Naruto: I Traveled with a Max Level Account
Ch50 – Ch59

-Ch50 World Peace? Only in Dreams

Early the next morning, Takuya was once again woken up by the sound of the door. He thought it might be Kushina, but it turned out to be Mikoto.

Rubbing his eyes and stepping out from his bedroom, Takuya yawned and asked, "Mikoto, what brings you here so early?"

"It's not that early anymore," Mikoto replied with a gentle smile, placing a lunchbox on the table and pulling Takuya to sit down. "Have something to eat first, then I'll tell you why I came over this early."

Is there really something up? Wait, I haven’t even brushed my teeth yet.

Torn between hygiene and hunger, Takuya decided to eat first and attend to his morning routine later.

"Takuya, I might have to leave the squad and join the Police Force," Mikoto said with a smile, watching Takuya devour the food she prepared. Once he had almost finished, her smile faded, replaced by a more somber expression.

"Join the Police Force?" Takuya was taken aback.

He was still contemplating how to broach the subject with her, what reasons to give for his advice, and here Mikoto was bringing it up herself.

Was this what they called a timely pillow when one is dozing off?

Amused by his own thoughts, Takuya couldn’t help but laugh.

"It's because of your aunt, right?" Takuya stuffed the last piece of cake into his mouth, looking at her.

Mikoto nodded reluctantly. "Last night, Uchiha Fugaku, the clan's young leader, came to our house representing the clan head. He spoke with my mother about how promising they think I am and that they'd like me to join the Police Force in a clerical role. They would also assign a senior ninja to mentor my training."

"My mother agreed, believing it’s the best for my growth, especially since the Uchihas understand the Sharingan best."

In terms of using the Sharingan, Takuya indeed couldn't match the expertise of those Uchiha who had been activating it for years. With such a mentor, Mikoto's abilities would surely improve swiftly and correctly.

What to do? Will Takuya agree?

If he gets upset, how should I appease him?

Mikoto’s heart was in turmoil.

"This is actually a good thing," Takuya finally said.

"Huh?" Mikoto was prepared for Takuya's anger, but his response caught her off guard.

Setting down his chopsticks, Takuya gently squeezed Mikoto's cheeks, "Honestly, if you hadn't mentioned it, I was going to suggest you join the Police Force myself."

"The new war is coming, and the village won't keep me idle. I'll likely be sent to the battlefields in the River Country or the Rain Country. Minato and I might have to leave, and if you were to stay in the village without a proper team, joining the Police Force and getting Uchiha training would be safer and more beneficial for you."

"But wouldn't that be dangerous for you on the battlefield?" Mikoto, forgetting that Takuya was still pinching her cheeks, spoke with a slight whistle.

"At that moment, her concerns were solely about the dangers Takuya might face on the battlefield."

"How could it be?" Takuya quickly let go of her cheeks, careful not to leave any marks.

With a confident smile, he reassured her, "Even on the battlefield, I'll be the one hunting the enemies, not the other way around. Aren't you confident in my abilities?"

Sure, as if only you get to kill the enemies and they can’t touch you. You sure dream big. But indeed, Takuya had the strength to protect himself on the battlefield.

Getting up and heading to the bathroom, he continued, "So what's there to worry about? If you stay in the village, you could spend more time with Kushina. She’d definitely be happy to know you’re staying."

Imagining how elated Kushina would be, Mikoto couldn't help but smile.

After Takuya's persuasion, Mikoto set aside her worries and successfully joined the Police Force as a clerical worker, reportedly earning a handsome salary.

Days went by, and battles raged across the Land of Fire. The ninja from the Sand kept wreaking havoc, forcing Konoha to dispatch forces to quell and drive them away.

Surprisingly, the village had yet to send any orders Takuya's way.

"Takuya, could we have guessed wrong?" Beside a small river during a training break, Minato and Takuya sat eating grilled fish.

"Who knows," Takuya mused, puzzled himself. Could the Third Hokage have changed his approach? It seemed unlikely.

With the war straining Konoha's resources and a second conscription drawing ninjas from all families into battle, it made no sense for them to be left idling in the village.

Tossing a fish bone into the fire, Takuya teased, "What, are you that eager to join the battlefield?"

"Of course not!" Minato’s voice shot up.

He was not one who relished in bloodshed. If given a choice, he would wish for a world without wars, where people from all nations could live in peace.

"Sigh, I just wish the world could be peaceful without wars."

A noble idea, yet utterly fantastical.

Takuya didn’t bother to dampen his friend's spirits with reality; human conflict was eternal. There had been wars before the ninja system, and they continued after its establishment.

The only time of relative peace was during Hashirama’s reign, whose formidable strength intimidated other villages.

With Hashirama gone, the First Ninja War had erupted, and even Tobirama with all his jutsu couldn't hold the world in peace.

"Takuya, why do wars even happen? Can’t the ninja world ever be at peace?"

"It might be," Takuya nudged Minato, his tone dripping with sarcasm, "in your dreams. Now go wash your hands; you’ve been scratching your head with those greasy fingers. I can't stand watching it."

Minato, unaware, was embarrassed.

Can't you wash your hands before scratching? Where did you pick up that habit?

Years of friendship, and Minato still hadn’t changed. Takuya half-joked, "Be careful, or you might scratch off a piece of your scalp one day."

"..." Minato felt an inexplicable urge to hit someone.

Forget it. Can’t win this. I’ll just dream of peace then.

His friend was right. True peace was only found in dreams.

As an injured troop returned to Konoha, Tsunade, exhausted, intended to head straight home to rest but decided to stop by the Hokage’s office first.

"Bang!" The door to the Hokage’s office flew open violently. Hiruzen and his advisors frowned, ready to scold the disruptor, but they held back upon recognizing her.

"Tsunade, you’re not a child anymore. Can’t you show some manners?" Koharu scolded.

Ignoring her, Tsunade addressed the Third Hokage directly, "Old man, all the injured have been brought back safely and are now at the hospital waiting for treatment."

"If there’s nothing else, I’m going to sleep. I’m exhausted. You knew I wouldn't rest easy when you called me back to the village, but still, you had me escort a bunch of injured ninjas."

Rather than getting upset, the Third Hokage smiled warmly, "Then go rest. The hospital will take good care of them. Thank you for your hard work."

"Good to know," Tsunade replied, tiredly. "It’s so annoying not having anyone to play cards with on the front line."

Feeling her dark circles had deepened and her skin worsened, Tsunade lamented the war's toll on her. If not for the war, she would have been living leisurely in Konoha, occasionally treating a patient for some extra cash before hitting the casinos.

A wonderful life interrupted by the relentless demands of war.

Tsunade was determined to give Jiraiya a piece of her mind once she returned; he had dared to tease her about her gambling.

The Third Hokage wisely chose to ignore her last remark. Hoping for a card game on the battlefield? Dream on. Should he also arrange for Jiraiya to have models for his research on the battlefield?

"Ah, if only," Tsunade sighed, resigning herself to the harsh realities of the ninja world.

-Ch51 - You Sneak into My Bed and Expect Me to Cook?

After letting go of all her tensions, Tsunade yawned her way out of the office.

Ignored throughout the conversation, Koharu, with a face red from anger, complained, "Sarutobi, are you going to keep indulging her like this?"

Here we go again.

Homura could only shake his head slightly. Whenever they felt slighted, Koharu and Danzo would vent their frustrations at the Third Hokage. Yet, it was all in vain.

Orochimaru and Jiraiya at least paid some lip service to authority, but Tsunade was a different case.

She completely ignored their existence.

You're displeased with me, but I don't even care to acknowledge you.

You can't do anything about it, so save your elder statesman act—it's useless on me.

"Tsunade is just too tired," the Third Hokage invariably played peacemaker.

Such matters could be glossed over easily.

On one side, there was his old friend and a village elder; on the other, his student, the princess of Leaf. Neither feared him.

Why get involved? Just smooth things over and move on.

"You..." Koharu was fuming as the Third Hokage opted to placate her, but it was fruitless. He wouldn't ask Tsunade to apologize, and she wouldn't either. It would inevitably be brushed aside.

After a day of training, Takuya and Minato decided to head home.

"?" Just as they reached the front door, ready to enter, Takuya noticed the window had been tampered with.

He thought to himself, "Snowy, is there someone in the house?"

"Yes." Snowy, about to doze off in the sealing space, replied lethargically and comfortably turned over to continue sleeping.

"Kushina?" It couldn't be Mikoto; she wouldn't climb through a window. If she were visiting, she would have met him and Minato by the river.

That left Kushina, who sometimes tried to scare him by hiding in the room or behind doors, though she never succeeded in actually scaring him.

Yet, she enjoyed these little pranks.

