"Oh? Is that so?"
"I didn't realize it, Kazuyama, but you actually have a kind heart."
Tagitsuhime looked at Kazuyama in surprise. Everyone who came to Ryūchi Cave sought power, meaning none of them were kind. The same applied to the three Snake Princesses, who served as examiners and set deadly trials.
Not only was Tagitsuhime surprised, but so were Tagorihime and Ichikishimahime, who stood nearby. It was as if they were seeing Kazuyama for the first time.
Under the gazes of the three snakes, Kazuyama Gekkō didn't appear embarrassed. Instead, he looked proud.
"That's right! I, Kazuyama Gekkō, am known as the helpful little prince."
"Seeing Lady Tsunade in trouble, I couldn't help but lend a hand!"
"Sage Mode is still active—let's go! No more wasting time!"
Kazuyama declared his intent to use Reverse Summoning to return to Konohagakure. The three Snake Princesses, sensing his urgency, agreed.
As white smoke rose, Kazuyama vanished, returning home.
"Wow, is this your home?"
"It looks pretty nice."
Tagitsuhime smiled as she scanned the surroundings. Though the room was simple, it was spotless, clearly maintained with care.
Night had already fallen—Kazuyama had spent twelve hours fusing the Coiling Serpent Technique. He glanced at the sky outside, a smirk forming at the corner of his mouth.
It was just a joke.
"It's dark. Looks like the heavens are on my side this time."
"Tagitsuhime, can you sense Tsunade's location?"
Upon hearing this, Tagitsuhime lifted her gaze and looked outward. Her human face twisted slightly as the true visage of the Snake Princess emerged.
Kazuyama knew she was using natural energy to locate Tsunade.
"I sense her. She's in a house, drinking alcohol."
"There's also a little person beside her."
A little person? That must be Shizune.
Well, that was fine. The little one could be selectively ignored—after all, she was just a child.
"Then don't waste any more time, let's go."
"Let's go heal Tsunade!"
Kazuyama activated the Transparent Escape Technique, and his body slowly faded into transparency.
As the technique took effect, he could instantly feel the two natural energies within him merging like a Taiji diagram—half a greenish-blue hue belonging to him and half a crimson red from Tagitsuhime.
Since she was attached to him, Tagitsuhime's original red glow also began to fade, turning into the same illusory form.
"Oh? Is this the Transparent Escape Technique? It even made me transparent?"
"This is amazing."
Tagitsuhime looked at herself, momentarily surprised to see her own body vanish into transparency.
But she was quickly stopped by Kazuyama.
"Elder Sister, we're invisible, but our voices still exist, so don't speak," he warned.
"Otherwise, we'll be exposed!"
With his reminder, Tagitsuhime instantly fell silent.
Then, the man and the snake swiftly headed toward the liquor store.
Soon, they arrived at their destination.
Standing on the roof across from the store, Kazuyama turned to Tagitsuhime.
"Can you use Genjutsu to conjure the things she longs for most and fears most?"
Tagitsuhime nodded, indicating she had no trouble with it.
Kazuyama grinned as he watched Tsunade sitting nearby, drinking.
"Tagitsuhime, I'm counting on you. Use your Genjutsu to make the two people she longs to see most appear before her."
Tagitsuhime was doubtful but still obeyed. She circulated her natural energy and began casting the illusion.
A ray of red light gathered into a red snake, which slithered toward Tsunade.
When it reached her, it bit her neck.
Since it was an energy body, Tsunade didn't feel anything.
However, as the Genjutsu took hold, her surroundings suddenly felt unreal.
This was Tagitsuhime's unique Genjutsu—using her fangs to drag her target into an illusion.
At that moment, Tsunade's surroundings shifted.
The table and wine bottles vanished.
Two people suddenly appeared before her.
"Where's my sake…"
"Huh? You are…"
Tsunade, though drunk, suddenly sobered up.
The figures before her were the people she loved most.
Nawaki and Dan.
"Tsunade…"
"Sister…"
Her eyes widened, her body trembling as she stretched out her hand and took slow, unsteady steps forward.
"Nawaki… You're… gone…"
"I've missed you so much…"
Tears welled up in her eyes, and in an instant, she became a sobbing mess.
No one truly understood how much she had lost during the Second Shinobi World War.
Her younger brother's tragic death, the loss of her beloved—everything had been taken from her.
Now, seeing them again, the overwhelming joy left her breathless.
Outside, Kazuyama watched her closely. Seeing the tears streaming down her face, the corner of his mouth twitched slightly.
Tears meant she had seen them.
The next step was the key to healing.
"Princess Tsunade, let's begin. If you want to cure your phobia, you have to face it head-on! Create blood using Genjutsu."
Tagitsuhime immediately sensed the underlying mischief in Kazuyama's voice.
"Fine, boy, you're not really trying to heal her, are you? Feels more like revenge! You know she's phobic, yet you're deliberately exposing her to blood?"
"Don't be ridiculous. This is my treatment plan!"
"Hmph! Genjutsu is already in effect, so what if it's revenge? Ryūchi Cave follows its own will—I do what I want!"
Her tone was carefree, embodying the nature of a true Snake Princess.
"Oh, come on, my dear Tagitsuhime, hurry up! Just keep it controlled. I just want to see her cry."
"Oh? Really? How far?"
"Hey… she's had a hard life. Her lover and younger brother both died. Using their images to reawaken Tsunade is my method, but how exactly we do it—I'll leave that to you."
Urged on, Tagitsuhime continued casting the illusion.
What Kazuyama failed to notice was the slight curl of her lips—she was clearly satisfied with his plan.
Inside the illusion, Tsunade lunged forward, embracing Nawaki and Dan tightly.
She clung to them desperately.
"Don't leave me…"
But then, she felt something wet against her chest.
Confused, she opened her eyes.
Blood.
Slowly oozing from their bodies.
"No! No!"
"Blood!"
Panic seized her. She recoiled instantly, releasing them as she staggered backward.
"Tsunade, what's wrong?"
"It's just a little blood. What's so scary about it?"
Dan let the blood flow from his body, stepping toward her with a calm expression.
"That's right, Sister Tsunade, don't run."
"I'm Nawaki… Don't you like me anymore?"
Tsunade trembled violently—not from excitement, but from sheer terror.
She collapsed onto the ground as Dan and Nawaki approached, staining her with their blood.
"Tsunade, blood isn't scary, and we have never left you."
"For all these years, we've been watching over you."
"Don't let a little blood break you. Don't let our deaths destroy you."
"You are the strongest! Believe in your hands! These hands can save lives and heal the wounded!"
Dan grasped her face firmly, speaking with unwavering seriousness.
Nawaki, standing nearby, nodded repeatedly.
"Sister, we have never left! Don't be sad, don't be upset!"
"Blood is not scary! Face it head-on! Overcome it!"
(100 Chapters Ahead)
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