Senju Hashirama's Residence.
Before Renya even stepped into the courtyard, he could already hear Hashirama's hearty laughter.
With such strength and cheer in his voice, it was hard to believe that the man behind it had only a short time left to live.
In the courtyard, Senju Hashirama sat cross-legged at a stone table, a gentle yet mischievous smile playing on his lips.
Tanihana was sprawled out on his shoulder, fast asleep.
Tsunade's chubby little hands were clutching a pouch embroidered with a kitten pattern. Puffing up her cheeks, she stood on tiptoe and leaned over the edge of the table, eyes locked onto the dice cup.
"This time I'm definitely going to win!" Tsunade bit her lip and flipped the dice cup with determination. "Four, two, three!"
Her voice carried a note of hope, but the moment her eyes drifted to the dice in front of Hashirama, her expression fell flat.
Right in front of him lay three perfect sixes, neatly aligned.
"Hahaha, Tsunade, you have to accept your losses!" Hashirama's hearty laughter echoed through the courtyard as he reached out and ruffled Tsunade's bun.
"Now, hand over the money."
Unwilling, Tsunade stomped her foot and slowly pulled out copper coins one by one from her kitten-embroidered pouch, placing them reluctantly into Hashirama's outstretched hand. She muttered under her breath:
"Grandpa definitely cheated. Why do I always lose?"
She had played several rounds with her grandfather and hadn't won even once.
She had nearly lost all the allowance her grandmother had given her.
Thinking of this, Tsunade glared at Hashirama with her big watery eyes.
Hashirama tucked the copper coins into his robe and playfully tapped Tsunade's nose.
"That's not cheating—it's experience. When you grow up, you'll be just as skilled as Grandpa. Then you can win all of this back."
"Got it, Grandpa!" Tsunade nodded seriously.
She firmly believed that as long as she kept gambling, one day she would be as amazing as her grandfather!
"Tsunade, you mustn't tell Grandma about this, okay?" Hashirama reminded her with a bit of guilt.
He had only dared to teach Tsunade how to gamble while Mito wasn't home.
If Mito found out, he'd be in big trouble.
"Don't worry, Grandpa." Tsunade patted her chest. "I won't tell Grandma. This is our secret!"
Seeing her like this, Hashirama nodded in satisfaction.
Ever since Mito found out he had picked up the bad habit of gambling, she had stopped giving him any allowance. He now had to scam a bit from Tsunade as startup capital.
Today his luck was blazing—he hadn't lost a single round.
With this kind of winning streak, he was sure to make a fortune at the casino tonight...
The thought made Hashirama burst into laughter again.
Tsunade didn't understand what her grandfather was laughing about, but she joined in anyway.
Just as Renya stepped into the courtyard, he saw the big and little pair laughing heartily at the sky.
"Hashirama-san, what's got you so happy?"
Hashirama stopped laughing when he heard the voice.
"Renya, you're here!"
Tsunade blinked her big watery eyes and instinctively swallowed.
"Did you come to cook for me again?"
Renya's mouth twitched. This gluttonous girl really had started treating him like a personal chef.
Ever since she first tasted his cooking, Tsunade refused to let him leave without preparing a meal for her whenever he visited…
Hashirama also looked at Renya with anticipation.
"Renya, are you really going to cook for us today?"
Under the pitiful gaze of both grandfather and granddaughter, Renya had no choice but to agree.
As soon as he did, the two of them clapped hands in excitement.
"Yay! I get to taste Renya-san's cooking again!"
"Hahaha, Renya, thank you in advance for tonight."
Watching them, Renya couldn't help but grumble inwardly:
Wasn't he here to check on Hashirama-san's health?
How did he end up being a chef again?!
He had just cooked for Senju Tobirama at noon, and now in the afternoon, it was Hashirama.
No, come to think of it, every time he came here, he ended up cooking...
He really had become the Senju clan's personal chef.
Renya could probably write a book one day called "The Hokages' Personal Chef."
After all, the First, Second, future Third, Fifth, and even the Shadow Kage had all praised his cooking to high heaven.
That kind of endorsement would absolutely earn him a name in the culinary world…
Renya's gaze swept over Hashirama's slightly thinner face. Compared to before, he had lost even more weight.
"Hashirama-san, is your body still…"
Before he could finish, a burst of hearty laughter cut him off.
"Renya, look at this girl Tsunade—she's all flustered from losing again!"
Hashirama suddenly raised his voice, then pinched Tsunade's cheeks. With a swipe of Wood Release vines, he snatched up her pouch and pulled out a few more copper coins.
"You lost fair and square, Tsunade."
Tsunade snorted and turned to wink at Renya.
"Renya-san, don't believe Grandpa! He's totally cheating. I haven't won even once."
Seeing Tsunade speak so earnestly, Renya couldn't help but shake his head and smile.
So her unlucky streak started from a young age, huh?
She really was born to be a loser in gambling…
Senju Hashirama was relieved when Renya didn't press the question further.
He didn't know how to respond to Renya's concern.
Hashirama knew his own body best. He didn't want those who cared about him to worry.
Whether it was Mito, Tobirama, or Renya, he didn't want to say anything.
And all three of them, knowing Hashirama didn't want to talk about it, tactfully chose not to ask.
But in their hearts, they all understood—Hashirama's condition was likely worse than they had feared.
Otherwise, he wouldn't be trying so hard to hide it.
Renya looked at Hashirama, still busy gambling with Tsunade, and sighed silently.
After watching a while, he stood up to leave.
"Hashirama-san, I'll head out for now. I'll be back later to cook dinner."
"Alright, thanks, Renya."
...
Just as Renya stepped outside the courtyard, he ran into Uzumaki Mito.
"Mito-san, it's been a while."
"Renya, haven't had any missions lately?" Uzumaki Mito greeted him with a warm smile.
"Mm." Renya nodded.
He also told her about coming back to cook dinner tonight.
Uzumaki Mito was naturally very supportive and said she would prepare all the ingredients for him.
Renya had barely walked a few steps when he heard Mito's furious roar behind him.
"Hashirama! You actually taught Tsunade how to gamble!!!"
"Mito, listen to me—I can explain… I was wrong! Aaaaah—"
Hearing the commotion, Renya didn't say a word. His face only grew more serious.
"Hashirama-san doesn't even want to use his sensory ability anymore."
With Hashirama's strength, there's no way he wouldn't notice Mito approaching.
And yet he still got caught. That could only mean his health had deteriorated to the point where he could no longer maintain constant sensory awareness.
Of course, there was also the possibility that he was too engrossed in gambling and didn't notice…
But that seemed unlikely.
Either way, one thing was clear—Senju Hashirama's body was getting worse by the day.
No one knew when he might collapse.
Life and death… no one can predict such things.
One day you're full of energy, and the next, you could fall and never rise again.
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