Chapter 164: Showdown

"Gurgle, gurgle..."

Tōshirō clutched his stomach, feeling hungry. "It's already this late, why hasn't Tsunade brought my meal yet?"

Just as he spoke, the prison door opened, and a blonde girl stepped in, carrying a food box. Her beautiful face added a touch of warmth to the dim and heavy air, though her brows carried a hint of worry.

"Ah, finally! I was about to starve to death!" Tōshirō quickly got up from his bed and rushed to the bars.

Tsunade stopped in front of him and opened the food box. Inside, the meal was well-balanced with meat and vegetables, providing good nutrition.

"Well, I won't hold back then!" Tōshirō eagerly reached out.

"Smack!"

His greedy claws were slapped away.

Tōshirō: ???

"Your hands are dirty. Wash them first."

Tsunade's eyes landed on his filthy hands, her delicate brows slightly furrowing.

Tōshirō paused for a moment before grinning, "Tsunade, you really care about me, huh?"

Tsunade snorted softly, crossing her arms, "Don't flatter yourself. If you get food poisoning, I'll be the one stuck treating you."

Tōshirō suddenly realized, "Oh, that makes sense."

"So, you better not eat anything bad, or it'll just be more trouble for me."

Tōshirō nodded in agreement, but then a thought struck him, "Wait a second, even if I get sick, there are so many medical-nin in Konoha. Why would it be your problem?"

Tsunade fell silent for a moment before resorting to brute force: "Just wash your hands already! Why do you have so many questions?"

Tōshirō wisely kept his mouth shut.

Tsunade took out a flask of water, unscrewed the cap, and ordered, "Hold out your hands."

Tōshirō obediently extended both hands.

The cool water poured out, washing over his fingers with a soft splashing sound. He rubbed his hands together, scrubbing away the dirt. Only then did Tsunade allow him to eat.

"Hmph, go ahead, eat all you want! You heartless guy. You don't even know how much effort I put in for you—I practically wore out my tongue trying to plead your case!"

"Really? Then just stop pleading. I actually don't mind being here."

"Huh?"

Tōshirō took a big bite of the chicken leg and sighed contentedly, "I get free food and lodging here. Saves me a lot of money."

"Are you an idiot?" Tsunade huffed, seemingly unwilling to continue the conversation, and turned to leave.

"Sorry..."

Hearing the voice from behind, Tsunade paused and looked back.

"I just didn't want you to worry."

Tōshirō lowered his head, looking somewhat dispirited in Tsunade's eyes.

"I'll make sure Lord Sarutobi gives you a lighter sentence..."

"Thanks."

After Tsunade left, Tōshirō was alone again. Leaning against the wall with his arms wrapped around his knees, he felt a little lonely.

During these days in prison, he hadn't suffered any physical torment, but that didn't mean his mood was any better.

Who knew when he'd be able to leave?

Would he really be handed over to them?

The thought left a sour taste in his mouth. He clenched his fists and struck the wall, venting his frustration.

He might seem strong now, but in reality, it was all relative. Against a real powerhouse, he could only tuck his tail between his legs and endure.

—

After leaving the prison, Tsunade headed straight to a small wooden house. At this point, the only person who could truly help Aokiji was her grandmother.

Looking at Mito's aged face, Tsunade couldn't help but lament how quickly time passed. At some point, her grandmother's wrinkles had deepened.

With those thoughts in mind, she told Mito about Tōshirō's situation, hoping to gain her support.

But this was a complicated matter. Tōshirō's case involved both the village and the Land of Fire's political ties. Mito, having no official power, was in no position to interfere.

Moreover, due to past conflicts involving external relatives, she had long since distanced herself from political matters to avoid suspicion.

"Grandma, please help me..." Tsunade clung to Mito's arm, pleading for Tōshirō.

Mito's face showed guilt, "I'm sorry..."

Tsunade pressed, "Why not?"

In her eyes, with her grandmother's prestige, stepping in would surely secure Tōshirō's release.

"Because the Hokage is still Sarutobi. If I interfere based on my position as the First Hokage's wife, it will undermine his authority in the future."

"Not even just this once?"

Mito gently rubbed Tsunade's head. "Tsunade, once you do something once, it sets a precedent. There will be a second time, and a third. I can't open that door. You need to trust your teacher—he will handle this properly."

Tsunade bit her lip in frustration. She wanted to believe in Sarutobi, but the problem was that he intended to hand Tōshirō over to the Daimyo to appease his anger.

Seeing how deeply Tsunade cared about Tōshirō, Mito couldn't help but comment, "Didn't you always dislike Tōshirō? Why are you going so far to plead for him?"

"That was just talk. He's my comrade."

Mito casually asked, "Is it just because he's your comrade?"

Tsunade averted her gaze, "What else could it be?"

That guilty reaction...

