21-25

*Chapter 21: Complete Trust*

Jiraiya couldn’t take it anymore!

Normally, demonstrating a ninjutsu once or twice should be enough, and any questions could be addressed afterward. However, Shiro kept asking Jiraiya to demonstrate it again and again. Either Shiro was a fool, or he was just messing with him.

As a sage with principles, Jiraiya absolutely refused to demonstrate again!

Shiro, seeing Jiraiya's firm expression, gave a wry smile and whispered something in his ear.

Suddenly, Jiraiya’s face went from pale to flushed, and then, once again, his nose began to bleed. The blood flowed like a faucet, pouring out in a steady stream.

Jiraiya quickly stuffed cotton in his nose, showing how practiced he was, clearly used to nosebleeds from excitement!

Naruto, on the other hand, looked at the two with a disgusted expression, as if he didn’t want to admit knowing them.

"I wasn’t going to demonstrate again, but since you’re so eager to learn, watch closely!"

Jiraiya took out a balloon once more.

Boom!

Ding dong! Ninjutsu identified: Rasengan!

"How about that? Did you learn it?"

"Yeah, I got it!" Shiro replied with a smug smile.

"Good, then practice hard. I’m off to gather intel, and don’t forget what you promised me!"

Shiro gave a big OK gesture, and Jiraiya’s face immediately flushed again as he covered his nose and swaggered away.

"Rasengan!"

Boom!

The explosion was deafening, and Jiraiya suddenly became serious, lowering his stance and scanning the surroundings.

Naruto sat on the ground in shock, while Shiro stood with his hand in a pushing position.

In front of Shiro was a large hole, shaped into a strange half-circle!

"Did you just use Rasengan?"

Jiraiya would rather believe Shiro had already known the Rasengan than believe he had just learned it! Rasengan was an A-rank jutsu, usually taking an ordinary ninja about a year to master.

But Shiro had done it in just a few minutes!

"Of course, I did! It was easier than I expected."

Jiraiya felt as though his heart had been pierced by countless arrows. When Minato had taught him, it had taken Jiraiya quite some time to learn. And Naruto, who hadn't even begun to grasp it, was watching with a miserable expression while Shiro had already mastered it!

Comparing oneself to others could be so frustrating!

"Show me again!" Jiraiya, still in disbelief, focused seriously on Shiro.

Shiro smiled proudly and extended his right hand. A pale blue sphere began to form and rotate steadily in his palm.

"You really did learn it! Maybe this is what they call true genius..." Jiraiya muttered softly.

Just then, the Rasengan began to change shape, slowly turning into an oval.

"He's still young after all," Jiraiya thought to himself. "But even this is an incredible achievement. Failure makes you human, not a god!" He was just about to step in and help with Shiro's "problem" when his hand froze, and his finger began trembling involuntarily.

In front of his eyes, Shiro's Rasengan transformed into a pale blue shuriken.

If Jiraiya hadn’t witnessed this with his own eyes, he would never have believed it.

He burst into laughter.

After a few seconds of laughing, Jiraiya's eyes gleamed as he looked at Shiro.

"I believe now that you’re definitely not a spy from another village. With your talent, you could easily become a Kage! You might even surpass the First Hokage! No village would ever send someone like you as a spy."

Jiraiya’s suspicions vanished, and the caution in his eyes faded.

His smile became even more genuine.

"I told you from the start I wasn’t a spy," Shiro said, looking a little aggrieved.

"It was my mistake," Jiraiya admitted. "You appeared at a sensitive time, and Konoha can't afford any more trouble." He looked sad as he spoke.

"Alright, as an apology, let me show you the world of adults!" Jiraiya threw his arm around Shiro's neck.

"Pervy Sage, I’m still too young!" Shiro quickly stopped him.

Shiro was only twelve years old, and if he got into that kind of thing too early, it could ruin him. He didn’t want to end up like Kakashi, always low on chakra!

"Oh, you're right! You're still young! How about I take you to get some delicious food instead?"

