Senju Chen Earth Flow returned to the courtyard with an expressionless face and closed the door behind him.
The shrill scream outside the door just now, and the muffled sound of heavy objects falling to the ground, came clearly. In the living room, Tsunade and Shizune both had strange expressions.
"Little Chen, just outside..." Shizune held Tonton in his arms and asked with some uncertainty.
"Oh, it's nothing." Senju Chen's face once again put on that gentle and harmless smile. He walked to the table, sat down again, poured himself a cup of cold tea, and drank it in one gulp.
"The Classmate Little A from Kumogakure said that he suddenly remembered that there was something urgent in the village, so he left first. He was walking too fast and accidentally fell at the door."
He spoke without changing his expression, as if he was stating a normal trivial matter.
Shizune:"..."
Tsunade:"..."
A Kumogakure Elite Jonin fell at the door of the hotel?
Do you think we are deaf or stupid? That noise sounds like it was hit by an eight hundred kilogram hammer from a height of thirty meters, okay?
Tsunade was holding the tea cup and squinting at her younger brother with her green eyes that understood the world. She knew Senju Chen too well. The more innocent the smile on this boy's face, the more evil he was holding in his heart. She could clearly feel the undisguised evil spirit just now.
However, she didn't bother to ask.
He's just an outsider, who cares.
Just...
Tsunade's eyes drifted vaguely to the Shizune next to him who had been lowering his head since just now, wanting to bury his face in Tonton's fat body.
The atmosphere in the room became subtle again.
Senju Chen felt that his back was about to be burned by his sister's enthusiastic gaze. He knew that if he didn't quickly find a topic to divert the fire, the next second, the topic of "urging marriage" would come roaring again.
He didn't want to experience the embarrassment of digging his toes into the ground again.
"Um... sister." Senju Chen put down the tea cup, his expression instantly became extremely solemn. He raised his head and looked directly at Tsunade, "When... are you going to come back to Konoha?"
This question, like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, instantly broke the ambiguity and awkwardness in the room.
Shizune suddenly raised his head and looked at Tsunade nervously, his big eyes full of expectation.
"Go back?" The joking expression on Tsunade's face slowly subsided. She leaned back on the chair and looked at the blue sky outside the window, with a somewhat unclear meaning in her voice.
"What are you going back for?"
Her emotions towards Konoha were too complicated. There were her best childhood memories, her most beloved grandfather and second grandfather, and the home where she had devoted countless efforts. But at the same time, her closest brother and favorite lover were buried there, and it was full of political strife and cold rules that disappointed her to the core.
When she left decisively, it was not only because of her fear of blood, but also because she was deeply tired and disappointed with the identity of "ninja" and the place of "Konoha".
"Sister, I know you have a lot of dissatisfaction with the village." Senju Chen's voice was very soft, with a soothing power, "But Konoha... is our home after all. The village that grandpa built with his own hands, our Senju Clan roots are there."
He looked at Tsunade's eyes that had regained their vitality but still hid a trace of confusion, and continued, "Moreover, you are now able to complete such a complicated operation, and your hemophobia has obviously improved. As long as you have more time and practice, I believe you will be able to completely overcome it."
"At that time, you will still be Shinobi World's strongest medical ninja, Konoha's Legendary Sannin, and everyone's pride."
Senju Chen's words were like a hammer hitting Tsunade's heart accurately.
Shizune was on the side, so nervous that he even held his breath.
Tsunade was silent.
She looked down at her hands, which were once stained with blood and had saved countless lives. The touch on the operating table yesterday seemed to still remain on her fingertips. The tension of racing against Death God, the sense of accomplishment of pulling her life back from the edge of the cliff... indeed made her feel a long-lost throbbing.
Maybe...Little Chen is right.
After so many years of escaping, is it time to go back?
Back to the Senju mansion where she grew up, back to the village that held all her glory and pain.
She glanced at the expectant Shizune next to her, and then at the younger brother with firm eyes in front of her who had grown up enough for her to rely on.
The ice in my heart seemed to be beginning to melt.
After a long time, she slowly spoke, her voice less resistant and more thoughtful. "Even if I want to go back, it's not now."
She reached out her hand and gently rubbed Senju Chen's hair.
"Your problems also need some time to deal with and prepare for." Tsunade concluded, "We can talk about going back when everything is settled."
Although I didn't get a positive answer, this is already the best result!
Shizune's face instantly burst into a bright smile. Senju Chen also breathed a sigh of relief, smiled and nodded, "Okay, listen to sister."
The next day.
Kumogakure's group is finally setting off to return.
This time, Classmate Little A learned very well. He did not show up in person again, probably because he was afraid of being kicked away like a sandbag again, or because he was embarrassed to face Tsunade again.
Coming to say goodbye is another Kumogakure ninja who looks quite capable.
He bowed respectfully to Senju Chen, and then handed over a scroll.
"Senju Lord Chen, our captain asked me to pass this on to you."
"Oh?" Senju Chen raised his eyebrows in surprise.
The Kumogakure ninja continued, "The captain said that you may be interested in this. This is the detailed activity area of the group that attacked us before, as well as several possible stronghold locations we deduced based on clues."
He paused, his tone became serious, and he reminded solemnly, "Our captain also said that this group of people is very dangerous, has strange methods, and is ruthless. If your route overlaps with theirs, you'd better go around it and don't conflict with them easily."
"I understand." Senju Chen took the map, with that gentle and harmless smile still on his face. He said sincerely to the Kumogakure ninja, "Thank you captain for me, he is such a good man."
Kumogakure Ninja:"..."
Looking at the innocent smile on the young man's face, he always felt that something was strange. But after thinking for a long time, he couldn't think of a reason, so he could only salute again, then turn around and leave.
Senju Chen took the scroll, turned around and returned to the yard.
Tsunade was lying on the deck chair in the yard, basking in the sun and enjoying the rare leisure. Shizune was beside her, trimming her nails carefully.
"Sister, Sister Shizune." Senju Chen smiled and walked over.
"Huh? What's the matter?" Tsunade lazily opened one eye.
"It's rare for us to come out, and it's too boring to stay in the hotel all the time." Senju Chen spread the map on the stone table, pointed to one of the areas marked with dark green, and suggested, "Why don't we go for an outing today? Let's go and have a look at 'Forest of Whispers' near 'Cedar Village'? I just heard from someone at Kumogakure that the scenery there is very unique and there are many exotic flowers and plants that cannot be seen elsewhere."
He described "Xuanyuan Group"'s old nest as a scenic outing location.
"Outing?" Tsunade sat up and became more interested. She was in a good mood now, and she had just reunited with her brother whom she had not seen for many years, so naturally Senju Chen said whatever she said.
"Okay! I have nothing to do anyway, just go out and relax." She readily agreed.
"Great!" Shizune also clapped her hands happily. She hugged Tonton and looked at Senju Chen expectantly, "Then shall we set off now?"
"Let's go." Senju Chen rerolled the map with a bright smile.
From Senju Chen's point of view, going somewhere with him, his sister and Shizune wouldn't be considered a "outing", right?
In this way, three people and one pig set off towards the lair of "Xuanyuan Group" with clear goals and high spirits.