Within arm's reach.
Faced with Heiyan's friendly smile, Tsunade remained silent and threw a punch straight toward his left face without warning.
This punch wouldn't be fatal—just an outburst of anger. Yet if it landed, Heiyan's face would probably swell for a while.
Smack.
Faster than she could blink, Heiyan tilted his head and shot out his right hand like lightning, catching Tsunade's wrist midair and stopping her punch cold.
"You..." Tsunade struggled fiercely, glaring angrily at Heiyan.
But Heiyan decided to respond in an even firmer way.
Whoosh.
He grabbed her arm and forcefully pushed forward, pinning her back onto the bed.
Now, Heiyan's upper body pressed down on hers, their faces inches apart, gazes locked. His warm breath brushed against her skin.
"I'll tell you a little secret."
Heiyan brushed aside Tsunade's golden hair near her ear and whispered softly into it, "Yes, that Ink Master who appeared in Amegakure was me. And Mist's Immortal Sage of the Turtle was also my clone."
"!"
At those words, Tsunade's eyes widened with shock. Her body trembled involuntarily.
She had suspected Heiyan was the Ink Master, but she never imagined even the immortal sage had been impersonated by him.
In the end, she relented.
"Hmph."
Tsunade let out a quiet "hmph" and turned her head away, refusing to look at Heiyan. Obviously, she was still angry and wouldn't calm down anytime soon.
Heiyan had expected exactly this reaction, which is why he hadn't immediately taken Tsunade back to Penglai. Instead, he planned to spend some alone time with her, stick around a while longer, and wait until she calmed down before discussing anything else.
Just then—
"Welcome to Konoha Television..."
After finishing a commercial break, the television inside the room showed images of Konoha. A stylish female host stood in front of the Hokage Tower with a microphone, reporting today's news in a bright, cheerful tone.
"You aren't going to watch the Konoha news?"
Heiyan patted Tsunade's shoulder playfully.
"Not watching."
Tsunade replied coldly, deliberately closing her eyes—but her ears subtly twitched, listening intently despite herself.
Chuckling, Heiyan shook his head. He got up, grabbed the remote, cranked up the volume, and then walked into the kitchen to get back to cooking.
On screen, the female host first reported on the latest developments across the ninja world—including military movements among various great nations and ninja villages, changes in high-ranking personnel, and diplomatic policies.
From what she said, it was clear that the ninja world had gone back to how things used to be. Another Great Ninja World War was probably just around the corner among the Five Great Ninja Villages.
Next came today's headline story.
The anchorwoman announced excitedly that the election for the next Hokage had officially begun. Four candidates would have one month for public speeches, debates, and electioneering. After that, a new Hokage would be elected by votes cast by all citizens of Konoha and selected representatives throughout the Land of Fire.
Tsunade blinked her eyes open, sat up in bed, and turned on the TV.
At this moment, Konoha Television was playing campaign videos from the four Hokage candidates one after another, starting with Danzo and ending with Hiashi. It was obvious each of them desperately craved the position and had given it their all.
"Forget it, let's just leave it at that."
After finishing the news, Tsunade felt a tangle of emotions inside, unsure what to say. She decided not to think about anything else and simply lay flat on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling.
"Have something to eat. It's all your favorite dishes, made by me personally."
Heiyan brought out the soup he had prepared from the kitchen, placed it on the dining table, and said to Tsunade.
"Not hungry." Tsunade's reply was short and direct.
"That's fine too."
Heiyan didn't push, but instead nodded thoughtfully as he muttered, "I guess you do look a bit heavier lately. Losing some weight wouldn't be bad."
"Who got fat? Who said I'm fat?"
Tsunade's face dropped the second she heard that. In a flash, she shot upright on the bed. She was super touchy about her looks.
"It's just because I've been too busy recently, staying up until two or three o'clock every night, so I'm a bit swollen. That's completely normal, okay?"
She stepped off the bed, refuting Heiyan's comment as she walked toward the table.
"Weight loss? I refuse to go on a diet."
Tsunade yanked the chair out and flopped down, wolfing down everything in front of her like there was no tomorrow.
The truth was, she'd been starving for quite a while already.
Man cannot live without food. Even someone with the Sage Transformation couldn't go long without proper meals. Tsunade had been unconscious for many days. Although Heiyan had taken good care of her, she hadn't really eaten properly during this time.
