15 Chapter 15: Filth

Sarutobi Clan Compound, within a garden.

Hyuga Yuto leaned back on a stone bench, his eyes tightly shut.

Tsunade stretched out a hand, gently covering Yuto's eyes. Soft chakra flowed from her palm to his eyeballs and optic nerves, stimulating cell repair and regeneration.

Chakra was a ferocious, immensely powerful energy. Using it to heal the human body was already an extremely difficult task. If the treatment area involved the delicate and intricate visual system and brain tissue, the difficulty was akin to embroidering on the tip of a needle. In the entire shinobi world, there were no more than five individuals capable of treating such injuries.

Fortunately, Tsunade was one of them. In terms of medical ninjutsu alone, this last descendant of the Senju Clan was undeniably the best.

After an unknown amount of time, the cool sensation abruptly vanished.

Hyuga Yuto opened his eyes. Apart from the prickling pain, his vision had finally regained clarity.

"The pain will probably last for a week. Drink plenty of water and get plenty of sleep." The blonde Tsunade exhaled softly.

She let down her coiled hair and took a sip of sake – Tsunade was a very ethical medic, and naturally, she wouldn't drink while treating patients.

Hyuga Yuto rubbed his still-tight forehead, remaining silent for a long time. Finally, he bowed deeply to Tsunade:

"Lady Tsunade, you have saved my life as a shinobi. From now on, if you have any orders, Hyuga Yuto will die for you!"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, enough of that, Hyuga kid."

Tsunade grimaced without regard for her image. If anyone else had made such a gesture, it would have looked particularly comical and funny. However, she was such a beautiful woman that even without controlling her expression, she was more captivating than the moonlight.

"Kid... you're called Hyuga Yuto, right? How old are you?"

"In response to Lady Tsunade, I am 12."

The blonde woman paused slightly and took a swig of sake:

"12 years old, huh? Many people your age are still just mischievous brats who recently graduated. Yet, you've made a name for yourself through your own efforts... With young successors like you, the Will of Fire will surely be passed down in Konoha."

"Lady Tsunade, I am not strong enough yet. There is still much I need to learn."

"Kid, when I was your age, I also thought about mastering my clan's Kekkei Genkai and reviving the Senju glory. But now, I just feel... that in many cases, mere strength won't get you what you want."

"The strong may not always get what they desire, but the weak will surely lose even more."

"That's quite... a young boy's way of thinking." Tsunade said softly, tilting her head to look at Hyuga Yuto. Suddenly, she asked:

"Your injury... the Caged Bird Seal?"

Hyuga Yuto lowered his head. After a while, he stood up and placed his hands on the stone railing of the pavilion. The night wind blew through his bangs, carrying a faint scent of blood.

Tsunade couldn't see the boy's expression, but his back, leaning against the stone railing as he looked into the distance, made her feel a little uneasy.

– Ten years ago, her younger brother, Nawaki, was also twelve years old. On his birthday, he wore the crystal necklace she had given him, leaning on the railing at the top of the Hokage Building, talking about his youthful and ambitious dreams... Then, the day after his birthday, he died in the war.

The blonde woman took another large gulp of sake. When people are in a bad mood, they want to escape. Alcohol is a good thing, but the Senju Clan's strong physique was a disadvantage here: a little alcohol couldn't make Tsunade lose consciousness.

"Yes, Lady Tsunade, you are right." At that moment, Hyuga Yuto's voice drifted from the front: "Perhaps it's a bit of a family scandal... But you are one of the Sannin of Konoha. In my eyes, you are a senior worthy of trust and reliance. I won't hide it from you, the one who activated the Caged Bird Seal was Hyuga Shinji."

"Tsk." The blonde beauty scoffed unceremoniously: "The Hyuga have fallen so far, to even reveal the secret orders of something like the Caged Bird Seal to a child." Tsunade seemed to have quite an opinion on the Hyuga Clan:

"When I was young, the Hyuga Clan still had several powerful figures. Although they were far from my grandfather's level, they were still formidable forces... But now, huh, the Caged Bird Seal, the Caged Bird Seal. It imprisons the Branch Family, but it also imprisons the Main Family."

"Perhaps." Hyuga Yuto said calmly: "The moment the Caged Bird Seal was activated, it was very, very painful. For a second or two, I thought, if only I had a kunai by my side, then I could stab it into the caster's neck."

Such words would be considered treasonous in the Hyuga Clan, but to Tsunade, they sounded perfectly normal.

If a 12-year-old genius, who was tortured by a cursed seal, still thought about serving the Main Family, Tsunade would only think that this person's brain had been kicked by a toad or that he was simply lying.

"Kid, just say these things in front of me. Once you leave the Sarutobi Clan Compound, forget about those feelings."

"I told Lady Tsunade this because I believe you are a truly kind and understanding elder, someone I can entrust everything to."

"Heh... you have a way with words. So now, Hyuga Yuto, what do you think of the Main Family now?"

"Now..." Hyuga Yuto lowered his head, his back facing Tsunade. He discovered that having long hair was indeed beneficial. Even if his heart was still filled with hatred and killing intent, he could hide his expression and focus on controlling his tone:

"Now, I don't know what I think... But what surprised me is that there aren't many negative emotions in my heart. I... Lady Tsunade, I don't know how to say it..."

"Speak freely, kid. There's only you and me here."

"Yes... Lady Tsunade." Hyuga Yuto paused, hesitation appearing in his heart for the first time.

– Can I really say that? In front of a woman who has lost her loved ones one after another, ripping open her unhealed wounds to achieve my own goals? Hyuga Yuto, you are truly filthy...

This hesitation only lasted for a moment. The next moment, Hyuga Yuto suppressed his hesitation and, according to his memory, spoke the words he had seen in the manga in his previous life:

"Losing the people you cherish in battle... is not the mission of a shinobi."

"Because I live in a shinobi world filled with death and chaos, I want to fight to end this war."

"I love this village and my comrades... so I want to protect them."

"Ever since my parents died, this thought has always supported me... So, Lady Tsunade, I want to become Hokage."

"Because becoming the one who protects everyone, that is the Hokage... This has always been my dream."

Tsunade was stunned.

The dusty, sad memories in her mind came flooding back.

Ten years ago, when she and Dan Kato had pledged their love to each other, Dan had also said the same words.

This was a secret between her and Dan Kato. Ever since Dan died in the Second Shinobi World War, these bold and unwavering vows were known only to her in the entire world.

Two figures suddenly appeared on 12-year-old Hyuga Yuto.

The blonde beauty looked up and raised her sake bottle, but no more could be poured out.

Ah... Nawaki, Dan, do you want me to help this boy...