"Poor Kurama," Takuya thought, offering a silent tribute to the nine-tails for three seconds before unlocking the door and heading to his bedroom.

Oh, not bad, hiding under the covers.

Takuya grabbed the blanket and pulled hard.

"..." Successfully pulling away the blanket, he saw clearly who was under it.

This couldn't be Kushina. Since when did Kushina turn into a blond?

"Who are you?" A groggy Tsunade opened her eyes a sliver and squinted hard at the figure before her.

It took her a moment to recognize him.

Then, cuddling her pillow, she rolled over and muttered, "Go make some food; I'm starving."

Wait, you climb through my window, sleep in my bed, and have the audacity to ask me to cook for you?

Lady, this is my house, not yours!

Takuya hadn't expected Tsunade to return to Konoha, especially looking so exhausted. Battling on the front lines was indeed no easy task, particularly in the dreadful conditions of the Rain Country.

He wondered if Jiraiya had come back; if so, he'd likely seek out Minato first. After all, having left his student for so long, he'd need to make it up to him.

"Get up; go back to your place to sleep," Takuya tossed the blanket aside and nudged Tsunade.

"Stop it; let me sleep. I'm so tired and hungry," Tsunade mumbled, still half-asleep.

"I only found out when I got back that Kushina had moved out. She wasn't home, so I came here. Your cooking is good; I've missed it. I want a big pork knuckle."

You're quite the pork knuckle yourself.

It seemed this woman intended to squat at his place. Speechless, Takuya left the bedroom for the kitchen.

Soon after, lured by the aroma of meat, a suddenly wide-awake Tsunade sprang from the bed and ran out, not even bothering with shoes.

"Uh..." Watching a certain princess of Leaf gorge on meat without any regard for image, Takuya couldn't help but wonder.

She didn't look like she had come back from a battlefield but rather as if she had fled a famine.

Even considering the world's poor logistics and difficult material transportation, Tsunade's hunger seemed excessive.

How long had it been since she had last touched meat to be this desperate? Her eyes gleamed with a hunger that reminded him of the ravenous huskies of his previous life.

Holding his utensils, Takuya finally asked, "Elder, are supplies in Leaf really that scarce?"

Swallowing the meat in her mouth, Tsunade perked up, "You'll understand once you're on the battlefield. That godforsaken place in the Rain Country, where even dry food is a luxury, let alone meat. Unless you're at a major Leaf camp."

As a medical ninja, she wasn't supposed to rush to the front lines but rather stay in the camps to treat the injured. Yet, there she was, charging into battle more fiercely than anyone, a unique figure across all ninja villages.

Other medical ninjas wouldn't dare.

Grabbing some vegetables, Takuya continued, "How's the situation on the battlefield?"

"...." Tsunade paused, then sighed, "Not great. The Rain's capabilities far exceed our expectations under Hanzo's leadership. Leaf hasn't gained much advantage."

"Of course, certain people's command decisions are partly to blame," she added, venting her frustration.

"Danzo?" Takuya remembered that Danzo was in command at the Rain battlefield.

Honestly, he didn't think Danzo was the right choice for the position. Among those capable of command, the Shikaku leader and Orochimaru would have been more suitable; the former more balanced, the latter more ruthless.

Nodding, Tsunade, troubled, started to raise her hand to her head, then, seeing the grease, decided against it.

"The Rain battlefield isn't over yet, and now the Sand has launched a surprise attack on Leaf, sparking a new war that's got the Rock and Cloud stirring."

"The last few weeks have seen an increasing number of foreign ninjas crossing into Rain, including those from the Sand."

During the Second Ninja War, the Rain became a tragic battleground.

Leaf fought there, so did the Sand, and even the Rock got involved.

Eventually, Hanzo, while fighting Leaf, also declared war on the Sand and Rock.

The three great ninja villages, along with the Rain, created a fiercely chaotic and continuous series of battles.

After eating her fill and cleaning her greasy hands, Tsunade sat back contentedly, sipping hot tea.

"My main reason for coming back was to take you and Minato to the front lines."

Sitting up straight, she looked Takuya over, clicking her tongue in amazement, "I didn't expect you to have grown so handsome and strong in such a short time. Even average jounin can't match you now."

"I heard about your encounter with Shimura Hideitsu. Don't bother with the Shimura clan too much; they wouldn't dare retaliate.

"And the Third won't allow it. But be careful on the battlefield, Danzo isn't someone to take lightly."

Acknowledging this, Tsunade yawned again, her mind half on the forthcoming battles and half on a card game she hoped to indulge in back home. For a moment, the harsh realities of war seemed a distant concern.

-Ch52 - Snowy Enters the Second Stage of Growth

"He doesn't mind dancing embarrassingly in front of countless Konoha ninjas, suffering mental trauma; if he wants to cause me trouble, so be it," Takuya shrugged, showing indifference.

"You sure are confident," Tsunade rolled her eyes. "But if you anger that old man too much, he might deliberately assign you to dangerous missions."

"Whatever," Takuya shrugged again, signaling that he didn't care. Bring it on, whether overt or covert.

As long as no sealing squad is sent after him, it’s fine. Takuya feared nothing except accidentally being sealed, which would be a big problem.

As for being sent to certain death? That’s a small issue.

He could have Snowy unleash a few Tailed Beast Bombs, blow up the Konoha camp, and then openly defect.

If he had family living in Konoha, Takuya might hesitate. But being alone, he feared nothing.

This kid's attitude sure has grown with his strength!

Tsunade was speechless at Takuya’s attitude. If she knew what was on his mind, she’d definitely be shocked.

For most ninjas, becoming a rogue ninja was a last resort. But for Takuya, it didn’t matter.

"Fine, you're as rebellious as Nawaki. Seems like you're going through a rebellious phase too. There's no point in talking sense into you. Think it over yourself. I'll borrow your room; wake me up at 7 AM tomorrow. I have to perform surgery at the hospital."

"You can use the guest room!" Are you seriously addicted to sleeping in my bed? Can't sleep anywhere else?

"I'm too lazy to make the bed," Tsunade's reason left Takuya utterly dumbfounded.

With his bedroom occupied by Tsunade, Takuya set up the guest room. After some thought, he shut the door and jumped onto the roof, heading to Minato's house.

"Who's there!" Even the light footsteps didn’t escape Minato's notice. He was practicing hand seals at home and was immediately on alert.

"It's me," Takuya said as he climbed through the window, complimenting Minato, "Not bad, practicing hand seals even when you're home alone."

"You do the same when you're home alone," Minato didn’t blame Takuya for entering through the window, considering he often did the same at Takuya's place. They were even.

"I'm just bored."

Yeah, keep bluffing! If I didn’t grow up with you, I might’ve believed your nonsense.

"Congratulations, your wish is about to come true," Takuya patted Minato's shoulder in congratulations.

"???" What wish is coming true? Why don’t I know?

Minato was utterly confused.

Familiar with Takuya's ways, he opened the fridge, grabbed a bottle of water, took a few sips, and then sat beside Minato, explaining, "Tsunade's back. Instead of going home, she came to my place, ate all my meat, and took over my bedroom. You and I will be heading to the Rain Country battlefield together."

"...." Since when was going to the battlefield considered a wish? Minato couldn’t help but roll his eyes.

Am I finally going to see Jiraiya-sensei again?

It's been a long time, and Minato really wanted to meet Jiraiya. Mainly to ask why he left him in Konoha and ran off to the battlefield.

Minato had been holding onto a small grudge about this. Anyone would be frustrated if their teacher irresponsibly left them behind. Moreover, after going to the front lines, Jiraiya hadn’t even contacted Minato, as if he had forgotten about his student.

In reality, the teacher-student relationships in the Naruto world were often shaky, with betrayal being all too common.

Orochimaru killed the Third Hokage, Nagato killed Jiraiya, Obito caused the death of his teacher Minato and his wife Kushina.

Even Sasuke, once he got stronger, wanted to kill his teacher Kakashi.

Takuya couldn’t understand how they could turn against their teachers like that.

With others, it was somewhat justifiable, but in Sasuke and Obito’s cases, it didn’t make sense.

Orochimaru had reasons to hate the Third Hokage.

Nagato was driven mad by what Konoha did to him.

The death of his childhood friend Yahiko pushed him over the edge, leading him to kill Jiraiya.

But what was up with Uchiha Sasuke and Uchiha Obito?

Minato and Kushina had treated Obito well.

Kakashi spent most of his time training Sasuke and helping him, yet the result was betrayal.

Honestly, such disciples were better left untrained.

With so many examples, Takuya was skeptical about teacher-student relationships in the Naruto world.

He also agreed more with the popular phrase among Naruto fans: "Stay away from the Uchihas; they’re all crazy."

