XX-level Hokage

"I'll pay you back, but forget about it. I'm not going back to be Hokage. As for Kakashi's injury, you can send someone..."

"Come and talk to me, even though I can't treat them myself, I can at least tell others," Tsunade said to Mashiro.

"You don't need to pay back the money. As long as Lady Tsunade plays a game with me, I'll consider this money a gift to Lady Tsunade," Mashiro said, looking at Tsunade with deep eyes.

"A game? What game?" Tsunade asked, somewhat suspiciously.

She was currently pondering Mashiro's identity. When did the Hyuga clan become so wealthy? Such a young clansman, tens of millions in assets without batting an eye. Was she dreaming? Or had the times changed?

"Gambling? Just play three rounds of mahjong with me." Mashiro said with a smile.

"Is that all? What will be the price if I lose?" Tsunade asked, considering herself quite good at mahjong.

"There's no price to pay. You just need to play three rounds of mahjong with me. Winning or losing doesn't matter, but you can't forfeit. If you forfeit, you'll not only have to pay me back ten times the debt, but you'll also have to agree to return to the village and become Hokage," Mashiro said calmly.

Tsunade frowned deeply. This was the first time she had never been able to see through someone's intentions. According to Mashiro's rules, she would win if she played three rounds of mahjong, after which all her debts would be forgiven. The only possible loss was if she voluntarily forfeited, but she would never choose to forfeit.

"Well, Lady Tsunade, the rules are simple, right? If you feel you won too easily, or that I'm deliberately waiving your debt, you can continue to pay me back in installments after you receive the IOU. I won't refuse," Mashiro said with a smile.

Tsunade thought for a moment, then said, "I promise, just don't cry then, you unlovable brat."

Mashiro smiled and took out a document, saying, "Then please sign it, Lady Tsunade." Tsunade took the document and signed her name.

“Let’s start with the first sentence now. We happen to be in a casino, and there’s mahjong.” Mashiro said, taking the book. “Whatever you say.” Tsunade had no objections.

After informing the casino owner, the owner specially arranged a private room for the two of them, apparently impressed by Zhenbai's incredibly generous nature. "Let's begin."

The two began to fight methodically.

"Lady Tsunade is the Third Hokage's disciple, isn't she?" Mashiro said.

"Everyone in Konoha should know about this, right?" Tsunade said casually, glancing at the cards in her hand.

"Then Lady Tsunade should be considered my senior sister, after all, I am also a disciple of the Third Hokage," Mashiro said, playing a mahjong tile.

"Huh?" Tsunade exclaimed in surprise. After thinking for a while, she suddenly seemed to remember something and said, "I think I heard about this somewhere before, but I didn't pay attention to it at the time."

"Teacher is very old now. Orochimaru attacked Konoha not long ago. Although we eventually killed Orochimaru, Teacher's body is about to give out." Mashiro said with a sigh.

Tsunade glanced down at Hikaru, remaining silent, lost in thought.

"Guests, this is tea the boss has brought for you." A waiter lifted the curtain of the private room, walked in with a teapot, and placed it on the table.

Orochimaru ambushed and killed the Fourth Kazekage, then impersonated the Fourth Kazekage and led the Sand and Sound Guards in training, before attacking Miya during the Chunin Exams.

Mashiro picked up the teapot and poured a cup of tea for herself and Tsunade.

Mashiro handed the tea to Tsunade, raised the teacup, and said, "No matter what, the reputation of the Legendary Sannin of Konoha will always be the pride of Konoha. Lady Tsunade has saved so many people, and I truly admire her immensely."

Hearing Mashiro's words, Tsunade's gaze became somewhat complicated. She took the teacup, gently clinked it against Mashiro's, and then drank it all in one gulp.

"Looks like I lost." A moment later, Mashiro said, looking at Tsunade who had won the hand. "Want to play again?" Tsunade asked.

“Tomorrow, I’ll wait for you here tomorrow night,” Mashiro said. “Okay,” Tsunade said and left.

After Tsunade left, the casino owner came in.

"Sir, I've placed the item in the tea exactly as you instructed," the casino owner said respectfully. "You all worked together very well just now; I'm very satisfied. Go collect your reward from Kado in a few days," Mashiro said softly. "Thank you, sir, thank you, sir," the casino owner said with immense joy.

This casino was bought by Mashiro a long time ago, including the two people who just came. They had also been bribed by Mashiro long ago. They had been waiting in Tanabata Street for a very long time, just as Mashiro had instructed, until today.

In her previous life, Mashiro won over Tsunade through coercion and force; in this life, she wants to try a different method.

Chapter 45: The Tale of Tsunade, the Fire Princess (Part 3)

The next day, after Shizune woke up, she saw Tsunade sleeping on the sofa in the living room.

