The lighting in the observation room was much softer, and the beeping sounds from the instruments had been adjusted to a more soothing frequency.
Kato Dan had changed into comfortable casual clothes and was sitting on the examination bed, while Tsunade performed the last few basic tests on him.
Her movements were professional yet gentle, and every touch of her fingertips carried careful reverence.
"Your reactions are completely normal, even better than expected."
Tsunade lowered her hand and let out a long breath. Her tense shoulders finally relaxed, and a relieved and joyful smile appeared on her face.
"Really... there are absolutely no problems, Dan. How do you feel? Is there any discomfort? Dizziness? Or any fuzzy spots in your memory?"
Dan flexed his wrist, and then carefully felt the long-lost Chakra slowly flowing within his body, shaking his head.
His gaze remained warmly fixed on Tsunade, carrying the daze of having recovered something lost and a deep affection.
"My body feels great, full of strength. I feel like... I slept a very long time, but had a bad dream."
He paused, his voice low and clear, "My memory is also very clear. I remember everything from before... I remember the exact moment I died, and then I opened my eyes and it was now."
When mentioning death, his tone held no great emotion, only the calm acceptance of someone who had been through hardship.
As a Ninja who had experienced brutal war, his understanding of life and death was inherently different from that of ordinary people.
When a miracle truly happened to him, the doctrines regarding Forbidden Jutsu seemed so pale and powerless in the face of living breath and the tearful smile of his lover.
"Yes, it was Hinata and Orochimaru..." Tsunade began to explain, her tone complex, containing gratitude and an admission of her own actions.
"They mastered a genuine resurrection method that surpasses Edo Tensei. Orochimaru can create a perfect body, and Hinata can completely pull the Soul back from the confines of the Pure Land and grant it new life. Orochimaru used this as a condition to invite me to join, so I left Konoha and joined them."
She looked into Dan's eyes, not flinching.
"I know this violates many things—betraying the Village, researching Forbidden Jutsu—but I couldn't help it, Dan. I couldn't bear for you and Nawaki to remain forever beneath cold gravestones while I lived alone in this world. I wanted to see you again, hear you speak, and make up for the time we lost."
Tsunade's tone was somewhat awkward.
Dan listened quietly, not speaking immediately. He reached out and grasped Tsunade's somewhat cool fingers. His palm was warm and steady, conveying silent support.
"Tsunade," he said, his voice gentle, yet carrying undeniable resolve.
"You don't need to explain yourself to me, and certainly don't need to feel guilty. Besides..."
He squeezed her hand slightly, tightening his grip, "The fact that I can feel warmth again, and see you again, is the greatest miracle and blessing itself. Konoha, the duty of the Hokage, the rules of a Ninja—those things are important, but after dying once, and at this moment, holding your hand again, their importance needs to be re-evaluated."
He raised his other hand and gently wiped away the tears that were inevitably welling up in the corners of Tsunade's eyes.
"I will stand by you, no matter where you are or what you do. As long as you believe it is right and worthwhile, I will support you. Nawaki would understand too."
There was no lengthy lecture, no fear of the forbidden, only complete understanding and support.
This unconditional trust struck the softest spot in Tsunade's heart more directly than any declaration of love.
She gripped Dan's hand in return, and tears finally fell, but this time they were tears of pure joy and relief.
"Mmm... Orochimaru is preparing Nawaki's body too... it will be soon..." She choked up, unable to continue speaking.
Dan gently pulled her into his embrace, letting her lean against his solid, warm chest.
A reassuring scent enveloped Tsunade—the warmth and support she thought she had lost forever. She greedily soaked up this warmth, wrapping her arms around his waist.
Neither of them spoke again. Only their figures nestled together and the sound of intertwined breathing remained in the observation room.
Dan's chin rested lightly on the top of Tsunade's head, his gaze as gentle as water, and his hand stroked her back repeatedly.
Tsunade closed her eyes, her tears wetting the fabric on his chest, but the corners of her mouth turned up high—an undisguised happiness overflowing from her heart.
The air was filled with a silent yet intense emotion; the passage of time seemed to become slow and thick.
Their eyes met, intertwined with an unbreakable deep affection and the preciousness of being reunited, as if trying to compensate for all the years they had missed in this single moment of gaze... In the corridor outside the main laboratory, Orochimaru walked out of the analysis room, glanced at the closed observation room door, and then at the timer on the wall.
A considerable amount of time had passed since Tsunade and Dan went inside, far exceeding what was required for a routine post-operative check.
"They haven't come out yet?" Orochimaru raised an eyebrow slightly, looking at Hinata, who was leaning against the opposite wall, using her finger to tease the small white snake on her wrist.
"Does a basic check take this long? Or did some unexpected rejection reaction occur?"
Hinata didn't lift her head, continuing to tap the small white snake's head with her fingertip. The snake lethargically flicked its tongue. Her tone was flat, as if stating the most obvious fact:
"Long-awaited reunion, weeping in embrace, burning passion, things escalating... that's probably the sequence of events."
They started a round.
Orochimaru: "..."
His snake eyes blinked, and the usual investigative fervor and coolness on his face were replaced by a momentary blankness, followed by an indescribable sense of speechlessness.
He naturally understood what Hinata was implying. However, as a scientist who devoted most of his energy to the study of immortality and the mysteries of Ninjutsu, emotions, especially such fervent and direct human emotional interactions, had never been within his primary scope of observation and thought.
Even if he witnessed them, he would usually categorize them as a biological behavior pattern worth recording.
But having it pointed out by Hinata in such a direct, even slightly teasing tone, still made him feel a subtle discomfort.
"...Boring."
Orochimaru finally uttered two words and shifted his gaze, no longer paying attention to the tightly closed door.
Rather than wasting time speculating on such "inefficient" emotional exchanges, he might as well continue advancing his research.
He turned around, ready to go back and continue his work. After taking two steps, he stopped again and tilted his head to speak to Hinata.
"If they are 'done being busy,' tell Tsunade that she needs to confirm a few parameters regarding the cell viability maintenance of Nawaki's body. Also, Kabuto's transplant experiment preparations are complete, and the first attempt will be tomorrow. Have her come help out."
"Got it."
Hinata nodded, but didn't leave. If you ask why she didn't leave?
Well, of course, it's to observe Tsunade and... wait~ it's to observe Orochimaru conducting the experiment, meow! What else would she observe~~?
------------------------
There are already 70+ chapters available on my Patreon!
The story will continue to update 1 chapter per day on Webnovel,
while early access chapters are posted on Patreon.
Maybe it's not worth it today but it could be later
[email protected]/Kazenova223
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"