"Tell me honestly, are you angry that Jiraiya left you in the village for so long without even checking in?"

"I do feel some resentment, but not anger. Jiraiya-sensei has his own responsibilities," Minato said, scratching his head and defending Jiraiya, "He probably left me in the village because he was worried I'd get into trouble on the battlefield."

"I trust Jiraiya-sensei."

"You're beyond saving."

"I’m claiming your couch tonight; I won’t fight you for the bed." Takuya leaned back on the sofa, deciding to crash at Minato's place for the night.

He didn’t want to deal with a certain violent woman who might wake up in the middle of the night, hungry, and demand food.

Takuya’s suspicion wasn’t baseless.

Tsunade did wake up in the middle of the night looking for food. After finding nothing and failing to locate Takuya, she had to settle for milk before going back to sleep.

Is Snowy entering the second stage of growth?

Takuya entered the sealing space, looking at the ever-growing Snowy, who was now the size of a small mountain.

Snowy seemed to be the embodiment of a sleep god, always appearing lethargic and lacking energy.

Takuya suspected that Snowy had entered its second growth stage.

Judging by the length of the first stage, it wouldn’t be long before Snowy fully matured into its second stage.

In this second stage, Snowy could be released without hesitation and could even take on Kurama, the Nine-Tails within Kushina, without fear.

"I hope this growth phase doesn’t last too long," Takuya thought, knowing that unexpected events could happen on the battlefield at any time, and he might need Snowy's help. He might even need to use it before reaching the battlefield if trouble arose with his own allies.

Just like always, Kushina opened Takuya's door and peeked around, not seeing Takuya, assuming he was asleep.

So she stealthily crept toward the bedroom.

"Leaving the bedroom door open, how careless," Kushina mumbled as she approached.

Seeing nothing but a figure curled up tightly under the blanket, she thought, "Still sleeping? He always naps after returning to the village. Let’s see if I can give him a good scare."

Placing the lunchbox aside, Kushina took a deep breath and yanked the blanket off with all her might:

"Takuya, you lazy bum, the sun is already up! Get up, I brought you... uh."

As the blanket was pulled away, Kushina found herself staring at a curvaceous body with long, flowing blonde hair, not at all the person she expected.

"This... this... this..."

Isn't this Takuya's room?

How is there a woman sleeping here?

"Who are you?" Kushina demanded, hands on her hips, red hair starting to float, her expression furious, as if ready to pounce.

"Who is it, so early in the morning? Can't a person get some sleep?" Tsunade mumbled, feeling frustrated at being woken up.

Had she not been in Konoha, in Takuya’s house, Tsunade would have jumped up and shown this intruder a thing or two.

"Tsunade-sensei?"

Kushina's near-explosive anger fizzled out in an instant. The woman sleeping in Takuya's bed was none other than Tsunade.

"You... you... why are you back from the battlefield? Why are you sleeping in Takuya's bed? Where is Takuya?" Kushina stammered.

"How should I know?" Tsunade grumbled, rubbing her head and yawning, "You’ve got some nerve to ask. I got back and found out you moved out. When I went to your place, you weren’t there, so I came to Takuya’s. And now the brat runs off, leaving me to starve all night."

"..."

Kushina was speechless.

You claim to have starved all night, yet didn’t think to fix yourself something to eat?

"Uh?"

-Ch53 - Reconcile with the Hidden Rain Village? Who Will Surrender First?

Tsunade instinctively pulled the blanket over herself, planning to sleep a little longer. But as soon as she smelled the aroma of food, she jumped up as if she had been injected with a burst of energy.

She grabbed the lunchbox, opened it, and started eating right away, muttering as she chewed, "As expected of my good little sister, knowing that I'm starving and bringing me food."

"Mmm~ this is so good, Kushina, your cooking skills have really improved."

"This was for Takuya..." Kushina started to speak but hesitated, watching Tsunade devour the food. In the end, she didn’t have the heart to snatch the lunchbox back because Tsunade's voracious eating had startled her.

If it had been anyone else, Kushina would have grabbed the lunchbox immediately. After all, it was the food she prepared for Takuya, and no one else was allowed to eat it.

Fine, go ahead and eat.

Is she back from fighting a war or fleeing from a disaster?

To Kushina, Tsunade's appearance was that of a refugee. Disheveled and unkempt, seeing food made her as excited as a starving ghost, as if she wanted to swallow the lunchbox whole.

Her eating habits were truly terrifying.

Did Takuya not cook last night?

"Huh, Kushina’s here too?" Takuya said as he entered, holding breakfast he had bought from the street. Seeing the door open, he walked in without hesitation.

He was surprised to see a distressed Kushina constantly urging Tsunade to eat slowly and an incredibly ravenous Tsunade.

"Where did you run off to last night? I couldn’t find you anywhere," Tsunade grumbled between bites, glaring at him.

I was starving, you know?

"I went to Minato's place to avoid being woken up in the middle of the night to cook for you. I'm not your babysitter," Takuya retorted.

Coddle you? In your dreams. If you want to eat in the middle of the night, make it yourself. If you can't, then you deserve to go hungry.

Takuya's blunt response caused Tsunade to choke. "Cough, cough!"

"Slow down, please," Kushina, both angry and concerned, gently patted Tsunade's back to help her catch her breath.

After finishing all the food Kushina had brought, Tsunade finally felt alive again. Tossing the empty lunchbox aside, she returned to her usual boisterous self.

It seemed she was even looking for a toothpick to clean her teeth.

...

I can’t bear to watch.

Takuya silently turned away, focusing on his own breakfast, pretending he hadn’t seen anything.

"Kid, you seem to have a big problem with me," Tsunade grumbled, noticing Takuya’s disdainful look and how he turned his back on her.

Unfazed, Takuya glanced at the clock on the wall and said, "Didn't you have surgery scheduled today? Or has it been canceled? What if you lose a lot of money?"

"Uh..." Tsunade suddenly remembered that she did have surgery planned, and the patient had booked it in advance, offering a generous sum. That’s why she had agreed to do it in the first place—to earn some extra gambling money.

She almost overslept.

"I’ll deal with you tonight," she said hastily.

Not caring about her disheveled appearance, Tsunade dashed out barefoot, yelling as she ran, "Save some food for me for dinner; I’ll be back late!"

Who does that?

Kushina covered her eyes in frustration and shouted, "Tsunade-sensei, your clothes, your clothes!!"

"Huh?" Tsunade, in the middle of putting on her shoes, looked down and blushed furiously.

She quickly adjusted her clothing, then teased Kushina, "What's there to be embarrassed about? There are no strangers here. Even if Takuya saw, it’s not a big deal."

...

I didn't even look, okay? Besides, it's nothing I haven’t seen before. What's there to see?

"Later!" Tsunade called as she hurriedly put on her shoes, tied her hair up quickly, threw on a coat, and rushed out. As for washing up... it seemed there wasn’t time.

Hope the patient who paid big bucks for Tsunade’s surgery won’t mind her untidy appearance.

Takuya silently offered three seconds of pity for the patient who had forked out a large sum to have Tsunade perform surgery.

Luckily, this was the world of Naruto. In the real world, a doctor as disheveled as Tsunade might not even be allowed into the operating room.

Sometimes, hopes and dreams are wonderful, but reality can be harsh.

After Tsunade finished the surgery, got paid, and was about to head to the casino, the Anbu were already waiting at the hospital entrance.

"Tsunade-sama, the Hokage requests your presence in the office."

Although the title of the "Legendary Three Ninjas" had yet to be bestowed upon them—an honor that carried both great respect and deep insult—Tsunade’s status as the Princess of Konoha meant the Anbu treated her with far more deference than they did Jiraiya or Orochimaru.

"Seeing you guys, I knew it couldn’t be good. I’ll head there right away," Tsunade grumbled, annoyed.

So frustrating!!

She had wanted to go to the casino, but the old man had anticipated this, so he had people waiting for her at the hospital, ready to escort her to the office the moment she finished her surgery.

With her casino plans ruined, Tsunade's mood darkened as she stomped her way to the Hokage's office.

She kicked the door open, but the Third Hokage remained unperturbed, not even flinching at the damage to his door.

Koharu Utatane, who had always clashed with Tsunade, twitched at the corner of her mouth but held her tongue. Seeing Tsunade swagger in, Koharu refrained from scolding her, simply turning her head away as if nothing had happened.

"Old man, what do you want?" Tsunade asked with evident irritation as she slumped into an empty chair.

Whoosh~

Exhaling a puff of smoke, the Third Hokage set his pipe on the table and spoke, "Danzo sent word from the front lines. He wants to negotiate with Hanzo in hopes that Konoha and the Hidden Rain Village can reach a truce and end the war."