With a sigh, Shizune guessed that Tsunade had gone gambling behind her back again yesterday. She covered Tsunade with the blanket and quietly walked out the door. In Tanabata Street, a commercial district, Mashiro was waiting quietly.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, Mashiro." Shizune ran over, panting. "I just got here too." Mashiro took out a tissue and wiped the sweat from Shizune's forehead.

Shizune's face, which had turned red from running, became even redder. She felt that this was a bit too intimate, but having not spent much time with people her own age, she didn't know how to refuse.

"Let's go, let's wander around." Seeing Shizune's reaction, Mashiro said with a subtle smile.

The two strolled together through the shopping district. Mashiro told Shizune about her life in Konoha, and Shizune shared her interesting experiences traveling with Tsunade. "Shizune, let's go buy some clothes," Mashiro suddenly said as they walked into a clothing store.

"Ah! Okay then." Actually, Shizune didn't want to go to the clothing store because she didn't have any money, but because it was Mashiro's request, she couldn't refuse. She went to the clothing store and Mashiro picked out a trendy gray-brown dress for Shizune.

"No need, I'm fine as I am. Mashiro, just buy whatever you want," Shizune waved her hand in refusal.

"Try it out and see. It's not like you have to buy it anyway. Doesn't Shizune want to try on some nice clothes?" Mashiro tempted.

Shizune glanced at the pretty clothes in Mashiro's hands, then at her own old, dark gray outfit. Finally, Shizune went into the fitting room.

In the fitting room, Shizune took off her clothes, feeling a little shy looking at her naked reflection in the mirror. She hurriedly tried to change into new clothes. Shizune had a beautiful body. "Mashiro appeared in the corner of the fitting room at some point," she said.

"Really, really white?! What are you doing in here?" Shizune hurriedly covered herself with her clothes.

I also wanted to try on the clothes, but it seemed like this was the only fitting room available in the store. Luckily, the fitting room was big enough, and I figured the two of us should be able to manage.

"We can use them together, so I came in." Mashiro said with a light laugh.

Hearing Mashiro's explanation, Shizune said, "Then Mashiro, you go ahead and use it. I'll go wait outside for a bit."

Then Shizune was about to put on her clothes and leave. "No need for that."

Mashiro grabbed Shizune's hand and pulled her into her arms, whispering, "We're both girls, it doesn't matter if we switch together."

Shizune, who was in Mashiro's arms, was only wearing underwear. Mashiro herself was also half-undressed. Feeling the touch of their skin against each other, Shizune's face turned bright red, and a wisp of smoke rose from her head.

"Is Shizune really that conservative?" Mashiro said as the two walked out of the fitting room after changing into their new clothes.

Jingyin's face was still flushed as she said, "I haven't made many friends, nor have I spent much time with people my own age, so I'm very nervous about many things."

"Then let me teach Shizune how girls should get along as friends," Mashiro said with a smile.

"Really?" Shizune was also very happy. After all, Tsunade was much older than her, and she really needed to learn how to interact with women her own age. "Let's see how you look in your new clothes first." Mashiro nodded and then pulled Shizune to the huge mirror in the clothing store.

Looking at herself in the mirror, Jingyin was momentarily stunned. Unlike the imposing black and gray long coat she wore before, this outfit perfectly highlighted Jingyin's gentle and graceful temperament.

“It’s beautiful,” Mashiro said from the side, then kissed Shizune on the cheek.

Seeing Shizune's shocked expression as she covered her face, Mashiro said, "This means she's happy for you, and sometimes it also represents gratitude and blessings." Shizune nodded gently in response.

“This dress suits you very well,” Mashiro said, hugging Shizune from behind.

Shizune had gradually gotten used to Mashiro's sudden closeness, so she wasn't too nervous. She was thinking about something else, something she truly liked.

She liked the dress, but she couldn't buy it; she didn't have much money to begin with.

Thinking of this, Shizune shook her head and said, "Never mind."

"Boss, please wrap this up," Mashiro called out to the shopkeeper.

“Consider this dress a gift from me to celebrate us becoming friends,” Mamoru whispered in Shizune’s ear.

Shizune initially wanted to refuse, but then she remembered that she hadn't bought clothes in a long time, so she blushed and gently said "thank you" to Mashiro.

"Do you remember what I just said about how same-sex friends express gratitude these days?" Mashiro said with a smile.

Shizune blushed, quickly looked up and kissed Masashi on the cheek. Then, she picked up the wrapped clothes, and the two left the clothing store together.

After strolling around for a while, it was almost noon. Shizune remembered that she still needed to bring lunch to Tsunade and Tonton, so she took Mashiro to a roadside stall and bought two servings of fried noodles.

"Isn't Shizune going to eat?" Mashiro asked from the side.

"I don't need it, I'm not that hungry," Shizune said with a smile. At that moment, the little figure in Shizune's mind was shedding tears; she was truly penniless.

