"The air feels so much better here," Tsunade remarked, fresh from her soak in the hot springs.
She wore a loose kimono and sat down in front of the young man, letting out a sigh of relief. "It's always raining in this place, and I'm perpetually drenched. It's a nightmare."
Her pale skin had a rosy glow from the heat, and her long golden hair, pulled back into a ponytail, was still damp. She brushed a few stray strands from her forehead with slender fingers, exuding the seductive air of a mature woman. There was a light fragrance from her bath that hung in the air, mingling with the warmth.
The relaxing atmosphere had her stretching out comfortably, which made her already loose cream-yellow kimono slip open slightly, revealing a hint of cleavage.
Her full bosom pressed against the fabric, creating a deep valley. She sat cross-legged on the tatami mat, her thighs crossing over one another. Through the slightly parted kimono, one could glimpse a trace of lace and the soft, smooth curve of her pale skin.
This woman truly has no sense of restraint!
Uchiha Sogetsu, sitting across from her, raised an eyebrow at her display, feeling himself pulled from his normally stoic demeanor.
No wonder Tsunade earned the title of Fifth Hokage. She certainly knows how to leave an impression!
"Hey, kid, are you enjoying the view?" Tsunade teased, resting her elbows on the table, her head in her palms, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
"Tsunade-sama, could you be a bit more mindful?" Uchiha Sogetsu adjusted his glasses, maintaining his usual emotionless expression.
The sound of footsteps echoed softly as Hikari entered the room, her hair flowing in soft waves down her back. Her cheeks were flushed from the warmth of the hot springs, and she looked adorably radiant.
The kimono she wore was shorter than usual, revealing her slender legs that were smooth as polished jade. Her delicate toes seemed to shimmer like crystals.
The atmosphere in the room was calm, but there was a hint of excitement. Tsunade exuded confidence and maturity, while Hikari's youthful charm added a fresh energy to the scene.
Uchiha Sogetsu, now a Sequence 6, found himself catching his breath for a moment. But he quickly regained his composure, pretending to remain unaffected by the lively energy around him.
Hikari sat down quietly, her eyes darting back and forth, sometimes peering at the stunning figure beside her, sometimes glancing at her own reflection with a hint of disappointment.
"Don't worry," Tsunade said with a comforting smile, reaching out to tousle Hikari's hair. "You're still young, you'll grow up in no time."
"Really?" Hikari asked, clenching her kimono's sleeves. Her eyes lit up with hope.
"Of course!" Tsunade replied with a playful grin, hugging her warmly. "You're adorable. You've got plenty of potential."
"Where?" Hikari asked, turning beet-red from embarrassment.
Uchiha Sogetsu couldn't help but twitch a little at this exchange. He was tempted to remind Hikari of the obvious—she wasn't exactly a young girl by ninja standards—but decided to keep quiet. He'd let her enjoy her dreams.
The girl shyly bit her lip, her eyes sneaking glances at the boy across from her. Her hands fidgeted with her kimono sleeves, a typical gesture of a young girl with a crush.
"Does she like that brat?" Tsunade thought to herself, noticing the interaction between Hikari and Sogetsu. It wasn't that she had anything against Uchiha Sogetsu, but given the political climate within Konoha, there were bigger issues at play.
Since Sakumo Hatake's tragic death, the election for the Fourth Hokage had intensified, and tensions ran high. The entire village seemed to be on edge.
After a moment of stress, Tsunade felt a sense of relief.
"Why stress about all of this?" she thought to herself. "After this mission, I'm out of Konoha. When they return to Konoha later Hikari can understand her feelings more clearly due to her mature age."
"Oh, and by the way, Hanzo replied to me," Tsunade mentioned, taking a few bites of her meal. "He said he needs some prep time, but he can help us with the re-sealing early the day after tomorrow morning."
"The day after tomorrow?" Uchiha Sogetsu raised an eyebrow, a hint of skepticism in his voice. "Do you think he have any other plans?"
"Probably not," Tsunade replied with confidence. "With the old man in charge, Hanzo wouldn't dare try anything tricky unless he wants to start a war."
Uchiha Sogetsu nodded, content with her answer. He focused on his dinner, deciding to eat his fill, especially since it was rare for Tsunade to foot the bill.
He might as well take advantage to make up for that previous psychological treatment fee.
---
"Ahhhhh!"
Konan jolted awake, eyes wide with terror as she sat up in bed. She'd just had another nightmare. It was the same haunting dream, but this time, unlike the last, the details were sharp and impossible to forget. It was like they were burned into her soul.
The nightmare revealed a terrible truth: she was the cause of all the tragedies.
In the dream, Konan was taken hostage by the enemy, forcing Yahiko into a deadly trap, leading to his demise at Nagato's hands.
"What's wrong, Konan?" Yahiko and Nagato burst into the room, responding to her scream.
Konan's face was ashen, her eyes unfocused and empty. The two friends quickly figured it out—she'd had another nightmare.
"It's my fault," she sobbed, tears streaming down her cheeks. "It's all my fault, Yahiko."
"Konan, it was just a dream," Yahiko said, trying to dismiss her fears. "You said it yourself... dreams are—"
"No! It's not a dream!" Konan cut him off, her voice raw with desperation. "I remember it! It's not just a dream."
Even if she couldn't explain why, she had an unshakeable feeling that the nightmare was a revelation of fate.
"Konan, calm down," Yahiko pleaded, waving his hands frantically, not sure how to handle her breakdown. He looked to Nagato for support.
"Alright, Konan, tell us," Nagato said with calm reassurance. "What happened in your dream?"
As Konan felt the concern of her two companions, she gradually regained her composure and wiped the tears from her cheeks. With a trembling voice, she recounted what she had seen in her dream, detail by detail.
"That's definitely something you'd do," Nagato said after hearing the full story. He glanced at Yahiko, who sat beside him, looking somewhat embarrassed.
"If something like this were to happen, this idiot would probably be the one to do it."
"Hey, why am I an idiot?" Yahiko shot back, not pleased with Nagato's comment. He leaned forward slightly, challenging Nagato. "Wouldn't you do the same thing?"
"Absolutely," Nagato replied without hesitation.
Konan and Yahiko noticed a faint smirk on Nagato's usually stoic face, his lips curling ever so slightly.
Yahiko grew serious. "Did you get a good look at who the enemy was, Konan?" he asked.
"It's Hanzo!" Konan, who was normally calm and gentle, now had a sharp edge to her voice. "He conspired with Konoha's ninjas, setting up a trap ahead of time, then pretended to propose peace talks to lure us in!"
"Hanzo..." Nagato's Rinnegan eyes darkened, his gaze cold and filled with a growing sense of menace.
********
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