Chapter 37: Activating Tsunade
During the interval of the preliminaries, the air in the arena still held the scorched scent of intense battle, but in Naruto's eyes, this was merely a brief breather before the great war arrived.
Naruto walked out slowly with the crowd, hands in his pockets. On the surface, he was whistling, but his mind was racing.
[Sigh, although that show-off moment just now was great and shocked the whole place, the situation isn't looking very optimistic.]
[Since that slippery snake Orochimaru has already shown himself, it means the Konoha Crushis a certainty. Although the Third Hokage Old Manstill looks hale and hearty, he is old after all; whether he can make it through this time is another matter.]
He glanced at the back of the Hokage on the distant spectator stand, who was holding a pipe in his mouth with a solemn expression, and sighed in his heart.
[The Old Man has treated me well enough; if I just let him kick the bucket like this, it would weigh on my conscience. Besides, if Konoha falls into chaos, my good life will be over. I must find a powerful insurance policy.]
[Since that pervy Old Man Jiraiya has already returned, it's also time to invite that big shot back.]
Naruto's footsteps paused, his gaze seemingly penetrating the tower walls to look into the distance. At the corner of his mouth, a pervert's signature smirk emerged once more.
[One of Konoha's Legendary Sannin, a top-tier Medical Ninja, and also... the older sister with the best figure in the Ninja World.]
[Senju Tsunade!]
As this name surfaced in his mind, the associated image quickly became vivid. The blonde twin tails, the bold and generous personality, the contrast of being a gambling addict who loses every single time... and that iconic, proud figure that even required Ninjutsu to maintain.
[Slurp.]
Naruto subconsciously wiped the corner of his mouth as his thoughts began to slide uncontrollably toward a dangerous edge.
[Speaking of which, although Granny Tsunade is over fifty, because of the Strength of a Hundred Seal, she looks like she's in her peak condition at twenty! That skin, that elasticity... tsk tsk.]
[If I can find her during this month of special training, not only will my safety be guaranteed, but if I handle it properly and get her to take me as her personal disciple... or even take it a step further.]
[Right now, I'm from the Uzumaki Clan plus I'm the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, and the son of Minato Namikaze. In terms of background and talent, I'm a perfect match for her 'Hokage dream'! Oh man, if I could bury my head in that bosom that even a Hokage's bamboo hat couldn't cover... even if I had to give up the position of Hokage to her, I'd do it willingly!]
[That feeling... would probably be a one-of-a-kind experience in the Ninja World!]
Meanwhile, far away at the border of the Land of Fire, in Tanzaku Street.
In the corner of an unremarkable Izakaya, a blonde woman wearing a coat with the word 'Gamble' printed on it was irritably draining her sake in one gulp.
"Dammit! Another clean sweep for the house!"
Tsunade slammed her cup heavily onto the table, her exquisite face written with bad luck. "This isn't gambling, it's straight-up robbery! That dealer definitely cheated!"
Shizune, sitting opposite her while holding the little pig Tonton, advised with a bitter smile, "Lady Tsunade... the money we have on us has been lost down to the last bit of cash for this meal. How about we first..."
"Quiet!" Tsunade poured another cup of wine. "Once my luck turns around in this next round, I'll definitely win it all back with interest..."
Just as she raised her cup, preparing to drink another to suppress the anger from losing money—
[...bury my head in that bosom that even a Hokage's bamboo hat couldn't cover... that feeling...]
Without any warning, a voice that sounded young yet incredibly perverted rang out arrogantly in the depths of her mind.
There was no fluctuation of Ninjutsu; it was as if this voice had grown directly out of her soul.
Snap!
The ceramic cup in Tsunade's hand was instantly crushed into powder. The sake flowed down her fair fingers.
"Lady Tsunade?!" Shizune jumped in fright, and Tonton in her arms also squealed in terror.
Tsunade ignored Shizune. She froze there, her pale gold pupils shrinking sharply, and a flush of both shock and rage instantly surged onto her face.
Who is it?!
That voice was still continuing!
[When the time comes, I'll just pretend to be injured and fall into her lap. I don't believe her overflowing maternal instincts would have the heart to push me away? Hehe, that scent of sake unique to mature older sisters, mixed with a faint milky fragrance... it's absolutely deadly!]
[It's decided! The next target is—searching for Tsunade the the legendary sucker! And then... this sheep will be mine!]
Boom!
A terrifying aura erupted with Tsunade as the center. The sturdy wooden table in front of her instantly turned into a pile of wood chips under the impact of this Chakra.
The entire Izakaya fell silent in an instant. Everyone looked in terror at the woman in the corner who looked like she was possessed by a malevolent deity.
"Which reckless brat..."
Tsunade stood up abruptly, the veins on her forehead throbbing.
In her fifty-plus years of life, even that pervert Jiraiya hadn't dared to fantasize about her so bluntly in his mind! And this voice sounded like he wasn't even that old!
"the legendary sucker? Want to bury your head? Want my maternal instincts to overflow?!"
Tsunade gritted her teeth. "Fine... very well! Since you want to find death, I will grant your wish!"
[Ding!]
At the moment Tsunade was consumed by rage, a strange golden light suddenly rippled from the ninja world sky screen in her mind.
[Detected that the key figure Uzumaki Naruto has developed highly targeted and bold fantasies toward you, and has given a Hokage-level affirmation of your figure.]
[heavenly curtain rewards are being forcibly issued!]
[Obtained Passive Ability: Infinite Chakra Backflow (Creation Rebirth Jutsu accumulation speed permanently increased by 200%).]
[Obtained Special Causal Reward: Absolute Good Luck (Limited to the next gamble only).]
Tsunade was stunned.
She could clearly feel the Chakra within the Strength of a Hundred Seal on her forehead beginning to surge and multiply rapidly.
This is a reward?
As long as that brat has those kinds of thoughts about her in his heart, she can get stronger?
Tsunade's expression became very peculiar.
Meanwhile, far away in Konoha, Naruto suddenly heard the system's notification sound.
[Ding!]
[Congratulations to the host: Your thoughts have crossed space and accurately hit the S-rank target 'Tsunade'.]
[Encyclopedia: 'Legendary Sannin' has been lit 1/3.]
[Obtained Reward: Yang Release Chakra · Fountain of Vitality (Elementary). Your recovery and energy have been significantly improved.]
"Huh?" Naruto paused and rubbed the back of his head. "What's going on? I was just thinking casually, and this counts as a conquest?"
A warm current suddenly surged through his body, and the fatigue from watching the matches was instantly swept away.
"This is too miraculous... could it be that Granny Tsunade and I have some kind of telepathy?"
Naruto smirked, completely unaware that his thoughts just now had almost provoked a fatal disaster.
Back in that Izakaya on Tanzaku Street, where the table had already been reduced to ruins.
Tsunade took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing her churning blood. She looked at the terrified Shizune.
"Shizune."
"Ye-Yes! Lady Tsunade, we'll pay for the damages and leave right away!" Shizune was almost in tears.
"Pay for what?" Tsunade suddenly revealed a smile that made Shizune feel afraid. "Go and exchange all our money for chips."
"Eh?"
"I said, exchange it all."
Tsunade glanced at the "Absolute Good Luck" prompt on the heavenly curtain and then thought of that brat who was clamoring to find her.