As soon as he heard the word "delicious," Shiro’s ears practically perked up, and he couldn’t stop drooling.

"Pervy Sage, what about me?" Naruto raised his hand eagerly, trying to look as cute as possible.

"You keep training! Look at Shiro, he learned it so quickly! And you?" Jiraiya glared at him in frustration.

"Pervy Sage! Just wait, I’ll show you a Rasengan soon! I promise!"

Shiro chuckled bitterly. He never imagined he’d become the "other people's kid" others would compare to!

Jiraiya hadn’t walked far with Shiro when he suddenly grabbed him by the neck again, a sly smile on his face.

"So, Shiro... about that thing you promised earlier..."

Shiro rolled his eyes. No wonder Naruto called him Pervy Sage—it was totally fitting!

"Actually... I don’t know that trick," Shiro said awkwardly, scratching his head.

Jiraiya’s face turned pitch black, as if he had just rolled through coal.

"You don’t know it? Then why did you promise me? Do you know how much I was looking forward to—"

"Actually, my Rasengan still had a tiny flaw, but thanks to your last two demonstrations, I barely managed to complete it! In the end, it’s all because you’re such a great teacher, Jiraiya, the legendary Toad Sage!"

Shiro’s flattery completely satisfied Jiraiya.

"Wait a minute! You’re changing the subject! Why did you trick me earlier?" Jiraiya’s anger had already dissipated, though he kept pressing.

"Look, I might not know it now, but I’ll learn it eventually! Besides, I need to gather more intel to give you the most perfect experience possible, right?"

Jiraiya paused for a moment, then stroked his chin in thought.

It made sense!

"You’re right, I was too impatient. Let’s go get some food!" Jiraiya laughed and started walking again, but Shiro didn’t follow.

"Pervy Sage, I’d like to leave for a while."

"Leave? Don’t tell me it’s for intel!" Jiraiya frowned, looking seriously at Shiro.

"I know you brought Naruto out to find Tsunade and protect him. To be more efficient, I’ll go find her first!"

Jiraiya stared seriously at Shiro for a long three minutes before sighing with a wry smile.

"Alright, I trust you."

Shiro breathed a sigh of relief. He had been afraid Jiraiya wouldn’t agree.

Now that Jiraiya had given his approval, Shiro could go fleece that fat sheep without worry! He smiled wickedly at the thought.

"Pervy Sage, could you lend me some money?"

"Get lost!"

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 22: Shearing the Fat Sheep (Votes, please! Recommend votes!)*

Shiro kept counting the money Jiraiya gave him. At first, Jiraiya resisted strongly, pretending he had no money.

If not for the many temptations, he wouldn’t have handed over so much cash!

"Ten thousand dollars! It looks like a lot, but considering it's about as valuable as yen, it won’t last long."

Shiro sighed helplessly, but he quickly regained his energy.

Because this money wasn’t for spending—it was seed capital! Shiro planned to use this ten thousand dollars to generate even more money, making a fortune before stopping!

As for how to earn it? Of course, by finding some easy marks!

And who better than the one cursed by the Gambling God? Betting against her is a surefire win!

Shiro wandered through various gambling houses, and just when hope seemed lost, he spotted two women.

His eyes lit up!

Although he had seen Tsunade many times in the anime, this was his first time seeing her in the world of Naruto.

But the woman in black, holding a pink pig, confirmed Shiro’s suspicions instantly.

With a smug smile, Shiro quickly hid his forehead protector.

As he stepped into the gambling house, the loud noises made his head buzz, but it was easy to spot Tsunade in the crowd.

Shiro grinned triumphantly.

At this point in time, Tsunade had quite a bit of cash! First, she earned a large sum for treating Karui for the Raikage. Then, on the day the Third Hokage died, she won another hefty sum!

“Hmph, I’m not here to scam Tsunade-sama. I’m just making sure the money stays in the family!”

With this thought in mind, Shiro rushed over.

When he saw Tsunade bet on ‘big,’ he slapped all his money down on ‘small.’

