Chapter 105 Substitute Literature Comes to Life
"Tsunade-senpai, have you decided to become the Fifth Hokage?" Haruko Hayama asked, sitting at a table in the izakaya.
Tsunade looked at her gently and even said softly, "Yes, Haruko can just call me Tsunade."
"...?"
Apart from Jiraiya, who saw through everything, the other three people all had strange expressions that made them think, "Has Tsunade lost her mind?"
Naruto, in particular, was visibly shaken. He stood up and pointed at Tsunade, saying, "You're not that stingy and shameless old lady Tsunade? Who are you?!"
"..." Tsunade's gentle facade shattered, and she couldn't bear it any longer, so she punched him, knocking Naruto to the ground. Only then did she put on a gentle smile and look at Haruko Hayama.
Haruko Hayama: ...Tsunade is terrifying.
Although Tsunade is a gambler, loves to drink, is a treacherous adult, and always enslaves innocent girls, she should still be considered a good person... right?
Haruko clapped for her from the bottom of her heart.
Shizune stared in disbelief at Tsunade, who was usually violent and unreasonable, and became smug like a Persian cat being stroked and praised.
Tsunade: Hokage, huh? Not bad at all! (After all, Haruko is looking at me with such admiration, hehehe)
Shizune: Tsunade... Lady Tsunade is so strange!
Jiraiya: Tsunade is such a show-off.
Haruko Hayama: (Shivering.)
Originally, they were heading back to Konoha, but on the way, Tsunade mentioned that there was a famous hot spring town ahead, and Shizune even pulled out a travel magazine from somewhere to introduce it. In the end, Tsunade used the excuse of relaxation to force Haruko Hayama to go to the hot spring with her.
Haruko Hayashi really suspected that this Tsunade had been switched out. Not only was she kind to her, but she also took care of her the whole way. Didn't you see how shocked Tonton was?
After Tsunade did a series of services, including tying her hair up, applying medicine, and putting her luggage in, Haruko reluctantly refused Tsunade's terrifying idea of helping her change her clothes.
However, soaking in the hot spring, Haruko Hayama couldn't help but relax.
"Tsunade-senpai... why are you being so nice to me today?" Haruko Hayama couldn't help but ask.
Shizune also perked up her ears, initially thinking that Haruko was being so nice to Tsunade because she was going to become Tsunade's apprentice.
However, after seeing Tsunade's terrible attitude towards him, he mute himself, covering his face and turning off his microphone.
Haruko's fair face was blurred by the hot spring water, and looking into her clear, innocent eyes, Tsunade felt for a moment that she had returned to the age of twelve.
But when I came to my senses, I realized I was no longer young, while the woman I cherished in my memory was still in the prime of her life, like a flower bud about to bloom.
A touch of melancholy rose in Tsunade's heart regarding the passage of time.
"Because you are very similar to someone very important to me."
Haruko Hayahara asked curiously, "Someone very important?"
Tsunade looked at her quietly and said in a soft voice, "A girl who grew up with me since I was a child. She's beautiful and interesting. She not only helped me slack off but also played pranks with me."
"She is the most important person in my life. Even Rope Tree and Broken Face will stand by her side."
“I lost her forever before, but now I’m so glad I can see her again…”
Listening to Tsunade's sincere words, Shizune's mind raced. Did such a person exist in Lady Tsunade's life?
Haruko Hayama thought of another thing: even her lover and younger brother couldn't compare... Could it be that Tsunade has a white moonlight in her heart?
And he was the kind of unrequited love that was like a white moonlight!
Haruko Hayama's gossip-loving spirit is burning brightly.
Wait... what do you mean Tsunade saw her again?
Could Tsunade be treating him like a substitute for her beloved?!
What? Substitute literature is all around me!
Haruko broke out in a cold sweat in the morning and silently moved a little further away from Tsunade.
Tsunade: ?
That night, they found a hotel on the street and stayed there. Tsunade and Jiraiya, who knew Haruko's cooking skills well, took her to the kitchen.
Haruko was speechless. Tsunade was one thing, but why did Jiraiya have to join in the fun?
Haruko, who holds a grudge, specially served Tsunade an insanely spicy dinner with a big smile, while poor Tsunade, deceived by her white moonlight, scooped up a big mouthful and stuffed it into her mouth with deep emotion.
