After a few rounds of drinks, Tsunade finally asked her question, very tactfully.
"You... actually long to be saved, don't you? More than those things (killing), you actually want to be redeemed, right?"
Tsunade watched Shinji's expression closely. If she could find a way to reason with him, maybe she could prevent some tragedies and disasters.
"I heard that after women have a real... encounter, they become more sentimental, think more, and even become clingy. I didn't expect it to be true."
As Shinji, rubbing his chin, muttered to himself, Tsunade immediately understood and glared at him in shame and anger, veins popping on her forehead.
At this moment, Tsunade wished she could tear him apart!
"Sorry, but that joke wasn't funny to me."
Seeing Shinji's expression change slightly and look at her indifferently, Tsunade suddenly sensed a deep, hidden frustration and helplessness in his words.
—Because redemption is impossible for him, such thoughts are nothing but a joke!
"I..."
"Don't tell me you'll find a way to free me or I'll kill you right here and now!"
Hearing this, Tsunade swallowed her words. This man was unlike anyone she had ever met—he wasn't ordinary!
Thousands of years of torment and pain, with constant accusations and blame ringing in his ears. If it were her, she wouldn't last three minutes without breaking down. But he had endured for millennia!
"Uncle, the bill."
Watching Shinji pull out a gold nugget from thin air like a magic trick, Tsunade wished she had such an ability!
"Sir..."
Teuchi hesitated to accept the gold nugget. Who was this man? He had never seen someone pay like this!
Shinji hadn't meant to show off; he had spent all his money on explosive tags today, as the price varied across the ninja world.
Konoha, being wealthy and prosperous, was probably the cheapest place to buy them. Stocking up on so many explosive tags would allow him to sell them for a profit elsewhere in the future.
As a businessman, he had to seize every opportunity! This was a great investment. All the money he had collected, including the large gold bricks, had been converted into explosive tags, the most valuable currency in the ninja world!
"I'll handle it."
Tsunade placed the money on the table. Seeing this, Shinji put the small gold nugget away, saving where he could.
Watching him put the gold away, Tsunade wanted to say she didn't mean it that way. She meant to take the gold and pay for the meal herself.
"Take care!"
...
After leaving Ichiraku Ramen, Shinji wandered enthusiastically through Konoha's streets and alleys, seemingly unaware of the "small" tail following him.
Many ninjas noticed something was wrong and took on the role of monitors, secretly following the two. However, Tsunade discreetly signaled them to retreat.
The more people involved, the more dangerous it became. This man had no mercy. Only she might be able to keep him in check!
On the rooftop of the Hokage Tower, Shinji looked with great interest at the Hokage Rock in the distance. Seeing it in reality was completely different from seeing it in the manga!
He could almost shout out those famous lines from the series if he hadn't kept his expression in check!
Meanwhile, Tsunade clenched her fists, wanting to pummel him. He wandered around and ended up on the Hokage Tower? Wasn't this too arrogant?
"Is that the Hokage Rock? Impressive~"
"You..." Unable to hold back any longer, Tsunade was about to speak when Shinji interrupted again.
"You're a contradictory woman. Your body instinctively reacts, yet you hope the dead will give you answers."
"What do you mean?" Tsunade frowned.
"Why are you following me?"
"I'm just..."
Before she could finish, Tsunade realized what he meant. If she didn't care about this village, why would she follow and monitor him?
As he said, her subconscious had already made a choice!
"Angolmois, why tell me this?"
Shinji shrugged. "I'm just stating what I see."
Seeing no signs of deception in his expression, Tsunade dismissed the fleeting thought that he might be trying to guide her. He simply didn't bother to lie or hide his thoughts. For him, no human nature was beyond his understanding.
"By the way, where are the village's pleasure districts? Which direction?"
Hearing this, Tsunade twitched. Did he just ask her that?
"No way! While you're in Konoha, you're under my surveillance!"
"Why?" Shinji blinked his big, innocent eyes.
"You're too dangerous! I won't let you do as you please in this village!"
"Don't worry," Shinji waved his hand dismissively, "I'm in a good mood today, so I won't kill anyone. Of course, unless..."
Before he finished, a golden spear appeared and shot in a certain direction!
A masked young ninja hiding in the shadows looked at the spear that stopped just two millimeters from his face, not daring to move.
He had been locked on by this spear! Any movement, and it would pierce his body!
"...don't provoke me."
Seeing Shinji smile with squinted eyes, Tsunade waved her hand and shouted, "Retreat!"
