Chapter 2
The spoon in Tsunade's hand reached Lin Xuan's lips. Her movement wasn't particularly gentle, but it wasn't as rough as he had imagined either.
The dark, bitter-smelling medicinal broth mingled with her unique feminine fragrance as both scents flooded his nostrils.
It smelled… incredible.
Right in front of him, mere inches away, was that stunningly beautiful face.
Lin Xuan's heart began pounding wildly—not from fear or nerves, but from an indescribable thrill.
Screw playing it safe! You only live once—why come to this world if you're not going to go a little crazy?
His eyes locked onto her slightly parted, full red lips as she prepared to say something.
Now!
Gathering every last ounce of strength in his battered body, Lin Xuan surged forward.
Target: that tempting crimson.
Soft.
Warm.
With a faint, refreshing hint of sake.
Those were the only thoughts left in his mind.
He didn't even manage to grab her shoulders—just the explosive burst was enough to propel his upper body forward, landing his lips precisely on the coveted red he'd dreamed of.
Immediately after, an even more breathtaking softness slammed firmly against his chest.
Heavier and more overwhelming than during the earlier examination.
Lin Xuan's brain went completely blank.
So soft, so warm, so fragrant.
"Tsunade…-sama!"
Shizune's incredulous gasp rang out from the side, followed by the sharp crash of the medicine bowl shattering on the floor.
The next instant, the glorious weight pressing against him vanished.
In its place came a terrifying killing intent cold enough to freeze the air itself.
The temperature in the room plummeted.
The intoxicating feminine scent that had addled his mind moments ago now turned into the deadliest poison—every trace carrying bone-chilling malice.
Even without looking, Lin Xuan could feel an enormous surge of chakra erupting from Tsunade.
Chakra—the source of all ninja power in this world, formed from the fusion of spiritual and physical energy. For ordinary people it was faint and imperceptible, but for the truly strong, chakra fluctuations created tangible, oppressive pressure.
And the woman before him was at the absolute pinnacle of the latter.
"Kid…"
The word left her mouth devoid of any earlier laziness—only pure, unadulterated killing intent remained.
"Do you want to die?"
A pale fist rose. It hadn't even made contact yet, but the terrifying power condensed around it already stung the skin on Lin Xuan's cheeks.
This was "monstrous strength."
A taijutsu that channeled chakra with perfect precision and detonated it in an instant, producing destructive force far beyond imagination.
A single punch capable of shattering a mountain—no exaggeration.
And right now, that mountain-shattering fist hovered directly above his head.
If it came down, he'd end up more fragmented than the broken medicine bowl on the floor.
Under the threat of imminent death, his brain spun faster than it ever had before.
Gamble!
He had no choice but to gamble!
Bet on the one weakness everyone knew about—the softest, most painful spot in her heart!
Tsunade: one of the Legendary Sannin, granddaughter of the First Hokage Hashirama Senju, the greatest medical ninja in the world. Yet she also carried unbearable scars from her past.
Her beloved younger brother Nawaki had stepped on an explosive tag during the war—his body so mangled they couldn't even collect all the pieces.
Her lover Kato Dan had died in her arms protecting the village, his organs spilling out.
Both men… had short black hair, just like him.
This was his only lifeline!
At the critical moment, just as Tsunade's fist was about to fall—
Lin Xuan's eyes instantly reddened. Scalding tears welled up and spilled over without warning.
His performance in that moment surpassed every Oscar winner in history.
These weren't tears of fear—they were tears overflowing with grievance, longing, and the overwhelming affection of finally finding a lost family member.
With every bit of strength he had left, he let out a trembling, sobbing cry.
"Sis… is that you?"
His voice wasn't loud, but it exploded like thunder in the silent room.
"You look… exactly like my sister!"
The word "sister" struck Tsunade like a forbidden curse.
That devastating fist stopped abruptly less than a centimeter from the tip of his nose.
The gust from the halted punch ruffled his bangs—and completely disarrayed Tsunade's heart.
The fist remained frozen in mid-air. The killing intent that could have frozen everything rippled violently like a lake struck by a boulder, then crumbled inch by inch before their eyes.
Nawaki.
The black-haired boy who always trailed after her, calling "Sis!" in that admiring tone.
The little brother who dreamed of becoming Hokage, yet withered before his life could truly bloom.
That wound in her heart had never healed.
Seeing the instant wavering in her expression, Lin Xuan knew—he'd won the bet!
Can't stop now—have to keep the act going!
Tears still streaming, he choked out in broken, heartbroken bursts:
"My village… it's gone… everyone's dead…"
"Dad… Mom… they…"
He sobbed, unable to even finish the sentence.
"Before I passed out… I thought I saw a figure… with the same golden hair as you… I thought… I thought you'd come back to save me…"
"I'm sorry… I'm so sorry… I mistook you for her…"
Each blood-soaked accusation, each grief-stricken apology, struck like tiny hammers against the most fragile part of Tsunade's soul.
She stared at the tear-streaked young face before her—the messy short black hair, those eyes brimming with immense sorrow and childlike attachment.
Slowly, the boy in front of her overlapped with the shadow of Nawaki in her memory.
Thud.
Tsunade's suspended fist dropped powerlessly, lightly striking the edge of the bed.
The oppressive pressure in the room vanished completely.
In its place came a heavier, more suffocating sadness.
[Ding!]