Tsunade—the famed Slug Princess of Konoha, one of the Legendary Sannin, and granddaughter of the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama.
That was all Uchiha Yuan knew about her before today.
Until now, he had only heard of Lady Tsunade—never seen her in person.
The moment he arrived at the camp gates, however, his eyes were immediately drawn to a radiant figure with golden hair and… a rather generous chest.
What a noble heart… he thought with uncharacteristic reverence.
Tsunade had just reached the front camp and was speaking with Akimichi Kai and several officers to understand the current situation. But in the midst of their conversation, she suddenly sensed it—a bold, unabashed gaze fixed on her.
And worse, that gaze wasn't exactly at eye level.
"Rude little brat! What are you staring at?!" Tsunade snapped, spinning around furiously. Her glare landed squarely on the culprit—Uchiha Yuan.
Her anger faltered for a moment when she realized he was just a boy… an Uchiha, no less. So this is him… she thought.
Feeling the heat rise to his cheeks, Yuan kept his composure and said evenly, "I was merely appreciating a view that all men would find… captivating."
The officers nearby nearly choked.
Lord Yuan, you really dare say that out loud?
Sensing their silent horror, Yuan cast a calm glance around. "Am I wrong? Surely everyone here agrees that Lady Tsunade is a sight of rare beauty."
The other men froze, faces blanching.
Great, now he's dragging us into it!
Under Tsunade's piercing stare, they all quickly lowered their heads.
"You've got guts, brat."
Tsunade marched up to him, hands on her hips, and looked him over from head to toe. "So you're Uchiha Yuan, huh? Don't you think your behavior is disgraceful for a shinobi, let alone a man addressing a woman?"
Yuan tried to look away, but his eyes—of their own accord—briefly drifted downward again. With a helpless sigh, he said, "Forgive me, Lady Tsunade. I didn't mean to stare, but your… presence is simply too compelling. I believe any man would be drawn to your charms."
Tsunade was silent for a long moment.
Then her fist came crashing down.
Boom!
The punch landed squarely on his head, slamming him to the ground. "When did the Uchiha start producing silver-tongued perverts? No matter how well you argue, it doesn't excuse your rudeness! Now, apologize—immediately!"
Groaning, Yuan rubbed the swelling on his head and quickly bowed his head. Seeing her fist twitch with restrained fury, he wisely complied. "I'm terribly sorry, Lady Tsunade. Please forgive my disrespectful words."
Tsunade studied him for a moment longer. She had heard plenty about this young Uchiha before arriving—his duel with the Fourth Raikage had made him a name whispered across the entire shinobi world.
"Hmph. Tell me, brat—have you been spending too much time around that fool Jiraiya? You're starting to sound like him."
Yuan smiled faintly. "Admiring beauty, Lady Tsunade, is something all men share in common. Lord Jiraiya simply does it with… less restraint. Of course, his peeping habits are shameful, and I would never stoop that low. I'm just… more honest about my appreciation."
Thud!
Another blow came down on his head, raising a new bump beside the first.
"Brat! You'd better keep those disrespectful eyes to yourself from now on!"
"Yes, ma'am!" Yuan replied instantly.
Tsunade huffed, then turned and strode toward the camp, her blonde hair and cloak rippling behind her.
As she passed, a black-haired kunoichi stopped briefly in front of Yuan. Her eyes burned with irritation.
"So it's true—you really are just like Lord Jiraiya, a hopeless pervert. I'm telling Kakashi to stay away from you!"
The speaker was none other than Kato Shizune, whom Yuan had once met in Konoha's marketplace.
Yuan smiled lightly. "Kato-senpai, I think Kakashi-senpai and I are more alike than you think. He, too, appreciates beautiful women. Only, he hides it behind that cold mask of his. Deep down, I'm sure he has the heart of a closet romantic."
Shizune's cheeks flushed scarlet. "How dare you insult Kakashi! He's nothing like you!"
She stomped her foot in outrage and stormed off.
Meanwhile, deep in a forest near the Iwagakure frontlines, Kakashi Hatake perched silently on a high branch, observing enemy movements.
Out of nowhere, he sneezed—twice.
He frowned. Weird… why do I feel like someone's ruining my reputation somewhere?
Back at the camp, once Tsunade and her medical teams had fully arrived, Akimichi Kai approached Yuan with a nervous grin.
"Lord Yuan, you're really something. I thought Lady Tsunade was going to lose it and deck you into next week."
Yuan smirked. "Oh come on, Kai. Was I wrong? You can't deny Lady Tsunade's… generous nature is very hard to ignore."
Kai chuckled awkwardly and scratched the back of his head, trying not to laugh too openly.
Before long, news spread through camp—Tsunade had gone straight to Sarutobi Yuri's tent. The reports were grim: her condition was worsening, and even the medical-nin didn't dare operate without Tsunade's supervision.
Two hours later, Yakushi Nonō emerged from the tent, exhausted.
"How is Lady Yuri?" Yuan asked at once.
Nonō exhaled. "Thanks to Lady Tsunade, her condition has stabilized—and the child she's carrying has been saved."
Yuan blinked. "Child?"
That must be… Konohamaru.
Nonō nodded. "Yes. When Lady Yuri learned she was pregnant, she begged us to protect the baby, no matter what happened to her. Lady Tsunade agreed, but it means we can't fully heal her injuries. As the baby grows, her body will only weaken further."
Her voice softened. "She's giving her life to bring that child into the world. Lady Tsunade has already decided to escort her back to the village for long-term care."
Outside, the camp was silent except for the rustling wind.
Some people die… but they're never truly gone.
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