It turned out that Tsunade possessed a truly terrifying level of bad luck.
Uchiha Hayashi's luck was not particularly good either, but at least it had never reached the absurd extreme of losing every single gambling round.
One had to wonder how many wrongs a person must have committed in a previous life to suffer such retribution in this one.
In less than half an hour, Tsunade's emotions had gone through a complete cycle. She began cheerful and confident, shifted into irritation midway through, and finally settled into a state of complete emotional numbness.
Such dramatic fluctuations could only be found at a gambling table.
And that was despite the fact that neither of them had even a shred of luck.
"Kid, do you even understand the rules?" Tsunade snapped as she scattered the cards across the table. "Are you trying to beg me like this?"
"You need to make me happy first before I treat anyone. Otherwise, I can't guarantee whether Mikoto will have aftereffects."
Hayashi fell silent.
"Fine, forget it," Tsunade said, waving her hand impatiently. "The surgical equipment at the hospital is ready, right?"
"Yes," Hayashi replied. "Everything is prepared, just waiting for you."
"Good," Tsunade said, then raised her right hand and shaped her fingers together.
From Hayashi's angle, it looked suspiciously like a heart.
After thinking for two seconds, he said carefully, "Sensei, there's no need for the gesture. I understand. You're wishing Mikoto a smooth recovery."
"Recovery my foot," Tsunade barked. "I'm talking about money. The medical fee."
Hayashi froze.
"I've already stepped down from the position of Head of Medical Affairs," Tsunade continued. "I'm a private practitioner now. Of course I charge. Even if I didn't, there should at least be a service fee."
"How much?" Hayashi asked obediently.
Tsunade tapped her chin. "Not much. Three hundred thousand ryo."
That amount was roughly equivalent to the reward for an A-rank mission.
"In that case," Hayashi said after a brief pause, "I'm a bit short on cash at the moment. Give me a few days and I'll pay you back double. Anything extra, consider it an investment."
Tsunade accepted this without hesitation and took a sip of her now-cold tea, clearly signaling that the matter was settled and he was free to leave.
Hayashi hesitated, then spoke again. "Tsunade-sensei, there's one more thing."
She nodded for him to continue.
"The Hyuga clan head's eyesight is deteriorating. Himeji asked me to see if you could examine him."
Tsunade did not respond immediately. She held her teacup and stared at Hayashi long enough for him to feel uncomfortable.
"Hyuga Himeji," she said at last. "If I remember correctly, Elder Utatane Koharu assigned her to your squad."
"Yes," Hayashi replied. "Is there an issue?"
"That woman is always scheming," Tsunade muttered, then grew serious. "Hayashi, I'll be honest. Hyuga Head's condition is complicated. The Third Hokage consulted me before, and my answer hasn't changed."
She stood up and continued, "Setting aside clan relations, if a ninja is injured for the sake of the village, I will never ignore it."
"But eye injuries vary. If it were ordinary trauma, any competent medical ninja could treat it. His case involves a Forbidden Jutsu. The original Byakugan has been completely destroyed."
"What if a new pair of eyes is transplanted?" Hayashi asked.
Tsunade shook her head. "That technique damages the surrounding neural tissue. You can't simply replace the eyes and fix the problem."
"Even for me," she added, "the surgery carries extreme risk. There's a high chance of total blindness."
"I understand," Hayashi sighed, unsure how to relay this to Himeji.
"Explain the risks clearly," Tsunade said. "Let them decide for themselves. If they accept it, bring them back."
"Understood."
She paused, then added casually, "Your Uchiha clan also has a similar Forbidden Jutsu, don't they?"
"When I was young, my grandfather mentioned a technique that could erase injuries as if they never existed. Like a dream. I don't know if it was real."
Tsunade continued speaking, but Hayashi's pupils contracted sharply.
That technique sounded exactly like Izanagi.
He had already searched the scroll left behind by the mirror thoroughly, knowing how vital such a life-saving jutsu would be. Unfortunately, he had found nothing.
Later, through indirect inquiries, he learned that the clan maintained a sealed archive similar to a forbidden scroll repository. The most dangerous and valuable techniques were deliberately preserved there.
It was likely kept at Clan Head Uchiha Fugaku's residence.
Not only Izanagi, but also Izanami, along with advanced Fire Release techniques used by legends like Uchiha Madara, remained completely inaccessible to him.
It seemed he would eventually have to visit the clan head's home.
Even if it meant stealing.
"Hey," Tsunade snapped, tapping the table. "Are you even listening?"
Hayashi blinked. "Sorry."
"I hate it when people zone out while others are talking. It's rude."
Hayashi said nothing.
Tsunade snorted and leaned back on the sofa, completely unconcerned with her exposed posture.
"Honestly," she said lazily, "I dislike treating people like that the most. Half-familiar, full of connections. Hard to charge, no profit."
"I prefer treating acquaintances like you, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru. If there's money, it's easy to squeeze out."
Hayashi stared, stunned by her shameless honesty.
She continued enthusiastically, "Then there are people I'm not close to at all, like your clan head. If Fugaku ever needs treatment, make sure you send him my way."
She grinned. "Big clients deserve special care."
As she spoke, Tsunade grew more animated. "Don't misunderstand, I'm not greedy. Money just keeps things clean between public and private. If Fugaku comes, I'd feel awkward not charging. We'll split it seventy-thirty."
The more Hayashi listened, the stranger it sounded.
No matter how he calculated it, Tsunade seemed to be the one losing out.
Which, somehow, made it even more suspicious.
____
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