“Hey kid, how old are you? This isn't a place for someone like you. Take your allowance and leave!” Tsunade said impatiently, waving him off when she noticed he was only around twelve or thirteen.

“I’d love to, but I’ve already placed my bet. I can’t take it back!”

The dealer quickly added, “That’s right, once the bet is placed, it’s final!”

Tsunade shrugged, “Well, nothing I can do now. You’re about to lose all your allowance!”

“1, 2, 3, small!”

Before Tsunade could finish her sentence, the dealer revealed the dice.

“Sorry, big sis, looks like I won!”

Tsunade twitched, but hearing "big sis" instantly cooled her anger.

“You’re lucky, kid. You doubled your money—now head home.”

“I think my luck’s still holding, so I’ll keep playing!”

No way Shiro was leaving; he came here for Tsunade’s money!

“Fine then, follow big sis and bet on ‘big,’ you’re guaranteed to win!” Tsunade said as she placed her money on ‘big.’

Seeing his chance, Shiro put all his money on ‘small.’

“Kid, you bet wrong! Quick, move it to my side!”

“But I’ve already placed my bet, so I can’t change it.”

“Alright, consider this a lesson learned. You’ll be heading home soon enough!” Tsunade shook her head, laughing.

“2, 2, 3, small!”

Tsunade froze.

In less than a minute, she lost 200,000! Meanwhile, Shiro had turned his 10,000 into 40,000!

An unexplainable anger began to build up in Tsunade.

“You’ve got great luck, kid! How about I follow your bets?”

Shiro was startled!

Tsunade? The person blacklisted by the Gambling God?

If she follows my bets, I’ll lose everything, even if I had a beachside mansion!

“Better not. It’s all luck, wins and losses are normal,” Shiro replied nervously.

Tsunade stared at him for a while before bursting out laughing.

“You’ve got a point. I’ll keep betting on ‘big.’ No way it’ll keep landing on ‘small!’”

Tsunade placed her money down, and Shiro immediately bet on ‘small’ again.

Tsunade’s eyebrow twitched, her face forming a scowl.

“Kid, don’t tell me you bet wrong again!”

Shiro laughed awkwardly. Tsunade was famous for her temper, and if he really annoyed her, she might punch him out of nowhere.

“If I said my hand slipped, would you believe me? In any case, whether you believe it or not, I do!”

“1, 3, 1, small!”

Hearing the dealer announce the result, Tsunade exploded!

“How are you rolling those dice?! How come it’s all ‘small’ today?!”

Shizune, sensing trouble, quickly intervened to calm Tsunade down. If she didn’t, Tsunade might actually wreck the gambling house!

Shiro happily pocketed his winnings, grinning from ear to ear.

Tsunade’s eyebrow twitched uncontrollably; she was on the verge of a breakdown.

“Kid! What are you betting this time?!”

Startled by her outburst, Shiro stammered, “Uh… maybe I’ll bet on ‘small’ again?”

“Fine! I’ll bet ‘small’ too!” Tsunade threw her money on ‘small,’ glaring intently at Shiro.

“Bet already! Hurry up!”

“Uh… my mom’s calling me home for dinner, so maybe I should stop for today…”

Boom!

Tsunade slammed her fist on the table, leaving a hole.

Every hair on Shiro’s body stood on end.

He had the feeling that if he didn’t bet today, he’d definitely get punched!

“Alright, I’ll bet then.”

Ding! Task selection detected!

1. Bet on ‘small’: Reward: Mystical Palm Technique!

2. Forfeit: Reward: Superhuman Strength Punch!

3. Bet on ‘big’: Reward: 1 Synthesis Opportunity!

Shiro twitched. The system was trying to mess with him!

If there wasn’t a synthesis opportunity, Shiro would’ve definitely followed Tsunade’s bet.

After all, no reward was worth more than his life.

But synthesis opportunities were too rare—if he missed this one, who knows when the next would appear?

“I choose option three!”

After making his choice, Shiro unhesitatingly threw all 80,000 on ‘big.’

“5, 5, 6, big!”

