Tsunade snickered from the side.
"Living off her wealth" might be an exaggeration, but it was pretty close; Tōshirō's expenses were mostly covered by her.
The Uchiha matriarch glanced at Tōshirō and said flatly, "Alright, alright, why are you getting so worked up if it's not true?"
"All I know is you live with Tsunade every day, yet you keep delaying marriage, stringing her along."
Her words were so logical that Tōshirō was speechless, so he chose to shut up.
"In a way, I watched you grow up. Although you were a bit eccentric as a child, you've finally found the right path now."
The Uchiha matriarch patted Tōshirō's shoulder. "Don't let her down, you hear?"
Tōshirō: ...
On their way back, carrying the large crabs, Tsunade suddenly asked, "Speaking of which, when are you planning to marry me?"
Tōshirō was surprised by Tsunade's directness. "You want to marry me that much?"
Tsunade huffed, annoyed. "Isn't that obvious? Everyone in the village knows we live together now. Besides marrying you, do you think I can marry anyone else?"
Tōshirō joked, "Tsunade, don't be unfair. If you just announce that you're breaking up with me, I bet your admirers would line up from your front door all the way to the Leaf Village gates."
Tsunade shot him a look. "So, you want to break up with me?"
Tōshirō chuckled. "Just kidding. Have I lost my mind? I'd never break up with you."
"Then what's your deal? You won't marry me, but you keep stringing me along. What do you mean by that?" Ever since their near-frank conversation last time, Tsunade realized she was becoming more assertive.
While she was still a bit tsundere about some things, she knew it was mostly playful, not genuine tsundere behavior.
Tsunade's direct marriage proposal caught Tōshirō off guard. He was silent for a moment. "It's too soon now. Let's wait a few more years."
"Wait a few more years?"
Tsunade snorted. "That's a vague answer. Can't you give me a definite one?"
"I mean, you've been playing with my body for so long, you'll take responsibility for me in the end, right? Right?"
"What kind of talk is that...?"
"Don't just wipe your mouth clean and pretend you don't know me. At this point, I'm absolutely not letting you go."
Tōshirō slowly probed, "Three years?"
Tsunade seemed to guess his thoughts. "And then, three years again and again?"
You truly are the worm in my stomach...Tōshirō had calculated the time. He remembered that Uchiha Madara's lifespan ran out around his 24th birthday, leading to him kicking the bucket and awakening the Rinnegan.
Then, he had Black Zetsu implant his Rinnegan into young Nagato.
Ideally, Tōshirō wanted to intercept the Rinnegan at that time, and then directly find Uchiha Madara, who wouldn't even have his eyes. He could definitely finish him off.
However, he knew the old man was already watching him, so Tōshirō could only try to stall, prolonging his lifespan and increasing his own advantage.
Tōshirō was silent for a moment, then said seriously, "Each generation does its own work. I want our children to be born in a time of peace, to live carefree lives."
"Not to be born into an age of war, forced to learn how to kill from birth."
"You're being serious for once." Tsunade confirmed, "So, you mean after the war ends?"
Tōshirō nodded.
He'd trick her for now. Once he took care of Uchiha Madara, he would have no more worries.
Tsunade, having received a definite timeframe, felt relieved.
Tōshirō had always been vague, which had made her a little uneasy.
Tsunade slipped her hand through Tōshirō's arm, linking with him intimately, her body close to his, walking in sync, side by side.
"Sometimes, I also want to try walking more intimately with you on the street."
"Your current look makes me a bit shy."
"Is that not allowed?"
"I didn't say that."
"Hehe..."
A week later, at the Hokage's office.
Hiruzen Sarutobi summoned Tsunade and Tōshirō, giving them their mission. "The location of the Land of Sky has been found. I've decided to assign this mission to the two of you. Of course, when I say 'the two of you,' it doesn't just include you two."
Tōshirō looked around, noticing that Orochimaru and Jiraiya weren't there, and casually asked, "Aren't Orochimaru and Jiraiya going?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi showed regret. "The front lines are stretched thin. I've decided to send them both as reinforcements first."