"But..."
"Enough! If you don't want Konoha to suffer, then back off!"
"Yes…"
Eventually, with a series of swishing sounds, the ninjas hidden in the shadows all retreated!
Seeing this, Shinji retrieved the golden spear. That move might have left quite an impression on Kakashi.
"You really won't harm Konoha?"
"You're so annoying. I said I wouldn't, temporarily. Are you some kind of nagging old mother?"
Shinji retorted impatiently, then, as if seeing something interesting, looked excitedly in a certain direction.
"Oh! I see it! There it is! Goodbye!"
With that, Shinji jumped off the rooftop, heading towards the pleasure district he had spotted.
Just as Tsunade was about to follow, the Third Hokage's voice sounded from behind.
"Tsunade, he is..."
"Old man, I advise you to restrain your subordinates and not regard him as a mere human. He's not that simple! Leave it to me for now!"
Watching Tsunade dash off in the direction of the blue-haired young man, Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded approvingly, satisfied with Tsunade's performance.
Her Will of Fire was burning brightly!
...
"Hey, what are you doing?"
Seeing Tsunade order everyone to retreat and then smash the pleasure district into ruins with a single punch, Shinji sighed. Women could be so unreasonable sometimes.
She took it to the extreme, impressive!
"Come with me. While you're in Konoha, you'll be under my surveillance!"
Seeing Tsunade determined not to let him into the pleasure district, Shinji finally waved his hand. "Forget it. I'm actually a one-time man. Even if the woman is nice..."
Bang!!!
"Say that again..."
Seeing the stone slab shattered into countless pieces by Tsunade, Shinji didn't hesitate to fulfill her request, repeating word for word.
"Didn't hear? I said I'm a one-time man. Even if the woman is nice..."
"Shut up!!"
It was Tsunade's first time feeling this exasperated. Didn't he understand human language? Was he always this blunt?
"Forget it, seems like there's nothing fun here anymore. Goodbye."
Watching Shinji wave his hand and leave, Tsunade felt a strange, indescribable feeling. Was he really that straightforward? Just leaving because she wouldn't let him into the pleasure district?
"Tsunade-sama..."
The trembling pleasure district owner cautiously approached. Knowing what she meant, Tsunade sighed inwardly and said, "Report to the Hokage's office tomorrow morning for compensation. Tell them I sent you."
"Yes…"
...
Walking slowly towards Shizune's house, Tsunade still felt a faint sense of loss after hearing from the gate guards that the blue-haired man had left the village.
"Tsunade-sama!"
A fox-masked ninja appeared before Tsunade, kneeling on one knee.
"Ugh!" Tsunade clicked her tongue and walked past the white-haired ANBU. "No need to worry. He's already gone. Just tell the Third Hokage that."
"The Third Hokage wants you to..."
"Didn't you hear me?" Tsunade said irritably. "Just tell him. That guy isn't Konoha's concern. Tell the old man not to send anyone to follow or monitor him. He can take responsibility for the consequences."
"Yes…"
In the end, Kakashi agreed and disappeared instantly.
...
"Finally left?!"
In the orphanage, Chloe sighed in relief after hearing the system's report. According to the system, that guy was capricious and did as he pleased.
If he went on a killing spree or randomly massacred a village, she'd be finished. Good riddance!
Hiruzen Sarutobi also sighed in relief after hearing Tsunade's message from Kakashi. Although he didn't know the young man's identity, Tsunade's words meant he was extremely dangerous!
Even though a pleasure district was destroyed, as long as no one was hurt, it was fine!
...
Orochimaru, while fleeing, unexpectedly found the ancient ruins he had forged!
In the Land of Fire, not far from Konoha, Shinji sat in a tiger-skin chair, watching a group of bandits fight to the death, and received this baffling news.
Was Orochimaru lucky or unlucky? The ruins he found coincidentally recorded the words "Root" and a brief introduction to it.
"Orochimaru... Root..."
Murmuring these words, Shinji found the coincidence too much. He buried something, and Orochimaru discovered it right after.
"But they do suit each other..."
As Shinji suspected, upon seeing the weathered stone slabs with indecipherable text, Orochimaru felt he had found clues to his lifelong pursuit!
He had to decipher these texts!
Orochimaru's eyes burned with a near-obsessive desire. Though he couldn't read the text, his instincts told him it was the key to all truths!
"Looks like I found something interesting by accident~"
Let's play a game of idioms. I'll start.
Do as you please!