"And why are you telling me this?" Tsunade’s irritation only grew after hearing the Third Hokage’s words.

"Konoha has become bogged down in the Rain Country. If Hanzo wanted peace, he wouldn’t be fighting us to the bitter end. Don't forget, the Hidden Rain Village has also declared war on the Hidden Stone Village and the Hidden Sand Village. I don’t see Hanzo backing down to negotiate peace."

Negotiate peace?

Are you joking? Hanzo is at the peak of his power, and the Hidden Rain Village's military strength is unprecedented.

Their willingness to declare war on Konoha, the Hidden Stone Village, and the Hidden Sand Village speaks volumes.

Whoever causes trouble in the Rain Country, I’ll fight them, be it Konoha, the Hidden Sand Village, or even the Hidden Stone Village.

In such circumstances, peace talks are impossible.

Unless the Hidden Rain Village is driven to the brink of collapse, forcing Hanzo to surrender, only then could peace negotiations be considered.

And Hanzo would never bow to Konoha.

Danzo may have a plan, but Tsunade sneered, crossing her arms and scoffing, "Peace talks are a pipe dream. Even if Hanzo agrees, who will yield first? Konoha or the Hidden Rain Village?"

Peace talks are possible—if Konoha admits defeat, then the Hidden Rain Village will talk.

If Konoha doesn’t yield but still wants to end the war, how can that happen?

The Hidden Sand Village has declared war on Konoha, so a large force led by Chiyo has entered the Rain Country to join the conflict, aiming to keep Konoha bogged down there.

Hanzo isn't a fool; he wouldn’t agree to Konoha’s demands.

"But the situation within the Land of Fire is grim, with many enemies still infiltrating," Koharu Utatane said, her face lined with worry.

"According to reports, the Third Kazekage has set up camp in the Land of Rivers, with the main force of the Hidden Sand Village stationed there. Their ninjas can enter our territory at any time."

"The Third Kazekage hasn’t entered the Land of Fire?" Tsunade felt something was off.

The leader of the Hidden Sand Village, as its strongest ninja, should be leading the charge during their surprise attack on the Land of Fire.

If he entered the battlefield, very few in Konoha could stop him. Yet, despite the ongoing clashes between Konoha and the Hidden Sand Village, the Third Kazekage remained conspicuously inactive.

It felt as if something was being kept hidden, like there was a larger conspiracy at play.

-Ch54 - Giving Money Away? Better Give It to Me! I'll Teach You How to Play Landlord

"No, he hasn’t," Mito Homura interjected, taking over the conversation. "According to the intelligence reports, the Third Kazekage seemed to have entered the Land of Fire at some point but later withdrew. He’s been stationed at the camp in the Land of Rivers and hasn’t left since. The enemies within the Land of Fire are mainly led by Chiyo's son."

"And who’s in command?" Tsunade asked, fearing that the Third Hokage might again place someone unsuitable in charge. The mess Danzo had caused in the Rain Country battlefield had almost driven her mad. If the same were to happen in the Land of Rivers, Konoha would struggle even more in this war.

"It’s Sakumo Hatake," the Third Hokage finally spoke.

Hearing this, Tsunade nodded approvingly. "Good choice. Sakumo-senpai is indeed capable of holding such a position, but I suggest sending Nara Shikashige as well. Sakumo-senpai is better suited for combat on the battlefield, not managing the camp."

"He’s already been sent," the Third Hokage confirmed.

"Good, I’ll return to the Rain Country battlefield as soon as possible. With Chiyo’s presence there, Konoha will need to constantly supply antidotes."

"Thank you for your hard work," the Third Hokage said, acknowledging her efforts.

At this, Tsunade pushed her chair back in frustration. "If you really appreciated my efforts, you’d remove Danzo from his position."

"Tsunade, Danzo is the Hokage's advisor! He’s also your senior. Show him the respect he deserves," Koharu Utatane couldn’t hold back any longer. After all, their interests were closely tied to Danzo's, and Tsunade questioning Danzo was as good as questioning them all.

"I'll think about it," the Third Hokage said, his tone noncommittal, signaling Koharu to drop the matter. Replacing Danzo was out of the question, especially since there wasn’t anyone suitable to take his place. As for reprimanding Tsunade, that was even less likely. The Rain Country battlefield couldn’t function without her, and if she were pushed too far, Konoha’s chances of winning the war would diminish drastically.

Tsunade was not one to be trifled with; if she felt cornered, she might very well walk away, and no one could accuse her of being a traitor for it. Doing so would be like shooting themselves in the foot, humiliating both the Hokage and the Daimyo of the Land of Fire.

"Take your time considering it. I'm exhausted, so I’m leaving now," Tsunade said, ignoring Koharu as she waved and turned to leave. She had realized that no matter what, the Third Hokage wouldn’t replace Danzo. Given that, there was no point in arguing further. Whatever problems arose from their decision, they could deal with it themselves.

After Tsunade left, Koharu inevitably began complaining again. But, as always, the Third Hokage diffused the situation, smoothing things over, leaving Koharu with no outlet for her frustration. While her position as an elder commanded authority over most, it was utterly disregarded by Tsunade.

Finally, some time to relax.

Leaving the Hokage's office, Tsunade hurried toward the casino. But when she arrived, she was stunned. The casino was closed!

A notice was posted on the door, stating that due to the war, the casino would be closed temporarily to avoid causing trouble for the village.

Seeing this, Tsunade nearly spat out blood. She had prepared her money, only to find that there was nowhere to lose it. This is absurd!

At that moment, Tsunade felt an overwhelming urge to drag the casino owner out and beat them up. Of all times to close, why now? Are you doing this on purpose? The casino was open just yesterday!

What Tsunade didn’t know was that to prevent her from staying in the village too long, the Third Hokage had ordered the Anbu to inform all casinos in Konoha to close until she left the village. With the Anbu delivering such a warning, no casino owner dared to defy the order.

"Aren’t you supposed to be back late?" Takuya asked as he returned home after training, fresh from a bath and lounging on the sofa with a book. He saw Tsunade return with a scowl on her face, clearly displeased.

"The casino’s closed," Tsunade grumbled, feeling as if the world was conspiring against her. She slumped next to Takuya, forcing her way into a comfortable spot beside him.

...

Takuya thought she had been heartbroken or that a surgery had gone wrong, but no, she was upset because the casino had closed.

Will you die if you don’t give your money away?

Wait!

Giving away money?

If you’re so eager to give it away, why not give it to me? You’re already freeloading at my place, eating my food, and even sleeping in my bed! You don’t even want to sleep in the guest room and insist on taking over my bedroom.

Takuya raised his hand, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "Ever played Landlord?"

"What's Landlord?" Tsunade asked weakly, glancing at Takuya. He shrugged and replied, "A gambling game."

"How do you play?" Tsunade’s interest was piqued. She immediately perked up, sitting cross-legged and waving her hand excitedly. "Come on, let’s play! I’ve been dying to gamble. Let’s play this Landlord game you mentioned."

Whether it was cards or a game machine, it didn’t matter to her. As long as she could gamble, that was enough.

"But we don’t have any cards, and we need three people to play Landlord," Takuya pointed out.

"Leave the cards to me, and I’ll find us another player," Tsunade said, already burning with excitement. Takuya told her what kind of cards they needed, and without even bothering to use the door, Tsunade jumped out of the window and disappeared.

Less than half an hour later, Tsunade returned, dragging a bewildered Kushina with one hand and holding a freshly printed deck of cards with the other. The cards were hastily printed after Tsunade stormed into a print shop and demanded the owner work overtime to produce them. As for the designs, she didn’t care—numbers and letters were enough.

Kushina, meanwhile, had been in her kitchen preparing a special dinner for Takuya when Tsunade suddenly barged in, grabbed her without a word, and carried her off. She hadn’t even had a chance to protest before Tsunade hoisted her over her shoulder and ran.

Now sitting in Takuya’s house, Kushina was still dazed.

Wasn’t I cooking at home?

How did I end up here?

"Here are the cards. Let’s start; I can’t wait any longer!" Tsunade said, tossing Kushina onto the sofa and rubbing her hands together eagerly, urging Takuya to begin.

...

"Do you both understand the rules?" After explaining for quite some time, Takuya finally made sure Tsunade and Kushina understood how to play Landlord. Tsunade was easy enough; despite her terrible luck, she had a good memory. But Kushina was a bit confused.

"Landlord!" As soon as the cards were dealt, the big sheep couldn’t wait to shout, eager to be the Landlord. Without even waiting for Takuya and Kushina to agree, she grabbed the bottom cards and added them to her hand.

...

Kushina bit her lip and began organizing her cards. Takuya shot a look at Tsunade, Where did you get the confidence to grab the Landlord role? She didn’t even bother with the bidding process.