Tōshirō nodded. Given the sudden circumstances, it couldn't be helped.
Considering the true combat strength of the Land of Sky, Tōshirō and Tsunade, as two elite ninjas leading a squad of other ninjas, were actually enough.
There was a fundamental difference in quality between the ninjas of great nations and small nations.
A Chunin from the Leaf could be a Jonin in a small country.
Likely to put them at ease, Hiruzen Sarutobi specifically mentioned the combat environment: "This battle will be at sea. If I'm not mistaken, both of you are quite proficient in Water Style, so it will be like fighting on home turf."
As he spoke, he specifically looked at Tōshirō, pointing out, "Especially you, Tōshirō, your Ice Style can be very effective at sea."
Tōshirō nodded, acknowledging the point. "That's true, but what do you mean by sea combat?"
"Because the enemy is at sea, of course," Hiruzen Sarutobi grinned. "The Land of Sky's fortress base is currently submerged in the ocean."
"I see..."
"Do you have confidence?"
"If I say I don't have confidence, can I not go?" Tōshirō gave a wry smile.
Hiruzen Sarutobi paused.
Tsunade chopped Tōshirō on the head with a hand blade. "Sorry, Lord Third, don't mind this guy."
Hiruzen Sarutobi said kindly, "Tōshirō, I'll ask you again, do you have confidence?"
With Tsunade applying pressure from the side, Tōshirō was forced to correct himself. "Of course..."
On the vast sea, a giant mobile fortress floated, surrounded by several submarine-like vessels.
On the coastline, Tōshirō, hidden behind rocks, watched from afar, wanting very much to complain.
Why was the Land of Sky's technology so advanced? In some aspects, it was even more formidable than the technology tree of his previous life.
This was unscientific...
"Hey, why is the Land of Sky's technology so advanced? Don't we in the Land of Fire have anything similar?"
Tōshirō grumbled.
"Alright, alright, less chatter. Let's start planning this operation."
Tsunade was the captain for this mission, in command.
Tōshirō closed his mouth, giving his girlfriend face.
Seeing him sensible, Tsunade nodded in satisfaction. She turned to the young man in a cloak beside her, who wore sunglasses and had purple markings near the corners of his mouth, giving off the impression of a silent, stereotypical individual.
Indeed, this was true, as people of his clan were generally not very talkative.
Aburame Ryoma was his name. He hailed from the Aburame clan, skilled in manipulating insects for combat.
Tsunade understood the abilities of each team member well. She began assigning tasks, starting with the Aburame clan member. "Ryoma, first, secretly use your insects to lay eggs and multiply on those armed ships."
As per the common stereotype of the Aburame clan, Ryoma, having received the command, merely nodded silently, not uttering a word.
Tōshirō specifically glanced at him.
He had a rather strong impression of this person; he was somewhat of a legendary figure in the original story.
Although he hadn't officially displayed his full power, given his track record of serving as Danzo's early bodyguard alongside Orochimaru, his strength was likely formidable.
Tsunade specifically reminded him, "However, do not lay eggs on the mobile fortress in the middle, the one that's protected."
Aside from the mission to annihilate the Land of Sky, the Leaf's higher-ups also tasked them with finding and retrieving secret techniques or other valuable items collected by the Land of Sky. This was why Tsunade instructed Ryoma not to lay eggs on it, to avoid damaging anything inside and suffering a net loss.
Ryoma still silently nodded, indicating he had received the order.
"How long will it take you to lay these insect eggs on these ships?" Tsunade asked to gauge the situation, better to control the overall flow of the mission.
This time, Ryoma couldn't remain silent. He organized his thoughts, moved his mouth, which rarely opened, and spoke in a low voice: "Uncertain. This is the first time I've dealt with such a large quantity, so I cannot give an accurate estimate. However, if they are ready, the insects will inform me."
"Your word is enough."
Having assigned Ryoma's task, Tsunade then turned her attention to another member of the team.
(End of Chapter)
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