What's intolerable in an uncle, is absolutely intolerable in an aunt!
For Uchiha Ran's words, Tsunade simply could not bear it.
Her eyes widened in fury, her beautiful face twisting slightly with anger. The peaks of her chest heaved with tension—she was flaring up, heated and flustered.
The pond's clear waters rippled gently, sunlight filtering through the leafy canopy above, scattering dazzling patterns across the surface.
Ran and Tsunade faced each other across the pond, the air thick with tension and barely suppressed hostility.
As a response to her previous punch, the corner of Ran's mouth twitched upward in a mischievous grin—almost to the point of distorting his face entirely. This time, he decided not to rely on his Zanpakutō. Instead, he would test Tsunade with fire-style techniques and genjutsu, seeing if the legendary Sannin was still the same woman of legend… even if it felt a little cruel.
"Fire Style: Great Fire Dragon Technique!"
In an instant, flames coalesced into the shape of a dragon. Its blazing heat scorched the air like a miniature sun, instantly vaporizing some of the pond's water. The entire surface was shrouded in a dense mist.
He followed swiftly with another Uchiha-exclusive jutsu: Phoenix Fire Technique.
"Is that all?"
Tsunade's eyes swept over the raging fire dragon and the spiraling Phoenix flames without a flicker of worry. Neither jutsu posed the slightest threat to her.
If she released her Yin Seal, she could ignore these attacks entirely. But for now, she only needed to evade them—then deliver a harsh lesson to the brat across the pond.
"Boom!"
As expected, both jutsu slammed into the pond, triggering massive plumes of steam and smoke that obscured her form entirely.
"Heh… wrapping yourself in your own little trap, are you, Uchiha brat?"
She sensed a gust from the side—a low crouch, a slash just missing her.
Ran had struck, launching a surprise attack!
But Tsunade wasn't about to let him succeed. Dodging fluidly, she snatched his wrist mid-strike, attempting to toss him into the pond.
The throw sent him soaring—but unfortunately, in midair, Ran activated his Three-Tomoe Sharingan.
Genjutsu—Naraku Kenjutsu!
Suddenly, Tsunade's vision was filled with bloodied corpses of familiar faces, twisted and broken.
Even knowing it was an illusion, her body betrayed her. Pain and sorrow overwhelmed her, and she fell to her knees in the water, tears silently streaming.
Yet, even in despair, a Sannin-level instinct kicked in. Her chakra anchored her body to the water, keeping her from sinking.
"What… what did I just see? The mighty Sannin… brought down by such a low-level genjutsu?!"
Ran didn't pursue the attack further. There was no need—who would suspect that one of Konoha's legendary Sannin could falter under such a genjutsu, just as no one would expect the "God of Medicine" to flinch at blood?
Still, Ran was a little surprised himself. Genjutsu of this strength usually wouldn't faze an experienced shinobi beyond a momentary crack in their defenses—but he had underestimated Tsunade's hidden fears. No wonder she had retreated from the battlefield for so long.
Tsunade's gaze was vacant, half-kneeling in the pond, her soaked clothes clinging to her form. The mist from the earlier fire attacks only accentuated her figure, and combined with her sorrowful expression, she looked heartbreakingly fragile.
"Lady Tsunade… life moves forward. If you stay lost in the past, you'll never reclaim yourself. Don't let loyalty chain you forever…"
When she didn't respond, Ran briefly wondered if he had gone too far. But he couldn't let her remain paralyzed by grief. If Hiruzen Sarutobi, Jiraiya, or Orochimaru found out that a single genjutsu had left Tsunade like this, he'd be remembered in a very, very small notebook indeed.
So he pressed on, speaking quickly:
"Lady Tsunade… I think it's better to look forward. I'm Uchiha Ran, almost fourteen. I live next to the Uchiha clan leader's estate. Currently single—probably will have a few girlfriends and a wife in the future. I train daily, take on occasional missions, and receive guidance from Orochimaru-sensei.
Mikoto-senpai takes care of me too. I don't smoke, I'm underage for alcohol, I sleep by eleven, get a full eight hours…
Before bed, I always drink a glass of warm milk and do twenty minutes of yoga. Then, lights out, I sleep soundly until morning. No fatigue or stress carries over to the next day."
He leaned slightly closer, his voice earnest and cheeky at the same time:
"Lady Tsunade… for the sake of Uchiha descendants, we need strong, beautiful ninja like you. When I grow up, you could marry me and help manage the household… after all, we need someone as powerful as you to keep the home in order!"
Her sorrowful, vacant gaze slowly shifted. The hint of sadness faded, replaced first by a neutral calm, then a subtle blush.
Tsunade inhaled deeply and stood tall, eyes locking onto Ran.
"I really underestimated you, Uchiha…"
She didn't take his words literally. This clever little brat had likely said them just to pull her out of her grief.
Fourteen… and so considerate. Are all Uchiha like this?
After a long pause, her mind finally settled. She realized she couldn't handle this mischievous Uchiha brat with anger or force.
"Where is Orochimaru? I can't believe he'd take a wicked Uchiha like you as his student…"
Her tone had lost all previous anger, and she didn't even mention the earlier… wardrobe mishap.
Ran, for his part, thought: Truly a mature and reliable adult. She doesn't even mind being seen like that. Not like a young girl would.
"Lady Tsunade, Orochimaru-sensei is probably visiting Mitarashi-senpai's house today. He's likely still there," Ran replied quickly. He didn't want to continue fighting—he had taken enough advantage for one day. Lately, fortune seemed to favor him.
Tsunade said nothing more. Once her clothes dried, she turned and left—but not before leaving a sharp warning for Ran:
"You wicked little Uchiha… don't let me hear a single rumor about you in the village, or—"
"BOOM!"
With that, she smashed a massive stone into pieces before walking away.