[88] Tsunade's Sorrow

In a Konoha cemetery, the resting place of many shinobi, the air hung heavy with solemnity.

Being a ninja was a perilous profession, with a high mortality rate. Some left no body behind, their clothes alone interred as a memorial.

This cold graveyard served as a place for loved ones to honor those who died protecting Konoha.

Countless shinobi rested here, Jonin, Chunin, and Genin alike. Among them were notable figures like Konoha's White Fang, the First Hokage, and the Second Hokage. In this place, death rendered them equals.

On one side of the cemetery stood a solitary tombstone inscribed with the word "Sister."

It was nighttime, and few ventured here, especially to this secluded section deliberately set apart.

Some of Konoha's Jonin knew this place: the resting place of Tsunade's younger brother, Nawaki.

"Nawaki, you said you'd become Hokage. I wanted to fulfill your dream, but I'm so tired." Tsunade, her blonde hair catching the moonlight, touched the tombstone with a sorrowful expression. This was where Nawaki was laid to rest.

During the Second Great Ninja War, Nawaki fell victim to an explosive tag trap. By the time he was found, his organs had been removed.

The culprit's village remained unknown.

Even if Tsunade knew, what could she do? She lacked her grandfather Hashirama Senju's power to subdue the shinobi world. The Second Great Ninja War claimed many lives in Konoha, just as it did in other villages.

War took so much, yet it persisted, an unyielding force.

"I'm leaving Konoha now, Nawaki. I might not be able to visit you for a long time. Forgive me, perhaps I'm just a coward." Tsunade murmured, tears streaming down her face as she caressed the tombstone.

"You promised to protect me when you grew up, Nawaki. You lied." she whispered, her voice trembling. "I won't forgive you for that lie."

A sharp crack of a breaking branch pierced the darkness. Tsunade wiped her tears and snapped, "Who's there?"

"Tsunade-sensei." Tengen stepped out from the shadows.

He had followed a video signal to this place, only to witness Tsunade's heart-wrenching moment.

In that instant, her vulnerability stirred a pang of sympathy in him.

Tengen had intended to leave quietly, but he accidentally stepped on a branch, alerting Tsunade.

His strength usually made him undetectable, but Tsunade's grief had dulled her senses, allowing him to go unnoticed until now.

"Tengen." Tsunade said, her eyes still red. For once, she didn't lash out at him, her heart too heavy for such reactions.

"Yes, Tsunade-sensei, I saw." Tengen admitted with a nod.

"What are you doing here?" She asked.

"Just wandering, and I ended up here." Tengen replied, which was partly true. He was indeed out walking, guided by the signal.

"Quite the coincidence, then." Tsunade said with a faint smile, like sunlight breaking through after rain.

"Tsunade-sensei, would you tell me about your brother?" Tengen asked, stepping closer.

"Of course." Tsunade said softly. Over their time together, she had come to see Tengen not as a child but as an equal, his maturity belying his age.

This was why moments like Tengen catching her off guard, such as seeing her vulnerable, sparked such intense reactions from her.

Orochimaru and, increasingly, Minato shared similar sentiments, treating Tengen as a peer.

Tsunade began recounting stories of Nawaki, the joyful times, the amusing moments, and his dream of becoming Hokage.

After a while, Tengen spoke slowly, "Tsunade-sensei, with the vast array of ninjutsu in the shinobi world, there might be a way to bring Nawaki back."

"Bring Nawaki back?" Tsunade froze, then shook her head. "Thank you, Tengen. I feel better now."

"If I didn't know your origins were unclear, I'd think you'd lived for decades." she added with a laugh. "I'll be going now."

Nawaki's death was long past, and Tsunade had slowly come to terms with it. Time, perhaps, was the greatest healer.

"Oh, Tengen, I'm leaving Konoha tomorrow. I hope we'll meet again someday." Tsunade said, leaving those final words.

"Tomorrow, huh." Tengen murmured with a faint smile, then departed.

A cold wind howled through the cemetery, lending it a desolate air, as silent as the years that had passed.

Back in his room, Tengen steadied his emotions.

He turned to his player, curious about the standard video he'd received.

"It's a Food Wars video." Tengen noted, slightly surprised.

Food Wars depicted a modern world devoid of supernatural abilities, where culinary skills reigned supreme, capable of evoking intense pleasure, almost euphoric.

In such a modern setting, items like daily necessities or military weapons were plausible, though physical objects rarely appeared as rewards from the player.

"Let's draw it." Tengen decided, activating the extraction. The video was useless otherwise.

"Ding! Extraction successful. You've obtained Culinary Mastery (cooking techniques that induce euphoria)." the system announced.

Tengen gave a wry smile at the description.

Naturally, he absorbed the ability. Improved culinary skills meant he could cook for himself, and while he wasn't a foodie, he didn't mind enjoying delicious meals.

After absorbing the skill, Tengen tested it out.

The dishes he prepared were indeed delectable.

Even a standard video could yield something valuable.

***

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