Chapter 190 Her Helplessness

"Was Hiruzen my brother before?" Haruko asked, idly glancing at the words on the document while lying on the table.

"Of course, isn't he much better than your current brother?" Hiruzen Sarutobi teased her with a smile.

Jiraiya has already reported what Orochimaru told Haruko to him. It's true what they say, Haruko always accepts such bizarre things so quickly.

Haruko weighed the pros and cons in her mind: would it be more troublesome to offend the fierce-looking Uchiha Fugaku or the smiling tiger Hiruzen Sarutobi? In the end, she decided to treat them equally.

"Can't I have two older brothers at the same time?" Haruko asked with a matter-of-fact expression.

Hiruzen Sarutobi playfully pinched her nose. "You really are greedy."

Is she greedy?

One is the head of the Uchiha clan, and the other is the Third Hokage; they do seem quite greedy.

Haruko made a self-deprecating remark, perhaps because of their family ties, she was more relaxed around Hiruzen Sarutobi than she was around Jiraiya and the others.

Furthermore, she could see some of Fugaku Uchiha's traits in Hiruzen Sarutobi—his care and affection for her.

Is this what it feels like to be an older brother? Haruko began to think about how she would treat a younger brother or sister if she had one.

Hmm... how about tricking Obito into buying him/her candy?

Forget it, Obito's wallet is hers. What kind of child eats candy! Only someone her age can eat it!

Haruko is extremely irresponsible as an older sister, and even dreams of a wonderful future where her younger siblings will hand over their allowance to her.

"If that's the case... then I'm Asuma's aunt?" Haruko sat up abruptly, seeking Hiruzen Sarutobi's confirmation with some excitement.

After a moment's thought, Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded with amusement.

If Asma knew about this, he'd probably be furious.

Haruko was still sorting out the current relationships with her former friends, "So famous she's become my niece-in-law!"

"What?" Hiruzen Sarutobi asked in surprise.

How come he didn't know that Sarutobi Asuma and Yuhi Kurenai were together?

Seeing his comical face, Haruko chuckled, and Hiruzen Sarutobi, realizing this, smiled helplessly as well.

Knock knock knock.

A knock came at the door, and Hiruzen Sarutobi said "Come in," before the person outside opened the door.

"Lord Hokage, Tsunade has arrived." The subordinate reported respectfully, then stepped aside, revealing the woman behind him.

Upon receiving Jiraiya's letter, Tsunade immediately rushed back with Shizune. The letter said that Nawaki had met a girlfriend while she was traveling, and she was so excited that she stopped drinking. They traveled non-stop and it took quite a while to get back to Konoha.

As soon as she arrived in Konoha, she received a summons from the Hokage, which made her anxious and impatient. She rushed to the Hokage's office in her high heels, eager to finish her business so she could go and get some gossip from Nawaki!

"What exactly is the teacher...?"

Tsunade suddenly noticed the child sitting next to Hiruzen Sarutobi and was speechless.

Young Shizune, not understanding what was wrong, tugged at her sleeve. "Lady Tsunade, what's wrong?"

Feeling her clothes being tugged, Tsunade couldn't pay attention to it. Her eyes were fixed on those dark, bewildered pupils, and her lips trembled as she struggled to utter a sound.

"You...you are..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi turned his head slightly to introduce Haruko, "This is Tsunade, the medical genius among the Sannin, and also your lazy partner when you were a kid."

"Oh my! She's so beautiful!"

Haruko gazed at the slender and beautiful woman in front of her with sparkling eyes, unable to stop herself from praising her consistently excellent taste.

"Teacher, does that mean... it's what I think?" Tsunade was somewhat incoherent; her mind was in a mess, as if it were about to crash at any moment.

At Hiruzen Sarutobi's prompting, Haruko slowly removed her veil, revealing her slightly shy smile.

Along with that came her soft, sweet voice, "Hello! I'm Haruko!"

It's hard to describe the emotions of a moment when memories resurface, or the sight of a deceased person reappearing before your eyes.

Tsunade opened her mouth, her eyelashes fluttering as if she couldn't react for a moment. Then she covered her lips, and when her gaze met Haruko's again, tears welled up in her eyes.

