As for what would happen if word got out about her coming and going from the camp, it wasn't something Tsunade cared about.
Staying too long might leave a bad impression, but just one night? Who would dare complain?
"Has Lady Tsunade left?"
Once Takashi stepped out of the medical tent and confirmed they were alone, Kobayashi and Sarutobi Santou approached.
Stretching lazily, Takashi replied, "She left early this morning."
Why Tsunade came—Takashi kept that to himself.
As for what happened last night? That, he was even less likely to disclose.
The two captains wisely refrained from asking further.
After confirming Tsunade had departed, they offered some well-meaning advice for Takashi to rest well and left.
I didn't even do anything!
Just enjoyed holding her hand a bit—what rest?
As the New Year approached, the camp's atmosphere began to shift. The initial enthusiasm had faded, and many were glancing frequently in the direction of the village.
Clearly, everyone was longing for home, wanting to reunite with family and celebrate the New Year together.
Yet, with missions to fulfill and no replacements until the next rotation, they could only stay stationed at camp, unable to go anywhere.
"Hahaha! The Great Toad Sage, Jiraiya, is back!!"
Just two days before the New Year, Jiraiya returned to the village after a long mission.
"Old man, if there's another mission like this, don't assign it to me—just hand it to Orochimaru! It nearly killed me," Jiraiya grumbled as he handed in his report.
The mission had taken far too long.
"Take a break and get ready to celebrate the New Year," said the Third Hokage, smiling, shifting the topic.
Of his three students, the Third favored Orochimaru most, giving him the most attention. Due to their personalities, Jiraiya was actually the most obedient of the three.
Thus, troublesome tasks often fell on Jiraiya's shoulders.
As for Tsunade, she was often busy with the medical division, and she'd reject certain missions outright. Orochimaru was even more decisive, engrossed in his experiments whenever he had money. Tasks? Best left to Jiraiya.
"Alright, old man, I'm off."
Rest? That was out of the question.
Leaving the Hokage's office, Jiraiya headed straight for the hot springs, itching for some entertainment.
Disappointment struck fast; thanks to winter and the New Year season, the hot springs were empty. Jiraiya's hopes of catching an eyeful were dashed.
If his eyes couldn't feast, at least his mouth could.
Jiraiya sought out Orochimaru, dragging him from the research lab, and then coaxed Tsunade into joining them at a small tavern.
"Whew! Finally feel alive again—this last mission was torture. Nearly killed me," Jiraiya complained as he drank.
Orochimaru quietly listened, the words flowing in one ear and out the other as usual.
After venting for a while, Jiraiya sensed that something felt off.
Orochimaru was still his unresponsive self, treating Jiraiya's words as mere noise.
But Tsunade...
Jiraiya noticed the difference. Normally, when the three of them met up, Tsunade would respond to his complaints with insults and even a punch or two.
But this time, she neither insulted nor hit him.
What happened while I was away from the village?
Jiraiya blinked in confusion.
"Tsunade, is the food not to your liking?"
Tsunade had always enjoyed the food here, but today, she barely touched her chopsticks.
"Maybe my tastes have changed—it doesn't taste as good as before," she replied, surprisingly calm, even curious to hear about any amusing incidents Jiraiya encountered during his mission.
Unbelievable!!
Is this the Tsunade I know?
Jiraiya's jaw nearly hit the table.
Even Orochimaru, who was quietly sipping his drink, found Tsunade's uncharacteristic calmness a bit odd.
Since their team disbanded, the three had met less and less frequently, and it had been quite some time since their last reunion.
After finishing their meal, they each went their separate ways.
Jiraiya sought out his loyal little follower, Nawaki.
"Has your sister been acting strange recently?"
"Nope," came Nawaki's casual reply, his nose buried in a book Jiraiya had brought him.
"Maybe her appetite isn't great. Not just her—even Kushina is the same. Ever since Takashi left, we haven't had any of those delicious meals for a while."
"Takashi? Tsunade's apprentice?"
Jiraiya was surprised.
"Apprentice? What apprentice?" Nawaki retorted, not even looking up. "He's just learning from her; she doesn't acknowledge him as a true student."
"Hehehe!!"
Before long, Nawaki was absorbed in his book, leaving Jiraiya scratching his head in confusion.
He felt like he was missing something.
But he couldn't put his finger on it.
While Konoha was decorated with red lanterns, the border camp looked the same as ever. Kobayashi hung up two handmade red lanterns at the camp gate to mark the New Year's arrival. Unfortunately, they only made the homesickness worse for some.
A lack of awareness.
Noticing the somber atmosphere around camp, Takashi could only shake his head.
Many were thinking of home, yearning to return as soon as possible, yet there was no sign from the village at all.
If they could ignore it at other times, during the New Year, shouldn't the village send supplies to reward the border guards?
Was Konoha really so impoverished it couldn't spare a little for its border guards? The elders council certainly seemed negligent.
It's getting closer, closer still.Takashi sensed that the third wave of his Tenseigan awakening was about to arrive.
On New Year's night, it came as expected. Takashi, prepared, covered his eyes with a white cloth and lay quietly in bed.
Each awakening wave lasted longer than the previous one.
Perhaps because he didn't possess Otsutsuki chakra, the Tenseigan awakenings took a bit more time.
The intervals were quite long, too.
In the entire border camp, Takashi, as the only medical ninja, was highly valued. Seeing the white cloth over his eyes made everyone nervous.
"Takashi, are your eyes okay?" Kobayashi asked, clearly concerned.
Takashi was crucial.
As a member of the Third Hokage's clan, Sarutobi Santou knew some of the secrets.
"Takashi, is it the side effects of the Byakugan regression again?"
"Yes, my eyes are uncomfortable. Feels like something is pulsing inside. During this time, I'm sensitive to bright lights and can't act rashly. You'll all need to protect yourselves."
"This side effect has happened twice before, each time lasting for a while. I'm not sure how long it'll last this time."
"Damn!" Kobayashi cursed. "The Hokage should've had you brought back—you're not in good health."
This—Santou felt the awkward tension as Kobayashi's words rang with frustration, which he couldn't easily counter as a member of the Third's clan.
Takashi smiled, calming Kobayashi. "Captain, I've gone through this twice. I can manage, so there's no need for a transfer."
"But if someone gets hurt, can you still treat them?" Kobayashi asked, voicing his biggest concern.
As a medical ninja, Takashi's duty was to treat and rescue the wounded.
If he couldn't, he'd essentially be a figurehead.