The next day.
The early morning sun, with a bit of waking warmth, casts mottled light spots through the gaps in the leaves in the hotel courtyard.
Senju Chen is standing at the stone table in the courtyard, carefully placing plates of exquisite dishes. Golden and crispy tempura, bright-colored grilled salmon, and steaming tamagoyaki. Each dish is like a work of art, exuding an alluring aroma.
He was in a good mood and even hummed an off-key tune.
"Today is a good day. Whatever you think about can come true..."
"Squeak--"
The door behind him was opened.
Senju Chen turned around, the smile on his lips faltered slightly, and a hint of surprise flashed deep in his eyes.
Tsunade came out.
She still wore the neat outfit, and her long golden hair was tied back casually. But her whole person seemed to have undergone a transformation.
There was no longer the laziness and decadence after a hangover, nor the lingering gloom between her brows. Her back was straight, and every step she took was steady and powerful. She just stood there casually, but she seemed to be the center of the entire courtyard. An innate majesty and confidence flowed naturally from her bones and from every look in her eyes.
It is not a deliberate force, but a kind of calmness that returns to nature after truly controlling one's own power.
It is like a peerless sword that has been covered in dust for many years. After a night of tempering and polishing, it has finally washed away its lead and regained its sharp edge that can split the world.
"Good morning, sister." Senju Chen quickly recovered and his smile became even brighter.
"Yes." Tsunade responded lightly, his eyes falling on the sumptuous breakfast on the table, and a hint of warmth flashed across his green eyes.
At this moment, the door on the other side also opened, and Shizune rubbed her eyes and walked out. When she saw Tsunade in the courtyard, her whole body froze in place.
She opened her mouth, and her eyes instantly turned red.
That familiar aura that only exists in distant memories... that Lady Tsunade that shines so brightly that countless ninjas are fascinated by it, seems to be really back!
Tears of joy almost burst out of her eyes again, but she held it back and walked quickly to Tsunade, her voice trembling with an imperceptible tremor. "Lady Tsunade, you... you're awake."
Tsunade looked at the two people staring directly at him and raised his eyebrows strangely. "What's wrong? There's something on my face?"
"Sister, you... seem a little different today." Senju Chen walked around the table and walked up to her. He raised his head and looked at Tsunade in front of him with pure appreciation and curiosity.
"It feels like my body is glowing, and I have a... very powerful aura."
"Yes! Yes!" Shizune nodded vigorously in agreement and added excitedly, "It feels like Lady Tsunade is back to the way it was before!"
Listening to the words of the two people, the slightly fierce aura on Tsunade instantly softened, as if a sharp blade had been unsheathed and slowly returned to its sheath.
After yesterday's medical operation, she felt as if the shackles that had been weighing on her soul for years had been removed, and the whole world became clearer.
She looked at the young man in front of her and her disciple who had followed her for many years, the two closest people to her in the world, and an unprecedented warmth surged in her heart.
"Thank you, Little Chen." Tsunade stretched out his hand, trying to rub Senju Chen's hair as before, but when he raised his hand halfway, it turned into a gentle pat on his shoulder, "If it weren't for you, I might have been stuck in that quagmire for a long time."
Then, she turned to Shizune, with a trace of guilt in her eyes.
"And you, Shizune. Thank you so much for all these years, you have to take care of me, a hopeless alcoholic."
Tsunade's sudden and solemn thanks made Shizune panicked and waved his hands repeatedly.
"No, no! You should take care of Lady Tsunade! If you hadn't taken me in back then, I... I..."
"Sister, we are relatives." Senju Chen interrupted Shizune with a smile. He took Tsunade's hand and pressed her down on the seat. "What did you say to thank me? If you and Sister Shizune hadn't picked me up from the forest, I would have starved to death on the roadside."
He thrust a pair of chopsticks into Tsunade's hands, and handed a pair to Shizune as well.
"This meal is specifically to celebrate my sister's new life! You have been tired all day yesterday, so you are probably starving now."
"Well, we are a family." Shizune looked at this scene and nodded vigorously. The tears in his eyes finally turned into the most sincere smile.
"Yes, a family." Tsunade held the chopsticks in her hands and repeated in a low voice. These three words came out of her mouth with a solemnity and determination that she had never had before.
"Okay, okay, eat quickly, sister, Sister Shizune, you were all exhausted yesterday." Senju Chen sandwiched a thick piece of tamagoyaki for each of them, "These dishes are specially made by me to replenish your physical strength and Chakra, they are a great supplement!"
Senju Chen's cooking skills and knife skills are much better than those of ordinary chefs today.
The delicious salmon melts in your mouth, and the aroma of oil explodes in your mouth; the tempura shell is crispy, but the shrimp meat inside is tender and chewy; the simplest tamagoyaki is also made by him with distinct layers, moderate sweetness and salty, and a strong egg fragrance.
Even though it was not the first time they tasted it, Tsunade and Shizune were still satisfied with their meal, as if all the fatigue from yesterday had been wiped away in this warm and delicious breakfast.
After the meal, Shizune took the initiative to put away the dishes, hummed a song and walked to the kitchen, his steps becoming much more brisk.
In the living room, only Senju Chen and Tsunade were left.
Senju Chen brewed a pot of hot tea for Tsunade, and the quiet fragrance of tea filled the air.
"Sister," Senju Chen looked at Tsunade's side face that had regained its vitality, and decided to reveal all his plans, "Next, I'm going to do something."
"Oh?" Tsunade picked up the teacup, blew the hot air, and motioned for him to continue.
"I'm going to open a restaurant, a chain of restaurants called 'Food Is Heaven'." Senju Chen's tone was calm, but the content of his words was unusual, "I'm going to open it in every corner of Five Great Nations. Use it to make money, and also use it to... collect intelligence."
He described Tsunade in detail about his understanding of the Shinobi World war, how to establish an intelligence network covering the entire Shinobi World, and how to build "Food Is Heaven" into a comprehensive service brand integrating catering, hotels, and hot springs.
Tsunade listened quietly without interrupting.
There was no wave in her green eyes, but there was a storm in her heart.
The eyes of his younger brother are no longer limited to one village, but have already transcended personal grievances and battles between villages, and cast their eyes on the entire Shinobi World.
She looked at her younger brother, who was only thirteen years old, and talked about a grand plan that could affect the entire Shinobi World pattern.
This vision, this courage, and this watertight idea...
She suddenly felt that her younger brother might be more mature than she thought, and his appearance could already rival those of other villages.