Chapter 16: Tsunade's Tease
"Ah… what's going on? My Kirin Essence!"
Ruofeng's eyes burned with anger. He had three Kirin Essence pills carefully stored in his pocket—but now only one remained!
He meticulously searched every corner of his pocket, but the other two were nowhere to be found.
"Ugh…" Ruofeng exhaled a breath of frustration, his voice tinged with irritation. "Impossible… this pocket is custom-made; nothing should ever go missing. How could this happen? Could I have dropped them while playing? But that's impossible… all the shops we visited today are my own; if anything went missing, the managers would have returned it. Could it have been in the principal's office?"
He closed his eyes, concentrating, reviewing today's events carefully. With his strong mental power and memory, he could reconstruct the entire scene.
Soon, his gaze grew sharp, and he muttered slowly, "Tsunade… it's you!"
He replayed the memory of the principal's office: Tsunade's mischievous smile, her sudden proximity, and how she hurriedly dragged Jiraiya away before leaving. Clearly, she was acting guilty—just as the First Tsunade had taught: indulgence in gambling, drinking, and trickery runs in the family.
Ruofeng roared in anger: "Ah… Tsunade, just wait!"
He felt helpless and furious. The Kirin Essence—an item capable of healing numerous injuries—was too precious. Even if it wasn't exactly like the one from the Tomb Raider world, its curative effects were undeniable.
If Jiraiya hadn't accompanied him to the academy today, Ruofeng wouldn't have dared carry the Kirin Essence, fearing what Tsunade might do. And now she had stolen two of them—he felt like crying and laughing at the same time.
⸻
Meanwhile, Tsunade held the pills in her hand, chuckling. "Such a fine item… this little one really has a lot stored away."
Jiraiya sat beside her, frowning. "Isn't that a bit unfair? The kid treasures this stuff, and you just stole two pills! If Ruofeng knew, he'd hate you to death!"
Tsunade toyed with the pills. "Let him know, let him know. At worst, I can teach him a few ninjutsu to compensate later. But look at these herbs… they've been preserved for at least three thousand years! I don't know exactly what they are, but herbs preserved for three millennia, with such concentrated medicinal power—definitely rare and valuable!"
From a distance, a pale man remarked calmly, "Herbs preserved for three thousand years… incredible. The passage of time didn't destroy them. These must be special herbs—the longer the preservation, the stronger the effect. At first glance, they seem ordinary, but their potency is stored internally and only manifests when used. Three thousand years of accumulated effect… probably worth a life. And judging from their wood-like appearance, they likely have unique properties. Who knows what special effects they might unleash when ingested."
Though subtle, his words nearly described the Kirin Essence's effects perfectly.
Tsunade laughed lightly. "Such fine stuff… keeping it with Ruofeng is a waste. We're heading to the Land of Earth for a secret mission. We might be surrounded by Earth ninjas, and having two life-saving pills could be extremely useful. As for the little brat—he'll be compensated when we return."
With a mischievous grin, she appropriated the two Kirin Essence pills.
Jiraiya sighed. "Fine… so be it. Even if Ruofeng realizes you took them, we leave tomorrow. He won't be able to find them; we'll make it up to him later. Besides, the Senju clan has plenty of treasures; giving him some later is no problem."
Tsunade nodded, sipping her drink with a smile, her thoughts unreadable.
Thus, the future Legendary Sannin's conversation resulted in the confiscation of Ruofeng's two Kirin Essence pills. Even Jiraiya agreed. If Ruofeng had witnessed this, he'd have been furious beyond words.
⸻
Back in his bedroom, Ruofeng sat cross-legged, eyes blazing.
"Tsunade… just wait. My things aren't easy to take. You better pay back every bit—my stuff doesn't go without interest!"
He exhaled sharply, placing the lone remaining Kirin Essence carefully back in the jade box.
Ruofeng now longed for new dimensional "garbage"—ideally a pocket or spatial ring. Only a spatial ring could keep him truly at ease. A secure space meant he could use his treasures without fear of theft.
He exhaled, preparing to rest.
Just as he moved to his bed, an elderly figure entered the room, coughing.
"Cough… cough… cough…"
Ruofeng looked up, surprised. "Grandfather… what are you doing here?"
It was unusual for his grandfather to visit him at night. Though he had provided Ruofeng with immense wealth and luxury, they seldom spoke, and the grandfather often had pressing business.
This was a first.
The elderly man smiled kindly. "You're surprised? This is the first time I've visited at night too. But there are some matters I must tell you."
Ruofeng's expression grew serious. "Some matters… could this be about my parents?"
His grandfather nodded. "Sometimes, I didn't want to tell you. But since you've chosen the path of a ninja, there are things you must know."
He fixed Ruofeng with a steady gaze. "Ruofeng… are you truly determined to become a ninja?"
Ruofeng met his grandfather's eyes, resolute. "I have decided. In this world, those with power are the ninjas. To control my own fate, I must become a ninja. In this age of war, peace is fragile as paper. A weak person can survive under protection, but without strength, once that protection is gone… it's only death that remains. A strong ninja can easily destroy Konoha. I don't want to be a powerless civilian, relying on others for safety."