The casino had grown quiet.
Almost no one remained inside, and the lively noise from earlier had faded into silence. The two of them sat across from each other, calmly finishing their boxed lunches.
After a while, Tsunade wiped the corner of her mouth with the back of her hand. She stood up, stretched slightly, and spoke in a relaxed tone.
"Let's go somewhere more comfortable."
Hayashi raised his eyebrows in exaggerated surprise.
"For you, Tsunade sensei, isn't the casino the most comfortable place on earth?"
Tsunade shot him a flat look, pushed open the door, and walked out without answering.
"Hey, at least take the kid who's asleep."
"You knocked her out, you carry her."
Her voice drifted back from the street outside.
"..."
Hearing her footsteps gradually fade away, Hayashi could only sigh.
He took off his coat and gently draped it over the small girl sleeping beside him. Then he carefully lifted the unconscious Shizune onto his back before hurrying after Tsunade.
The strange sight of a young ninja carrying a sleeping child through the street drew plenty of curious glances from passersby.
Eventually they arrived at their next stop.
Hayashi looked around the small izakaya, then watched Tsunade fill his sake cup all the way to the brim.
He sighed helplessly.
"So we ended up in a bar after all."
"Don't worry about the details."
Tsunade ignored his complaint and asked quietly,
"How are things in the Land of Wind?"
Hayashi's expression became more serious.
"Casualties are within acceptable limits. Aside from those who died immediately on the battlefield, most of the injured received treatment."
He paused briefly before continuing.
"A few severely wounded ninja had to undergo amputations, but their lives were saved."
Tsunade remained silent and waited.
Hayashi understood the information she truly wanted.
"However, the Hidden Sand Village currently has almost twice the number of troops that Konoha has deployed. Chiyo and her elite forces have already entered the battlefield."
He took a sip of sake before finishing.
"We still hold the advantage for now, but the overall situation isn't optimistic."
Tsunade frowned slightly.
"Chiyo... that old woman is still beyond Kana's ability to deal with."
She lifted her cup and drank.
"The situation in the Hidden Mist Village isn't much better either."
Her fingers tightened slightly around the cup as she let out a quiet sigh.
"Hayashi, do you think the Medical Ninja system I proposed back then is actually working?"
Hayashi answered without hesitation.
"Of course it is."
"Battlefield mortality has dropped significantly. If it wasn't effective, the other villages wouldn't be trying to imitate it."
Tsunade stared into the sake inside her cup.
"But you and I both know that it's only a temporary solution."
"As long as war exists, even the best medical ninja can't stop people from dying."
She gave a self mocking smile.
"Not even me."
She swirled the cup gently and drank the rest of the sake in a single motion.
"Take this little one's father, for example."
She tilted her chin slightly toward Shizune, who was still asleep nearby.
"If it wasn't for the war, someone with his strength might never have died."
Her voice became quieter.
"In fact, if I had arrived at the Land of Bears battlefield just a little earlier..."
"He might still be alive."
Silence filled the small bar for a moment.
Then Tsunade shook her head.
"But 'if' doesn't mean anything."
"Dead is dead."
The words were spoken lightly, almost casually.
Hayashi looked at the woman in front of him.
Her face looked as youthful as an eighteen year old girl, yet the emotion hidden in her eyes carried the weight of countless years.
For a moment, Hayashi felt a sudden sense of familiarity.
Ten years ago, in a quiet courtyard somewhere, he had seen another woman with the same youthful face and the same sorrowful gaze as she drank sake alone.
He quickly pushed the memory aside and sighed softly.
"Life always includes partings. Even the longest feast must eventually end."
Tsunade shook her head.
"No need to comfort me."
"I've seen more people die than you've had meals in your life."
"When someone dies, someone else grieves. I'm far from the most miserable person in the world."
She looked at him carefully.
"Besides, someone in your position should have already noticed Konoha's darker side by now."
Hayashi nodded calmly.
He didn't pretend to misunderstand the meaning behind her words.
"Yes."
Tsunade watched his reaction closely.
"So what will you do now that you've seen how ugly things can get here?"
Her tone was completely serious. There was no hint of teasing.
Years ago, she herself had left the village after gradually discovering those same truths.
Hayashi thought for a moment before answering.
"Konoha is the place where I grew up."
"I may not feel obligated to protect it at all costs, but I won't leave it easily."
"My closest friends are all here."
He paused slightly.
"Since the village has so many problems..."
"Why can't I be the one to change it?"
Tsunade raised an eyebrow.
"You want to become Hokage too?"
She refilled her cup slowly.
Surprisingly, there was no mockery in her tone despite the fact that he was an Uchiha.
She simply shook her head and sighed.
"Anyone who wants to become Hokage is a fool."
"My grandfather was a fool."
"My grand uncle was a fool."
"Nawaki was a fool."
"And now you."
She took another drink.
"A whole group of fools."
Hayashi only smiled quietly and didn't argue.
Seeing that expression on his face made Tsunade snort coldly.
She pushed her nearly empty sake cup toward him.
"Drink."
"If you die on the battlefield, at least you won't be able to complain that you never tasted sake."
Hayashi looked resigned but still picked up the cup and drank it in one go.
In a war that dragged on endlessly, no one could guarantee survival.
Even someone as powerful as Sakumo had spoken to Hayashi recently in a tone that sounded almost like a final farewell.
After watching him finish the drink, Tsunade spoke again.
"I really don't want to return to the battlefield."
Her voice softened slightly.
"But Konoha is the treasure my grandfather built with his own hands."
"He fought his entire life for it."
"My grand uncle died protecting it."
"The Senju clan sacrificed everything for this village."
She stood up slowly.
"So I have to go."
Her eyes turned toward him.
"Now that you're back, it's time for me to head to the Land of Wind."
She pulled out a scroll from her pocket and tossed it to him.
"Everything you need to know is recorded inside."
"The situation on the frontline is written in detail."
"Once you arrive, ask Nara Shikaku for the rest."
Hayashi nodded.
"Nara Shikaku?"
Having the Nara clan leader present on the battlefield would make many things easier.
Tsunade nodded once.
"That's right."
She stretched lazily.
"Oh, and say goodbye to Kushina for me."
Then she glanced at him again.
"Hayashi."
"Don't you dare die."
Hayashi smiled lightly.
"I won't."
"I still want to see my beautiful Tsunade sensei remain eighteen forever, even though you're already an old..."
He never finished the sentence.
A punch slammed into him and sent him crashing to the floor.
Tsunade bent down and flicked his forehead.
"How many times have I told you?"
"Never mention a woman's age."
"You want to die?"
She snorted coldly.
Completely unconcerned about the view from her slightly open collar.
Then she straightened up, lifted the now awake but still confused Shizune onto her back, and walked out of the bar without looking back.
It was a surprisingly pleasant farewell.
After this moment, the next time they met might be when the war had finally ended.
Just as Tsunade reached the door, Shizune turned around while sitting on her back.
She made a playful face at the ninja still lying on the floor.
"Big brother, I know you've been staring at me."
"You're handsome, but you're way too old."
"I like younger boys."
"So sorry, you're not my type."
"Don't wait for me."
"..."
Hayashi sat on the floor in complete silence.
Konoha's Lightning Flash had just been pierced through the heart by ten thousand arrows.