you bad at fighting? Having this kid accompany you is just perfect! Otherwise, whenever something happens, I always have to step in and deal with it. Where would that leave the dignity of one of the Sannin?"

"Beauty, the moment you confiscated my entire fortune, dignity was already out of the question!" Yizhe shot back mercilessly.

"What did you just say? I didn't hear you. Say it again?" Tsunade cracked her knuckles loudly.

"I said I should go out with Sister Shizune to set up a stall, earn money to serve you, and protect Sister Shizune well. We can't always let you make a move—we have to uphold the Sannin's prestige!" Seeing that she looked ready to fight again, Yizhe hurriedly changed his tune.

"But I don't know the first thing about medicine. What should I do if I can't help?" Yizhe asked tentatively, trying to gauge her attitude.

He wanted to see what Tsunade truly thought and whether she was willing to teach him.

"Your hands haven't healed yet. Don't recklessly form hand seals or use ninjutsu!" Tsunade did not answer him directly. Her face grew solemn as she continued, "For now, accompany Shizune on her house calls and keep her safe. Slowly learn some medical basics. We'll discuss the rest after I heal your injuries!"

"Oh..." Yizhe agreed, his mind full of thoughts.

Although Tsunade had not said whether she would accept him, letting him study under Shizune meant there had at least been a turn for the better. It was not completely hopeless.

Just as his thoughts wandered, a group of black-clad samurai surrounded them and blocked their path.

"Kid, didn't I tell you to go catch someone? Why are you hanging around with these two women? Do you still want me to treat your injuries?" With the shout, the black-clad samurai parted to make way, and a somewhat familiar figure stepped out.

Yizhe looked closely. The newcomer was dressed in fine clothes—it was Doctor Miyamoto.

"Sorry, but I no longer need your treatment, Mr. Miyamoto!" Yizhe replied politely with a smile.

He had encountered Tsunade, the pinnacle of the medical world. Why would he pin his hopes on someone whose medical skills were unknown?

Yet in Miyamoto's eyes, Yizhe's courteous response became a form of contempt.

Miyamoto thought Yizhe was looking down on his medical skills!

However, when he saw the blonde beauty behind Yizhe, he had no choice but to suppress the anger in his heart.

Putting on the air of a gentleman, he forced a smile at Tsunade. "Beauty, I've been looking everywhere for you!"

"Why are you looking for me?" Tsunade asked knowingly, filing her nails without even bothering to look up at him.

"Paying debts is only right, isn't it?" Miyamoto asked righteously.

"Of course."

"Then... beauty, how about paying me back?" Miyamoto stared fixedly at Tsunade and swallowed.

"I don't have any money," Tsunade answered bluntly.

"Then... that makes things difficult." Miyamoto pretended to be troubled.

He paced back and forth as if pondering a difficult problem. Then his face suddenly lit up, as though he had thought of an excellent solution, and he said excitedly, "How about... I take a loss and you marry me to settle the debt with your body?"

With that, Miyamoto's true aim was obvious. The money was a pretext; what he wanted was her.

He stared at Tsunade with blazing eyes, unaware that drool had already dripped onto his clothes.

"Marry you?" Tsunade also pretended to consider it seriously before suddenly saying, "That might not be impossible!"

"What?" Shizune and Yizhe were both shocked.

"Lady Tsunade, what are you saying?" Shizune quietly tugged at Tsunade's sleeve.

Tsunade ignored her and continued, "How about we make a bet?"

"A bet?"

Miyamoto had been overjoyed to hear Tsunade relent, but he was also confused, unable to tell what she was planning.

"See that guy with the injured arms?" Tsunade pointed at Yizhe in front of her.

"Mm!" Miyamoto nodded.

"He's my newly recruited guard. If your samurai knock him down, I'll marry you! If they can't, then our debt is written off. How about it?" Tsunade looked excitedly at Yizhe, as if she had found an entertaining new toy.

"Deal!" Miyamoto glanced at Yizhe's hands and agreed without hesitation.

"Get him!" With a wave of his hand, the samurai behind him immediately drew their swords and charged at Yizhe.

"Kid, this is your test for becoming my apprentice! If you can't protect your master, what kind of disciple are you? Remember, if you lose today, don't even dream of becoming my apprentice for the rest of your life!" Tsunade fanned the flames from behind, afraid he would not give it his all.

Isn't a master supposed to protect the disciple? Why had it become the disciple protecting the master with her? Yizhe was a little dumbfounded.

In truth, Tsunade's provocation was unnecessary.

Even if she had said nothing, Yizhe would still have fought with all his strength. Though he knew Tsunade was merely teasing Miyamoto!

But Miyamoto was truly disgusting to look at. He was begging to be beaten!

Miyamoto had seen Yizhe's injured hands and believed victory was assured, which was why he had agreed to the wager so readily.

But the actual battle became completely one-sided. The samurai he had carefully raised were utterly no match for Yizhe.

Yizhe came from a taijutsu family. Though his hands were injured and he could not use the Gentle Fist, his foundation in taijutsu remained. Using only his legs and elbows to unleash powerful, forceful attacks, dealing with these samurai was effortless.

"See that, Shizune? That's combat talent! He can fight like this without even using his palms! Now look at yourself—you have the rank of a chunin, yet you can't even beat this injured genin brat!" Watching Yizhe fight, Tsunade kept berating Shizune from the side, looking utterly disappointed in her.

"But I really don't like fighting," Shizune muttered.

"Ugh..." Tsunade looked at her helplessly and added, "With this kid around from now on, I can finally relax! I won't have to work as hard as before, constantly cleaning up after you! You've made me lose all my dignity as one of the Sannin!"

After hearing that, Shizune stuck out her tongue and did not dare reply.

Yizhe moved freely among the many samurai, every movement flowing like drifting clouds and running water. With every sweeping kick and every elbow strike, another man fell.

Fewer and fewer samurai remained standing in the field!

For every samurai who fell, Miyamoto's face turned a shade paler. By the time they had all gone down, he was completely bloodless.

"Th-this, sir..."

"Fighting openly in the streets—do you truly think the Land of Iron has no one to answer for it?"

Just as Miyamoto trembled and prepared to beg for mercy, a booming voice exploded beside everyone's ears. Immediately afterward, a powerful presence spread through the area.

The powerful surge of air sent snowflakes flying, blurring everyone's vision.