Ever since waking up, her stomach had started rebelling.
However, she was too embarrassed—and still slightly upset with Heiyan—to bring herself to eat his cooking.
Heiyan naturally understood this point. So he cleverly used a small Provocation Technique, successfully resolving the awkward situation and coaxing Tsunade over to the dinner table.
"Slow down. It's all yours—nobody's gonna steal it."
Heiyan teased while using chopsticks to pile more food into Tsunade's bowl. Then he handed her a tissue.
A flush spread across Tsunade's face. Reluctantly, she took the tissue from Heiyan, wiped away the rice grain stuck at the corner of her mouth, and stopped gobbling her food like a wild beast.
Half an hour later.
After they both had eaten their fill, Heiyan insisted on dragging Tsunade outside for a walk. They made their way up the winding mountain path all the way to the top.
After lying unconscious for days, her muscles had gotten stiff, even though Heiyan had been massaging and loosening them every day. Only moderate physical activity could truly rejuvenate her body.
There was a wide open space at the mountaintop, offering a breathtaking view of distant mountains and endless ancient forests.
He'd built a little wooden pavilion here using his Wood Release—perfect for taking in the view.
A cool breeze blew, carrying a magnificent vista that stretched out before their eyes.
Side by side, Tsunade and Heiyan sat shoulder-to-shoulder on the pavilion bench. She gazed blankly into the distance, clearly lost in thoughts unknown.
"Let go of all your troubles in the world of *shinobi*."
"The world keeps turning regardless of anyone's absence. Whether it's you or me, truthfully... neither of us is that important."
Heiyan exhaled deeply, his voice filled with sincerity.
Tsunade took a deep breath of fresh air, her chest rising dramatically. Then she shot Heiyan a sharp glare and punched him hard in the chest.
"Tsk..."
Heiyan sharply sucked in his breath, deliberately not dodging this time. He willingly accepted Tsunade's punch—as an apology to her.
"Hmph, even if that's true, there was no need for you to act like that and embarrass me in front of the entire shinobi world."
She puffed her cheeks in annoyance, still upset over how he'd dragged her off in front of everyone.
"That's because I wanted to announce to everyone across the world—you belong to me."
With overwhelming dominance, Heiyan declared. Without waiting for her protest, he pulled Tsunade tightly into his arms.
"You're such a bad guy."
Tsunade murmured softly, offering token resistance with slight wriggles before completely giving up. She nestled close against Heiyan's chest, resting her head on his shoulder, admiring the distant scenery together with him.
They sat in quiet companionship, exchanging soft words that only lovers share, gradually unraveling their emotional knots until their hearts reached a deeper understanding than ever before.
That night after returning to the wooden cabin, they fell asleep in each other's embrace, sharing warmth together through the cold winter.
The following morning,
Heiyan cleared out the wooden cabin before setting off southward with Tsunade toward Penglai.
Following Heiyan's suggestion, both used Transformation Jutsu to disguise themselves as an ordinary married couple traveling the world. They walked leisurely, cherishing this time as if it were a newlywed's honeymoon.
That evening, arriving at a small town, after checking in at an inn, they did not immediately go to bed. Instead, they went downstairs to the izakaya—a traditional Japanese tavern packed with locals and travelers alike.
This izakaya was particularly famous for its grilled meat, drawing guests from near and far. As soon as night fell, the place became packed with locals and travelers alike, bustling with business.
After some difficulty, Heiyan and Tsunade managed to secure two seats by the corner wall. They ordered signature grilled meat and sake along with several side dishes, making for a delicious and satisfying dinner.
At this moment, the izakaya buzzed with lively chatter, laughter echoing throughout. Waiters carried trays, rushing around busily between customers.
Additionally, the izakaya had recently installed a brand new flat-screen TV, which was now broadcasting an entertaining nightly show, further amplifying the lively atmosphere.
Patrons were talking freely, gossiping about recent events—more specifically, everything that happened starting from the day of the inauguration ceremony as the new Hokage within Leaf Village.
"What a shame. We were just one step away from achieving shinobi unification. We actually had the opportunity to witness history firsthand. But now, after Uzumaki Heiyan disrupted things and kidnapped Tsunade-sama, who knows if we'll live long enough to see shinobi unification again."
