Chapter 19

Facing Tsunade's sudden lunge, Yusuke smiled indifferently, shifting slightly to the side to effortlessly avoid her attack. Although Tsunade was no amateur, Yusuke's Kage-level strength allowed him to evade her easily. As she missed, he smoothly turned, and with a quick, firm movement, grabbed her wrist.

"Let's not make a fuss, shall we?" Yusuke said, his tone calm but firm.

Tsunade's anger only seemed to fuel her determination as she continued to struggle. Seeing this, Yusuke raised his left hand, twisting her arm slightly to gain leverage, and pulled her closer to him. His grip tightened, his voice dropping to a more serious tone. "Unlike Dan Kato, who could die at any moment, I am... very strong."

With that, Yusuke's other hand found its way to Tsunade's waist, pulling her even closer. The proximity caught Tsunade off guard, her fierce demeanor faltering as she found herself face to face with Yusuke, barely ten centimeters apart.

"You... what are you doing?" Tsunade stammered, her usual confidence wavering. It was clear she was unnerved by their closeness—an unfamiliar situation for someone who, despite being nearly thirty, had never experienced love.

Yusuke smirked, his gaze locked onto hers. "Nothing much," he replied smoothly, "Just thinking that since you're about to return to the front lines against the Sand, it might be dangerous if you're distracted by Dan, who could die at any moment. Better to take out some insurance in advance."

Before Tsunade could fully process his words, Yusuke leaned in, closing the gap between them. His actions were swift, and Tsunade found herself caught off guard once more as her lips met his.

For a moment, Tsunade froze, her mind racing. This wasn't something she had anticipated. But before she could react further, Yusuke pulled away, leaving her stunned.

...

...

A few minutes later, an enraged scream echoed from Tsunade's residence, startling the few remaining members of the Senju Clan. The terrified clansmen exchanged glances, wondering what could have happened to their princess this time. But given Tsunade's recent habit of drunken outbursts, they dismissed it as another one of her episodes.

Meanwhile, Yusuke had already left the Senju compound, stretching leisurely as he walked away. He glanced back with a satisfied nod, muttering to himself, "Now I can rest easy."

A few seconds later, he bought a piece of gum and popped it into his mouth, chewing thoughtfully. However, the strong taste of alcohol lingered, making the experience less enjoyable than he had hoped.

...

...

As Yusuke had predicted, Tsunade was soon called back to the battlefield after the Nine-Tails incident, which had occurred shortly after the failed Sealing ceremony. The Hidden Sand Village had increased their attacks, and Chiyo's new poison was wreaking havoc on Konoha's forces. Tsunade's medical expertise was desperately needed, and despite her feelings towards the Konoha leadership, she couldn't ignore the plight of her comrades.

Less than two hours after receiving the news, Tsunade had assembled a team of over a dozen Senju clan ninjas at Konoha's main gate, ready to depart. Leading the escort team was Dan Kato, who approached Tsunade with a warm smile.

"We're ready, Tsunade," Dan said, his tone gentle and reassuring.

Tsunade responded with a noncommittal "Oh," as her eyes scanned the surroundings, searching for something—or someone.

Dan noticed the coldness in her response, a stark contrast to her usual indifference. Though Tsunade had never shown much enthusiasm for his advances, this was the first time she had been so distant.

Tsunade suddenly turned to Dan, as if she had just remembered something. "Don't waste your time on me," she said flatly. "With the way things are going, and the situation with the other villages, the war could get worse. You should focus on your training—there's still room for you to grow."

Dan's face fell as the reality of her words hit him. Was this... rejection?

His thoughts flashed back to Yusuke's harsh assessment of him: weak. Was that really how Tsunade saw him? His heart sank as he struggled to come to terms with the truth.

Meanwhile, the Senju clan ninjas around them exchanged amused glances. Despite their clan's decline, Tsunade was still the granddaughter of the First Hokage. It would have been embarrassing for her to accept the pursuit of someone as low-ranked as Dan Kato

"That bastard," Tsunade muttered under her breath, frustration bubbling within her as she searched the crowd for Yusuke's familiar face. Ever since that incident two days ago, he hadn't made any effort to see her. It wasn't that she hadn't considered going to him herself, but her pride as a Senju princess wouldn't allow her to make the first move.

And so, they were at an impasse. But what Tsunade hadn't expected was for Yusuke to truly not come to see her off.

"Oh great, you're still here, Princess Tsunade~" came a familiar voice, one that Tsunade had been both longing for and dreading.