Glancing at his hand with two Jokers and three twos, Takuya silently prepared to fleece this big sheep. As long as Kushina didn’t mess things up, Takuya was confident he could strip Tsunade of everything she had.

How should I play this?

Tsunade’s inexperience and overeagerness were painfully evident.

"Three!"

"Two..."

"No can do."

"Straight."

"No can do."

"Triple with an extra."

"I want this one! I’ve got this one!"

"Joker Bomb..."

Are you cheating? Why are all the big cards in your hand?!

Note: Nara Shikashige is Nara Shikaku father

-Ch55 - Not Only Are You a Gambling Addict, But Also a Female Hooligan

Watching Takuya win hand after hand, Tsunade gritted her teeth in frustration. Why does he always get the best cards?

“You shuffle the cards. What do you mean, cheating? If you can’t handle losing, then don’t play. Pay up—thank you for your contribution, two thousand ryo, no credit,” Takuya said, pushing the cards toward Tsunade.

If you’re bad at the game, at least don’t blame others. Takuya couldn’t understand where Tsunade got the confidence to grab the cards.

“Fine, I’ll shuffle!” Tsunade felt like she had been duped. My luck can’t be this bad. Why does Takuya always get the good cards?

She was determined to win this time.

I’m going to wipe the floor with you!

“Bomb, straight,”

“Joker, airplane,”

“Two, straight…”

Watching Takuya win again and again, with even Kushina profiting from the game, Tsunade was fuming. Why is my luck so terrible? I can never get good cards.

“I don’t believe this! Let’s go again!” Tsunade, now fully invested, dealt another round of cards.

I dare you to be the Landlord this time. I’ll destroy you!

Holding two Jokers and four Aces, Tsunade felt invincible. This round, I’ll make Takuya beg for mercy.

“Pass,” Takuya said, quickly passing on the Landlord role.

“Hahaha, Takuya, you’re going to lose this time!” Tsunade exclaimed, grabbing the remaining cards. “Watch me win it all back.”

Takuya: …

It seemed that hanging out with him, Minato, Kushina, and Mikoto had led Tsunade to pick up some of the funny phrases from his past life.

With two Jokers in hand, I’m unstoppable.

Feeling on top of the world, Tsunade confidently played a low Three.

Kushina hesitated as she examined her hand. She was stuck, unsure how to proceed. Something seems off with these cards. One wrong move, and Tsunade might cry if I win this round.

“What are you waiting for? Play a Two!” came the urgent voice of the Nine-Tails from within her.

Kushina had reached an agreement with the Nine-Tails. As long as it didn’t interfere with her training, she wouldn’t torment it with the Adamantine Sealing Chains. Occasionally, she’d even let it take a peek at the outside world.

Now, as it watched Takuya and Tsunade playing, the Nine-Tails was itching to join in. Seeing Takuya win round after round, with Tsunade almost losing her shirt, the Nine-Tails couldn’t stand it.

Finally, she has good cards—why is she hesitating? Play your cards! I’m going crazy here!

“What do you know?” Kushina retorted. “If I lose, how could I face Takuya?”

Inside the seal, the Nine-Tails rolled its eyes, baring its fangs. “Trust me, you won’t lose. If I’m wrong, I won’t ask to be let out for three months.”

“Really?”

“Yes, play the Two! Tsunade definitely can’t beat it.”

“Alright.” Under Tsunade’s impatient gaze, Kushina followed the Nine-Tails’ advice and played a Two.

“Pass,” Takuya said, giving up instantly.

Should I bomb her? Tsunade hesitated, feeling uncertain. The Nine-Tails smirked with satisfaction. “See? I told you it would work.”

“Pass!” Tsunade eventually backed down.

“Straight,” Kushina played a sequence, causing Tsunade’s eyes to widen in shock.

“Pfft~~” Takuya turned away, stifling his laughter. Why is it so hard for Tsunade to win a round?

She had lost every game from start to finish. Poor Kushina hadn’t had a single chance to be the Landlord. She either won alongside Takuya or lost with Tsunade.

“Pass…” I don’t believe you can win with this hand!

“Pair of Twos.”

“Are you doing this on purpose?” Tsunade snapped, veins bulging on her forehead. She was ready to punch someone. If it hadn’t been Kushina sitting there, Jiraiya would’ve been sent flying by now.

“Can’t I play a pair of Twos?” Kushina asked, looking at Tsunade with wide, innocent eyes.

…

Facing Kushina’s sad expression, Tsunade’s anger melted away, replaced by a forced smile. “Of course, you can. Keep going, I don’t believe—”

“Straight,” Kushina laid down her final cards, and the smile on Tsunade’s face froze.

What happened to "Two Jokers in hand, unstoppable"? How did Kushina steal the win? And it’s a spring game, which doubles the payout!

Argh!!!

So frustrating.

“Pfft-hahaha…” Takuya collapsed onto the table, laughing uncontrollably. Playing cards with Tsunade was too much fun. She couldn’t win a single game, not even one.

“You’re good!” Tsunade glared at Kushina.

I finally got a good hand, and you ruined it! Where’s the justice in that?

“Want to play another round, Tsunade? I haven’t been the Landlord yet,” Kushina asked innocently.

“What’s the point? I’m going to bed.” Tossing the cards aside, Tsunade fled.

She had run out of money, and Takuya didn’t allow credit, so unless Kushina lent her some, she was out of luck.

But Takuya wasn’t about to lend her a single coin.

Why lend you money to lose when I could keep it for myself?

As a result, Tsunade never managed to borrow money from Takuya, and even from Kushina, the chances were slim.

The most frustrating part for Tsunade was that she couldn’t strong-arm Kushina into lending her money. If it had been Nawaki, she would’ve kicked him until he gave in.

“Hahaha, she’s only going to bed because she’s out of money. If we kept playing, she’d lose her underwear too,” Takuya chuckled, his stomach hurting from laughter.

He called out to Tsunade, “The guest room is clean, don’t go to my bedroom.”

“I like it. I want to, and I’m going to sleep in your room!” Tsunade yelled back, storming into the bedroom.

…

“Let’s see you sleep there forever, then.”

“I will! Who’s afraid? I was wondering where I’d find dinner.”

…

“If you’re willing to take care of me, I don’t mind,” Tsunade continued.

…

So that’s it, Takuya thought, shaking his head. Not only is Tsunade a gambling addict, but she’s also a shameless hooligan. Just listen to her.

“I’m going to join Tsunade,” Kushina said, carefully tucking away her winnings before heading to the bedroom.

After losing all her money, Tsunade had calmed down considerably, but it only took a day before she started acting up again. Unable to borrow money from Kushina, she suggested playing Landlord with sticky notes instead.

Takuya not only scorned the idea but also flat-out refused. Winning a bit of money was fine, but playing for sticky notes? No way.

On the fourth day, under the Third Hokage’s orders, Tsunade reluctantly left Konoha, carrying a load of sealing scrolls as she headed to the Rain Country battlefield.

On the road, Tsunade slung her arm around Takuya’s shoulders, grinning mischievously. “Takuya, aren’t you going to say goodbye to Kushina and Mikoto?”

You just want to see me embarrass myself. Don’t think I don’t see through your little tricks.

Takuya rolled his eyes and pulled away, thinking, It’s broad daylight, and you’re acting all cozy!

“They know I’m going to the Rain Country battlefield. I’ve already said everything I need to say. What’s the point of another farewell?”

“Aww, are you shy? Don’t run away—come here and let your big sister give you a hug, so I can tell Kushina all about it later.”

“Get lost!”

…

Are we going to war or on a fun trip?

-Ch56 - Arrival at the Battlefield, Dire Situations

Watching Takuya and Tsunade’s antics along the way, Minato felt like a third wheel. Tsunade hardly paid him any attention, her focus entirely on Takuya.

Despite all the joking around, once they were far from Konoha, Tsunade became serious. She started scanning for enemy traces, setting traps, and scouting for a campsite—nothing was left undone.

Just as Minato thought Tsunade had finally gotten serious, she pulled out a deck of cards and raised an eyebrow at Takuya. “How about a couple of rounds?”

Minato: …

What kind of people are these? They were still thinking about playing cards at a time like this. Wait, why are you looking at me? Don’t tell me I have to join in too?

Help me.

Minato, on the verge of tears, held the cards, silently pleading for help, but Takuya just ignored him.

Enjoy yourself. Takuya thought with a mischievous smile.

Takuya declined to play, so Tsunade dragged Minato into a two-player game of Landlord. She took full advantage of Minato’s lack of understanding of the rules, nearly reducing him to tears.

He was so close to begging, “Please, I’ll just give you the money, can you let me off the hook?”