"Boss, two servings of fried noodles, to go too," Mashiro said to the fried noodle stall owner. "Mashiro, why are you here too…"

“I want to go with Shizune to see your master. I’ll pay for your master’s and that pet pig’s meal as a gift. Consider the two meals you bought as your treat for me. Oh, and since it’s a gift, I’ll go buy a cake too,” Mashiro said, gesturing to Shizune.

Then we went to the cake shop on the side.

Mashiro is such a gentle person. Shizune watched Mashiro's departing figure with a soft look in her eyes. At the inn, Tsunade was holding Ton-Ton, waiting for Shizune to bring back food while thinking about Mahiru.

"Hyuga Mashiro? What a strange brat. Why would the old man take her as his disciple? I can't understand it," Tsunade muttered to herself.

"Lady Tsunade, I'm back. I bought some fried noodles today." Shizune's voice came through at that moment.

Tsunade glanced at the doorway, waiting for Shizune to arrive, and then saw Mashiro's face. "It's you? What are you doing here?" Tsunade asked疑惑地问道.

"Does Lady Tsunade know Mashiro? Let me introduce you. Mashiro is the one who paid for my meal yesterday, and she also bought the fried noodles for you and Tonton today," Shizune said, noticing that Tsunade's mood was a little strange.

"Actually, I'm Lady Tsunade's junior sister. I've met her a few times before. My mission in Tanabata Town this time is related to Lady Tsunade. I never expected that she was Shizune's master," Mashiro said with a smile.

“That’s right, that’s exactly it. I didn’t expect my junior sister to be here.” Tsunade continued, echoing Masahiro’s words.

"Oh, is that so? What a coincidence, Mashiro. I never imagined you were the Hokage's disciple." Shizune exclaimed in surprise. After finishing dinner together, Tsunade said, "Shizune, why don't you go out for a bit? I have something to discuss with Mashiro."

Although Shizune was a little confused, she still followed the instructions and went out. "Why are you here?" Tsunade asked.

"Shizune and I are friends. I never expected you to be her mentor. It's a real surprise," Mashiro said.

Tsunade didn't suspect anything about this. Shizune had been with her since she was very young, and many people in Konoha didn't know about her relationship with Shizune. "So, Tsunade-senpai, shall we have a second round? I still have a set of mahjong tiles in my scroll," Mashiro said, clasping her hands together.

Tsunade nodded slightly upon hearing this. The second match begins!

Chapter 46: The Tale of Tsunade, the Fire Princess (Part 4)

Mashiro took out mahjong tiles from the scroll, and after they were ready, the two started playing.

"Do you know, Tsunade-senpai? The reason the village is so eager to have you succeed as Hokage is because our teacher, the Third Hokage, passed away after the Chunin Exams. The village has been keeping this news a secret to appease the villagers, but this can't be kept secret for long, and the Hokage position can't be left vacant," Mashiro said sadly.

"You mean, the old man..." Tsunade closed her eyes, even losing interest in the mahjong tiles in her hands, and casually knocked them away. "This news is false. I'm sorry I lied to you, Tsunade-senpai." Just as Tsunade was grieving, Mashiro suddenly said.

"What did you say?" Tsunade was furious. As a medical ninja, Tsunade hated it when people joked about death, especially those close to her.

Just as Tsunade was about to explode in anger, Mashiro calmly said, "Isn't this because you care about your teacher? Why don't you want to go back to Konoha? Is it because of Dan? Or because of Nawaki?"

Mashiro's words were like a bucket of cold water poured over Tsunade's head.

Nawaki and Dan—these two names hadn't been heard from her in a long time. "Did the old man even tell you this?" Tsunade's voice was low.

"It seems that Tsunade developed hemophobia because of Nawaki, and it's precisely because of hemophobia that she can no longer use medical jutsu to save people," Mashiro continued without answering Tsunade's question.

"How did you know I have hemophobia?" Tsunade asked Mashiro in surprise.

It's likely that there aren't many reasons why you, as one of the top medical ninjas in the entire ninja world, wouldn't be able to use medical ninjutsu to save people.

"First, let's rule out amnesia—you're not old enough for that. And let's rule out compulsion too—you're a medical ninja, and one of the Legendary Sannin. Then I thought of illness, and the first illness that could render a doctor unable to save lives that comes to mind is hemophobia," Mashiro said slowly and deliberately.

Tsunade stared at Mashiro, somewhat lost in thought. Mashiro's guess was correct, and it was a very logical one. What shocked Tsunade even more was that Mashiro had also guessed the reason why she had hemophobia: it was indeed because of Nawaki.

"Do you want to see them now?" Mashiro suddenly asked. "What?" Tsunade asked, puzzled.

"Broken and Rope Tree, do you want to see them now?" Mashiro asked Tsunade, looking at her face. "What do you mean by that?" Tsunade's expression gradually turned cold.