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On the way back, Sosuke unintentionally caught sight of a lively figure.
Seeing the golden ponytail, Sosuke managed to hide his emotions well and greeted her with a gentle smile on his face.
"Tsunade, long time no see."
Upon hearing this familiar voice, Tsunade was slightly taken aback and looked up at Sosuke.
"It's you! Sosuke, long time no see. How have you been?"
At the sight of Sosuke, her eyes seemed to light up for a moment, and she eagerly reached out her hand, waving at Sosuke with great joy as she spoke.
To this, Sosuke chuckled softly.
"I've been doing fine. And how about you? As the disciple of the Hokage, how does it feel?"
Tsunade seemed somewhat indifferent to being addressed as the Hokage, and it seemed like she recalled something unpleasant as she quickly waved her hand in an awkward manner.
"Ah, it's alright, I guess. But I'm sure if Jiraiya were here to answer your question, he would be more than satisfied with the current life."
"Is that so? It seems Jiraiya really gets along well with the Hokage. That's great," Sosuke said with a smile.
Seeing Sosuke's gentle smile, Tsunade blushed slightly and her face turned red as she spoke.
"That's not it! Those two are completely hopeless! They're both idiots who enjoy peeping at women! Nothing but fools! If you were on the team, it definitely wouldn't be like this!"
Hearing Tsunade's outburst, Sosuke could guess the situation to some extent. Thinking about Jiraiya's behavior, he couldn't help but smile leniently and replied to Tsunade.
"It's better to be more understanding towards them. Regardless, Jiraiya is always a reliable guy, and that can't be denied."
Saying that, Tsunade couldn't help but worry and hurriedly asked Sosuke.
"By the way, Sosuke, I heard that you don't have a teacher guiding you now."
Upon hearing Tsunade's words, Sosuke didn't hide anything and adjusted his glasses gently before replying softly.
"Yes, but that was a few days ago. Now my mentor is Captain Himiko."
Hearing the name "Himiko," Tsunade seemed a little puzzled.
"Is there an Anbu member named Himiko in the village?"
With Tsunade's persistent inquiry, Sosuke could only smile wryly and explain once again.
"Her full name is Shimura Himiko."
"Ah!? The Shimura clan!"
Clearly, even Tsunade was surprised by this name.
A member of the Shimura clan!? If someone from that clan becomes his mentor, as his disciple, will Sosuke be dragged into the conflicts among the clans!? Should I remind him about it?
Various thoughts raced through Tsunade's mind, and she was concerned about Sosuke's situation.
At this moment, Tsunade's expression showed deep concern and conflict. Growing up in a prestigious clan, she naturally had heard about the ways of some prominent clans, so she was worried that Sosuke might become a target of animosity from other clans.
She looked at Sosuke seriously and spoke in a low voice.
"Sosuke, if you agree, I will request the village elders to help you change your mentor. The Shimura clan doesn't have a good reputation in the village, and some people who hold grudges against them might direct their hatred towards you!"
Naturally, Sosuke couldn't agree to that. He planned to take advantage of Danzo's conspiracy and execute his own plan. Besides, he believed in the existence of illusions and deceptive tactics. He had no fear of those who hid in the shadows.
So, he smiled and looked at Tsunade.
"It's alright, Tsunade. Don't you know me well enough? I won't do anything without certainty. Even if I face countless dangers... But I also believe it will bring enough value to me." Upon hearing this, Tsunade knew that no matter how much she tried to persuade Sosuke, it would be useless. She silently made up her mind that if anything happened to Sosuke, she would make sure that the Senju clan would step in to resolve the crisis for him.
The scheduled departure time for the mission was the day after tomorrow, and so far, Sosuke still didn't know the specifics of the mission.
The next day, after procuring some supplies for the mission, Sosuke found Shimura Himiko.
Both of them were dressed casually and didn't conceal their identities.
Sosuke maintained a smile on his face and took the lead in speaking.
"Captain Himiko, I wonder if I'm the only member in our team now? Are there any other reserve members?"
Shimura Himiko, who usually couldn't keep a good mood in front of Sosuke, remained calm this time, calmly brewing a pot of tea.
Amidst the steam of the tea, her fair complexion, purple long hair, tall figure, and slender legs exuded a charm of femininity with every move she made.
However, upon hearing Sosuke's words, her brows slightly furrowed, injecting a hint of irritation into the calm and elegant atmosphere.
"What's wrong, Sosuke? Are you dissatisfied with being in this team?"
As soon as she finished speaking, she regretted it!
Damn it! How did this brat manage to annoy me with just one sentence? Do we have some kind of grudge between us?
Sosuke naturally sensed the dissatisfaction in her voice, but instead of explaining, he smiled and first savored a cup of fresh tea.
Slowly swallowing the tea, he relished the bittersweet and lingering fragrance of the tea on his tongue.
Sosuke praised in a soft voice, "Captain Himiko, your tea ceremony skills must have been honed for many years. The delicious and sweet taste of the tea is truly satisfying, leaving a lingering fragrance on the lips. Your mastery of the tea ceremony is evident."
Upon hearing Sosuke's compliment, his words clearly pleased Shimura Himiko, who had always felt inferior in front of him.
However, in doing so, she couldn't maintain the calm and aloof demeanor she wanted.
Because accompanied by Sosuke's magnetic words of praise, Himiko's ears turned slightly red.
Fortunately, the steam from the tea helped conceal her embarrassment, and Sosuke didn't notice this detail.
He continued in a soft voice, "I have a candidate in mind whom I want to recommend to join our team. However, as you know, I will be going to complete a mission in the Root tomorrow and won't have time to handle this matter. If you think it's appropriate, you can keep an eye on that person."
Upon hearing this, Shimura Himiko understood Sosuke's intention. She knew that Sosuke was about to undertake a mission in the Root, but her uncle hadn't told her the specifics of the mission.
She didn't find Sosuke's request troublesome but rather became curious about the person Sosuke recommended. What kind of person would make him so interested?
"Alright, that's not a problem. If the investigation is satisfactory, I will apply to have him join my team. However, you should be aware of the secrecy regulations in the Root. Joining us also means joining the Root."
"I don't think that should be a problem. If it's possible, I would appreciate it. His name is Might Dai," Sosuke said softly.