It was a pity that such a heartwarming and tender scene couldn't last forever like a photograph.
In fact, it didn't take long before Tsunade's cry of pain echoed through the courtyard, shattering the serene atmosphere.
No one really knew what she said wrong, but suddenly, Mito, still smiling warmly, grabbed her by the ear.
As expected, once the joy of reunion faded, Tsunade's escapades—running away from home, indulging in gambling, and racking up massive debts for the Senju clan—rekindled Mito's simmering anger.
Even as one of the Sannin, Tsunade found herself utterly incapable of resisting. She could only plead pitifully:
"...Ouch, ouch, ouch! Grandma, I was wrong! I won't do it again, I swear!—I'm an adult now; don't treat me like this!—And there are outsiders here too!"
Mito, however, remained unmoved by her pleas. It wasn't until Tsunade mentioned the presence of "outsiders" that Mito's expression turned peculiar.
She glanced back and forth between Tsunade and Natsuhiko before sighing.
"Outsiders? Let's not forget that Natsuhiko is my disciple. And given your relationship with him, he's hardly an outsider, wouldn't you say?"
"What kind of relationship?"
Still being pinched by the ear, Tsunade momentarily forgot about the pain and asked curiously.
Not far away, Natsuhiko, who had been diligently jotting down notes on Tsunade's embarrassing moments, raised an eyebrow in confusion.
Mito, seeing their puzzled expressions, finally relaxed a bit and even managed to crack a joke:
"There's no need to hide it."
"I never imagined that sending Natsuhiko to find you would lead to such a romantic connection..."
As soon as the words left her mouth, Tsunade froze, and Natsuhiko's usually composed demeanor faltered.
He instinctively glanced at Kushina, who responded with a resentful glare before turning her head away.
So that's it...
Mito's words provided Natsuhiko with the final piece of the puzzle, making everything clear. The villagers and Kushina's odd behavior now made perfect sense.
They thought he and Tsunade were an item.
This explained the villagers' envious, jealous, and hateful looks and Kushina's strange reactions.
But this revelation raised another question—why would anyone think that?
Just then, Tsunade, who had been gaping in disbelief, finally processed Mito's words.
Pointing back and forth between herself and Natsuhiko with a trembling finger, she exclaimed incredulously:
"Grandma, you're saying that I and Natsuhiko...?"
"How is that even possible? Who started this rumor? I'm going to find them and settle this!"
Her anger grew as she spoke, and she rolled up her sleeves as if ready to pounce the moment Mito revealed a name.
Mito could only shake her head with a wry smile.
"Even I don't know who started it. But because of your status, this rumor has spread all over Konoha."
"—More importantly, news of your unpaid debts has also made its rounds across the village..."
As she spoke, her anger flared again, and she yanked Tsunade's ear harder.
"Tsunade, you've really outdone yourself this time, bringing great 'honor' to the Senju clan!"
Tsunade's cries of pain filled the air once more.
When she finally escaped her grandmother's grasp, Tsunade retreated a few steps, clutching her reddened ear and eyeing Mito warily.
Only when Mito remained still did Tsunade have the chance to reflect on her words.
She realized that the crowd of debt collectors who had hounded her upon their return to Konoha must have been spurred by this rumor.
Emmm... fine, that part wasn't exactly a rumor.
As for the source of the gossip, Tsunade quickly narrowed down the suspects.
"Dan... no, it's Kakuzu!"
Who else but Kakuzu would know about her debts, have access to the bounty station's extensive intelligence network, and hold a grudge against her?
As for the romantic rumor with Natsuhiko, Tsunade suspected it stemmed from her abnormal reaction when she thought he had died. Kakuzu must have picked up on something during his probing, especially since her hemophobia had been ruled out due to the AR glasses she wore.
Still, one question remained—why would Kakuzu do this? Was it just sour grapes over his loss?
Meanwhile, Natsuhiko had pieced everything together and couldn't help but smile wryly.
Unlike Tsunade, who questioned Kakuzu's motives, Natsuhiko, familiar with Kakuzu's obsession with money, believed the answer was straightforward.
Perhaps Kakuzu had simply sold their information at the bounty station for some extra cash.
In the ninja world, trading intelligence for money was commonplace.
High-profile figures like Tsunade were naturally valuable, and even Natsuhiko, as Mito's disciple, had begun to attract attention.
Understanding this, Natsuhiko felt more relieved than angry.
Kakuzu exposing Tsunade's debts indicated he had temporarily abandoned plans against them, opting instead to recoup his losses with cash.
This was great news for Natsuhiko, who dreaded being targeted by an elite ninja like Kakuzu.
The only downside was that Kakuzu had likely sold all the techniques Natsuhiko had used during their fight.
Though he had anticipated this and prepared by developing new techniques, Natsuhiko knew his position as Mito's disciple meant his every move would be scrutinized.
This was the stark difference between a special jonin and a jonin.
Elite jonin, with their comprehensive skill sets, could still triumph even when their strategies were exposed.
Like Kakashi, the famed Copy Ninja, who remained untouchable despite everyone knowing his tactics.
Natsuhiko resolved to further refine his arsenal into a cohesive combat system capable of adapting to any situation.
While he reflected, Tsunade continued to fume, likely spurred by Mito's vivid recounting of the rumors.
Some claimed Tsunade was forced into a relationship with Natsuhiko because of her debts. Others mocked her for robbing the cradle.
"Utter nonsense!" Tsunade snarled, grinding her teeth.
"Just wait, Kakuzu! If I see you again...!"
—Though, admittedly, she had been sleeping in Natsuhiko's room every night...
Natsuhiko, watching her, sighed and began recounting their history with Kakuzu to clear things up.
After hearing the full story and seeing Natsuhiko's battle playback, Mito remarked, "I didn't expect such a perilous journey. Facing Kakuzu is no small feat."
She then glared at Tsunade, whose reckless gambling had indirectly provoked Kakuzu.
Shaking her head, Mito sighed and turned to Natsuhiko. "Your idea of a mobile arcade is fascinating. I'd love to see it one day."
Natsuhiko humbly deflected her praise, noting that his AR glasses were merely a temporary solution for Tsunade's ailment.
To truly cure her hemophobia, he would need to find a permanent remedy.
As Kushina regained her usual demeanor, Natsuhiko felt an unexpected sense of relief. Her presence had become integral to his daily life, grounding him and reaffirming his connection to Konoha.
Before long, Natsuhiko excused himself to give the others space to reconnect.
As he left the Senju estate, Tsunade appeared, tossing him a scroll.
"Grandma asked me to give you this," she said. "It's encrypted, so I couldn't peek. What's inside?"
Natsuhiko immediately recognized it as the cursed seal scroll Mito had promised.
Smiling, he replied, "Since it's a secret, I can't share it with you, Lady Tsunade."
"Fine! Keep your secrets!" she huffed, suddenly fidgeting.
"Do you need something else?" Natsuhiko asked.
After a moment's hesitation, Tsunade bit her lip and said, "Yes. Now that I'm back, there's something you owe me..."
(End of Chapter)