Mito noticed it immediately.

As someone from the Uzumaki Clan, she possessed a special ability to sense people's emotions—more specifically, she could perceive subtle shifts in chakra.

For instance, if someone witnessed their loved one being killed, their chakra would turn cold and dark. Conversely, if someone was in love, their chakra would radiate warmth.

Should she test it?

Mito remained silent for a moment before asking, "Tsunade, do you have someone you like?"

Caught off guard, Tsunade blinked in confusion. "Grandma, why are you asking this out of nowhere?"

"Maybe it's because I'm really starting to feel old. I can't deny it anymore. I've begun reminiscing about the past," Mito sighed. "Before I knew it, you've already grown so much. When I was your age, I had already fallen in love with your grandfather."

As she spoke, she subtly observed her granddaughter with the corner of her eye while also utilizing her sensory abilities.

Tsunade was well aware of her grandmother and grandfather's love story. It made her think of herself, and before she realized it, a small smile appeared on her lips.

Mito continued, "Speaking of which, I remember that boy from your team, Jiraiya—he seemed to like you a lot, didn't he?"

Tsunade responded indifferently, "Oh, him? That was just one-sided on his part."

Mito noted the change in Tsunade's chakra.

Then she asked, "What about Orochimaru? Do you like him?"

Tsunade was momentarily stunned before laughing, "Grandma, stop joking! How could I possibly like him?"

Mito chuckled. "But I remember when you were younger, you seemed to have quite the admiration for him."

Tsunade waved dismissively. "That was just youthful naivety. Someone like Orochimaru—handsome and cold—would be hard for most girls to resist."

"But you're still young now."

"People grow up, you know."

"That's true..." Mito nodded with a gentle smile.

Tsunade frowned slightly. "Grandma, you've been asking some really strange questions."

Mito smiled and apologized, "Then let me ask you just one last question."

"Hmm? What is it?"

"Do you like Tōshirō?"

Tsunade: ???

Mito glanced at her. "I see... so that's how it is."

"What do you mean, 'that's how it is'?"

"You like Tōshirō, don't you? And it might not even be one-sided."

Tsunade's heart pounded, and she panicked. "Grandma, don't talk nonsense! How could I possibly like him?!"

Mito grinned. "Your chakra just changed."

Tsunade stiffened. "W-What?"

"A person's chakra changes according to their emotional state, and I can sense even the slightest shift."

Tsunade: …

Mito shook her head. "At this point, do you have anything to explain?"

"N-No..."

Her grandmother's sensory abilities were terrifyingly accurate—even detecting tiny changes in chakra. The more she tried to explain, the guiltier she felt.

Mito stared at Tsunade for a while. This pairing was something she had never expected.

The long-standing feud between the Uchiha and Senju clans might finally find true reconciliation through these two. If Hashirama knew about this, he would surely be pleased.

With that thought, Mito slowly stood up and prepared to leave.

"Grandma, where are you going?"

"Don't you want to save your little boyfriend?"

"Huh?"

"Come on…"

—

A small boat drifted across the vast ocean, navigating the rolling waves.

Onboard were five people—four guards and one prisoner.

Unfortunately, Tōshirō was the prisoner.

The situation had unfolded just a day earlier. Thanks to the efforts of the Uchiha clan and Mito, Hiruzen Sarutobi had abandoned the idea of sending Tōshirō to the Daimyō's residence.

Of course, he couldn't simply release Tōshirō outright—that wouldn't satisfy the Daimyō. Instead, a compromise was reached: Tōshirō would be temporarily imprisoned in Hōzuki Castle until the real culprit was found, at which point he would be retrieved.

Hōzuki Castle was a prison built by Kusagakure at the request of various nations, designed specifically for rogue shinobi. It was located on a small island near Kusagakure, surrounded by the sea.

Once a prisoner entered, there were only two ways to leave—either their village formally requested their release or they died within the prison walls.

As the boat docked, Tōshirō was escorted towards Hōzuki Castle, passing by an area covered in red fruit-bearing vegetation.

After an unknown amount of time walking, he finally saw a towering castle near the edge of a cliff—Hōzuki Castle.

Upon entering, he was immediately subjected to the powerful sealing jutsu Fire Release: Celestial Prison.

Once affected, a person's ability to mold chakra would be restricted, making it impossible to use ninjutsu.

Moreover, if a prisoner strayed too far from the caster, the sealing marks would transform into chains of fire, binding the escapee's body.

After receiving the Celestial Prison seal, Tōshirō was processed through the standard intake procedures before being thrown into his cell.

Lying on the hard, uncomfortable bed, Tōshirō was deep in thought.

The moment he got out, the first thing he planned to do was find Kakuzu…

And then, they would kidnap the Daimyō of the Land of Fire and demand a ransom.

(End of Chapter)

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