At her words, Guren eyed Naoki Senju warily. She had every reason to believe this was a trap he had set.
Just like their first fight, she had fallen into his traps again and again, eventually owing him three favors without even understanding how.
Putting away the slip of paper that had "robbery" written all over it, Guren said coldly:
"This is a serious matter. I need to inform Lord Orochimaru before I can decide."
Naoki Senju waved a hand dismissively and said casually, "Whatever. I'm sure Orochimaru won't refuse."
Guren gave Naoki Senju a puzzled look, then went off to arrange the supplies. Although she could not gather all those precious medicinal herbs, things like the laboratory equipment Tsunade needed and the heavy-load attachments Naoki Senju wanted... those were still within her capabilities.
Although all these things were controlled goods in the major ninja villages, Orochimaru had not spent his years away from Konoha sightseeing and idling his time away like Tsunade and Jiraiya. Obtaining them was not difficult.
After Guren left, Tsunade mischievously pulled Naoki into her arms and asked with some excitement:
"Naoki, do you think Orochimaru really can gather all those medicinal herbs?"
Naoki Senju struggled free of Tsunade's hold. Looking at the money-grubbing Tsunade, he said irritably:
"Go to bed early."
"What do you mean?" Tsunade looked puzzled.
"Once you're asleep, you can have anything in your dreams."
Tsunade flew into a "rage" at his words, pressing Naoki into her embrace and manhandling him. This should have been a sensual gesture, but Tsunade already knew his little intentions. She deliberately let Naoki Senju look but not touch, and her overwhelming Superhuman Strength left him utterly hopeless.
"Wait! Although Orochimaru can't gather everything, as long as we can get Guren's Crystal Release, gathering even twice as much won't be a problem. Funding your Medical Ninjutsu research will be nothing."
Only then did Tsunade reluctantly let Naoki go. But after hearing him go on about Crystal Release lately, she could not help asking curiously:
"Can this Crystal Release really make that much money? It's not Gold Release. And once Orochimaru finds out, will he still agree to cooperate?"
Putting on an inscrutable air, Naoki Senju said confidently, "Orochimaru will definitely agree. As for going back on his word and doing it himself, he'd need the ability first."
He could not tell Tsunade the reason Orochimaru would agree, though. After all, Orochimaru had never told anyone that he wanted to establish a ninja village. If Naoki Senju revealed even the thoughts hidden deep in his heart, Orochimaru really would be unable to eat or sleep in peace.
Tsunade knew nothing about making money, though she was quite good at spending it. She simply stopped thinking about all those headache-inducing complications and only reminded him:
"Naoki, Orochimaru is different from the nobles and merchants you've dealt with before. He's not only powerful, but ruthless and merciless enough, too. So you should still be cautious when working with him. Don't get too conceited."
Tsunade's reminder did calm Naoki Senju down somewhat. Indeed, he had been so focused on Guren's Crystal Release that he had overlooked Orochimaru's importance.
After letting out a long breath, Naoki Senju nodded seriously and said:
"I understand. I really was too impatient about this. The matter with Guren will have to wait a little longer. Then, Sister Tsunade, your medicinal herbs and research..."
"This cannot wait. I'll handle Orochimaru. Give the details of the partnership some more thought and try to come up with a foolproof plan."
Tsunade interrupted with righteous conviction, declaring that research into Medical Ninjutsu could not tolerate even the slightest delay. Ultimately, the reason was an animal Naoki Senju had mentioned "inadvertently" that could achieve "eternal youth and immortality"-the lobster.
[The number of times a cell can divide is limited by the length of its telomeres. When the telomeres shorten to the "Hayflick limit," the cell stops dividing. However, telomerase can help cells lengthen their telomeres, thereby increasing the number of times they can divide-in other words, extending life.
A lobster's telomerase can remain active almost indefinitely, allowing its cells to continue dividing almost without limit. Naturally, it thus achieves "eternal youth and immortality."]
The appeal of "eternal youth and immortality" to Tsunade and Orochimaru was easy to imagine. Without question, they both wanted to know why lobsters could achieve it.
Both Tsunade and Orochimaru had researched cells, but not very deeply. They only knew that there was a limit to how many times cells could divide-in other words, the human body had its limits.
Orochimaru had chosen "immortality." Since one body had a limited lifespan, why not simply switch to another? It was very characteristic of Orochimaru.
Tsunade, meanwhile, had thought of "eternal youth": using the Yin Seal to store chakra and thereby slow the rate of cell division. With her cells dividing more slowly, Tsunade could naturally keep her appearance at its most beautiful while also extending her lifespan.
But both methods had upper limits, and neither was perfect. If they really could discover a way to activate telomerase, they would achieve "immortality" and "eternal youth" in the truest sense!
Naoki Senju understood Tsunade's urgency very well, but that did not mean he had to let her "bully" him. When had he ever taken a loss?
"Sister Tsunade, you know I'm rather 'shy around strangers.' Having just arrived in this unfamiliar place, I'm bound to have trouble sleeping at night..."
Tsunade nimbly pulled away, her eyes wary. "Naoki, what do you mean?"
Naoki Senju put on a pitiful act, though his intentions were anything but innocent. "Exactly what I said, of course. Sister Tsunade, could you come keep me company tonight?"
The next instant, Naoki Senju took to his heels, activating the Body Flicker Technique he had prepared without a moment's hesitation. Tsunade's foot slammed into the ground with Superhuman Strength, sending savage cracks spreading in every direction. The flagstone courtyard shattered in an instant.
Standing outside the courtyard with several quilts in her arms, Guren had been about to knock. She stared blankly at the collapsed gate and the devastated courtyard.
Shizune, who had come out to investigate the noise, could not help pressing a hand to her forehead. Lady Tsunade had failed to control her Superhuman Strength again. This time... they probably would not have to pay for the damage, right?
Fortunately, before long, Guren returned once more. This time, she brought a Wood Release scroll Orochimaru had given her. The Wood Release Ninjutsu recorded on it was exactly the technique Naoki Senju needed most right now.
"Wood Release: Four Pillars House Technique." Rather than the Four Pillars House Technique, Naoki Senju preferred to call it the Real Estate Technique.
Thick trees burst through the earth, growing rapidly aboveground and gradually forming the outline of a house. Inside, the basic interior structure gradually took shape as well.
Finally, a brand-new wooden residence formed atop the ruins of the original courtyard. Although rather simple, it had every room a home should have. All that remained was to move the existing furniture inside.
Looking at the two-story wooden villa completed almost instantaneously, Naoki Senju had mixed feelings. In his previous life, he had worked overtime for this very thing. The blessing of 996?