Chapter 90: Love Guide

Facing Tsunade's invitation, Tōshirō refused decisively: "No, I have a mission to capture a pet." He didn't want to go back with her, fearing a misunderstanding.

Tsunade enthusiastically offered to help him.

Tōshirō waved her off, "No need. You go on ahead. I have a perfect capture rate for pets, and I can't break that streak now."

"Fine, I'm leaving then."

There was a hint of grievance in Tsunade's voice as she muttered in dissatisfaction.

How dare that jerk send her away.

After speaking, she turned around and took a few steps, glancing over her shoulder to see that the jerk had already walked off in another direction without a backward glance.

Puffing out her cheeks, Tsunade quickly caught up with him, annoyed. "Wait, don't you have anything to say to me?"

Tōshirō looked at her, puzzled, "Why would I need to say anything to you?"

"Uh, because..."

Tsunade suddenly found herself at a loss for words, her voice growing softer.

"By the way, I've noticed you've been acting weird lately."

Blushing, Tsunade averted her gaze, stumbling over her words. "I-it's just because you saved me, so I wanted to help you a bit, that's all."

"Is that so? You could have said that earlier, but too bad—I don't need your help." Tōshirō waved her off, looking dismissive. "When I saw you give all your money to those poor people without leaving me a penny, I was beyond irritated. Just go."

"Hmph! A kind heart is wasted on you. Fine, I'll go!" Huffing in annoyance, Tsunade stormed off, fists clenched and striding with a determined air.

Watching her slender figure as she walked away, a glimmer of thought flashed in Tōshirō's half-closed eyes.

Moments later, Tsunade turned back, her demeanor changing entirely from a moment before. "You really don't want my help?"

Tōshirō crossed his arms in front of his chest, forming a big X with them, making his stance unmistakable.

"Hmph~"

.....

When Tsunade returned to Konoha, the first thing she did was tell the Third Hokage about her experience, with a few details edited to minimize Tōshirō's role, as he had specifically requested. Knowing he disliked the spotlight, she replaced him with a random passerby as her rescuer.

After listening, Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned, showing concern, and repeatedly said, "It's good you're back safely." If anything had happened to her, he genuinely wouldn't know how to face the First and Second Hokage when he passed on someday.

"Sensei Sarutobi, I've decided to take a break from ninja missions. This experience has made me realize that my skills are still too weak, and I need more rigorous training."

There was no reason for Hiruzen Sarutobi to deny Tsunade's request, and he assured her she could train for as long as she needed.

After leaving the Hokage's office, Tsunade didn't go to her grandmother Mito right away to seek training advice. Instead, she headed directly to a street—the busiest commercial street in Konoha, lined with shops as far as the eye could see.

Taking a winding path, she finally stopped in front of a bookstore.

She watched customers go in and out, hesitating whether to enter.

After a long pause, Tsunade left.

Not long after, she returned, but this time she was wearing sunglasses, a headscarf, and a face covering, looking around sneakily, as if afraid of being recognized.

Just as she mustered the courage to step in, a soft voice called out beside her.

"Tsunade."

Tsunade, feeling guilty, jumped in surprise. She turned and saw a young man in a kimono, with golden, snake-like eyes and purple eye shadow. His refined face had an exotic charm.

"Oh, it's Orochimaru."

She called out his name, surprised. "What are you doing here?"

"I just came to buy some books," Orochimaru replied, eyeing her peculiar outfit with curiosity. "But what about you? Why are you dressed like a mummy?"

In the middle of summer, Tsunade made up a quick excuse: "Uh, I'm a bit cold."

Orochimaru narrowed his golden eyes and stared...

"What...what do you want..." Tsunade said nervously.

Orochimaru bluntly responded, "It's the middle of summer."

Σ(°△°|||)︴ Tsunade coughed a few times. "I just got back from a mission in the Land of Iron, so I haven't quite adjusted yet."

Orochimaru gave her a skeptical look, his face practically saying he didn't believe her.

Feeling uncomfortable under his gaze, Tsunade muttered, "Orochimaru, when did you start getting interested in my private life...? If there's nothing else, I'll be going." Orochimaru simply chuckled and shook his head. "Nothing much. I'll go get my book now."

He waved politely to her as a farewell.

Tsunade nodded.

They brushed past each other, as if nothing had happened.

She slowed her steps, sneaking glances at Orochimaru out of the corner of her eye, until he entered the bookstore. Then she quickly doubled back, hiding in a shady corner near the store's entrance, watching carefully.

After a few minutes, Tsunade saw Orochimaru leave, and only then did she breathe a sigh of relief. She dashed into the bookstore at top speed, not wanting to risk running into him again by chance.

A little while later, she left the bookstore holding a black bag.

Later, a clever Orochimaru came back and asked the store clerk what book Tsunade had bought. Following the clerk's direction, he curiously approached the area where she'd been browsing, picking up the book she'd purchased. Written in bold letters on the cover were the words: "Guide to Love."

Orochimaru froze. Tsunade bought...this?

He suddenly felt a bit deflated, his interest dwindling.

It wasn't that he didn't understand; he just found relationships dull, far less intriguing than his research.

Besides, for someone Tsunade's age to have these thoughts was perfectly natural, so he didn't think much of it.

...

In a small house on the Senju Clan grounds.

In a certain room, Tsunade was clutching her head, thunderstruck, finding it hard to accept.

According to what was described in this Guide to Love, she, Tsunade, had actually developed feelings for that fool.

This was an illness.

And according to the book, it wasn't a mild case.

"No way, me, the granddaughter of the First Hokage, falling for that idiot?"

Despite her words, deep down, Tsunade knew the truth. Otherwise, she wouldn't have acted like a shy little girl around Tōshirō a few days ago.

Her current reaction was just her last bit of pride trying to deny it.

She buried her flushed face in her pillow, rolling around restlessly.

This strange feeling—it was the first time she'd experienced anything like it.

Whenever she thought of Tōshirō's bravery in fighting to save her, her heart fluttered with a mix of excitement and embarrassment.

"What should I do? Should I confess my feelings to that idiot?"

"But...what if he rejects me?"

"No, he wouldn't. I'm so beautiful—him getting my affection is practically a blessing he earned from saving the world in his past life."

"If he dares to reject me, I'll knock his head off!"

As she muttered, her confidence began to waver, and her voice grew quieter.

She knew that, with Tōshirō's personality, he just might do it.

No, confession was out of the question. If he rejected her, it would be unbearably awkward.

Tsunade shook her head firmly, rejecting the idea.

Moreover, in the opening chapter of Guide to Love, it stated:

"To love someone, to confess, to come together—everyone believes this is a beautiful thing.

But that's wrong.

In relationships, there are clear dynamics: the oppressor and the oppressed, the exhausted one and the one who reaps the benefits, the victor and the loser.

If you wish to live comfortably, you must not be the loser.

Love is a battlefield."

In other words, the one who confesses first is the loser.

Following this logic:

She, Tsunade, could never be the one to confess to Tōshirō.

If there were to be a confession, it had to be Tōshirō confessing to her.

(End of Chapter)

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