Under Shizune's careful attention, Tsunade ate until her lips glistened with oil.
With the last bite swallowed, she let out a long, satisfied breath, finally suppressing the relentless hunger gnawing at her.
From losing miserably at the casino… to being ambushed while probing the vault… to ending up imprisoned here—
The chain of events felt almost unreal.
Shizune knelt beside her, quietly packing away the food box. Her eyes were still red, but steadier now.
At least… her teacher was awake.
"Tch… damn Uchiha."
Tsunade clicked her tongue, testing her numb wrists and ankles against the chains. The metallic clatter echoed sharply through the chamber.
Her gaze swept across the cold stone walls and dim glowstones… before landing on Shizune's worried face.
She grinned faintly. "Don't look like that. We—"
"Tap."
A soft footstep echoed from the spiral staircase.
Unhurried.
Measured.
Growing closer.
Shizune stiffened, spinning toward the entrance. She jumped to her feet and instinctively moved to shield Tsunade.
Tsunade's eyes sharpened instantly. All traces of laziness vanished.
Her body tensed—chakra sealed, yet the instincts of a top-tier shinobi remained, coiled like a hunting predator.
The footsteps stopped.
"Creak—"
The heavy stone door opened.
Light spilled in, outlining a tall, slender figure.
Uchiha Ren stood against the light. Without his crimson armor, dressed in a simple dark clan robe, his pale complexion appeared even colder.
His gaze first fell on Shizune. A slight nod. A faint smile softened her hostility—just a little.
Then his eyes shifted upward—
To Tsunade.
Bound in cold chains, her limbs stretched and suspended, her body forced into display.
The green haori clung tight across her chest, outlining the full, rising curves beneath.
Her waist, pulled taut, contrasted sharply with the strength in her hips. Her long legs were bound straight, muscle lines visible beneath the fabric.
A legendary Sannin—
Reduced to a captive, suspended like a living emblem of power restrained.
Their eyes met.
"Forgive the lack of hospitality, Tsunade-sama," Ren said calmly. "I hope you won't mind."
"Not mind? Heh."
Tsunade narrowed her eyes, a cold smile forming.
"Uchiha brat… you didn't go through all this trouble just to feed me, did you?"
The blood in the vault last night had already told her—
This was a trap.
And she had walked right into it.
"Of course not."
Ren stepped forward, entering the room despite Shizune's tense gaze.
The dim light cast shadows across his sharp features.
"I simply thought… certain conversations are best held in a setting like this."
"…for my personal enjoyment."
"You—!"
Shizune couldn't hold back anymore. With a shout, she lunged forward.
Fast—
But full of openings.
Ren didn't even look at her.
At the moment she closed in, his wrist turned lightly—catch, pull, redirect.
A flicker of chakra disrupted her balance.
Shizune felt a force twist her body—
And the next instant—
She crashed straight into Tsunade.
"Mmph—!"
Tsunade let out a muffled grunt. Chains rattled.
Shizune froze.
Soft.
Overwhelmingly soft.
Her face was buried—
Completely.
She tried to lift her head, but it was like sinking into clouds.
"Shizune… get off!"
Tsunade's voice came through clenched teeth.
Her disciple's warm breath sent a strange sensation through her chest—
And across from them, that Uchiha brat was watching.
Even without any vulgar expression—
The sheer intensity of his gaze made her chest tighten with irritation.
The chains rattled as she tried to shift.
Which only made the situation… worse.
"Ah—s-sorry, Lady Tsunade!"
Shizune's muffled voice came out, flustered beyond belief.
She struggled to push herself up—
Only to press in all the wrong places.
Tsunade's breath hitched sharply, her glare turning murderous.
Finally—
Shizune stumbled free, landing awkwardly on her feet.
Her earlier bravado was gone, but she still spread her arms, blushing, standing between Ren and her teacher.
Her mouth opened—
A finger tapped her forehead.
Flick.
"Ah!"
She yelped, losing balance and dropping hard onto the cold floor.
Clutching her reddening forehead, tears welled up instantly.
"…Shizune."
Tsunade sighed.
"Go sit over there. Don't move."
Shizune bit her lip, glanced between them, then obediently shuffled to sit near Tsunade's feet.
But her eyes remained locked on Ren, full of vigilance.
Silence returned.
Only the faint clink of chains remained.
"…Alright, Uchiha brat. What do you want?"
Tsunade's gaze pressed down on him like a blade.
Even restrained, her presence filled the chamber.
"You know what it means to imprison me."
"Don't let a moment of arrogance bring disaster to the Uchiha."
"I know."
Ren's voice was calm.
"And you should know… I wouldn't do this without being prepared for the consequences."
Tsunade frowned.
Tobirama was right… Uchiha are unpredictable lunatics.
"Enough games," she said coldly. "State your terms."
"If I can do it, I will."
"If I can't… save your breath."
"As expected of Tsunade-sama."
Ren stepped closer.
The distance between them shrank.
Close enough to catch the faint scent of sweat and skin.
Tsunade didn't retreat.
Her gaze sharpened further, refusing to yield even an inch.
"Allow me to introduce myself properly."
"Uchiha Ren."
"Commander of the Uchiha Crimson Guard."
"…and the future head of the Uchiha clan."
Tsunade's pupils contracted.
Future clan head?
So this wasn't personal—
This was political.
Had the Uchiha already decided to break from Konoha?
Rebel?
Ren read her thoughts easily.
His gaze briefly lingered on her lips—still faintly glossy from the meal—before he smiled.
"No need to be nervous."
"I have no interest in fighting Hiruzen Sarutobi head-on."
"That would be… inefficient."
Tsunade didn't relax.
Not even slightly.
"…Then what?"
"Simple."
Ren reached into his pouch and pulled out a sealed scroll.
With a release—
A syringe appeared in his hand.
Inside—
A dark, viscous liquid.
Like congealed blood.
But wrong.
Tsunade's body tensed.
As a medical master—
And someone with severe hemophobia—
Her reaction was immediate.
Ren clapped once.
Minako Uzumaki stepped forward, dragging a bound Kirigakure ninja.
Broken limbs.
Gagged mouth.
Barely conscious.
A captured scout.
Tsunade's expression darkened.
A chill ran down her spine.
"…Don't go down this path, kid."
"This is an observation experiment," Ren said calmly.
"Please watch carefully."
He stepped forward—
And drove the needle into the ninja's neck.
The dark fluid flowed in.
For a moment—
Nothing.
Then—
The change.
The man's eyes snapped open, veins bulging, turning gray-white.
A choking sound clawed up his throat.
Muscles spasmed violently.
Skin darkened.
"Ghh—AAAA—!"
A monstrous, inhuman roar forced its way out.
His body twisted unnaturally—
Despite shattered joints—
Still lunging.
Trying to bite.
This was no longer a man.
Not even a dying one.
It was—
Something else.
"…What is that?!" Tsunade shouted.
Shizune covered her mouth, trembling.
Even Minako stared, shaken.
Ren watched quietly.
Then looked up.
Meeting Tsunade's horrified gaze.
"This… is the 'small problem' I need your help with."
"A virus."
"From an unknown origin."
"One that can twist life… into this."
"Enough!"
Tsunade roared, chains clashing as she strained forward.
"Stop this madness!"
"You think something like this—this abomination—will make me cooperate?!"
Her voice rang with absolute fury.
"Listen carefully, Uchiha Ren."
"Even if you kill me—burn me to ashes—"
"I will never… help you study something that desecrates life itself."
"Never."
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