"So... Orochimaru secretly left this morning, but entrusted her to your care?"
Tsunade at the upright-sitting Guren, seemingly a little incredulous. "Well, he hasn't even returned to Konoha yet, and this kid already has more and more women around him. Once he actually returns to Konoha, what will become of him..."
Shizune's gaze darted back and forth between Guren and Naoki, her lips trembling slightly with a hint of grievance as her position was challenged once again.
"Of course it's true. Guren also has letters left for her by Orochimaru. You can see for yourself."
Naoki Senju took out a pre-prepared slip of paper and handed it to Tsunade. Tsunade suspiciously unfolded the paper and examined it closely... It was indeed Orochimaru's handwriting, but...
"I still don't believe Orochimaru would leave his subordinates to you. Tell me honestly, did you ask Orochimaru for them?"
Naoki Senju sighed helplessly. Although he had indeed thought about it before, he hadn't had time to realize it... He then turned his gaze to Guren, his meaning quite clear: Do your best, the rest is up to you.
Guren took a deep breath, strode forward with her long legs, and walked to within two meters of Tsunade. Her movements were imposing and threatening.
Shizune dutifully drew out Senbon and stood guard beside Tsunade, though in the actual battle, it would definitely be Tsunade protecting Shizune instead...
Shizune watched Guren warily, but Tsunade wasn't too worried. She leisurely sipped her matcha. Although Guren's Crystal Release was quite powerful, the gap between her and Guren was too great, posing no threat whatsoever.
But a scene that surprised Tsunade and Shizune appeared: Guren, who had been fierce just a moment ago, bent over at a 45-degree angle and held a bag above her head with both hands.
" Guren is willing to follow Lady Tsunade, even at the cost of her life."
Tsunade took a sip of the emerald green matcha, the refreshing yet bittersweet aroma spreading in her mouth, but Tsunade frowned slightly and put the teacup down.
This stuff is so damn awful, it's bitter and astringent. Alcohol is so much better... Guren Tsunade had been lost in thought, finally snapped out of it. She looked at Guren, who still refused to get up, and couldn't help but feel a headache coming on.
"Get up. You're Orochimaru's subordinate; I dare not keep you by my side."
However, Guren already believed in the important mission that Naoki Senju spoke of, and how could she be driven away before completing Lord Orochimaru's mission?
" Lady Tsunade, actually, I've been running some of Lord Orochimaru's businesses, including several casinos in the Land of Fire. I can give them to you without your consent."
After speaking, Guren looked at Naoki Senju with some unease. Her pitiful little eyes must have been questioning Naoki Senju: How could Sannin, one of the Princess Tsunade, possibly agree to such a casual condition?
"Alright, since you've put it that way, then stay by my side."
"If Lady Tsunade doesn't agree... eh-- Lady Tsunade... you agree?"
Tsunade frowned, realizing things weren't so simple. "What, are you going to back out?"
"No, no, no, thank you so much Lady Tsunade." Feeling a bit dizzy, Guren thought to herself, " My Guren has been shaken. I never imagined a few casinos could make Princess Tsunade give in, especially after all the preparations she made..."
Although Tsunade was a compulsive gambler, feeling restless if she didn't gamble a few times a day, she did a good job of keeping it a secret. Apart from a few close friends, such as the Third Hokage and the other two of the Sannin, no more than two people knew about Tsunade's gambling habit.
"Then it's settled. By the way, where are those casinos in the Land of Fire? Does Konoha have any?"
"Uh... Konoha doesn't have them, but several other larger towns do. I have a map in my room; I can mark them for Lady Tsunade..."
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go!"
Tsunade, in a very familiar manner, put her arm around Guren's shoulder and half-pulled, half-dragged Guren away.
At this moment, only Shizune and Naoki remained in the room. Naoki pointed out the mastermind behind Guren's death, and looking at the aggrieved Shizune, he very considerately and boldly held Shizune's small hand... Her skin was smooth and felt wonderful.
"Eek... Lord Naoki, what are you doing..."
The coy, hesitant voice of the little girl filled Naoki Senju with a deep sense of guilt... Why didn't he meet Shizune sooner? It's unforgivable, utterly despicable.
"Didn't I already say there's no need to add 'sir'? If you really can't correct it, you can call me 'master'."
"Master?" Shizune repeated the strange word with some difficulty, then asked curiously, "Why have I never heard this word before? What does it mean?"
"Hmm... this is the dialect of my hometown, the capital of the Land of Fire... it roughly means... maybe... it's something like 'adult'."
"Oh, then I'll call Lord Naoki 'Master' from now on. The dialect from Master's hometown is a bit hard to pronounce."
"Hmm, you'll get used to it after practicing a few more times. Come on, let's repeat it one more time." The incredibly wicked Naoki Senju was guiding the innocent Shizune step by step.
Although it felt a little strange, Shizune thought for a moment that Lord Naoki was probably just missing his family in the capital of the Land of Fire, after all, his fate was so tragic... Perhaps hearing a familiar 'dialect' would make him feel a little better...
The understanding and considerate Shizune, in an attempt to comfort Naoki, who had lost his loved ones and left his hometown, unwittingly fell into a trap, tirelessly shouting:
"Master, master..."
When Tsunade and Guren returned, looking quite satisfied, they happened to hear Shizune speaking in a language they couldn't understand.
" Shizune, what are you saying?"
"Ah, Lady Tsunade, you're back. That's the dialect from Lord Naoki's hometown. 'Master' means 'sir' or 'lady'."
"Master?" Tsunade repeated it with some suspicion. Wasn't Naoki Senju's hometown the capital of the Land of Fire? Although Shizune hadn't been there, she had been quite a few times. How come she had never heard this strange and difficult-to-pronounce dialect before?
" Naoki, are you up to something again? I've never heard of this dialect before."
The British Empire was nipped in the bud, so of course it's impossible to have heard of it... Naoki Senju said confidently.
"This is indeed the dialect of the Land of Fire. Sister Tsunade recites it a few more times, it won't sound awkward anymore. Look at Sister Shizune, how fluent she is now."
Without hesitation, Shizune uttered, " Master Naoki."
Tsunade touched the map in her arms, having no interest in fooling around with them for the time being, and could only give the order:
"Alright, Naoki, just stop bullying Shizune. Now go back and pack your things; we're leaving for the Land of Fire tomorrow."
" Sister Tsunade, aren't we waiting for Orochimaru's news? Maybe he really does have a way to help us."
Naoki Senju subtly advised Tsunade, since he couldn't very well tell her outright that Orochimaru and Danzo were planning the Konoha Crush Plan to find an opportunity to kill Hiruzen Sarutobi...