Chapter 87: That Touch of Sweetness

Author Note:

Here's the BONUS CHAPTER as promised—thanks for the support, and let's keep this energy going!

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Not long after, Kitsuchi and the other two Iwa Jōnin spotted Guts approaching with a wheelchair. A wide smile played on his lips.

Seated in the chair was none other than the Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki, his frail frame secured with a special medical steel brace fastened to his back.

"Dad!"

"Lord Tsuchikage!"

Kitsuchi and the two Rock Jōnin rushed forward, their faces a mixture of shock and relief.

"Calm down," Guts said, holding up a hand.

"Tsunade worked her ass off getting his spine functional again, but it's still as brittle as porcelain. One wrong move and it could shatter."

Even as he warned them, Guts pushed the wheelchair forward,perhaps a little too forcefully.

Ōnoki glided toward them, and the three Rock Shinobi scrambled in alarm to steady him.

Tsunade and Orochimaru had made it clear: don't reveal the full truth about Ōnoki's condition.

The old man was still paralyzed from the waist down, and if the Rock Shinobi knew that, it could derail the delicate truce talks. They couldn't afford that now.

"Well then" Orochimaru's hoarse voice slithered into the air

"Shall we begin discussing the terms of the ceasefire?"

One of the Rock Jōnin frowned and said,

"Our Tsuchikage is clearly unwell. Would it be too much to ask for a short delay?"

Orochimaru's snake-like eyes narrowed.

The oppressive aura of a Kage-level ninja suddenly bore down on them, heavy and suffocating.

"If you're not ready, feel free to rest in Konoha's barracks," he said coldly.

His tone made it clear: there would be no delay. Not when every hour wasted risked the southern front collapsing.

Ceasefires weren't simple affairs, land disputes, compensation, formalities, it all took time and precision.

And time was something Konoha no longer had in abundance.

Kitsuchi clenched his fists.

"Understood. But… please allow my father to return to Iwagakure to rest. He can't stay here in this state."

Orochimaru let out a low chuckle.

"I'm not a devil. Let the old man go. Just make sure he doesn't stir up trouble later."

He wasn't bluffing. With Ōnoki reduced to this state, his presence was more of a warning to Iwagakure than an asset.

Kitsuchi gave a curt nod and signaled one of his subordinates to escort Ōnoki back home.

Then, with a heavy breath, he and the other Jōnin sat down opposite Orochimaru to begin preliminary truce negotiations.

"Looks like everything's under control here," Guts said with a light grin.

"I'll leave the rest to you and Tsunade."

"You're leaving again?" Orochimaru asked with a chuckle.

"You've barely rested since we arrived, and now you're headed back into the fire?"

"Can't be helped," Guts said, his voice lower now.

"There are still people on the southern front. I don't want them dying just because I decided to take a nap."

Orochimaru only smiled.

Tsunade hadn't attended the negotiation meeting. Too many wounded were still waiting on her, and her healing hands were needed far more than her words right now.

By the time she returned to her personal tent for some rest, her ninja vest was soaked in sweat.

She peeled it off, and just as she began to unbutton her inner shirt, the tent flap burst open.

Tsunade froze.

"You idiot! Ever heard of knocking?!"

"I knocked… in my heart,"

Guts replied with a straight face.

Her fist twitched.

"You've got two Kage-levels here: you and Orochimaru," he continued.

"Rock doesn't have Ōnoki or Roshi anymore. Their only real card is the Five-Tails' Jinchūriki."

"That's not enough to pose a threat."

He walked closer and took her hand, pulling her to him gently.

"You're going to the southern front, aren't you?"

She asked, already knowing the answer.

"Yeah… I have to. There are people waiting."

Tsunade's lips tightened. She wasn't good at expressing emotions, but after a pause, she said softly,

"Be careful."

But before she could say more, Guts leaned forward.

Her eyes widened as his face closed the distance, and then his lips crashed against hers in a rough, devouring kiss.

She froze. For a second, her legs turned to jelly.

Unlike Kurenai, whose kisses were slow and teasing, Guts treated Tsunade like a feast he couldn't wait to devour.

There was no holding back. He kissed like he fought, fierce, overwhelming, and absolute.

And Tsunade? Despite herself, she melted into it.

They broke apart after what felt like both a moment and forever.

They both knew this wasn't the time or place to take it further.

Still, as Guts stepped out of the tent, face calm and breath collected, he couldn't help but glance back with a grin.

Tsunade stood frozen in front of the mirror, fingertips brushing her lips.

"That bastard," she muttered.

"My lips are so swollen… how am I supposed to see anyone like this?"

But she didn't heal them.

No, she wanted to keep the feeling, just a little longer.

After a moment, she sat down and began writing her report to Konoha.

She made sure to highlight Guts's contributions in the battle. It was his job, yes, but still...

"…that bastard," she muttered again, smirking.

Two days and one night later, the messenger hawk soared into Konoha's sky, a scroll attached to its leg.

Sarutobi Hiruzen was in no mood for pleasantries.

The war had gone poorly on multiple fronts, and his youngest son Asuma had become a growing headache.

The weight of leadership pressed heavier than ever.

"Hokage-sama,"

An ANBU ninja bowed, handing him the scroll.

"Urgent intel from the northern front."

Hiruzen unsealed the scroll and skimmed its contents.

Then he froze.

"…Ōnoki was captured?"

His hands trembled slightly.

Ōnoki may not have been as physically powerful as the Third Raikage, but he was sharp, a wily old fox who had slipped through more traps than most shinobi had ever seen.

Yet now he was crippled. Crushed...both in body and spirit, by one man.

Guts!

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