Traveling light, with only a few sealing scrolls filled with medical supplies, their progress wasn’t slowed much. They encountered no Sand Village shinobi along the way, reaching the Rain Country in just two days.

“This is the most inhospitable place I’ve ever been to, no contest,” Takuya observed. The sky was perpetually overcast, rain fell constantly, and the ground was riddled with puddles and mud.

Luckily, shinobi could channel chakra to their feet, making it easier to traverse the mud. For ordinary people, traveling even a hundred meters would mean slipping and falling several times.

“Be cautious; enemies could appear at any moment. We’re only a few miles from the Konoha camp,” Tsunade warned. Her nerves were on edge as they entered Rain Country, knowing that even though they were behind Konoha’s front lines, enemies could still pop up unexpectedly.

Hanzo was known for sending teams to circle behind enemy lines and attack Konoha’s supply convoys.

Shaking the rain from his head, Takuya asked, “Why not set up camp near the border? The environment there is better than in Rain Country. This humidity makes transporting supplies and treating the wounded much harder.”

Precious supplies could be stored in sealing scrolls, like the medicine Tsunade carried. But weapons and food had to be transported by cart, making these conditions a significant challenge.

And injured soldiers? Their wounds would easily get infected in this environment.

“It was the commander’s order,” Tsunade responded with a roll of her eyes.

Of course, her irritation wasn’t aimed at Takuya but at the man sitting safely in camp, issuing orders—Danzo Shimura.

Right, Danzo’s handiwork. Takuya thought.

Danzo was skilled in scheming and betrayal, but when it came to commanding an army… It would have been better to give command to Orochimaru!

Orochimaru had a natural talent for this, though his tactics were ruthless, often using bait to lure in prey. Still, at least he was competent, unlike Danzo… Without the support of the Third Hokage and his ties to Tobirama, Danzo wouldn’t even be qualified to oversee the camp, let alone be the commander.

It was clear Tsunade held a deep grudge against Danzo. She had likely had a rough time on the front lines.

The remaining miles passed without incident, and they successfully arrived at the Konoha camp.

Shinobi battles differed from those of conventional armies, which often relied on massed ranks and brute force. Shinobi typically engaged in smaller-scale skirmishes. Only in major battles would you see hundreds of shinobi mobilized at once.

In the usual structure, there were squads, platoons, and companies. Squads consisted of three shinobi, platoons of twelve, and the size of a company depended on the situation.

After verifying their identities, the three entered the camp, and Tsunade immediately led them to the medical unit.

“Lady Tsunade,”

Along the way, they were greeted by many who respectfully acknowledged her presence.

Tsunade kept her expression serious, nodding slightly in response.

“You two help out with the wounded for now. Nawaki will be with you, so ask him if you have any questions,” Tsunade said as she disappeared into a tent to change clothes, before diving into treating the severely injured, leaving Takuya and Minato to fend for themselves.

“Someone help hold him down!”

As new recruits, Takuya and Minato exchanged glances before moving to restrain a struggling patient.

What the…!

Seeing the patient’s condition, Takuya gasped. What did this guy go through? He was in horrible shape.

His skin was pitted and covered in blisters, many of which had burst open. Did someone douse him in acid?

As Takuya and Minato held the patient down, the medical ninja treating him let out a sigh of relief.

“You must be new here, right?” The medical ninja glanced at their young faces as he worked on the patient, casually asking.

“Yes, we are,” Minato nodded, then hesitantly asked, “Sensei, his injuries…?”

Minato wanted to ask what had caused the man’s injuries but realized it might be impolite, so he stopped himself. He didn’t want his or Takuya’s first impression with the medical team to be a negative one.

The medical ninja didn’t seem bothered, instead offering a friendly smile. “It’s no secret—he was poisoned by a puppet master from the Sand Village. If it weren’t for Lady Tsunade’s antidotes, many more of us would’ve died.”

“The Sand shinobi are truly despicable, attacking us while we’re already engaged with the Rain Village, and even sending an army into the Rain Country to fight us.”

The medic’s tone turned bitter as he cursed the Sand Village for their underhanded tactics.

“Even with an antidote, if treatment isn’t timely, it can be fatal, right?” Takuya observed.

This guy’s probably scarred for life. He’d be kicked out of the Red Light District if he tried to go there, Takuya thought, somewhat morbidly. The man’s injuries were horrifying.

The antidote wasn’t a miracle cure. The Sand Village constantly developed new poisons, trying to inflict maximum damage on their enemies.

Konoha was always on the back foot, only able to create antidotes after encountering a new poison. They were fortunate to have Tsunade, or the death toll would be much higher.

The medic gave Takuya a surprised look, impressed that someone so young understood this. He nodded, “If it’s a new antidote and the poison is treated immediately, there’s usually no problem. But if they don’t have the antidote or can’t get help quickly, many of our shinobi die from it.”

He glanced at Takuya and Minato, a mischievous glint in his eyes, and gestured for them to lift the cloth at the back of the tent.

…

Damn it!

I thought you were a helpful mentor, but you just wanted to prank us! Takuya fumed, resisting the urge to curse.

-Ch57- Nawaki's Ambitious Dreams

"Is there something behind this?" Minato instinctively reached out to pull it back, but Takuya shouted, "Stop!" Unfortunately, it was too late—Minato had already lifted the white cloth.

Upon seeing what lay behind it, Minato shuddered, dropping the cloth as if he'd been shocked. He turned back to the medical ninja who had tricked them with an exasperated look.

“Hahaha...” The medical ninja laughed heartily. “It's been a while since I've come across such amusing kids like you. Just messing with you a bit. But since you're here to help, you’ll need to get used to all of this. By the way, who brought you here?”

“Tsunade,” Takuya replied, feeling somewhat irritated.

“Oh, Tsunade, huh?” The medical ninja continued to treat the patient’s wounds, applying a layer of ointment to the poor man’s body. The patient would undoubtedly be left with pockmarked skin, resembling a honeycomb once he was fully healed.

It was then that the medical ninja suddenly paused, his hands frozen in place as he processed the name. He looked up in surprise. “Who?”

“Tsunade,” Takuya repeated, shrugging as if it was no big deal.

“Did Tsunade-sama bring you here?” The medical ninja asked again, wanting to be sure.

“Yes, Senpai. We came to the camp with Tsunade-sama,” Minato replied politely.

“Hahaha, that's great!” After standing there stunned for a few seconds, the medical ninja suddenly jumped up like an excited child, nearly hitting the tent’s roof. “This is fantastic!”

Has this guy lost his mind? Minato instinctively moved closer to Takuya, whispering, “What’s wrong with this senpai?”

“How would I know?” Takuya shot him a look. We both came here together—how am I supposed to know why he’s acting like this?

Takuya guessed that the medical ninja was so happy because Tsunade was back and the medical unit's backbone had returned. But was it really necessary to get this excited? Tsunade had only been gone for about ten days.

Even before, Tsunade rarely stayed in camp. Most of the time, she was on the battlefield with Orochimaru and Jiraiya, fighting the enemy. She only came back to help make antidotes or treat severely injured shinobi.

After laughing for a while, the medical ninja realized he had lost his composure. He coughed awkwardly, trying to cover up his excitement. With a somewhat unnatural expression, he asked, “So, did Tsunade-sama ask you to do anything specific, or are you just here to help out in the medical unit?”

Takuya and Minato exchanged glances. Minato gave his trademark sunny smile and scratched his head. “Senpai, Tsunade-sama asked us to find Nawaki-senpai—Tsunade-sama’s younger brother.”

“Nawaki? Are you sure?” The medical ninja’s previously awkward expression turned strange upon hearing this.

Something’s off! Takuya could sense that something was wrong. They might be walking into a trap.

“Senpai, is there an issue with finding Nawaki?” Even Minato was starting to feel uneasy.

“No, no,” the medical ninja quickly shook his head and helpfully pointed outside the tent to where Nawaki was working. “You’ll find him there. But be warned, the work might be tough. Good luck, you two. Hard work is better than losing your life on the battlefield.”

As they left the tent, Minato whispered, “I’ve got a bad feeling about this.”

“You don’t need to have a bad feeling—it’s definitely going to be rough,” Takuya replied, his tone resigned.

When the two finally found Nawaki, Minato understood exactly what Takuya had meant earlier.

“Takuya, Minato?” Nawaki looked surprised when he saw them. “What are you two doing on the front lines?”

“We came with your sister. She told us to find you,” Takuya explained, spreading his hands. They were in unfamiliar territory, so sticking with Nawaki wasn’t too bad. At least they wouldn’t be randomly targeted, even if the work turned out to be hard.

They were on the front lines now—did they really expect an easy life? That was out of the question.