Before Shiro could collect his winnings, Tsunade grabbed him by the collar, her face full of fury.

“You said you were betting on ‘small’! If your hand keeps cramping, I’ll just break it! Don’t worry, I’ll fix it right after!”

Shiro was certain Tsunade would do such a thing. She definitely could, too!

Although he’d be healed in the end, who wants to suffer through that?

Shizune, who had been trying to calm Tsunade, now looked ready to assist in surgery at any moment!

“I’m still a kid! You’re one of the legendary Sannin, granddaughter of the renowned Hashirama Senju! Surely you wouldn’t hold a grudge over something this small with a child like me?”

Tsunade twitched. She wanted to punch him, but doing so would tarnish Konoha’s reputation.

With a huff, she released him.

“Kid! You’ve got guts!”

Tsunade yelled angrily, then stood up and stormed out.

“Follow her! We can’t let this fat sheep escape!”

end

Chapter 23: Working Together for Profit

For the next few days, Shiro stayed by Tsunade's side, slowly taking care of her. As a result, Shiro's wallet gradually grew fatter.

One day, Tsunade came out of the inn, and Shiro, who was staying next door, quickly followed her. Finally, Tsunade couldn’t take it anymore. She swiftly approached Shiro, grabbed his collar with one hand.

"Kid, enough is enough! It’s one thing that you follow me to the gambling halls every day, but why do you always bet against me? Even a clay statue has some patience!"

"Tsunade-sama, I was wrong. I shouldn't have followed you to the gambling halls so often!"

Hearing Shiro's excuse, Tsunade’s face flared with anger.

"The issue is not just you following me! Why do you always bet against me?"

"Alright, alright, Tsunade-sama. He’s just a kid..." Shizune quickly stepped in to smooth things over, but Tsunade pretended not to notice her.

At this moment, Shiro suddenly dropped his fearful expression and looked at Tsunade seriously.

"Tsunade-sama, do you want to make money? Or rather, do you want to win?"

Tsunade paused, loosening her grip on his collar.

It wasn't that Tsunade was interested in making money; she just wanted to win. But her luck had always been terrible—she lost every time she gambled!

Seeing that Tsunade had calmed down, Shiro smiled slightly.

"You've already noticed, haven't you? Your gambling luck is really bad, almost a guarantee of losing every time!"

Tsunade nodded slightly. As much as she didn’t want to admit it, it was the truth.

"Actually, all you need to do is bet a small amount on one side, while I put all the money on the other side. This way, we’re guaranteed to win! Then, I'll split the earnings with you!"

"That... makes some sense..." Tsunade touched her chin, deep in thought.

Although Shiro's suggestion seemed reliable, Tsunade couldn’t shake the feeling that winning money this way would somehow lead to losing something more important in life.

"Tsunade-sama, this plan sounds great!" Shizune, holding Tonton, beamed with excitement.

"Fine, let's give it a try."

The trio, along with Tonton, headed to the gambling hall. The moment the owner saw Tsunade, his face turned dark.

The owner had never seen anyone with such bad luck before! She could go an entire night without winning a single hand!

Tsunade had become notorious; betting against her was almost a surefire way to win.

Other gamblers lit up with excitement when they saw Tsunade enter.

The owner now wondered if Tsunade had been sent by a rival gambling hall to ruin his business! Normally, they would just beat someone like her up and throw her out.

But who was Tsunade?

She was one of the Legendary Sannin! Even if the entire staff teamed up, they wouldn’t stand a chance against her!

The owner rushed over to Tsunade, practically crawling, and pleaded, "Tsunade-sama, please go gamble somewhere else! I’ll refund all the money you lost here! I beg you, just leave!"

Hearing the word "refund," Tsunade didn’t look happy; instead, her face darkened, and she nearly punched the owner out of frustration.

Shiro's eyes brightened, and with a mischievous grin, he whispered to the owner.

"I can help you take down these greedy customers, but you have to give me half of the profit."

The owner hesitated for a moment, then glanced at Tsunade.

