The Third Hokage, a master of psychological leverage, had chosen his words perfectly. Instead of forbidding Tsunade's pursuit of resurrection, which would have surely hardened her resolve, he appealed to the memory of Nawaki and Kato Dan, using their own sacrifice to temper her recklessness.
Resurrection, even if real, would undoubtedly carry a perilous cost.
"Why should an ordinary Genin have to sacrifice themselves to protect Konoha!" Tsunade slammed her hands down on the desk, the resentment she held for her brother's death and her guilt over Dan's loss erupting.
"...This is war, Tsunade," Sarutobi Hiruzen replied, his voice heavy with the despair of a leader who has seen too much death.
Tsunade, however, refused to relent. "Regardless," she said, locking eyes with her teacher, "if the chance exists, I will bring them back!"
Sarutobi took a long drag from his pipe, exhaled a thoughtful smoke ring, and then softened his tone. "If you can truly bring them back without harming Konoha, I won't stop you. I am an old man, but I still have some savings. Take them to start."
Present the obstacle, then offer the solution. The old Kage knew how to manipulate the hearts of his loved ones.
Tsunade's anger slowly cooled. She nodded curtly, retrieved the communication badge, and turned to leave. Only at the doorway did she pause.
"Thank you." The word was clear, a genuine acknowledgment of his support.
Sarutobi watched her go, relieved. He had loosened the leash rather than severing the bond. He believed Tsunade still loved Konoha; her pain was simply eclipsing that love. By supporting her quest, he was allowing her to transform her grief into a new, fierce will to protect the village—a will driven by the legacy of the two men she sought to reclaim.
"Ahem."
Sarutobi suddenly coughed, pulling his Hokage hat slightly lower. The old face beneath the brim looked suddenly vulnerable. After a lifetime of fighting, even the "God of Shinobi" carried debilitating old wounds. He was not the hero he once was, yet he couldn't afford to age further without a suitable successor.
His eyes fell upon the artifacts Tsunade had left. Specifically, a small red vial that Tsunade's own handwriting had labeled: "Can heal hidden wounds."
"Even after all these years, her heart hasn't changed," he murmured, relieved that her dedication to medicine remained.
He picked up the vial, uncorked it, and immediately recognized the scent: the distinct, earthy aroma of pure, high-grade medical elixir—but with an alien chemical signature. He hesitated for only a second, then took a large sip.
The effect was immediate and astonishing.
Sarutobi's eyes widened. He knew his body intimately; certain deep-seated internal damage was simply incurable, slowly weakening him over the years. Yet, after this single dose, he felt an unprecedented surge of rejuvenation. Hidden scars and chronic rust-like damage that accumulated with age were being rapidly purged.
"Is this... the product of the mysterious merchant?"
Sarutobi's hand trembled as he looked at the remaining potion. Hearing Tsunade's description was nothing compared to experiencing the miracle firsthand. The merchant's story, far from being a hoax, was undeniably intriguing.
He still didn't fully trust the "Other World" story. He suspected Shen Mo was a puppet—an ordinary man exploiting Tsunade's raw emotions to further some hidden agenda. But the merchandise itself could not be ignored.
Tsunade will continue this process, he thought. And now, so will Konoha.
Outside the Hokage Tower, Tsunade and Shizune walked quickly toward the Senju clan compound.
"Tsunade-sama," Shizune asked, concerned by her master's fixed expression. "Did the Third Hokage refuse to fund the resurrection?"
Shizune had hoped Konoha would immediately invest in the Tier Three Jars, especially given the promise of revival.
"He is the Hokage," Tsunade said calmly, her disappointment minimal. "Tier Two is five hundred thousand Ryo. Tier Three is five million. He can't sanction such a reckless expenditure just on my word, regardless of the potential reward."
"So, what do we do?" Shizune stammered, aware of Tsunade's massive gambling debts and the near-bankrupt status of the Senju clan.
"We call the jar seller and complete the sale," Tsunade announced. "The old man gave me his savings. He wouldn't turn down a job, would he?"
Shizune was about to point out that Sarutobi's personal savings likely wouldn't cover much, but she looked into Tsunade's determined eyes and wisely held her tongue. Tsunade's goal was fixed.
Tsunade, carrying the Hokage's money, arrived at the silent, familiar Senju compound—a place perfectly preserved, likely by Sarutobi's own quiet command. She took a moment, inhaled deeply, and then produced the badge. She pressed the central "eye" icon.
A brief mechanical beep sounded.
"Hello?" Shen Mo's voice came through the badge. "Miss Tsunade? One moment, please. Himari, stop moving!"
"Mrow!"
"Bad cat!"
"Be honest!"
A chaotic mixture of sounds—meows, splashes, and a man's exasperated commands—erupted from the badge. Tsunade and Shizune exchanged a long, confused look.
"My apologies, a small situation here," Shen Mo's voice returned, smooth once more. "Miss Tsunade, are you contacting me to purchase a jar?"
"That's correct," Tsunade replied, her voice deep. "I have some funds available now."
"Then—" A brief silence, followed by a faint, familiar pop of displaced air.
Shen Mo instantly materialized before Tsunade and Shizune in the middle of the Senju compound. He was wearing a partially rolled-up black suit, and draped over his shoulder was a tiny, soaking-wet white kitten that looked utterly miserable.
"What in the world are you doing?" Tsunade stared, utterly bewildered.
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