Chapter 28: **Chapter 27: The Child is Under Too Much Pressure**
Back at the inn in the small town, Shizune began treating Elder Setsuna.
The injuries on Elder Setsuna were inflicted by Tsunade, and Shizune was all too familiar with Tsunade's techniques. Over the years, she had followed Tsunade across the land, encountering countless petty thieves. When warnings failed, they had to resort to physical expulsion.
Tsunade didn't care if the opponent was an old man or a child—she would break bones without hesitation. She even snatched candy straight from a child's mouth.
During these years, Shizune had gained considerable experience in treating broken bones.
Though Elder Setsuna's injuries appeared severe, they were a piece of cake for Shizune. However, the secondary trauma he suffered during transport made the treatment process more complicated.
"What did you do to Lady Tsunade?" Shizune asked while treating Elder Setsuna.
Lady Tsunade had disappeared in that cloud of smoke, clearly having something to do with Reijin. But Shizune had been around the ninja world for some time and gained a lot of experience—disappearing ninjutsu wasn't something you saw every day.
"Tsunade is fine. I just plan to take her away from this sorrowful ninja world, but she seems to have some unresolved concerns. You can try persuading her later," Reijin said, feeling rather pleased with himself. Tsunade was the most troublesome part, but he had dealt with her. The rest would be easy.
"..." Shizune fell silent.
That explanation seemed far-fetched. No matter how she looked at it, this guy didn't seem like a good person. What he was planning probably wasn't good either. But with two Uchiha watching her closely, Shizune couldn't voice her true thoughts.
A moment later, Shizune finished stitching Elder Setsuna's wounds. The green light glowing from her palm helped him regain much of his color in a short time.
*Cough, cough!*
Elder Setsuna coughed lightly and slowly regained consciousness.
"Please don't move. It's best to rest for a week before trying to walk again," Shizune said sternly, holding back the elder who was trying to sit up.
The Uchiha might not have the terrifying regenerative abilities of the Senju Clan, but their physical resilience was still remarkable. However, Elder Setsuna was old, and his recovery rate couldn't keep up. Otherwise, he could have endured those injuries for a longer time.
"Cough! Was it you, the young girl who follows Tsunade, who saved this old man?" Elder Setsuna asked, realizing his situation.
"Indeed, I was useless. Even Lord Madara didn't take me with him back then. Now, by following you, I'm nothing but a burden."
As he awoke, Elder Setsuna noticed Shizune still treating him, feeling the rapid recovery of his injuries. He had thought he was facing certain death, but to his surprise, he had been saved. His perspective might have been too narrow, holding too much pride. He had always believed the Uchiha were invincible, but this time Tsunade had shattered that illusion.
"Then prepare to contribute your last bit of strength to the Uchiha," Reijin said, his gaze briefly passing over Elder Setsuna before focusing on Shizune. As expected, Shizune had essentially mastered the medical techniques Tsunade knew. In the realm of medical ninjutsu, Shizune was among the top.
Tsunade, with her hemophobia, should really focus on teaching her disciple.
"Let's go, I'll take you to see Tsunade," Reijin said as he walked out, with Shizune quickly gathering her things and following while carrying Tonton.
They turned a corner into an empty room. Before Shizune could speak, Reijin's large hand suddenly grasped her neck, and in an instant, the space twisted. Shizune and Reijin were sucked into a separate dimension.
"Bastard!" Tsunade's massive fist came crashing down the moment they entered.
Reijin quickly lifted Shizune up to shield himself, confident that Tsunade wouldn't strike her.
After all, Shizune was her late lover's niece.
"Lady Tsunade!" Shizune's eyes widened in joy as she spotted Tsunade. She seemed unhurt and unyielding.
"Shizune!" Tsunade's face darkened, realizing this despicable, shameless man was using Shizune as a hostage.
Now Tsunade was caught in a difficult position. If she fought Reijin, he would likely use Shizune as a shield.
*Bang!*
Reijin seized the opportunity and kicked Tsunade in the abdomen, sending her flying several meters before she finally stopped. Before she could get up, Reijin's large foot stomped down on her stomach.
"Lady Tsunade, you'd better behave yourself. Both of you are my hostages now. If you even think about fighting back, remember that Shizune is only twenty years old, still a young woman. I'd hate to have to hurt her," Reijin said, looking down at Tsunade with a calm expression.
Reijin noticed that the contract seal was still intact. Apparently, Tsunade hadn't yet managed to break it. Releasing a sealing technique takes time, and Tsunade had probably been preparing for that punch the whole time.
"If you have any issues, take them out on me!" Tsunade roared as she forced herself to stand up straight.
"Not a chance!" Reijin rolled his eyes and tossed Shizune onto Tsunade. Shizune was also under a contract seal to prevent her from sending out any information.
"You'll stay here. There's food and drink—enough to keep you alive. Oh, and I'll plant a technique in your minds," Reijin said as the Sharingan in his eyes spun rapidly, forming a line.
"Lord Reijin has important matters to attend to and can't see you right now. I'll inform him later," the two Uchiha standing guard at Reijin's residence told Izumi expressionlessly.
"Alright," Uchiha Izumi replied, disappointed as she left. She had planned to tell Lord Reijin that she had submitted her application to graduate from the ninja academy, but she hadn't even gotten to see him.
"Then I'll wait until I become a genin to tell him!" Izumi clenched her small fists, filled with determination. A moment later, she perked up, looking much more spirited as she headed to the clan leader Fugaku's residence. She also wanted to share the good news with Itachi.
As she approached the entrance, a woman, still in her prime, wearing an apron, was sweeping the fallen leaves at the doorway.
"Itachi, Izumi is here to see you," Mikoto called softly into the house before Izumi even got close.
Moments later, a boy with a slightly somber expression stepped out. The tear troughs on his face made him look more mature than his peers.
"Lady Mikoto! Itachi!" Izumi greeted politely as she glanced inside, noticing that Clan Leader Fugaku was standing at the entrance, watching. Instantly, Izumi stiffened—his gaze was incredibly intimidating.
"Izumi, here to see Itachi again? He's been busy training with his father lately and hasn't had much time to relax. Why don't you take him around Konoha for a bit?" Mikoto suggested warmly.
"Sure!" Izumi agreed eagerly, her face lighting up with a smile. She hadn't seen Itachi in a long time.
"Yes, Mother," Itachi said after a brief silence, nodding as he walked over to Izumi's side. Fugaku had disappeared inside at some point.
"Goodbye, Lady Mikoto!" Izumi waved to Mikoto, who waved back with a smile. However, a faint, cold snort could be heard from inside the house, causing Mikoto's smile to falter slightly.
She sighed inwardly, feeling that Fugaku might be pushing Itachi too hard. Mikoto couldn't even remember the last time she'd seen Itachi smile at them. Only when he was with Sasuke did a rare smile occasionally cross his face.
She didn't want her son to bear the immense pressure of the clan.
As Izumi led Itachi down Konoha's streets, they headed straight for the dango shop, knowing that three-colored dango was Itachi's favorite treat—and hers too.
---
*Author's Note:*
Stop rushing the plot! I'll get to the One Piece arc when the time comes. Your constant pushing is making it hard for me to write. This Tsunade arc was supposed to be five or six chapters long, but because of your rush, I've had to condense it into a summary. It's making me uncomfortable to write, and I'm sure it's not enjoyable for you to read either. What's the rush?
Let's be patient. I'll wrap up the Naruto arc first, then we'll move on to One Piece, okay? I used to enjoy reading the comments, but now they're all about rushing, and I don't even want to open them anymore.
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