“That’s great!” Nawaki exclaimed, pulling them into the tent. Embarrassed, he quickly tidied up the messy space. “It’s a bit chaotic since I’ve been living here alone. You guys can stay with me from now on. This is one of the safest spots in the camp, so there’s no risk of enemy attacks. You can rest easy here.”

I finally understand why Tsunade is such a slob. It must run in the Senju family. Takuya thought to himself. The sister is a mess, and so is the brother.

“It’s fine; we’ll help clean up. Right, Takuya?” Minato nudged Takuya, signaling him to start helping.

On the way here, Takuya and Tsunade had been constantly teasing each other, leaving Minato with frayed nerves. But while Tsunade and Takuya were close, Nawaki’s relationship with them was just average.

Now wasn’t the time to embarrass Nawaki.

Takuya wasn’t clueless, nor did he intend to make things difficult for Nawaki. Just as Minato thought, even though they weren’t particularly close to Nawaki, they still had to maintain a certain level of respect. It wasn’t like with Tsunade, where Takuya could tease her without worry.

The three of them quickly got to work, and it wasn’t long before they had the tent cleaned up. Both Takuya and Minato were handy with their hands, and neither wanted to live in a dirty, smelly space.

In this terrible environment, getting a good night's sleep was already a luxury. The least they could do was make themselves as comfortable as possible.

After some hard work, they finally finished cleaning up. As they took a break, Takuya casually asked, “By the way, what exactly are we supposed to be doing? Didn’t Orochimaru take you to the battlefield?”

“Sensei said I should stay in camp to gain some experience first. He’ll take me to the battlefield later,” Nawaki explained, his face filled with admiration as he mentioned Orochimaru. Clenching his fists, he confidently declared, “I’ll study hard under Orochimaru-sensei and become a powerful shinobi like my grandfather, to protect Konoha, my family, and the villagers.”

“Ahaha...” Minato scratched his head awkwardly. Nawaki’s ambition seemed even more unrealistic than his own. Minato only wanted to become Hokage, but Nawaki? He wanted to stand shoulder to shoulder with Hashirama Senju, something most people wouldn’t even dream of.

It helped that Nawaki’s grandfather was Hashirama. If anyone else had such lofty ambitions, they’d be laughed at.

At the very least, Minato was too shy to go around saying he wanted to be Hokage, to bring peace to the ninja world, and end all wars.

Minato had stopped openly talking about his dreams, all thanks to Takuya. Since they were kids, whenever Minato talked about his ideals and aspirations, Takuya would just laugh at him.

Over time, Minato started keeping these thoughts to himself. He realized that constantly talking about dreams and ideals felt kind of embarrassing.

Your ambition is really grand, Takuya thought. It might not come true in this lifetime.

“By the way, you still haven’t told us what kind of work we’ll be doing,” Takuya said.

“Work?” Nawaki paused, and the confidence on his face faded. “Uh… It’s hard to explain. You’ll see tonight. For now, let’s just rest. Our work starts in the evening. Oh, and don’t wander around the camp. You might be mistaken for a spy.”

“What about food?” Takuya asked. The rain was still pouring, and the ground was a muddy mess. Who would be wandering around for no reason?

All Takuya cared about was staying comfortable and not going hungry. As for everything else, it could wait.

Takuya didn’t mind fighting on the battlefield. After all, killing was part of a ninja’s life—as long as he wasn’t being sent on a suicide mission.

“Are you hungry?” Nawaki pulled out two black, rock-hard ration bars and a handful of soldier pills.

“...”

Takuya and Minato stared at the food Nawaki offered them in silence.

“What’s wrong?” Nawaki asked, puzzled by their reaction. “Didn’t you say you were hungry?”

Minato glanced at Takuya before asking hesitantly, “Is there anything else?”

“Nope,” Nawaki shook his head. “There’s cooked food at mealtimes, but it doesn’t taste great. Honestly, the dry rations are better, even if they’re a bit hard. As for the soldier pills, I wouldn’t recommend eating them unless you have to.”

Step aside! Takuya nudged Minato out of the way and seriously said to Nawaki, “Go to the logistics department and get some ingredients. Don’t forget the firewood. We’ll cook for ourselves. If anyone asks, just say your sister wants to practice her cooking skills, so she needs the supplies.”

-Ch58 - Sacrificing Others to Save Myself

“By the way, remember to tell your sister when you get back. It’ll be mealtime soon, so she should come over to eat,” Takuya instructed, a resigned expression on his face. It seems I have to cook separately after all.

Luckily, with Tsunade as their cover, no one would dare to complain. Tsunade’s importance in the camp was no less than that of Danzo, the commanding officer. If she wanted to cook separately, who would dare to object? Not only would no one say it was wrong, but they’d probably think it was perfectly reasonable.

“Is this... really okay?” Nawaki, remembering Takuya’s culinary skills, swallowed his saliva unconsciously. He was getting tired of eating rations all the time.

“If you’re not willing, then just keep gnawing on your dry rations. I’m going out for a bit,” Takuya said, spreading his hands in exasperation. If Nawaki didn’t want to go along with the plan, Takuya would just find his own way.

The Land of Rain was harsh, but it wasn’t devoid of resources. Takuya didn’t believe his cooking skills wouldn’t earn him a little special treatment.

“Wait! I’ll go!” Nawaki wasn’t stupid. With the chance to get better food and using his own name, why wouldn’t he take the opportunity? He was tired of the camp’s meals and rations. With Takuya being such a good cook, the special treatment was a must.

Stopping Takuya from leaving, Nawaki donned a raincoat and dashed towards the logistics department.

“He won’t get scolded, will he?” Minato asked worriedly, watching Nawaki’s silhouette disappear into the rain. Using Tsunade’s name like that, there was a high chance Takuya wouldn’t get scolded, but Nawaki might end up being the one to suffer.

“Then you can keep eating rations,” Takuya replied with a disdainful glance. You want special treatment, but you’re worried about Nawaki getting scolded?

“Ahem, the weather is nice today,” Minato quickly changed the subject, pretending as if he hadn’t just been worrying about Nawaki getting scolded. After all, compared to getting better food, whether Nawaki would get scolded or not wasn’t that important. Tsunade wouldn’t hit him, after all.

Sacrificing others to save myself—that’s a lesson I learned from you, Minato thought.

Nawaki, using Tsunade’s name, arrived at the logistics department and explained his request. Nervous, he anxiously awaited the response of the logistics manager, a higher-ranking ninja.

“What?” the manager said, his reaction far more intense than Nawaki had expected, making Nawaki even more anxious.

“You’re doing this for Tsunade-sama?” the manager continued, before firmly stating, “If it’s for Tsunade-sama, we’ll accommodate her needs, no matter what. Please wait here; I’ll have someone deliver the supplies right away. From now on, you won’t even need to come here—we’ll make sure everything is delivered daily.”

The logistics manager patted his chest, reassuring Nawaki. Though the manager was a shinobi from the Shimura clan and had been promoted by Danzo, he had deep respect for Tsunade. Without her, who knows how many Konoha shinobi would have perished on the battlefield?

That worked? Nawaki thought, still in disbelief. This seems almost too easy.

As Nawaki left the logistics department, his mind was still buzzing. But he didn’t forget to go find Tsunade.

“What do you want?” Tsunade asked. Having rushed to the camp in the Land of Rain and performed two surgeries already, even someone with Tsunade’s strength and stamina was exhausted. She leaned back in her chair, legs propped on the table, her arms crossed, and she warned, “If this is about going to the battlefield, forget it. Talk to Orochimaru about that.”

Tsunade’s biggest headache with Nawaki was his constant desire to go to the battlefield and fight. He had come to her many times asking for help in convincing Orochimaru to let him go. So Tsunade laid it out right away—she wouldn’t discuss anything related to the battlefield. Nawaki would have to talk to Orochimaru when he returned.

“It’s not that,” Nawaki said quickly, “It’s about Takuya. He said you’ve been working hard and need a special meal. I already went to the logistics department; they’ll deliver the supplies to my place. They asked you to come over for dinner.”

“Alright,” Tsunade agreed immediately. She had long grown tired of the camp’s meals. If she had the option, of course she would prefer something better. With Takuya’s cooking skills, it would be a waste not to have a special meal.

“I’ll be heading back then,” Nawaki said, relieved now that Tsunade had agreed.

“Wait!” Tsunade suddenly realized something. “Did you say you’re using my name for the special meal?”

“...” Danger! Nawaki immediately sensed that he might be in trouble. Realizing his life might be at stake, he hurriedly explained, “It wasn’t my idea! It was all Takuya’s. He said you’d definitely be okay with it, and that using your name would prevent the logistics department from giving me any trouble. Otherwise, people might gossip.”

