"Who is it? Do you have a death wish, touching my money?"
Seeing someone move her wager, Tsunade angrily turned around, ready to see who was so tired of living.
But the moment she saw the person's face, she froze.
"T-It's… you?"
She stared at the familiar face in disbelief.
"Tsunade, it's been a long time."
Isamu looked at her with a gentle smile.
"It's me, Tsunade. I'm back."
He nodded and opened his arms.
The moment she confirmed it was really him, Tsunade immediately stood up and threw herself into his embrace.
Tears streamed down her face.
"Why…? Why…? Why did you only come back now?!"
"I'm sorry, Tsunade."
Isamu gently stroked her blonde hair, his heart aching.
She had endured far more suffering than most people could bear. Fate had never shown her mercy. Instead, it had taken away the people she loved one after another.
Nearby, Shizune stared blankly at the scene.
She had never seen the legendary Tsunade—the great Sannin and one of the strongest female ninja in the world—act like this before.
Even the casino owner was stunned.
Although everyone privately called Tsunade the "Big Fat Sheep," nobody dared offend her because of her strength and status.
The fact that this man could make her react this way meant his identity was anything but ordinary.
Tsunade cried in Isamu's arms for nearly five minutes before finally calming down.
Gently wiping away her tears, Isamu turned toward the young girl beside them.
"You must be Dan's niece, Shizune."
"Y-Yes…"
Shizune nodded uncertainly.
"I didn't expect you to be this grown up already."
Isamu sighed softly.
"Time really flies."
He extended a hand toward her.
Shizune looked at the offered hand, then turned questioningly toward Tsunade.
Seeing her hesitation, Tsunade smiled.
"Shizune, this is my husband, Isamu. You don't need to worry."
"Oh!"
Shizune's eyes widened in surprise.
"So you're Lord Isamu!"
Without another thought, she placed her hand in his.
The next moment, Isamu activated Kamui.
Space distorted around them.
In an instant, the three disappeared from the casino.
The casino owner stared at the empty gambling table.
For a moment, he thought he had just earned a million ryō for free.
Then he looked down.
The one million that had originally been placed on "Small" had vanished.
His face immediately fell.
"I thought I was about to make a million for nothing. I really was dreaming…"
One million ryō was no small amount.
There was no way Isamu was going to let the casino keep it.
Even if he didn't want the money himself, he certainly wasn't giving it to a group of gamblers and swindlers.
The moment he left, he had already stored the money inside Kamui's dimension.
Soon afterward, the three arrived at a restaurant in town.
Isamu ordered an entire table full of expensive dishes, and they chatted while eating.
"Over the years, I've occasionally received intelligence from the Land of Fire saying you had appeared in Konoha."
Tsunade took a sip of sake.
"I always thought it was just a rumor. I didn't expect you had actually returned."
"That information was both true and false."
Isamu shook his head slightly while eating a piece of beef.
"I only woke up a few days ago. After spending several days with Senba, I came here immediately to find you."
Tsunade narrowed her eyes.
"Really?"
"The information Hiruzen-sensei sent me doesn't seem to say that."
She stared directly at him.
Although she had left Konoha, she still maintained contact with Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Trying to fool her wasn't going to be easy.
"Don't look at me like that. I'm not lying."
Isamu smiled helplessly.
"The one who appeared in Konoha was only my consciousness clone."
"Although I couldn't personally stay beside Senba, I still witnessed his growth through that clone."
"So technically, it wasn't really me."
"I see."
Tsunade nodded slowly.
"Your abilities are still as strange as ever."
Then her expression softened.
Thinking about her son filled her with guilt once again.
"How is Senba?"
"He's doing very well."
Isamu nodded.
"His strength has already reached the pinnacle of the ninja world."
"And he even has a lovely girlfriend now."
Thinking about Mikoto, he couldn't help but give an approving smile.
"Really…"
Relief appeared on Tsunade's face.
Then guilt quickly returned.
"I left when he was only five years old."
"He must resent me, doesn't he?"
"Not at all."
Isamu shook his head.
"Before I left, he specifically asked me to send you his regards."
"He said he misses you very much."
"And he hopes I can bring you back to Konoha."
Tsunade's expression immediately darkened when she heard the words "return to Konoha."
"You know that's impossible."
She frowned.
"I'll never go back there."
"I know."
Isamu shrugged.
"That's why I won't force you."
"If you want to return, then return."
"If you don't, then don't."
"To be honest, I don't think much of Konoha these days either."
As long as the old leadership remained, Konoha's problems would never truly be solved.
When those old fossils were finally gone, there would still be plenty of time for Tsunade to return.
Tsunade nodded in satisfaction.
"Good."
Then another question surfaced in her mind.
"There's something I've never understood."
She looked directly at him.
"You were already one of the strongest people in the world back then."
"So how did you end up suffering such severe injuries?"
Just like Senba, she had finally asked the question she had always wanted answered.
"Well…"
Isamu hesitated briefly.
"Nothing particularly special happened."
"I simply overused my power."
"That's all."
"It wasn't anyone else's fault. I brought it upon myself."
He answered vaguely, unlike the explanation he had given Senba.
After all, he couldn't exactly tell Tsunade that he had fought against the entire ninja world and clashed with her grandfather, Hashirama.
That conversation would be far too complicated.
"I see."
Tsunade could tell he was hiding something.
Still, she didn't press the matter.
As long as he was standing before her now, that was enough.
"Then don't ever do something like that again."
Her voice softened.
"It was terrifying."
"Seeing you like that…"
"I promise."
Isamu gently squeezed her hand.
"This is the first and last time."
"I'll never do anything that foolish again."
A rare expression appeared on Tsunade's face.
A shy, almost feminine smile.
"Good."
She nodded.
"I'll believe you."
Meanwhile, Shizune sat nearby stuffing food into her mouth.
She had absolutely no interest in interrupting the conversation.
Unfortunately, sitting this close meant she couldn't help overhearing everything.
So while the two of them exchanged affectionate words across the table, Shizune silently continued eating.
Mouthful after mouthful.
With a completely speechless expression.
Seriously.
Could these two at least remember there was still another person sitting here?
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