Judging from their expressions alone, Aoki Yoru didn't need to guess where Tsunade and Shizune had been.
Casino.
And most likely, they had once again donated generously.
Aoki Yoru couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
Tsunade crossed her arms and looked him up and down, her sharp gaze scanning every detail of his condition.
"It seems you'll be able to move around soon," she said casually. "You've got some nerve, kid—actually provoking something like that Evil God."
Her tone was half teasing, half reproachful.
Aoki Yoru gave a bitter smile.
"I was reckless this time," he admitted honestly. "I thought I could retreat without issue… but I underestimated just how… bizarre that thing was."
Even now, recalling the experience sent a chill down his spine.
That presence…
It wasn't something that should exist in the mortal world.
After a brief pause, his expression turned serious.
"Lady Tsunade," he said, "could I trouble you to set up a barrier in this room?"
Tsunade raised an eyebrow.
"A barrier?" she repeated. "What for?"
Aoki Yoru met her gaze steadily.
"To prevent anyone from spying."
Though puzzled, Tsunade didn't refuse.
Even if sealing techniques weren't her specialty, setting up a simple barrier was effortless for someone of her caliber.
With a few hand seals, an invisible barrier enveloped the room.
The air seemed to tighten slightly.
"Done," she said, crossing her arms again. "Now, kid—this had better be worth it."
Her posture made her presence even more imposing, her expression clearly saying: You'd better not waste my time.
Aoki Yoru took a deep breath.
Then, with trembling hands, he pulled out a scroll from his robes.
Slowly—
He broke the seal.
"Poof—"
A pale arm appeared on the scroll.
Its skin was unnaturally white, almost corpse-like.
Yet—
It pulsed faintly with life.
Aoki Yoru picked it up and handed it to Tsunade.
"Please take a look," he said. "See if this can replenish the life force I've lost."
At first, Tsunade didn't seem particularly interested.
Even she had never found a reliable way to restore lost life force.
To her, this sounded like wishful thinking.
But—
The moment her Chakra entered the arm—
Her expression changed.
Her brows furrowed.
Her eyes sharpened.
And gradually—
Her face grew serious.
"This…"
She could feel it.
A familiar aura.
Something she hadn't sensed in years.
It reminded her of someone.
Someone she would never forget.
"…Where did you get this?"
Her voice turned cold.
Her gaze locked onto Aoki Yoru.
For a brief moment, the atmosphere grew tense.
She had a suspicion.
If this arm was created using her grandfather's cells…
Then whoever did it had committed an unforgivable act.
Aoki Yoru didn't look away.
"It came from an underground cave near Kannabi Bridge, in the Land of Grass," he explained calmly.
He had anticipated this reaction.
With Tsunade's personality, there was no way she would help him without a clear explanation.
In truth, bringing out this arm had not been an easy decision.
But—
He had no choice.
His body was on the verge of collapse.
Every cell in him felt like it was screaming.
His condition was like a piece of cracked porcelain—fragile, unstable, ready to shatter at any moment.
He couldn't afford to wait.
Not until he developed a perfect Yang Release.
He might not even survive that long.
"Lady Tsunade," he continued, "you've seen how extraordinary this arm is. Its owner must have been no ordinary person."
He paused.
"That's why I asked for the barrier."
His eyes were firm.
"I don't want its existence to be discovered."
"And… I hope you can treat me without letting its characteristics manifest too obviously."
He knew Tsunade would understand.
If he absorbed its power recklessly, his body might develop visible abnormalities.
That would bring unnecessary attention.
For a moment—
Tsunade said nothing.
Then—
She placed the arm on the table.
And began examining it in detail.
Seeing this, Aoki Yoru finally let out a quiet breath of relief.
She had accepted.
As Tsunade continued her inspection, the look in her eyes changed.
Shock.
Amazement.
Even a hint of disbelief.
"These cells…"
They were beyond anything she had ever seen.
They could heal.
Restore.
Revitalize.
Even someone on the brink of death—
Could be saved.
And more importantly—
There were no signs of rejection.
No side effects.
Then—
She noticed something else.
A trace.
A faint, yet unmistakable presence.
Wood Release.
Tsunade's hands paused slightly.
A flicker of emotion crossed her face.
"If only…"
Her voice softened.
"…we had this back then…"
Her thoughts drifted to the past.
To Nawaki.
