Tsunade lowered her head to look at the jade-green pendant resting against her chest... a pendant that carried countless memories.
Her smile gradually faded.
It had been a gift from her grandfather, Hashirama, who had hoped she would inherit Konoha's Will of Fire. She had once cherished it like a treasure and had given it, in turn, to the two most important people in her life...
Both of them had aspired to become Hokage, and Tsunade had felt that the pendant's meaning perfectly complemented their Hokage dreams.
But this extraordinary pendant had brought them no good fortune. It had even cursed them.
Her younger brother Nawaki, and her lover Dan Katō... had both died while pursuing their dreams.
She hated the title of "Hokage," and she hated this pendant too!
Yet over the years, she had continued wearing it close to her body... It was a contradiction even she could hardly put into words.
Her hand slowly closed around the pendant.
"Lady Tsunade, don't!!!" Shizune looked terrified, but... Tsunade steeled herself, tore off the pendant, and placed it on the gambling table.
Tsunade raised her head and looked at Konan. There was not a trace of drunkenness left in her eyes as she said with a faint, mocking smile, "I remember now. That face of yours... you're one of those children from back then, aren't you? You've grown into an adult..."
Konan had never intended to deliberately conceal her identity. She said evenly, "You haven't changed either. Do you have some secret for preserving your appearance?"
"Heh." After a cold laugh, Tsunade said bluntly, "Cut the crap. I don't know how you learned about this pendant or what you intend to do with it, but..."
Clatter!! Tsunade suddenly snatched the dice cup from the dealer's hands!
The dealer was dumbfounded.