“Ugh, I knew it,” Tsunade sighed, her enthusiasm gone, and even the idea of hitting her brother was dismissed.

“Huh?” Nawaki blinked in confusion. She’s not angry? Has the sun come out today?

“You little brat, are you asking for a beating?” Tsunade’s rage returned in an instant. Slamming the table, she gritted her teeth and said, “If you had even half of Takuya’s brains, I wouldn’t have to worry so much. Now get lost, and tell him I’ll be there on time. I’ll handle things in the camp, so keep the special meals coming.”

“Right away!” Nawaki, fearing for his safety, dashed off, clutching his head to avoid a potential smack.

Sigh... Tsunade let out a weary sigh. “I hope spending time with Takuya will help this kid wise up a bit.” Tsunade didn’t have high expectations for Nawaki. As long as he grew up safely, she’d be satisfied. As for his ambitions of becoming Hokage and standing shoulder to shoulder with their grandfather, achieving that would be great, but she wasn’t counting on it.

Even Tsunade herself didn’t have much faith in those dreams. The idea of becoming Hokage and standing alongside Hashirama Senju was almost impossible, something she didn’t need to worry about.

As for becoming Hokage... it was too early to talk about that. The Third Hokage was still in his prime and wouldn’t easily step down. Even if he did, without securing the power that comes with the position, being Hokage would be a difficult, if not humiliating, role—like what happened with Minato. Even after being chosen as the Fourth Hokage over Orochimaru, most of the power remained with the Third Hokage or was held by Danzo and his group. Minato was left feeling like a mere puppet.

“Danzo-sama, this is a report from the logistics department regarding supplies sent to Tsunade-sama,” a subordinate reported. Given that Danzo was the camp commander, any significant matters had to be approved by him first.

-Ch59- Who Dares to Disdain Tsunade? Takuya Yagami Dares

Danzo casually glanced at the contents of the document before placing it down. “Go ahead with the arrangements. You can also periodically increase the supply of fresh ingredients.”

Tsunade needing special treatment? That was good news.

Danzo was eager for Tsunade to stay in the camp permanently, enjoying her special treatment every day. As long as Tsunade remained in the camp, she could save many injured shinobi, which was far more valuable to Danzo than having her on the front lines.

However, Tsunade disliked him. After a heated argument, she left the camp and headed to the battlefield, refusing to be persuaded to return.

Now, if Tsunade was willing to stay, wasn’t that a good thing?

“Yes, sir.”

Relieved by Danzo’s approval, the logistics staff left the tent, now with a legitimate reason for their actions.

Once they were gone, Danzo spoke again. “That Takuya Yagami who arrived with Tsunade—is he in the camp?”

“Yes, Lord Danzo. He arrived with Jiraiya’s disciple, Namikaze Minato. The Hokage specifically requested that Tsunade bring them to the front lines for training. Should I summon them?”

A Root ninja appeared in the tent, kneeling respectfully.

“No need. They’re just kids. What’s a pair of three-tomoe Sharingan worth? If Sarutobi values them, let them do as they please.”

Though Danzo said he wasn’t interested, the truth was, he was quite envious of Takuya’s Sharingan and his genjutsu abilities.

But now was not the time for underhanded moves. Angering the Third Hokage could jeopardize his position, especially since Takuya’s background made him too sensitive to target. Besides, Tsunade had taken a keen interest in the boy.

If Danzo made any move against Takuya, Tsunade would undoubtedly explode, and the camp would descend into chaos.

Faced with the choice between recruiting a promising talent and retaining his authority, Danzo decisively chose the latter.

As for Takuya embarrassing Shimura Hideaki—was that really a big deal? It was a trivial matter, hardly worth Danzo’s attention.

There were plenty of people in the Shimura clan. If every little issue required his intervention, then Danzo might as well abandon his ambitions and just focus on solving his clan’s problems.

“Yes, sir.”

With his orders given, the Root ninja disappeared from the tent, leaving Danzo alone, his expressionless face furrowing into a deep frown.

He had allied with Koharu and Homura, working together to wrest control of the front lines from the Third Hokage. Yet, despite the power and authority that came with his position, Danzo found it uncomfortable, like sitting on a hot seat.

Every minor problem required his attention. That was one thing, and Danzo didn’t shy away from scheming and plotting. But he was frustrated by his own limitations in directing the enemy’s distribution and strategy.

He didn’t want to relinquish his authority, but the weight of responsibility left him feeling caught between a rock and a hard place.

Moreover, the Third Hokage was keen to negotiate with Hanzo, hoping to end the war through diplomacy—something Danzo didn’t want at all.

Danzo’s ambition was to become Hokage, and to achieve that, he needed enough merits and recognition. If the Third Hokage led the negotiations and ended the war, the credit wouldn’t go to Danzo.

Indeed, no matter where you are, it’s always better to have someone powerful to rely on.

Look at them—they’re eating dry rations while others get special treatment, and everyone’s happy to offer them more.

Takuya couldn’t help but feel a bit envious.

Gurgle…

Having not eaten a proper meal in a long time, Nawaki’s stomach rumbled at the aroma of food. Takuya looked at him, exasperated.

“Nawaki, could you not be so embarrassing? Anyone who doesn’t know you might think you’re a refugee.”

“Sometimes it’s worse than being a refugee out here,” came Tsunade’s voice, perfectly timed to alleviate her brother’s embarrassment. Otherwise, Nawaki might have been too mortified to move.

“Sis, is it time to eat?”

Nawaki jumped up, making way for Tsunade to sit. But she just turned her nose up at him.

After surveying the now-tidy tent, Tsunade chose to sit next to Takuya instead. The reason was simple: Nawaki’s sleeping area was too messy, and it had a strange odor. No girl would want to sit near that smell.

After you eat, clean up your space. Don’t embarrass yourself, and don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Tsunade sat down, giving Nawaki a warning look.

Nawaki had previously lived alone in a tent, but now, with two companions, his sloppiness was bound to be noticed.

As for Tsunade... Who would dare to disdain her?

“Did you wash your hands? Did you change your clothes? And you’re sitting on my bed?” Tsunade’s musings were abruptly interrupted as Takuya pushed her away.

The medical unit was full of all kinds of viruses and grime. Bringing even a tiny bit of that into the tent could be a disaster.

Nawaki, still smarting from Tsunade’s earlier rejection, stared in shock at Takuya.

His sister, who had just snubbed him, was now being rejected by someone else!

Am I dreaming?

“You little brat, what did you say?” Tsunade’s face reddened with anger as she glared at Takuya.

“I already washed up! If you don’t believe me, come smell for yourself,” she insisted.

“Is that so?”

Takuya leaned in suspiciously and took a sniff.

Minato was unfazed by this exchange; he had seen far more bizarre interactions between Takuya and Tsunade. This was nothing in comparison.

“...”

Minato might be used to it, but Nawaki was not. He felt like his world was crumbling.

His sister... she was letting a guy—no, a kid—get that close and do something so inappropriate!

Takuya Yagami, this is too much! Who goes around sniffing girls like that?

“Alright, no strange smells. You pass,” Takuya finally relented, letting Tsunade off the hook.

“Let’s eat. You’re in luck—logistics sent over two bottles of sake just for you.”

He gestured to the bottles on the side as he picked up his chopsticks.

“They’re learning,” Tsunade remarked.

“It’s no wonder I work so hard saving people—it’s exhausting! Takuya, give me a massage later. Your technique was pretty good last time; I felt great afterward.”

“Get lost. Why would I?”

“Just say whether you will or not!”

“I refuse.”

Why aren’t you eating? Weren’t you just complaining about being hungry?

Noticing Nawaki sitting there in a daze, Minato felt puzzled.

Is it because of Takuya and Tsunade arguing? Isn’t that normal for them?

“Eat up! What’s got you spacing out?” After her spat with Takuya, Tsunade finally noticed her brother’s odd behavior.

“Huh? Oh, yeah, food. Right.” Nawaki quickly shoveled rice into his mouth, forgetting to even grab any side dishes, his eyes darting between Takuya and Tsunade.

“Keep staring, and I’ll pluck your eyeballs out,” Tsunade threatened, glaring at him.

“...”

I’m your real brother, your flesh and blood. Why are you harsher with me than with others?

“Nothing beats a proper meal. I don’t even want to leave the camp anymore,” Tsunade sighed, her face flushed from the sake, as she collapsed onto Takuya’s bed.

“Alright, time for that massage. I’m exhausted. If you don’t give me one, I’m not leaving—"I will sleep in your bed tonight.”

Clatter! Nawaki’s bowl slipped from his hands onto the table.

All three of them—Tsunade, Takuya, and Minato—turned to look at him with questioning eyes.

Are you okay?

Why have you been acting so strangely all day?

You even dropped your bowl