Too much time had passed.
Details that once seemed important had long since faded from Yui Xuanyue's memory. He knew, of course, that Tsunade would one day become the Fifth Hokage of Konoha. He remembered that Jiraiya had taken Uzumaki Naruto to find her. But the when, the where, and how long it had all taken? Those were only briefly sketched in the original tale, and reality was far slower and messier than a single panel in a book.
"Shōtensu Street…" Xuanyue muttered. The name felt faintly familiar, but it didn't spark any clear memory.
The moneylenders around him swore up and down that their "VIP client," a legendary mark, would be found there. He nodded, asked for the directions, and turned to leave.
Relief washed over the group—only to turn to horror as flames erupted from inside the building.
"No!"
The fire devoured everything. The gamblers inside scattered, shrieking as smoke and embers poured into the street. Xuanyue walked out calmly, only to glance back at the inferno behind him.
The dead kept secrets better than the living. He had learned that lesson as a child. Silencing a few loan sharks was nothing unusual. They weren't exactly saints—parasites who ruined lives with their schemes. If not Tsunade, who could gamble her debts away and survive by sheer skill and power, most gamblers ended up crushed and broken.
Ending these vultures and seizing their ill-gotten wealth felt more like justice than murder.
Though his Edo Tensei body required no food, no drink, and no earthly pleasures, money would always be useful. A man, even an immortal one, still had to plan for the future.
"Then it's settled. To Shōtensu Street."
Cloaked in black, Xuanyue set off once more.
"Seven! Seven! Seven! Lady Tsunade, we hit the jackpot!"
Coins clattered into the tray of the slot machine as Shizune let out a squeal of joy.
Tsunade, however, frowned.
"Again?"
Her brow tightened. The last time the slots had lined up like this, Hiruzen Sarutobi had died. She had ignored the omen then, burying herself in dice and sake. She had thought the past buried with him. Clearly, fate had other plans.
"Shizune. We're leaving."
"Now? But… Lady Tsunade, we still owe fifty million ryō. If we just keep playing—"
But Tsunade was already walking away. Shizune clutched the winnings to her chest and hurried after her, piglet in tow.
They weren't fast enough.
Boom!
The ancient stone wall of the nearby castle shattered as a giant serpent crashed through, its cold gaze fixing on them.
Tsunade's amber eyes ignored the snake, locking instead on the two figures standing on its head. One was a stranger—but the other, she knew all too well.
In an instant, they descended, landing in the alley before her. Shizune tensed, pig bristling at her feet. Yakushi Kabuto adjusted his glasses, eyes narrowing with cautious calculation. He knew better than anyone how weak Orochimaru was right now.
Only Tsunade and Orochimaru stood motionless, locked in silence.
At last, she spoke. Her voice was calm, but heavy with years of bitterness.
"…It's been a long time, Orochimaru."
His lips curled into a smile. "I've finally found you, Tsunade."
She snorted. "What now? Don't tell me you came for a reunion. Or are you just looking to die, and want me to oblige?"
He shook his head. "Nothing so sentimental. I need something from you."
Her gaze sharpened as she studied him. His breathing was ragged, fever rising beneath his pale skin. His hands—bandaged, useless.
"As a medical expert, you've already seen it," he said, noticing her stare. "I want you to heal my arms."
She crossed her arms, instantly dismissing him. "Find someone else. I don't treat anyone anymore."
Due to her hemophobia, Shizune had handled nearly all healing. And Orochimaru? She would never lift a hand for him.
Kabuto stepped forward. "That won't do. You know better than anyone—no one else can cure such damage. Only the legendary Sannin, Tsunade of the Leaf."
Tsunade's eyes narrowed. "Those hands… they're not just wounded. There's a curse woven into them. Orochimaru… what have you done?"
"Nothing much," he replied, voice almost casual. "Just the price I paid for killing the Third Hokage."
Shizune gasped.
Tsunade's fists clenched. "You bastard…!"
Her words were cut short by his low chuckle.
"Why so grim? All things die eventually. You, of all people, should understand that. Didn't the two you loved most die in your arms while you were powerless to save them?"
His smile twisted. "Such pathetic deaths, weren't they?"
"Enough!"
Fury surged through Shizune. Insulting Tsunade's wounds was more than she could bear. She lunged, but Kabuto intercepted, steel flashing as they clashed in the street.
"Stop!" Tsunade's voice cracked through the fight.
She wasn't angry. She was smiling.
"Orochimaru… you've always been this insufferable."
His body tensed. That smile on her face was a warning.
He knew Tsunade well enough to realize something was wrong.
And he was right.
Her grin vanished. She spun, fist slamming into the wall behind her. Stone exploded into rubble, dust raining down around them. When she turned back, her gaze was sharp enough to cut.
"Careful, Orochimaru." Her voice dropped to a deadly whisper. "Or I'll kill you where you stand."
(End of Chapter)