"Should we pursue?" Tsunade asked Ebara.
"No. I can't maintain this state long," Ebara said, shaking his head.
A chase could turn into a drawn-out battle.
His experience card had limited time (Chapter 51). If it ran out, they'd be in danger.
Tsunade nodded, understanding.
She knew Chiyo's strength (Chapter 59). Without Ebara's arrival, she'd have been in trouble.
She hurried to her three teammates, healing them.
Then she turned to Ebara. "What are you doing here?"
"The Third gave me a mission. Just heading back," Ebara said. "What happened with you guys?"
"It seems Chiyo was looking for some kid," Tsunade said, puzzled.
"An Uzumaki child?" Ebara's mind raced.
Was the Land of Wind the other nation hunting Kushina (Chapter 44)?
"Not sure, but they seemed desperate to find that kid," Tsunade said.
"That's it, then," Ebara replied.
Jiraiya approached with Sawako and Kushina.
"Who are they?" Tsunade asked, eyeing them.
"Uzumaki survivors. The Third sent us to retrieve them," Ebara said, not hiding it.
Tsunade would learn eventually, given her status (Naruto canon).
She nodded.
Sawako suddenly pointed at Ebara, fuming. "You bastard! You lied, saying you were an Iwa rogue!"
"I only said I'd take Kushina to Konoha. Never said I wasn't from Konoha," Ebara said righteously.
"Scumbag!" Jiraiya spat.
Ebara rolled his eyes. "Shut up, Jiraiya. Stop stirring."
Tsunade looked at Sawako, confused.
She sensed something off, especially in Sawako's glare at Ebara—a familiar look.
Noticing Sawako's tattered clothes and striking figure, Tsunade felt a pang of unease.
"Ebara, what's going on?" she asked coldly.
"Long story. Let's get to the village, and I'll explain," Ebara said, dodging.
"Make it short," Tsunade demanded.
Ebara: "…"
Why not follow the script?
Sawako, sensing something between Tsunade and Ebara, noted how Ebara left Jiraiya behind in Yoen (Chapter 53) but rushed to save Tsunade (Chapter 59).
Tsunade clearly mattered to him.
Seizing the chance, Sawako said, "Short version? He's a monster. Tricked my body and forced me to do things against my will…"
She put on a pitiful, tearful act—an expert performance.
Tsunade, seeing her distress, exploded. "Is that true?" she growled at Ebara.
"No way! I'm not that guy. Trust me," Ebara said, panicking.
He knew Sawako's acting skills (Chapter 56).
Sawako fanned the flames. "Forgot what you did to me in the river yesterday?"
Jiraiya chimed in: "Scumbag!"
"I didn't! She's lying!" Ebara protested.
His panic was obvious to Tsunade, Sawako, Jiraiya, and even Kushina.
"What did he do?" Tsunade asked, teeth clenched, words squeezed out.
Sawako wiped a tear. "He held me tight, wouldn't let go… said I should repay him with my body…"
Jiraiya: "Scumbag!"
Tsunade erupted like a volcano.
It sounded exactly like something Ebara would do.
She swung a fist at him.
Ebara, prepared, dodged.
Her punch cratered the ground, shockwaves rippling outward.
The three freshly healed Konoha ninjas, already weak, spat blood from the impact.
"Tsunade, let me explain!" Ebara pleaded.
"Explain what? The Third gave you a mission, and you're flirting?" Tsunade roared. "Guess you're too free. Let me loosen your bones!"
She charged, another ferocious punch aimed at him.
Ebara dodged again, the wind from her fist stinging his cheeks.
She was furious.
"She's stirring trouble. She's a bad one," Ebara said.
"Bad? Sounds like she's telling the truth," Tsunade retorted.
"No way! She's exaggerating!" Ebara insisted.
Sawako piled on. "Exaggerating? Didn't you rip my clothes?"
"Enough!" Ebara snapped. "Yes, I tore her clothes, but not for the reason she's saying. It was during a fight!"
Jiraiya raised a soul-piercing question: "What kind of fight? The kind where you held her tight and demanded her body?"
Ebara: "Shut up!"
Tsunade, fuming, felt ready to explode.
"So it's all true," she said.
"I swear it's not!" Ebara said.
Jiraiya pressed: "Then say 'Konoha ninjas don't lie to Konoha ninjas'!"
He threw Ebara's old trick (Chapter 52) back at him.
Ebara: "…"
"Get lost!"
Jiraiya, self-righteous, said to Tsunade, "Go for it. Sawako's telling the truth. Ebara's up to no good."
Tsunade, at her limit, charged.
"Die!"
Her punch, dozens of times stronger, shook the earth.
Sawako and Jiraiya stumbled from the shockwave.
Kushina fell flat on her butt.
Watching Tsunade's might, Kushina's eyes sparkled with admiration.
"I'll be that strong someday! Then I can protect myself!"
Jiraiya gloated. "Finally, someone's dealing with you, you sleaze."
Sawako felt satisfied. "That's for taking advantage of me."
Meanwhile, chased by Tsunade, Ebara's mind flashed with three options:
Option 1: Subdue Tsunade forcefully. Reward: 5 Strength Attribute Points!
Option 2: Keep dodging until Tsunade tires out. Reward: 5 Agility Attribute Points!
Option 3: Obtuse Angle! Reward: Unknown!
Ebara froze.
He'd hoped the system would offer ways to calm Tsunade.
"Obtuse Angle"? What kind of nonsense was that?
"I'd rather let Tsunade catch and beat me to death than pick Obtuse Angle!" he thought.
Option 3 may grant a mysterious grand prize!
Ebara: "I choose three, Obtuse Angle!"