Then... she burst into tears.
With Haruko's sly smile on her face, Tsunade praised the food with tears in her eyes.
I completely forgot that Haruko is a very vengeful person, how annoying!
It was as if, overnight... no, in just one day, Tsunade became very strange.
She even insisted on sleeping with Haruko at night. Originally, the three of them, including Shizune, could have slept together, but Tsunade threatened Jiraiya to pay for it, so she and Haruko were put in a room together, and Shizune got a single room.
In response, Haruko Hayama really wants to say: Using stand-ins is not encouraged!
The night was silent, with only the faint chirping of insects outside the window.
As Haruko was inwardly relieved that Tsunade hadn't disturbed her sleep, Tsunade slowly spoke.
"Haruko... how have you been all these years?"
Haruko turned around to face Tsunade, puzzled, and found that Tsunade seemed to have been facing her back the whole time. In the instant their eyes met, Tsunade's bright eyes flickered.
"Tsunade-senpai, you're acting really strange today," Haruko Hayama said, choosing to be direct.
"I just miss you so much..."
Although remembering everything happened in an instant, Tsunade felt as if a lifetime had passed since they met again.
The smiling, gentle, and somewhat vengeful Haruko came alive in my memory.
Haruko Hayama didn't quite understand how the young woman was feeling, but thinking about the obsession with the "white moonlight" in some domineering CEO novels, Haruko Hayama felt she had to comfort this fallen woman.
"I've always been doing well. I've met many friends, and I was even fortunate enough to meet the Sannin."
Haruko's first rhetorical technique: Commercial flattery, changing the subject, and using vague language to steer the conversation towards the other person.
Tsunade was filled with mixed emotions. She recalled the time during the Fourth Shinobi World War when their title of "Sannin" resounded throughout the world. At that time, Haruko Hayama had been particularly envious of herself for not being able to become the "Fourth Shinobi."
I didn't think much of it at the time, but now when I think about it, it's all regret.
"Don't say you're lucky..."
Tsunade's voice trailed off as she realized that Haruko Hayama no longer recognized her...
"Tsunade-senpai?"
"Can you call me Tsunade?"
In the end, Haruko Hayama succumbed to her gaze and decided to change her name for just one night and change it back tomorrow!
"What kind of person do you think I am, Haruko?" Tsunade asked, looking at her.
Haruko thought for a moment and answered seriously, "I am a free and easy person who is not bound by life, so I really want to know, Tsunade, what are you worried about?"
Haruko's second conversation technique: Be understanding and caring, and use words of praise to elicit the other person's purpose.
Tsunade was slightly taken aback, then couldn't help but curl the corners of her lips into a smile.
She's always been like this since she was little, always paying attention to everyone's emotions and carefully and sincerely trying to comfort others. It's really hard not to like her.
"The most important person to me passed away when I was 29 years old. Despite being a medical expert, I couldn't save her no matter what I did."
"What's even more outrageous is that I've completely forgotten about her all these decades, shamelessly living a carefree life until now."
"Am I...a really awful?"
The moon was bright, the stars were few, and all was quiet.
Haruko saw Tsunade laughing and crying at the same time, tears streaming down her face and soaking the pillow beneath her.
Haruko reached out and gently wiped away Tsunade's tears. While Tsunade was still in a daze, she said, "I think the person who is very important to Tsunade will be very happy to know, because Tsunade will not have to be sad and in pain for the rest of her life because of her death."
Haruko's third rhetoric technique: Talk nonsense with sincerity and earnestness, and use a comforting attitude to save a fallen young woman.
"So, Tsunade, may you continue to be happy!"
Stop thinking about your unrequited love! Stop using me as a substitute! Forget everything, and move on with your life!
Haruko Hayama felt that she had made an immense contribution to saving the problem ninjas of the ninja world.
Upon hearing her words, Tsunade could no longer hold back and burst into tears.
The fear and unease that had been building since regaining his memory vanished in an instant.
Haruko was the one who died and couldn't be saved, yet now she has to comfort herself, the sinner who forgot her.
"Haruko... Haruko..."
Tsunade cried as she hugged Haruko Hayama, and Haruko had to take a moment to pat her back to comfort her.
Haruko Hayama: ...I knew I wouldn't be able to sleep tonight.
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