"What are you sorry about? Fortunately, the shinobi world didn't unify. Otherwise, our Land of Fire would be swamped with refugees from other countries. The high-ranking elders in Leaf Village might get praised for their good image, but us common folk would end up suffering the most."
"Right. Why should we share such a great place as the Land of Fire with people from other countries?"
"..."
Tsunade paused her chopsticks halfway to her mouth, listening to everyone's chatter.
She hadn't expected that many ordinary people outside Leaf Village actually held such opinions.
Seeing Tsunade looking downcast, Heiyan gently patted her shoulder and explained:
"Survival resources are scarce across the world of shinobi. Other than the Land of Fire, most countries are either deserts, oceans, or regions with year-round snowfall—harsh environments unfit for easy living. Because life is more comfortable in the Land of Fire, its residents have always felt psychologically superior toward people from other countries, and they want to maintain this sense of superiority. Therefore, quite a few people oppose unification."
After hearing this, Tsunade nodded thoughtfully.
She gradually began to understand why Heiyan had said that it wasn't yet time to unify the shinobi world.
Maybe she had been too hasty—perhaps the timing simply wasn't right yet.
At that moment, the television began airing campaign videos showcasing the four Hokage candidates.
The izakaya customers also launched into heated discussions about the four candidates. Among them, the two most popular were the "Leaf Twin Stars"—Fugaku Uchiha and Hiashi Hyuga. Then there was Orochimaru, Director of Scientific Research. As for Danzo, his popularity currently lagged far behind the others'.
During their discussion, strong supporters of Fugaku and Hiashi engaged in an intense argument, getting red-faced and extremely excited.
If the izakaya owner hadn't rushed over with several staff members to break up the fight, the two sides might have come to blows right there.
"Who do you think will become Hokage?"
Tsunade turned away from watching the commotion and suddenly asked Heiyan.
"It's hard to say, but at the moment, Fugaku seems most likely to win. However, if you ask who I personally hope becomes Hokage, my answer would be Danzo Shimura."
Heiyan smiled slightly and said.
"Why?"
Sure enough, Tsunade immediately became curious. In her opinion, Heiyan should support his two fellow warriors, Fugaku and Hiashi.
As for Danzo, he clearly had so many conflicts with Heiyan. Even while Heiyan was still in Leaf, they weren't just slightly estranged—they were practically sworn enemies.
Yet Heiyan said he supported Danzo becoming Hokage. This was just too strange.
"You'll find out later."
Heiyan gave a teasing response with a mysterious smile.
Without Danzo causing troubles in Leaf and oppressing various talented individuals, how could Heiyan ever have the opportunity to swoop in and bring all those talents over to Penglai?
"What evil plan are you hatching now? Don't try to hide it from me."
Tsunade pressed him further, refusing to let it drop. But at this moment, Heiyan's gaze suddenly shifted toward the window.
Huh?
Following Heiyan's line of sight, Tsunade noticed a huge caravan arriving at this small town.
This caravan looked somewhat unusual. It didn't look like a regular merchant caravan—it resembled more of a powerful clan on the move.
Within the caravan, besides numerous young and physically fit members, there were also many elderly people and children—it looked like the whole family had packed up and come along.
They used creatures that looked like armored rhinoceroses to haul cargo and draw their carriages. There were also flamingos with pink feathers towering over a person's height, serving not only as mounts but also as guardians for the caravan with their offensive capabilities.
It was clear they were seasoned travelers, constantly on the move from country to country, never staying anywhere for long.
At this moment, the leader of the caravan stepped out from the carriage. He appeared to be a middle-aged man in his forties—experienced, mature, and composed.
He walked into the izakaya with a few younger men and joined the owner.
The izakaya owner warmly welcomed the caravan members as if they were old friends. Not only had he reserved dining spots for them beforehand, but he'd also arranged lodging for the night.
Heiyan perked up his ears. From their conversation, he learned the name of the caravan leader was Heyan.
Heyan's name sounded familiar. Heiyan was certain this individual had existed within the "original timeline", though he couldn't recall exactly at the moment.
So, he leaned in and kept listening closely.
"Boss," the leader asked, "may I ask where in town can one post missions and hire skilled ninjas? Our caravan has run into some trouble lately and needs top-notch ninjas for protection."
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