Konoha was designated as a street outside the redevelopment zone.
To ensure that even when changes are initiated, history is respected and future generations do not forget the lessons of the past.
Hueco Mundo specially placed all the ancient buildings of Konoha in the southeast direction of the village so that future generations could pay their respects.
Some villagers who still have a fondness for this place choose to stay here.
Of course, there are also people who choose to stay there for various reasons, at least the rent for these places is cheap and they are very secluded.
As evening approached, someone knocked on the slightly worn wooden door. When Shizune hurriedly came to open the door, a familiar face came into view.
" Lord Huayue... no, Lord Hueco Mundo Master!"
Coming to her senses, Shizune bowed her head in greeting, while Huayue smiled and waved her hand.
"Don't be so formal. We're classmates and ninjas from the same era. How have you been lately?"
Faced with this easygoing conversation, Shizune was surprised. Why did Huayue, who was usually elusive, have time to come to see her today?
He probably came to have a drink with Lady Tsunade. His eyes were slightly dim, but he still managed a weak smile.
"Yeah, it's amazing you remember. The Ninja Academy back then wasn't nearly as bustling as it is now..."
"I've just gotten busier, not forgetful. Do I need to change my shoes?"
"Let me help you..."
Shizune quickly took out a pair of shoes from the shoe cabinet. The familiar yet unfamiliar scent made her feel a little dazed. The senior she used to be quite familiar with at the Ninja Academy had become so unfamiliar.
Inside the living room, Jingyin quietly peeled a sweet tangerine and presented it to Huayue.
But the other person looked around with a smile, a hint of curiosity in their eyes.
"I remember that the resettlement compensation for the Konoha region should be enough to buy two or three new loft apartments. Why is the furniture here still the same as before?"
" Lady Tsunade said she doesn't like modern furniture and styles, which makes her feel like she's been left behind by the times..."
Before he could finish speaking, the door was kicked open violently, and before he even entered the house, he heard a powerful roar.
" Shizune! Bring the wine..."
" Lady Tsunade, you've had too much to drink again. Why are you always drinking in broad daylight lately? Lord Huayue is here..."
She rushed to Lady Tsunade, helped her up, and then whispered something in Shizune 'Tsunade ear.
Upon hearing this, Shizune could clearly sense Tsunade's body stiffen, and she instantly sobered up from her drunken state.
After a brief silence, clear snoring began, leaving Shizune speechless.
A moment later, a helpless Shizune Tsunade to her room, wiped the wine stains off her with a damp towel, and then hurried back to the living room with an embarrassed look on her face.
"I'm sorry, Lady Tsunade..."
"It's alright, I understand. If you don't mind, I'd like to stay here for the night. Would you be welcome?"
Faced with that long-lost smile, Shizune, who had intended to refuse, found herself unable to utter the words and could only silently nod in agreement.
It was midnight, inside the master bedroom.
Tsunade, who had been pretending to be asleep until midnight, quietly opened her eyes, looked around, and then let out a long sigh of relief.
Suddenly, a large hand that was both familiar and frightening to her quietly landed on Tsunade's shoulder.
" Princess Tsunade, could you please explain why there's yet another bill for you, mailed directly from the casino to Hueco Mundo...? I'm really curious!"
In an instant, Tsunade froze, completely Tsunade. She had been pretending to be asleep until the middle of the night, so how come he was still here!
"Wait... wait, I can actually explain this..."
"I don't want to hear it. Either pay back the money, or settle the debt..."
The pristine white sheets slipped off, and the bath towel covering her body could barely conceal her curvaceous figure. Her clothes, reeking of alcohol, were taken away by Shizune for washing.
"At least, at least not here, somewhere else... somewhere else!"
"What, are you scared? A ninja doesn't need to endure the torment of the environment for a long time in order to assassinate a target. Keeping quiet is a basic quality of a ninja."
Tsunade's expression was complicated. She didn't want to reveal herself so early, at least not in front of Shizune now.
After Duan's death, he treated Shizune as his own sister and raised her like his own child. No one wants their image to collapse in front of their juniors.
At the very least, it can't completely collapse. Although there wasn't much of an image to begin with, one still needs to maintain some semblance of good interpersonal relationships.
However, she truly couldn't repay that debt. The Konoha Medical Department was progressing too rapidly in Medical Ninjutsu; the amount they could earn from surgeries alone was already...
As if resigned to her fate, Tsunade rationally lowered her struggles, clenched her teeth, and vowed not to make a sound.
"Then, this gift is for you. Don't take it off, and I'll reduce your interest accordingly..."
In the early hours of the morning, Shizune woke up from her sleep, looking bewildered.
jingle--
The ringing of a bell, which seemed to come from nowhere, brought clarity to her drowsy mind, only for it to drift back into a drowsy state.
There are no wind chimes in the house, so how could there be any ringing? I must be dreaming.
The following morning.
Shizune, who hadn't slept well, woke up in a panic. She glanced at the time instinctively and quickly got out of bed.
I hurried to the living room and heard a series of clear bell sounds. Upon closer inspection, I saw a string of exquisitely crafted wind chimes hanging in the living room.
In the kitchen, Tsunade poked her head out, her smile slightly stiff.
"You're awake."
"I'm sorry, Lady Tsunade, I didn't prepare breakfast. This wind chime is..."
"Ah, this is a small gift I won at the casino a few days ago. I think it's quite well made."
Shizune looked at the wind chimes swaying in the breeze with a bewildered expression, half believing and half doubting.
"Is that so? So the sounds Li heard in the middle of the night weren't just his imagination..."
The busy Tsunade paused for a moment, then said casually.
" Samui and the others invited us to go hiking later. I've been reflecting on things lately, and I can't always be indulging in fine wine and gambling. It's time to change my mood."
"Really? That's great! I've actually started worrying about whether I'll be able to make ends meet next month. It's so kind of you to think of me like this."
Faced with the Shizune of the cheers, Tsunade lowered her head in shame. The mental defenses she had built up to subtly gloss over the situation collapsed at this moment.
In the morning, at famous scenic spots near Konoha.
"Hey, Shizune, Fifth Hokage, over here..."
Upon seeing the arrival of the three in Mabui, Shizune quickly walked forward. A series of rapid ringing bells made Shizune even more stunned.
"Is bells the current trend?"
In response to Shizune's question, Samui picked up the bell from his waist and placed it in her hand.
"The sound is really good, would you like to give it a try?"
As soon as she finished speaking, another bell rang, Shizune looked at everyone suspiciously...
Just now, the bell didn't seem to ring, probably...