"Can you really pull it off? This woman is like a walking curse! No matter what tricks I use, she always loses!"

"What did you say? Do you want me to hit you?!"

Normally, gambling halls would rig the game to make customers lose, scamming them out of their money. But this time, the hall was trying every trick to help her win, yet she kept losing!

This had utterly crushed Tsunade's pride.

"Are you in or not? Otherwise, there’s no way you can stop Tsunade-sama with your current staff."

Trembling, the owner reluctantly nodded.

The three of them walked over to a gambling table, and immediately, people made way for them to pass.

The area around the table was packed with people, and the owner had to struggle to push through the crowd. When he saw how much money everyone was holding, his face darkened again.

He could only hope that Shiro would keep his word!

Shiro casually placed all his money on the table—after sticking with Tsunade, he had won 2.56 million!

Tsunade sneered and was about to place a bet herself when Shiro quickly stopped her.

"Tsunade-sama, just sit there and don’t do anything!" Shiro said, then turned to Shizune. "Shizune-sister, you place the bet. It doesn’t matter what you pick!"

Tsunade folded her arms in frustration. If she hadn’t already run out of money, she would never have agreed to this!

Shizune hesitated for a moment before placing a 10,000-yen note on "big."

In an instant, the other gamblers placed all their money on "small." Roughly tens of millions piled up on "small," while greedy eyes stared at the gambling hall owner.

The owner forced a smile, picked up the dice cup, and began shaking it with little hope.

The way he shook the dice seemed casual, but it was actually quite precise.

No matter what outcome he wanted, a simple shake would get him the desired result, making it impossible for gamblers to win.

However, Tsunade was a special case!

"Big! Big! Big!" The owner silently prayed. If he lost this round, the gambling hall wouldn’t be worth as much as the money at stake.

As he slowly lifted the dice cup and opened his eyes, he expected to see three sixes—just as planned.

But now, Tsunade was sitting across from him.

"Three sixes!"

The owner stared in disbelief, rubbing his eyes several times to make sure he wasn’t seeing things wrong.

"How is this possible? Why isn't her curse working?!"

"Damn it! That was all my savings!"

"I borrowed money to gamble!"

Shiro sneered. The people least deserving of sympathy in this world were gamblers. Betting everything they owned on slim odds, especially in a game where the house could rig the outcome, only guaranteed they'd ruin their lives.

This win wasn’t because Tsunade's luck had turned around.

It was because all the money was Shiro’s, the bets were placed by Shizune, and the dice were shaken by the gambling hall owner.

Tsunade just sat there, like a lucky mascot.

Satisfied with his winnings, Shiro wasn’t planning to keep gambling.

This trip to the gambling hall was part of his preparation for the future. If he was going to travel across other countries, he’d need more than strength—he’d need money.

Now that he had enough, there was no need to continue.

After collecting his winnings from the gambling hall owner, Tsunade immediately snatched half of the money.

Tsunade, now as cheerful as a child, wrapped an arm around Shiro's neck as they swaggered out together.

"Excuse me, are you Tsunade-sama?"

The three turned to see a silver-haired young man with round glasses and a sinister smile on his face.

"Yakushi Kabuto!"

"Alright, folks, hand over your votes! This is... a robbery!"

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 24: Encounter with Orochimaru Again*

Kabuto Yakushi looked at Shiro in surprise and asked, "You know me?"

Shiro scoffed, his eyes full of disdain.

“You're here to find Lady Tsunade because of the wound on your chest, right? I can tell you, that wound was caused by me!”

“Uchiha Shiro!” A raspy voice came from behind Kabuto. As they turned to look in that direction, they saw a pale face.

“Orochimaru! You killed the Third Hokage, and you still have the nerve to come to Tsunade for healing?”

Tsunade trembled all over, her expression quickly changing from surprise to anger.

She then punched the wall next to her, instantly shattering it to pieces.

Shizune, seeing this, was also filled with rage. She lightly exhaled, and countless steel needles flew toward Orochimaru!

