Looking at their expressions, Aoki Yoru knew they had gone to the casino to give away money again.
Tsunade sized Aoki Yoru up from head to toe. "It looks like you'll be able to move around before long. You've got quite the nerve, kid, actually provoking something like that Evil God."
Aoki Yoru gave a bitter smile and said helplessly, "I was reckless this time. I was confident I could retreat unscathed, but I didn't expect that thing to be so eerie."
He then looked around and said solemnly, "Lady Tsunade, could I ask you to set up a barrier in the room to block any prying eyes?"
Although puzzled as to why he wanted to do this, Tsunade did as he asked. Even though Sealing Techniques weren't her specialty, she could set one up easily enough.
"Alright, kid. If you can't give me a satisfactory explanation, you know what's coming."
She folded her arms across her chest, making those trembling peaks even more upright, her face wearing a look that said 'you'd better have something good for me.'
Trembling slightly, Aoki Yoru took a scroll from his robes and, using all his strength, undid the seal.
Poof—
A deathly pale arm appeared on the scroll. He picked it up and handed it to her. "Lady Tsunade, please take a look and see if this can replenish the life force in my body."
Tsunade took it casually to examine it. At first, she was indifferent, since even she hadn't been able to replenish lost life force.
As her investigation deepened, her expression gradually darkened. She felt an aura in this arm similar to her grandfather's. Even though it was a severed limb, the vitality within it was something she had never seen before in her life.
"Hey, kid, where did this arm come from?"
Tsunade stared intently at Aoki Yoru's face. She suspected it was synthesized from her grandfather's cells. If anyone dared to desecrate her grandfather's corpse, she would absolutely not let them off.
"It was found in an underground cave near the Kannabi Bridge in the Land of Grass," Aoki Yoru explained.
He knew he would be questioned by Tsunade when he brought it out. Given her personality, she would definitely not help him with treatment if he didn't explain clearly.
Taking out the White Zetsu arm was the result of his careful consideration. He could feel every cell in his body wailing; his body was like porcelain covered in cracks, ready to shatter at any moment.
He couldn't wait until he developed the ultimate Yang Release to heal himself. His body might give out at the next moment, or if he encountered an enemy and used a Ninjutsu even once, his body would lose power entirely.
"Lady Tsunade, you've seen how miraculous this arm is. Its owner must be extraordinary. The reason I set up the barrier is because I don't want it to be discovered. Please treat me without revealing the characteristics of the arm's cells."
As he spoke, Aoki Yoru looked at Tsunade expectantly. With Tsunade's medical expertise, after she studied the arm, she should be able to help him avoid the obvious physical traits that come with using White Zetsu cells.
After hearing his explanation, Tsunade didn't say anything. She simply placed the arm on the table and injected Chakra to investigate.
Seeing Tsunade's actions, Aoki Yoru breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed she had accepted his explanation.
At this moment, the look of surprise on Tsunade's face grew more intense as she investigated. In her view, the cells in this arm could cure any disease in the world.
Even if someone only had one breath left, they could be saved, and there were no adverse reactions. Furthermore, she discovered traces of Wood Release inside it.
"If only we had this back then, Nawaki wouldn't have..." A flash of loss crossed her face.
"I'm taking this back to study it carefully." After saying that, she left without looking back.
Shizune watched the vigorous and resolute Tsunade and shook her head helplessly, then turned to look at Nao.
"Little Nao, come on, big sister will take you to lunch. Let Aoki get some good rest."
Nao nodded and waved goodbye to Aoki Yoru. "Brother Yoru, you rest first. Nao will bring you food."
Phew—
Aoki Yoru let out a long sigh of relief. The rest was up to Tsunade.
Bang—
The door that had just been closed was kicked open roughly again, and Jiraiya walked in leaning on a crutch.
Seeing Aoki Yoru, he laughed loudly. "I heard from little Nao that you're awake. You're quite the tiger, kid, actually provoking that kind of mysterious thing."
"Ah! I regret it quite a bit now too. But Jiraiya, what happened to your leg?"
"Hahaha! It was too dark yesterday, and I accidentally fell down the stairs," Jiraiya explained with an embarrassed laugh.
"Heh!"
Aoki Yoru's mouth twitched. He squinted at him with an expression that said 'do you really think I'll believe that?'
"Hahaha! There's nothing I can do if you don't believe me."
Jiraiya rubbed the back of his head awkwardly. He couldn't exactly say that he went to the hot springs to 'collect material' and had his leg broken by Tsunade after being discovered. Wouldn't that ruin his heroic image in the eyes of his junior?
Suddenly, Jiraiya looked at him with a serious face. "Kid, I have a very serious matter to tell you. You must stay strong."
Hearing this, Aoki Yoru immediately sat up straight. Was there still a problem with his body? Or had something happened to Kakashi and the others?
Jiraiya didn't say it immediately; he just kept staring at him until Aoki Yoru started to feel a bit panicked.
"All the money on me was extorted by Tsunade. Not a single cent is left."
"Huh?"
Aoki Yoru looked confused. What did that have to do with him? "Is that all? I thought it was something bi—"
The words were at the tip of his tongue when he forced himself to swallow them. He stared wide-eyed at Jiraiya. "Then my share of the royalties is also...?"
Jiraiya nodded. "Tsunade said that was the medical fee."
Upon hearing this, Aoki Yoru felt as if he had been hit in the face with a club. His body swayed, and his eyes instantly lost focus. Staring into thin air, he looked as wilted as a sun-dried vegetable leaf, constantly muttering to himself:
"My money... it was all my money..."
He was counting on that money to set up his laboratory again.
He definitely wouldn't get it back. Once the money passed through Tsunade's hands, it would flow into various casinos in less than a day.
Jiraiya stepped forward and patted his shoulder sympathetically, letting out a sigh.
The night passed in silence.
In the laboratory temporarily set up in the room.
Phew—
Tsunade truly is a master of medicine; the results are indeed remarkable.
At this moment, Aoki Yoru was constantly stretching on the floor. Having been in bed for several days, his body had grown rusty.
Tsunade's methods were indeed extraordinary. He now felt more comfortable than ever before, full of energy, almost wanting to go out and run ten kilometers.
"I've removed the characteristics of the White Zetsu cells from you, but that surging Chakra and life force in your body can't be hidden. Be careful from now on."
She then looked at him expectantly. "You should be able to feel the Wood Release, right?"
Aoki Yoru nodded and slowly raised his right hand, palm up. After a moment, a small blade of grass sprouted from his palm.
Looking at the small grass in his hand, Tsunade fell into a memory. When she was little, her grandfather used to tease her like this. At that time, she thought it was a novelty and kept clapping and cheering.
"It really is just like grandfather's."
Aoki Yoru shook his head. "It's still a long way off. At most, this can be used for landscaping."
He didn't have as much Yang-attribute Chakra as Hashirama. At most, he was like Obito. As for creating a thousand-meter-tall Thousand-Armed Kan'on like the First Hokage, who knows how long that would take.