"So that's how it is…"
Isamu sighed softly.
"Poor Tsunade…"
Shaking his head, he placed a hand on Tsunade's forehead.
Gentle green healing Chakra flowed from his palm as he began purging the alcohol from her body.
While Isamu was treating Tsunade, Shizune quietly observed the two newcomers who had accompanied him.
For some reason…
The child looked strangely familiar.
She was certain she had seen him somewhere before, yet she couldn't remember where.
After completely neutralizing the effects of the alcohol, Isamu gently patted Tsunade's arm.
"Wake up, Tsunade."
"Wake up."
"Hmm…?"
"Who's calling me…?"
Tsunade slowly opened her eyes.
When she saw Isamu standing in front of her, she merely smiled bitterly, shook her head, and flopped back onto the table.
"How could it be Isamu…?"
"I must've drunk too much…"
"I'm still dreaming…"
Watching her immediately fall back asleep, Isamu smiled helplessly.
"Tsunade."
"Wake up."
Hearing that familiar voice again, Tsunade suddenly shuddered.
She instantly sat upright.
This time…
She was completely awake.
Staring at the face before her, she abruptly grabbed Isamu by the collar.
"You bastard!"
"So you finally remembered how to come back?"
"You've been gone for over ten years!"
"Did you completely forget you had a wife and child waiting for you?"
"Answer me!"
"Easy…"
"Easy…"
"Haven't I come back now?"
"And I never forgot either of you."
"The very first thing I did after returning…"
"…was come looking for you."
With a bitter smile, Isamu tried to explain while being nearly lifted off the ground.
Garuda and Itachi watched in stunned silence.
She's… fierce.
Shizune, meanwhile, wasn't surprised in the slightest.
This was exactly how Lady Tsunade always was.
"You bastard…"
"You were never there when I needed you…"
"Never…"
"If you'd been here…"
"Nawaki wouldn't have…"
"He wouldn't have…"
Unable to continue, tears streamed uncontrollably down Tsunade's cheeks.
"I'm sorry…"
"Tsunade."
Isamu gently pulled her into his embrace.
All the countless words he wanted to say…
…ultimately became a single apology.
After crying quietly for a while, Tsunade finally noticed Garuda standing nearby.
She stepped back from Isamu's embrace, wiped away her tears, and looked at him with narrowed eyes.
"Well?"
"You brought a guest."
"Aren't you going to introduce her?"
"Uh…"
"She's not exactly a guest."
"She's also…"
Before Isamu could finish—
Garuda stepped forward first.
"Hello, Lady Tsunade."
"My name is Garuda."
"Ōtsutsuki Garuda."
"I'm also…"
"…Isamu's lover."
Silence.
For a brief moment…
Tsunade froze.
Then—
She reached over and pinched the flesh at Isamu's waist, twisting it a full one hundred and eighty degrees.
Grinding her teeth, she whispered into his ear,
"You bastard."
"You really can't stay out of trouble for even a moment, can you?"
"You've got some nerve."
Isamu's face twitched.
A one-hundred-and-eighty-degree twist…
Definitely hurt.
"Tsunade, she…"
Ignoring his explanation completely, Tsunade turned toward Garuda with a warm smile.
"My name is Tsunade."
"Come, little sister."
"Let's talk somewhere private."
Without waiting for an answer, she took Garuda by the hand and led her into another room.
Watching the two women disappear, Isamu scratched his head.
"She's staying surprisingly calm…"
"That's not like Tsunade."
"They're not going to start fighting in there… are they?"
Just then, Shizune frowned at him.
"Lord Isamu…"
"I really shouldn't say this…"
"But what you did was too much."
"Lady Tsunade waited for you for so many years."
"How could you do something like this?"
After saying that, Shizune also followed them inside.
"I…"
"…How did I suddenly become the villain?"
"I haven't even had a chance to explain…"
Isamu stood there completely speechless.
The lively tavern suddenly became quiet.
Only he and Itachi remained.
As the younger generation, Itachi wisely chose not to comment.
After all…
This was his grandparents' business.
The two sat quietly together.
Roughly half an hour later, Tsunade suddenly returned.
The moment she saw Itachi, her face lit up.
"Oh my!"
"Look at me."
"My own grandson is here, and I didn't even notice."
"Come here, Itachi."
"Come with Grandma."
"B-But…"
"Grandma Tsunade…"
"What about Grandpa…"
"Forget about him."
"Let him stay here and reflect on his mistakes."
Without another word, Tsunade scooped Itachi up and carried him away to the room where Garuda was waiting.
Watching even Itachi disappear, Isamu could only sigh.
Still…
With Itachi there…
The two women probably wouldn't do anything too extreme.
"What a troublesome situation…"
"Forget it."
"I'll go take a walk."
Shaking his head, Isamu left the tavern alone.
After wandering aimlessly for a while, he eventually found himself in the tavern's backyard.
There…
Two figures stood quietly in the open courtyard.
"Hm?"
"Why are these two just standing here in the middle of the night?"
"…Their backs look strangely familiar."
Curious, Isamu walked closer.
"Hey."
"What are you two doing out here so la—"
Before he could finish speaking…
He froze.
…Seriously?
Why is it this guy?
No wonder the silhouette looked familiar.
The two people standing there were none other than A, the Fourth Raikage of the Hidden Cloud, and his subordinate, Ameyuri.
They had come specifically to seek Tsunade's medical expertise.
After the battle with the Xuanyuan Clan, their companion Karai had been infected by the Exploding Bugs, leaving Tsunade as their only hope.
"We're waiting for someone."
"Get lost."
A said coldly.
Seeing the pair, Isamu quickly pieced everything together.
"So…"
"You're the Fourth Raikage of the Hidden Cloud."
"I never expected someone of your status to appear in such a remote little town."
"Quite unexpected."
"Since you know who I am…"
"Then get lost."
"I don't have time to waste talking to some nobody."
"Heh."
"The younger generation really does have a fiery temper."
"Your father, the Third Raikage, never spoke to me like that."
"And yet you dare tell me to leave?"
A's eyes narrowed dangerously.
"I'm only going to say this one more time."
"Get lost."
"Otherwise…"
"I'll throw you out myself."
Isamu merely narrowed his eyes in amusement.
To A, the man before him looked only around thirty years old.
There was no way someone like that could have known his father.
As far as A was concerned…
The claim was nothing more than an absurd joke.