Chapter 54: The Melting Kiss
Five hundred million, or fifty million?
Tsukasa stood in silence, staring at the two options.
Honestly, all the hardships he'd endured were nothing compared to five hundred million.
With five hundred million, he could use it to slap that "Good Brother" in the face, making him regret his actions and fall to his knees in apology.
He could drive the same car he'd only admired from afar, freeing himself from the daily grind through wind and rain.
He could even bid two million, lavishly purchasing a house in this era of fluctuating prices.
Then, under the landlord's shocked gaze, he could upgrade his living situation completely—leaving everyone wondering if this kid was some rich person's long-lost son.
Five hundred million! That's five hundred million ryō!
With five hundred million, he'd be set for life!
Yet Tsukasa couldn't help but recall his brief year in the shinobi world.
He hadn't needed to worry about tomorrow or food. He could save substantial amounts simply by training diligently within the clan and completing minor missions. The clan elders, though harsh in their words, actually cared for him. Every week, he'd find a basket of rice, vegetables, and supplies outside his door.
Such a peaceful year—yet one filled with underlying anxiety and unease.
And after leaving the clan, Great Elder Uchiha Setsuna had nearly lost his life trying to save him, his fate still uncertain.
His newfound friend Hidan would stick by him even knowing danger was imminent, and had blindly jumped off a cliff out of pure trust.
And then there was that girl—the one with the most beautiful eyes Tsukasa had ever seen—who had held him even after he'd fallen, sorrow written across her face.
But Tsukasa knew it was all built on lies.
The brief peace he'd experienced in the shinobi world was a lie. The image of himself as someone willing to sacrifice everything—that others saw in him—was also a lie.
The true face of the shinobi world was filled with blood, tears, hatred, fury, and madness.
And he was no heroic savior from storybooks. Neither noble nor righteous—from the very beginning, he'd been greedy, self-serving, and fraudulent.
Yet five hundred million was real.
Losing four hundred fifty million would hurt the calculating Tsukasa more than a blade to the heart.
So Tsukasa's gaze fixed on the two options before him.
He pressed his palms together apologetically, thinking: Brother Hidan, I'm completely burned out. What happens next depends entirely on your luck. I'll light some incense for you in the afterlife.
If all else fails, I'll burn some offerings. That's pure sincerity!
After all, as you can see, I only have $5.26 left. Burning offerings for you would mean taking out loans—that's quite the sacrifice.
Sorry, buddy. This one day of friendship is worth about that much to me. Not a penny more.
After reciting this mental justification like a mantra, Tsukasa grinned.
He puffed out his chest confidently, raised his palm, and reached toward the option—ready to embrace his bright new tomorrow as a wealthy man!
However, just as his finger was about to touch the selection—
A sweet, strawberry-scented breath, like a girl's gentle exhalation, blew in through the torrential rain.
Through the cracks in the window.
From the endless darkness.
After countless relays—dozens, hundreds, thousands of times—it finally reached the room shrouded in storm.
Tsukasa's smoldering heart, his empty, chilled chest, suddenly felt a surge of warm vitality instantly spreading to every limb.
THUMP! THUMP! THUMP!
THUMP! THUMP!
THUMP! THUMP!
The frozen world cracked, fissures spreading.
Crimson light, like rosy dawn, suddenly shattered the dark clouds of the sunless night.
It was the light of dawn.
It was a kiss that could melt even Susanoo.
"1310."
"1311."
"1312."
Land of Hot Water, atop the cliffs near the Jashin Cult headquarters.
Shinnō observed the scene before him, perfunctorily closing the wound he'd created in Tsukasa's chest, then silently counted in his mind.
That was all he could really do.
After inserting a heart into Tsukasa's chest cavity, all other procedures except artificial respiration were automatically handled by the kid's Forbidden Technique: Physical Regeneration and Secret Technique: Earth Grudge Fear Stitching.
Even chest compressions weren't needed—very convenient.
Any medical ninja seeing such a patient would want to shout: "Please give me three more like this!"
But honestly, whether Tsukasa would survive remained questionable.
Even Tsunade, one of the Legendary Sannin, would be baffled by such a case.
Much less him—a wandering doctor.
"How is his condition? Is he alive?"
Mei Terumi gasped, suddenly lifted her head, pulled away with a thin strand of saliva connecting them, and glared at Shinnō hatefully.
Hearing the girl's question, Shinnō's expression suddenly shifted to serious alertness. He said solemnly:
"Almost there, almost there. I can sense a power awakening within this boy."
Mei Terumi gritted her teeth. "You said that half an hour ago! Will this work? Give me a straight answer!"
Shinnō glanced at Tsukasa's corpse, figuring that after so long with no response, he must be dead.
Should I take him back for examination?
Just as he wondered if dragging the body away would be disrespectful, he suddenly sensed a surge of sinister, cold chakra rising.
Shinnō's eyes narrowed as he looked toward Tsukasa's face. Then he said seriously:
"This time it's real."
Mei Terumi smiled faintly, a vein throbbing on her forehead. What did this guy take a girl's first kiss for?!
"Fine, this is the LAST time!"
"If he still doesn't respond, I'll melt both of you together."
Mei Terumi glared coldly, then turned around and expertly tilted Tsukasa's chin up. Her lips pressed against his firmly, creating a seal.
Looking at the young man before her, she thought that if Tsukasa didn't wake up, she'd use Boil Release: Skilled Mist Technique next time instead.
However, before Mei Terumi could complete the breath—
Tsukasa, who had been lying motionless for over an hour, suddenly opened his eyes and gasped sharply twice.
The harsh breath hit Mei Terumi's face, leaving her stunned.
His Sharingan activated instantly, crimson bleeding into the whites of his eyes.
Tsukasa watched his five hundred million fly away before his eyes. The single tomoe in his pupils spun violently, nearly splitting into two, then three—
But then, the next moment, boy and girl locked eyes, and the air fell into awkward silence.
Tsukasa blinked.
Looking at Mei Terumi who was pressed against him, the rage rising in his heart suddenly dissipated.
His pupils immediately dilated and unfocused as he began wondering if he'd really died and gone to heaven.
Facing the angry yet embarrassed expression of the girl before him, his mind went blank with confusion about the situation.
Mei Terumi, who had been performing artificial respiration, suddenly froze—her face instantly turning blood red, steam practically bursting from her head.
The embarrassment and mortification at this moment were nearly overwhelming.
Online advice needed, URGENT: Gave artificial respiration to an unconscious guy and had to do it over 1,300 times. Will he think I had ulterior motives?
Mei Terumi immediately pushed herself up and covered her face, then turned to look up at the sunrise.
She performed a series of smooth movements, pretending nothing had happened—as if she was simply admiring the beauty of dawn, trying to make Tsukasa think everything just now was his imagination.
Then, the spring morning breeze, carrying the scent of youth, awakened the rising sun.
Tsukasa touched the corner of his lips blankly, his face flushing. His eyes followed the girl's movements forward.
She stood silhouetted against the dawn, her ears bright red, her long reddish-brown hair swaying in the wind.
Her hair fluttered, and the light was dazzling.
The atmosphere became subtly charged.
End of Chapter 54
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