Satoru pushed open the tall double doors to the Hokage's office.
As always, a faint cloud of tobacco smoke floated lazily in the air. The scent of old wood and dusty scrolls mingled together—a scent every shinobi who'd been summoned here could instantly recognize.
Behind the desk, Hiruzen Sarutobi sat with his chin resting on one hand, deep in thought, his eyes buried beneath the weight of paperwork stacked like towers.
But what caught Satoru's attention more—
Was that he wasn't alone.
By the bookshelf, arms crossed, stood a woman. Her gaze was sharp—yet carried the fatigue of someone who'd long since lost their patience with the world.
Tsunade Senju.
Satoru blinked, sizing her up instinctively.
Her chakra was immense.Not wild or overwhelming like Jiraiya's.Not sinister and suffocating like Orochimaru's.
It was something deeper.
A calm, crushing pressure.Like a still ocean that could obliterate everything beneath its surface if stirred.
The aura of a top-tier medical ninja.A true Senju.
…But then again, chakra wasn't the only thing worth noticing.
Satoru's gaze… drifted slightly lower.
And he had to exert every ounce of willpower to keep his jaw from dropping.
That… bust defies the laws of physics.
Memories of an Old Friend
His eyes narrowed slightly as a distant memory bubbled up—
Back in his previous life, he had read everything about Tsunade.He'd heard of countless people obsessing over her.
But none more than one person—
Tâm Bùi.His best friend. The self-proclaimed "Harem King."
A man so obsessed with Tsunade, he'd always say that if he ever got isekai'd into the Naruto world, he'd do everything to win her heart.
Satoru chuckled softly, lips curling in amusement.
Maybe one day, he'd remember everything from that old world.
Or maybe—
He'd go back.
For just a moment, he drifted.
Awkward Silence
When he snapped out of it—
Something was… off.
The room was too quiet.
Satoru blinked.
Both the Hokage and Tsunade were staring at him.
The silence deepened.
Satoru: "…"
Hiruzen: "…"
Tsunade: "…"
They looked at him.He looked back.
What the hell is this atmosphere?!
He quickly scratched the back of his head and forced a sheepish grin.
A sarcastic ding echoed in his mind:
[System: Satoru, could you try looking competent for once? I'm cringing for you.]
He tried his best to ignore the annoying voice in his head.Time to salvage his image—fast.
The First Words… Aren't Exactly Friendly
It was Tsunade who broke the awkward silence first.
She squinted at him, arms still crossed, her tone both lazy and laced with dry sarcasm.
"Hey, Old Man. Are you sure this guy's reliable?"
She looked Satoru up and down, then raised a brow.
"He's got the body of a swordsman, I'll give you that…But he just screams trouble."
Hiruzen: "…"
Satoru: "…"
The Third Hokage closed his eyes and took a long drag of his pipe.
Ever since Satoru arrived, the number of times he had internally gone "…dot dot dot…" had increased exponentially.
Finally, he sighed.
"Tsunade, Satoru-kun is… talented.Spend some time with him. You'll understand."
Damage Control
Satoru cleared his throat, immediately slipping back into a formal demeanor.
He stepped forward and bowed respectfully.
"Tsunade-sama, it's an honor to meet you.""I am Satoru Hoshino, Jonin of the Hidden Leaf.""I understand your skepticism, but I assure you—I will give this mission my all.""Please… place your trust in me."
His voice was clear, tone steady, eyes sincere.
He knew full well—Tsunade wasn't someone who could be swayed by flattery or surface-level words.
She stared at him for a while, silently measuring him.
Then…
She yawned. Placed one hand on her hip.
"Whatever.""Just don't be a pain in my ass.""Tomorrow at 9AM. Meet in front of the Hokage's office. We leave then."
Without another word—
SLAM.
The door shut behind her.
Satoru: "…"
Hiruzen: "…"
The Hokage winced slightly, then exhaled a long, tired breath.
The Reason Behind It All
Hiruzen took another puff from his pipe, eyes dimmed with the wear of age.
"Don't take it personally, Satoru."
Satoru tilted his head slightly, waiting.
The Hokage was quiet for a moment.
Then he spoke softly.
"Tsunade has… lost too much."
"Not everyone gets back up after life takes everything from them."
Satoru didn't reply. He just listened.
Hiruzen's voice deepened, heavy with memory.
"Do you know about Dan Kato?""He was her lover. A fine shinobi.Noble. Brave. Someone who dreamed of protecting the village."
The Hokage paused, eyes distant, as if seeing the past.
"He died on a mission.Right in front of her."
"She tried to save him. She couldn't."
Satoru's brow furrowed.
"But what shattered her the most—Wasn't just losing him…"
"It was realizing that she—A genius among medical ninja…Couldn't save the man she loved."
The room fell still.
Hiruzen's voice softened.
"Soon after, her younger brother Nawaki died too.Another mission. Another corpse."
"More family… gone."
Satoru's fists clenched.
Tsunade—so powerful, so composed—Had endured pain no one should carry alone.
Losing her lover.Losing her little brother.Losing her faith in the shinobi world.
She left the village.Tried to run away from it all.
And yet…
Now, here she stood again.Scarred.But still standing.
Still fighting.
Satoru felt something tighten in his chest.
He wasn't the kind to meddle in others' pain.
But even so—
One day…If he could…
He'd help her believe again.
He smiled faintly, eyes filled with quiet determination.
Then bowed to the Hokage.
"Understood, Hokage-sama."
🔥 END OF CHAPTER 112 🔥