Three days later, Konoha.
Tsunade slowly opened her eyes.
She tried moving her fingers. Her fingertips tingled slightly, but she could bend and straighten them.
Her muscles ached a little, but her chakra was flowing smoothly again.
The regenerative power of the Hashirama Cells had worked nonstop over those three days, repairing the hidden damage caused by opening too many gates.
"Sensei! You're awake!!"
A trembling cry rang out beside her.
Tsunade turned her head and saw two faces hovering close to hers.
Uchiha Mikoto's eyes were red, as though she had just cried and forced back another bout of tears.
Two clear tear tracks still marked Kushina Uzumaki's cheeks.
"You're awake... You're finally awake!"
Kushina grabbed her hand.
"It's been three days! Grandma Mito said you'd only exhausted yourself, but you wouldn't wake up, and we... we..."
Before she could finish, she choked up and couldn't go on.
Tsunade looked at her tear-streaked face, the corner of her mouth twitching slightly.
"What are you crying for? I'm still alive, aren't I?"
Kushina shook her head hard, unable to speak.
Mikoto bit her lip, struggling to hold her emotions in check, but her voice still trembled.
"Sensei, don't move yet. I'll go get Lady Mito-"
"No need."
Tsunade braced herself against the tatami and sat up.
She rolled her neck, her joints cracking crisply.
"...I'm more or less recovered."
Mikoto and Kushina exchanged glances, each seeing the other's astonishment.
She'd been unconscious for three days and nights, and the moment she opened her eyes, she said she was more or less recovered?
More or less what?
What did Sensei mean?
Tsunade leaned against the wall, accepted the cup of water Kushina offered, and took a sip.
"What's the situation now?"
Mikoto immediately straightened her back and began speaking as though