"Tsunade-chan, Tsunade-chan..."
An ethereal voice echoed in her ears as heavenly nectar dripped onto her lips, its refreshing coolness suffusing her entire being.
"Mmm..."
Tsunade opened her closed eyes. Through her blurry vision, she saw a petite, lovely silver-haired girl sitting beside her, holding a bottle almost as large as herself.
Seeing Tsunade wake, the girl smiled. "You're awake."
Her blurry vision gradually cleared, and Tsunade exclaimed in surprise, "Katsuyu!?"
"Hehe..." The girl smiled sweetly and set the bottle aside, her silver hair swaying. "It's been ages since I took human form. There are no outsiders here, either, so this makes it easier to look after you~"
Tsunade sat up, looking dejected. "If I'm here, that means Madara succeeded, doesn't it? I was too reckless..."
Katsuyu said with serene composure, "It's all right, it's all right. It's nothing terribly serious~"
Tsunade asked, "Has Madara left already?"
Katsuyu nodded. "Yes, I let him go. As long as you're all right."
Tsunade stood up. "I have to go back immediately! Madara has been resurrected and learned Senjutsu. I have to inform the Five Kage!"
Katsuyu said unhurriedly, "Don't worry about that. I've already sent word to Shikaku and told him you're safe here with me. So there's no hurry to leave. You can go once you've learned Senjutsu."
"Senjutsu?" Tsunade looked at the Sage Pool Katsuyu had already prepared for her. "But I've tried so many times, and I've failed every time..."
Katsuyu said, "That's because you couldn't quiet your mind and grasp the essentials. You're Mito's granddaughter. Your body is perfectly capable of withstanding sage power."
"..." Tsunade fell silent.
Katsuyu said earnestly, "What happened this time is both a lesson and an opportunity. I want to use it to temper your disposition properly. Until you learn Senjutsu, I won't let