Kabuto was startled. Orochimaru had a hole in his chest, and it was only through ninja techniques that he could barely hold himself together. Any intense movement would send him straight to his death without the need for treatment.

Immediately, Kabuto rushed in front of Orochimaru, quickly pulling out a kunai and deflecting all the steel needles.

But when he looked up again, Shizune had disappeared from where she had been!

Kabuto's pupils shrank as he swiftly kicked backward, sending Shizune flying.

“Too slow! With skills like yours, how can you serve by Lady Tsunade’s side?”

Shizune looked at Kabuto in frustration. That kick had displaced her internal organs. With Tsunade's healing ability, recovery would naturally not be an issue!

However, she had now lost her ability to fight!

“What about me?”

Shiro walked up to Shizune and helped her up.

He then took out a forehead protector from his pocket and tied it around his head.

“A Konoha ninja? Do you really think you can hurt me?” Kabuto pushed his glasses up with his middle finger, laughing smugly.

“Kabuto! Don’t underestimate him! This kid isn’t simple!” Orochimaru, who had been silent, suddenly spoke with a serious tone.

“He’s just a brat. What could he possibly...”

Before Kabuto could finish his sentence, he noticed a pair of crimson eyes staring right at him.

There were three tomoe spinning in the pupils.

Cold sweat broke out all over Kabuto’s body. He had seen these eyes before!

During the Chunin Exams, Uchiha Sasuke also had crimson eyes, but his eyes only had two tomoe!

Kabuto felt his mind waver, and just as he was about to dodge, he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his abdomen.

His whole body flew backward, crashing hard into the ground!

“Still think I’m no threat?” Shiro sneered.

Kabuto’s face twisted in fury. He spread both hands, and pale blue chakra instantly enveloped them.

Ding! Ninja Art identified: Chakra Scalpel!

Shiro coldly laughed, spreading his hands as well, revealing a pair of even larger and longer scalpels in his grip.

Suddenly, the scalpels twisted, elongating into thin, sword-like blades!

“Chakra form manipulation! Just who is this guy?!” Orochimaru looked at Shiro in disbelief, his face filled with unwillingness.

If only he had discovered such a genius earlier, he could have taken control of Shiro and used him as a spare body!

But now, Shiro had grown far too strong, beyond Orochimaru’s reach.

However, he still had a backup plan!

Shiro leapt into the air, slashing forward with his chakra sword. Kabuto's scalpels were instantly cut in half.

The thin blade then slashed across Kabuto's chest.

Though there was no obvious external wound, his insides were already severely damaged! Blood continuously dripped from his mouth!

“So strong! And only twelve years old! The Uchiha clan really is full of monsters!” Kabuto muttered between coughs.

Ding! Task selection triggered!

1. Kill Orochimaru! Reward: Shikotsumyaku (Dead Bone Pulse)!

2. Repel Orochimaru! Reward: One additional synthesis attempt!

3. Let Orochimaru go! Reward: Wind-style chakra!

Shiro was overjoyed. He didn’t expect such generous rewards, including a bloodline limit and an extra synthesis attempt!

But choosing which reward was difficult for him.

As Shiro hesitated, Orochimaru began to laugh coldly.

“Tsunade! If you’re willing to heal me, I can help you resurrect those two!”

Tsunade, already filled with sorrow, trembled violently. Her heartbroken expression, no matter how hard she tried to hide it, was impossible to conceal!

Shiro saw Tsunade’s reaction and realized that killing Orochimaru now was no longer realistic, as it involved the two people most important to her.

Nawaki and Dan.

If he killed Orochimaru now, it would definitely enrage Tsunade. It would be better to step back and choose the synthesis attempt! So he snorted coldly and shouted:

“Orochimaru, get lost!”

As he charged toward Orochimaru, Shiro chose option two!

Orochimaru, unable to move intensely, was kicked and sent flying! A trace of blood dripped from the corner of his mouth.

But instead of being angry, Orochimaru laughed coldly.

“Tsunade, you’d better think carefully!”

Kabuto and Orochimaru supported each other as they left. Orochimaru looked back at everyone with a smug smile, like a victor.