To the pain she had never truly let go.
After a long silence—
She made her decision.
"I'm taking this," she said.
"I need to study it properly."
Without waiting for a response, she turned and left the room.
Shizune watched her go, then sighed helplessly.
She turned toward Nao with a gentle smile.
"Come on, Nao," she said softly. "Let's get something to eat. Aoki needs to rest."
Nao nodded obediently.
But before leaving, she turned back.
"Brother Yoru… you should rest well. I'll bring you something delicious later!"
Aoki Yoru smiled faintly.
Then—
The room fell quiet.
"Phew…"
He let out a long breath.
Now—
All he could do—
Was wait.
"Bang!"
The door suddenly burst open.
Jiraiya limped in, leaning on a crutch.
The moment he saw Aoki Yoru, he laughed loudly.
"So you're finally awake!" he said cheerfully. "You've got guts, kid—picking a fight with something like that!"
Aoki Yoru raised an eyebrow.
Then his gaze shifted to Jiraiya's leg.
"…What happened to you?"
Jiraiya scratched his head awkwardly.
"Haha… it was dark last night. I accidentally fell down the stairs."
"…Really?"
Aoki Yoru narrowed his eyes.
His expression clearly said:
Do you expect me to believe that?
Jiraiya laughed even louder.
"Well… if you don't believe me, there's nothing I can do!"
Of course—
There was no way he could admit the truth.
That he had been caught peeping at the hot springs…
And had his leg broken by Tsunade.
That would ruin his image completely.
Suddenly—
Jiraiya's expression turned serious.
"Kid," he said gravely, "I have something important to tell you."
Aoki Yoru stiffened.
Important?
Was there still something wrong with his body?
Or—
Had something happened to Kakashi and the others?
Jiraiya didn't speak immediately.
He simply stared at him.
One second.
Two seconds.
Three—
Aoki Yoru started to feel uneasy.
Then—
Jiraiya spoke.
"All the money I had on me…"
"…was taken by Tsunade."
Silence.
"…What?"
Aoki Yoru blinked.
"That's it?" he said. "I thought it was something serious—"
Then—
He froze.
His expression changed.
Slowly—
Very slowly—
He turned his head.
"…Wait."
"My share of the royalties…"
Jiraiya nodded.
"Tsunade said it counts as medical expenses."
"…."
Aoki Yoru's soul nearly left his body.
He swayed slightly.
His eyes lost focus.
"My money…"
"It was all my money…"
He slumped back.
Looking like a wilted plant left under the scorching sun.
That money—
Was supposed to fund his laboratory.
His research.
His future.
Now—
Gone.
And once money entered Tsunade's hands—
It would vanish into casinos within a day.
There was no hope of recovery.
Jiraiya patted his shoulder sympathetically.
And sighed.
Some pains—
Could not be healed.
The Next Day
Inside the temporarily set-up laboratory—
"Phew…"
Aoki Yoru stretched his body.
After days of lying in bed, his muscles felt stiff.
But now—
He felt incredible.
Light.
Energized.
Alive.
Tsunade's treatment had worked wonders.
He felt better than ever.
"I've removed the external characteristics of those cells from your body," Tsunade said.
"But…"
She looked at him seriously.
"That overwhelming life force and Chakra… can't be hidden."
"Be careful."
Then—
Her expression shifted.
"You should be able to use it now, right?"
Aoki Yoru nodded.
He raised his hand.
Palm facing upward.
He focused.
A moment later—
A small green sprout emerged.
It grew slowly.
A fragile blade of grass.
Yet—
It carried immense vitality.
Tsunade's eyes softened.
For a moment—
She was no longer looking at Aoki Yoru.
But at the past.
Her grandfather.
She remembered—
How he would do the same thing.
Making plants sprout from his hand.
Just to make her laugh.
"It really is…"
She whispered.
"…just like grandfather's."
Aoki Yoru looked at the tiny sprout.
Then shook his head slightly.
"It's still far from that level," he said.
"At best… I can use it for gardening."
Compared to the First Hokage—
He was still insignificant.
He didn't have that overwhelming Yang Release.
That boundless vitality.
Creating forests.
Shaping landscapes.
Summoning the Thousand-Armed Kan'on—
That was still far beyond him.
But—
Even so—
A faint smile appeared on his face.
Because now—
He had taken the first step.
Toward something extraordinary.
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