“Haruko…it’s Haruko…”

Although the scene of recognizing each other had played out in front of her many times, Haruko still felt sad when she saw others' unspeakable grief for her once again.

Haruko jumped off the chair and ran into Tsunade's arms. At the same time, Tsunade squatted down and caught her tightly.

"Okay, okay, I'm here."

Hearing her comforting words and feeling her small body completely embraced by her, Tsunade felt for a moment that she had never left her, that she had always been the gentle Haruko Hayama who would accept and accompany her.

Interrupting the warm atmosphere of their reunion, Hiruzen Sarutobi said in a serious voice, "Tsunade, I called you back this time to check on Haruko's health."

"Check her body?" Tsunade immediately panicked and began to examine Haruko thoroughly, but finding no external injuries, she pressed, "What happened to Haruko?"

Meeting Hiruzen Sarutobi's calm gaze, Tsunade also calmed her volatile emotions.

Taking Haruko to the room where the equipment was fully prepared, Tsunade, based on Hiruzen Sarutobi's description, stared intently at Haruko lying quietly on the bed, clenching her fists.

Stepping out of the room, Tsunade gritted her teeth and slammed her fist into the wall. Centered on her fist, countless cracks rapidly spread across the wall, emitting a terrifying sound.

Seeing her reaction, Hiruzen Sarutobi's heart sank, but he still asked with a glimmer of hope, "How is it?"

Tsunade shook her head, frustrated, and said, "I can't do anything. I have no idea why she is so weak, let alone where to begin treatment."

This feeling of helplessness and despair washed over her again. Even after years of desperate training and traveling thousands of miles through fire and water, she could not find a way to save him. She, who was known as a "medical master", could not save the person who was most important to her.

Before she could even savor the joy of regaining what she had lost, the fear of losing it again overwhelmed Tsunade.

"How could... how could I not see it..." Tsunade's lips were already bleeding from being bitten so hard.

Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed, as if to comfort her and himself, saying, "Don't be nervous, it's just that your body is a little weak, it's not like it's a matter of life and death."

Stung by the words "life and death separation," Tsunade turned and walked into the room without saying a word; she couldn't leave Haruko's side for even a moment now.

Before even seeing her, Haruko heard the hurried sound of high heels. She sat on the bed and smiled as Tsunade approached.

"Tsunade, how am I feeling?"

Not daring to look directly at her, Tsunade shifted her gaze to the window, forcing a smile as she chuckled and said, "Of course it's nothing serious! I'm a peerless beauty known as the 'Medical Master,' so don't worry!"

As if she completely believed her, Haruko cheered, "That's great! Tsunade is the best!"

Unable to resist comparing her face to the childlike one in her memory, Tsunade suddenly realized that they knew each other.

"Tsunade is amazing! She knows so much!"

Tsunade, who was being followed by her adoring gaze, proudly promised her, "Of course! There's nothing in the world I don't know!"

She was arrogant, she was foolish, she was powerless.

******

The list of recipients of gratitude as of March 27, 2024:

grateful--

Inspiration capsules from Taojiu Crisp

K, the one who sent the update reminder charm

The flowers, a like, and a love letter sent by "Tianqingle"

A love letter from Su Qingshi, who loves yellow water lilies.

Give a thumbs up to the post about using salt to discipline oneself.

Flowers given by Otsutsuki while fishing

Ranxia Q, Sprite-flavored Pig, Why did I get Xiao in the big pity draw?, Sun Daozhang of Gushan Chunjiang, Yuan Kun who loves potato cakes, Brother Gu who is smoky, yyim, It's Xiaoyu, not Xiaoyu, Chuxia.Xingkong, Lulululu Xiaochen, Wang Haiyong of Xiaohaozi Island, Li Luoxin, Mo Wentian who loves red bean jelly, KM21, Shanqinghuayuran, Xuanchun, Tang Xiaoyu of the North, Banxia ss, Yun Cheyun of Gumo Island, Hongyi Xiangyi Saigao, Lin Laoji, User 10691483, Lin Bai, Yuzige, Jin Xiula of Nanning, Wutiao Wufu's gift of love

Thank you for the gifts! The author is so touched! (Cute little silent cat head adorable)