As soon as Orochimaru left, Tsunade collapsed onto the floor.

She stared at the ground, lost and devastated.

“Lady Tsunade, don’t listen to Orochimaru’s nonsense. He’s definitely up to no good!” Shizune kept trying to comfort Tsunade.

Ding! Task selection triggered!

1. Mock Tsunade! Reward: Monster Strength Fist!

2. Comfort Tsunade! Reward: Wind-style chakra!

Shiro smiled helplessly.

At this moment, what Tsunade needed wasn’t comfort. After so many years, if comfort had worked, she would have long since returned to Konoha to continue her life as one of the Sannin!

Instead of staying here, drowning her sorrows in gambling!

What Tsunade needed right now was to vent!

I choose option one!

Shiro strode over to Tsunade and pushed the still-comforting Shizune aside.

He then lifted Tsunade's chin with one hand and slapped her hard across the face!

Smack!

The sound was crisp and loud!

Not only Shizune, but even Tsunade was stunned!

“Shiro, what are you doing? Lady Tsunade is already like this, and you still provoke her!”

“Kid! Are you looking to die?”

Tsunade, like a furious tiger, looked ready to tear Shiro apart at any moment!

But Shiro didn’t take her anger seriously and sneered.

“You’re a coward, and you have the nerve to get angry? They died for Konoha, and yet, when Konoha needed you the most, you disappeared! You don’t even deserve to be Nawaki’s sister, or Dan’s lover!”

“What did you say?!” Tsunade roared, punching a nearby wall, which immediately disintegrated!

Shiro didn’t back down.

He knew very well that the more Tsunade shouted and lashed out with violence, the more it showed her inner turmoil!

“I said, you don’t deserve it!”

*End of Chapter*

*Chapter 25: The Relic of the First Hokage*

“You think I'm not worthy?” Tsunade kept stepping back, eventually tripping over some rubble on the ground and landing on her backside.

“That’s right! You’re not worthy! The Third Hokage is dead, and Konoha Village is without a leader. Everyone is hoping you'll return to take on the role of the Fifth Hokage! But after seeing your current state, you're nothing but a coward unworthy of the title!”

Tsunade’s eyes dimmed as she laughed bitterly. “You’re right. I’m not fit to be Hokage. Only ninjas like those two deserve that title.”

Shiro sneered, walking closer, until his face was nearly touching hers, close enough to feel her uneven breaths.

“The dreams of both of them were to become Hokage and contribute more to the village. But all you do is run away! You don’t deserve to be Nawaki’s sister. You don’t deserve to be Dan’s lover!”

Shiro’s endless taunts finally caused Tsunade to snap.

She punched Shiro square in the face without holding back!

“You don’t know anything, kid!”

Tsunade kept hitting Shiro with punch after punch, tears streaming down her face without her even realizing it.

Shiro regretted it. Since arriving in the ninja world, he had faced many strong enemies, but this was the first time he’d ever been beaten. Intense pain surged through him, stimulating every nerve.

If it weren’t for his mastery of mid-level Taijutsu and his basic Sage Body, he might’ve already passed out.

But it was worth it. The harder Tsunade hit, the more she was able to vent the regret and frustration she had been bottling up inside.

Once she let it all out, she could finally become the true Fifth Hokage.

The barrage of punches, like a relentless storm, continued for a full minute before stopping. Tsunade had turned into a sobbing mess.

Suddenly, she grabbed Shiro into a hug and cried even harder.

Shizune stood there, dumbfounded.

After all her years with Tsunade, this was the first time she had ever seen her like this.

She didn’t know whether to comfort her or just let her be.

After crying for a few minutes, Tsunade finally stopped. Her eyes looked at Shiro with a complicated expression.

After a moment of hesitation, she took off the necklace she always wore and placed it around Shiro’s neck.

“Thank you for waking me up. Consider this a gift.”

“Lady Tsunade, but that’s…” Shizune started to say, but Tsunade silenced her with a sharp look, and she immediately shut her mouth.

