Seeing Zhang Miao's indifferent attitude toward the explanation, as well as the woman she referred to as "Tsunato," Tsunade's eye twitched several times, and then, with a strange look on her face, she opened her mouth to Zhang Miao.
"I'm not as easily fooled as Shizune, so tell me, is the young me standing in front of me right now a way you're trying to resurrect Nawaki or Dan?"
A way to resurrect Nawaki or Dan?
Upon hearing Tsunade's guess, Zhang Miao only hesitated for a moment and then nodded without hesitation.
"Yes, yes... Truly, as one of the Legendary Sannin, Tsunade, your thinking is indeed agile. You're correct; this is a way I'm attempting to resurrect Nawaki and Dan. Since you've already found out, let me explain further!"
At this point, Zhang Miao stood up, walked to the window with his hands behind his back, and spoke with his back to Tsunade.
"Reviving someone out of thin air is impossible, but I can bring someone from the river of time to this point. This concept is somewhat complex and may not be easy for you to understand."
According to the system's rules, the people recruited by Zhang Miao were in their peak state from their past lives, so from this perspective, the concept of the "river of time" was correct.
Furthermore, this explanation, to some extent, also clarified the origins of Tsunade and Shizune. So, after hearing his words, Tsunade's eyes widened...
"Uh... are you saying that the young me in front of me, and the older-looking Shizune, are both brought here by you from the river of time?"
Compared to her previous suspicions, Tsunade was more amazed at this moment, and when Zhang Miao saw this expression, he knew she believed it. So he smiled and nodded at her.
"Exactly, Shizune was my first attempt, but the direction was wrong, so I brought back Shizune from the future. You are my second attempt, but the timing was also wrong, so I only brought back 'Legendary Sannin' era of yourself. However, I think if I try a few more times, I should be able to bring back Nawaki and Dan."
"Really?"
As soon as Zhang Miao finished speaking, Tsunade became excited, her face flushed, and her hands involuntarily rested on his shoulders.
"So, does that mean I'll be able to see Nawaki and Dan soon?"
Seeing Tsunade's tearful, excited eyes, Zhang Miao held back the word "yes" that was in his throat and shook his head.
"It probably won't happen in a short time. Although I can interfere with the river of time, it's not actually under my control. But as long as you and Tsunato get along well and resonate through your shared lives, I might be able to decipher some of the secrets of the river of time and increase the chances of bringing back Nawaki and Dan."
Zhang Miao's real goal was, of course, to make Tsunade and Tsunato get along well, so he could remotely collect Tsunade's ninja fragments instead of having to wait here and spend a lot of time.
Tsunade didn't know Zhang Miao's intentions, but upon hearing that getting along with Tsunato could increase the chances of bringing back Nawaki and Dan, she immediately nodded without hesitation.
"Alright, I understand. I'm actually very interested in the past me!"
At this point, Tsunade immediately extended her hand to Tsunato, who was standing beside her. "Past me, hello. Please teach me a lot from today onwards!"
Seeing Tsunade's outstretched hand, Tsunato smiled and extended her right hand, shaking Tsunade's hand.
"Please teach me a lot!"
The moment their hands clasped, Zhang Miao also received a system notification.
"Ding! Congratulations to Your Holiness for obtaining the 7-Star Kage-level, Tsunade ninja fragment x10!"
The system notification was short, but to Zhang Miao's ears, this brief notification sounded quite pleasant, making his lips involuntarily curl up.
"With Tsunato here, I won't have to stay here all the time. It's been half a year since I returned to Konoha. Kushina and Naruto must miss me. I should go back for a visit."
Thinking about this, Zhang Miao immediately nodded to Tsunade.
"Well, Aunt Tsunade, I've already felt a bit of the mystery of the river of time. As long as you get along well, I'll definitely be able to bring back Dan and Nawaki within a few years!"
Upon hearing Zhang Miao's affirmative response, Tsunade and Tsunato, who were still shaking hands, both wore excited expressions.
"Thank you, Ryunosuke!"
"Thank you, Nether King!"
Tsunade called Zhang Miao "Ryunosuke," while the newly recruited Tsunato referred to him as the "Nether King." After both of them shouted in unison, Tsunade looked at Tsunato with some surprise. Seeing her expression, Zhang Miao couldn't help but smile again.
"Haha, Aunt Tsunade, Tsunato is the past you, so her thoughts are naturally the same as yours. She has all the emotions and ideas you have. In fact, she is you!"
"Uh..." Upon hearing Zhang Miao's words, Tsunade's mouth opened wide, and a hint of astonishment appeared in her eyes. "So, you mean she also..."
"That's right!" Without waiting for Zhang Miao to speak, Tsunato, standing in front of Tsunade, immediately nodded. "I love Dan, so even when facing myself, I won't back down. Dan is mine!"
"Uh..." After hearing Tsunato's "declaration of love," Tsunade's eyes widened once again. However, before she could speak, Tsunato, standing in front of her, let out a soft snort.
"Hmph, Tsunade, I'm different from you. I came here in response to the Lord of the Underworld's summons and possess eternal youth and life. It's completely different from how you barely maintain yourself with chakra. Do you understand my point?"
Tsunade: "(⊙⊙)..."
After listening to Tsunato's words, Tsunade was completely bewildered and remained silent for a while. Seeing her dumbfounded expression, Zhang Miao could only scratch his head helplessly.
"Uh... so, Aunt Tsunade, even if I bring Dan back in the future, there's only one person but two of you. It's a bit difficult to decide. How about this, both of you like gambling, right? Why don't the two of you make a bet? The winner gets to marry Dan, and the loser marries Jiraiya. How about that?"
"..."
Upon hearing Zhang Miao's proposal, Tsunade and Tsunato both opened their mouths in surprise. However, soon after, their eyes lit up simultaneously.
This proposal was feasible!
If it were someone else, Tsunade wouldn't easily use her love life as a wager, but when facing herself, she believed she could win.
"If this person is me, there's no reason I can't win against her!"
Tsunato's thoughts were probably similar to Tsunade's, so upon hearing Zhang Miao's words, she immediately nodded enthusiastically, her eyes gleaming, and then left Zhang Miao's room with a smug smile alongside Tsunade.
Watching the two of them leave, Zhang Miao could only shrug his shoulders helplessly.
"Good luck, Aunt Tsunade and Tsunato. I can only help you up to this point!"