Shiro stared dumbfounded at the necklace.

This was the First Hokage’s necklace, passed down to Tsunade, who then gave it to Nawaki and Dan. It was known as the “Death Necklace.”

However, this so-called Death Necklace had extraordinary abilities. It could react to the chakra of the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, and suppress the power of the tailed beasts.

By giving it to Shiro, Tsunade was acknowledging him completely, perhaps even considering him her closest person.

This necklace was originally meant for Naruto Uzumaki, and during the Pain invasion of Konoha, it even saved Naruto’s life.

Now that Shiro had it, it was hard to say how Naruto would handle things when the time came.

“But let me warn you,” Tsunade said, raising her fist threateningly, “if anyone mentions what happened today, I’ll make sure they regret it!”

Shiro shuddered. The memory of those punches was still fresh, and he had no desire for a repeat. He quickly nodded in agreement.

“Good boy!” Tsunade smiled through her tears and gently patted Shiro’s head. “Alright! To celebrate my winnings, I’m treating everyone to drinks!”

Before Shiro could protest, Tsunade grabbed him in a headlock with her arm.

Shiro suddenly felt like he was being crushed by a mountain, completely unable to breathe.

She dragged Shiro to a barbecue restaurant. When the staff saw Shiro’s battered state, they were shocked.

“Umm… are you sure you don’t need to go to the hospital?”

“Hospital? We’re doctors! Why would we need a hospital? Now hurry up and bring the meat! And the finest sake too!” Tsunade said nonchalantly, leaving the staff utterly confused.

“Well… alright, please wait a moment.”

The three of them sat at a table for two, and Shiro, desperate to escape Tsunade’s rough treatment, quickly sat next to Shizune.

Tsunade looked displeased but said nothing. Once the food and drinks arrived, she immediately started devouring everything in sight.

Shiro, being a food lover, quickly forgot about his injuries and eagerly started grilling the meat, smiling with satisfaction as he listened to the sizzling sound of the barbecue.

Meanwhile, Shizune was busy using her Healing Palm Technique on Shiro’s injuries, which made him feel a bit embarrassed.

“Shizune-sensei, why don’t you eat first? My injuries are fine.”

“Thank you.”

“Huh?”

“Thank you. I haven’t seen Lady Tsunade this happy in a long time. If only you had come into her life sooner.”

Shizune’s heartfelt words left Tsunade blushing with embarrassment.

“Shizune, be quiet!” Tsunade snapped.

Shizune chuckled, though the motion pulled at her own injuries, causing her to wince in pain.

That’s when Shiro realized something.

Though his injuries looked severe, Tsunade had deliberately avoided hitting any vital points, so it was mostly superficial damage.

But Shizune was different.

Shizune had been kicked hard in the side by Kabuto, a direct hit to one of the body’s softest areas. Even her walking had looked a bit awkward earlier, a clear sign that her injuries were more serious than she let on.

And Tsunade, being so dense, hadn’t noticed a thing!

Thankfully, when Shizune had used the Healing Palm Technique, Shiro’s system had copied it.

Shiro quickly pushed Shizune’s hands away and said earnestly, “Let me treat you instead.”

Shizune was surprised but then covered her mouth, laughing.

“I’m fine! I’ll treat you first.”

Shiro wasn’t having it. He placed his hands on Shizune’s abdomen and immediately began using the Healing Palm Technique.

Shizune’s face turned beet red.

No man had ever touched her so intimately before. Normally, she’d have slapped anyone who tried.

But for some reason, with Shiro, she felt no resistance.

Tsunade, propping her chin on one hand, smiled slyly. “Shizune is my most talented student. She’s calm, kind, and takes great care of others.”

Shiro had no idea why Tsunade was saying all this and just nodded instinctively.

“You should consider her. She might be a few years older than you, but you know what they say—‘three years older is a golden treasure.’”

Shizune turned even redder, as if she’d been boiled alive.

Shiro, meanwhile, was choking on his drink, utterly baffled by Tsunade’s train of thought.

“I’m only twelve!”