After a long explanation, Shinno finally managed to send the overly curious Shizune on her way.
Now, standing in Tsunade's bedroom, he looked at her lone golden eyebrow and sighed helplessly.
This was his own doing—what could he do about it?
"Shinno, don't worry about it~ I went to Konoha Hospital yesterday and asked around. In cases like this, a little stimulation with the Mystical Palm Technique should be enough to make it grow back quickly!"
Kushina tilted her chin up proudly, a smug little expression on her face.
She was taking this very seriously—helping her boyfriend clean up the messes around him.
Sure, Shizune's sudden visit this morning meant that she'd seen Tsunade with one missing eyebrow… but wouldn't a misunderstanding be better than outright mockery?
…Probably!
…Hopefully!
"Then… should we try?"
Shinno glanced at his hand, then at Tsunade, who was still trapped in the illusion.
The genjutsu "Bottoms Up on the River of Forgetfulness" was incredibly strong. Anyone caught in it would have all five senses completely disrupted.
No matter how powerful the Graveyard Nurse trait was, it still fundamentally targeted the five senses. Without enough chakra interference, there was no way to wake Tsunade up.
But he had his pride.
If he could avoid using his feet for medical ninjutsu—and keep from pressing his foot against Tsunade's face in front of Kushina—then…
Why not give it a shot?
As long as the repaired eyebrow looked more or less the same, the years Tsunade had spent inside the illusion should mean she wouldn't even remember this happening when she woke up.
Yeah.
It was worth a try.
With a clap of his hands, Shinno activated the Mystical Palm Technique, his right hand glowing with its signature green light.
Compared to using his feet, it felt a bit clumsy due to the different chakra pathways, but for someone with the Graveyard Nurse trait, performing medical ninjutsu with his hands was as easy as breathing.
He placed his fingertip against the spot where Tsunade's missing eyebrow should be.
The yang chakra of the Mystical Palm Technique began to gently stimulate the hair follicles beneath her skin, encouraging the growth of new hair.
But before it could fully take effect—
The damn Graveyard Nurse trait kicked in first!
"Mmm… ah~"
Still deep in the genjutsu, Tsunade's lips parted slightly, a soft, unconscious moan slipping out.
Her body began to tremble, a faint pink hue creeping up her neck.
Kushina blinked in surprise, staring at the flush on Tsunade's face.
This was just the Mystical Palm Technique.
So why…?
Buzz—
Shinno, focused on finishing the eyebrow regrowth as quickly as possible, suddenly felt the yang chakra at his fingertips being forcibly absorbed by Tsunade's forehead seal. His expression shifted slightly.
In the next instant, the seal reacted as if it had been triggered by some kind of emergency mechanism.
The diamond mark on her forehead unraveled in an instant, transforming into an 'X'-shaped pattern with tail-like extensions!
A surge of chakra erupted from the Yin Seal, dark sealing scripts swirling around her like flowing black ribbons.
Creation Rebirth: Strength of a Hundred Technique?
Shinno immediately recognized the phenomenon as an incomplete version of the jutsu.
There was still a long way to go before it could be perfected.
But at this level of chakra release…
Thanks to his Zero-Frame Startup, Shinno reacted instantly, cutting off his Mystical Palm Technique. He clapped his hands together—
Water Release: Water Prison Jutsu!
Water surged up from all sides of the room, enclosing it completely.
Grabbing Kushina, he flashed out of the bedroom and into the living room.
Waking up after years trapped in an accelerated-time illusion while experiencing a chakra surge?
Who knew how clear-headed Tsunade would be in that state? Best to get out first!
…
Inside the bedroom, the massive chakra surge shattered both the memory seal and the genjutsu simultaneously.
"Ugh…!"
With a pained groan, Tsunade's eyes snapped open, now burning with a deep, blood-red hue.
She took in the sight of her bedroom, now cloaked in the shimmering blue of the water prison.
A chilling, bloodthirsty, and slightly unhinged aura filled the air.
Memories from the genjutsu world and reality overlapped in her mind, making her expression shift unpredictably between ruthless cruelty and stern composure.
It took a full several seconds before the chaotic energy in her body finally settled.
Shutting down the Yin Seal, which was still radiating power, Tsunade pressed a hand to her temple, trying to push away the lingering confusion of overlapping timelines.
Frowning, she glanced around the room again.
Water Prison Jutsu?
He must've used it to contain the chakra outburst and protect the house…
That little bastard really does stick to his usual methods.
Hmm.
Lifting a slightly trembling hand, Tsunade became aware of an odd, lingering sensation spreading through her body.
…A dream?
A strange afterglow made her body shudder involuntarily.
With her still-unstable mind, certain unmentionable scenes from those popular romance novels surfaced in her thoughts.
Wait, wait, wait!
What the hell was she thinking?!
Was the genjutsu backlash really this bad?!
But there was no way that illusion had anything in common with that kind of dream…
Slap slap—
Tsunade smacked both cheeks, forcing herself to focus.
Logic reasserted itself. As a top-tier medical ninja, she quickly realized this sensation wasn't from the genjutsu itself.
Damn it…
Had someone drugged her?!
…
Whoosh—
The water of the Water Prison Jutsu swirled before flowing out the open window.
Kushina peeked in through the doorway.
"Tsunade, you're awake! You really scared me just now!"
"…Mm. What happened?"
Tsunade's eyes narrowed as she locked onto Shinno, who was standing behind Kushina.
"Well… it's nothing, really. We just wanted to use the Mystical Palm Technique to regrow your eyebrow, but then your Yin Seal kinda… exploded."
Kushina forced a laugh, deciding honesty was the best policy.
"…My eyebrow? Yang chakra, huh?"
Tsunade ran a hand over her forehead, feeling the partially regrown eyebrow.
"I'm guessing since you were in a deep illusion-induced sleep, your body functions were mostly shut down. Your subconscious probably mistook it for a near-death state, and when the yang chakra stimulated you, the Yin Seal triggered emergency regeneration…"
Shinno spoke with a serious expression, offering his theory.
The Graveyard Nurse trait was unconventional, but as a high-tier medical trait, his reasoning was solid.
As for the… other effects…
Tsunade could figure those out herself. He wasn't about to explain.
"Hmm."
Tsunade gave a small nod, seemingly accepting his reasoning.
"Tsunade, how do you feel now?"
Kushina asked, blinking innocently.
"…Hungry."
After a long pause, Tsunade gave an unexpected answer.
"Then let's eat!"
Kushina grinned and dashed off to the kitchen.
"What's today's date?"
Tsunade rubbed her temple, watching the snowfall outside.
"December 30th. Tomorrow's New Year's Eve. You woke up just in time for the holidays."
Shinno also gazed at the snow.
Swoosh!
Tsunade suddenly lunged forward, grabbing his collar and yanking him into the bedroom.
One arm hooked around his neck, pulling him tightly against her chest.
From this angle, Kushina—busy in the kitchen—wouldn't see a thing.
Though Shinno sensed her movements instantly, his brain completely short-circuited.
"Tsunade?"
"Bastard! Explain what the hell happened to my body!"
"Huh? What? I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Tch! Don't think I don't know how you men think! You drugged me, didn't you?! Trying to have your way with both me and Kushina?!"
"…??? I swear I'm innocent! Maybe a blood test first?!"
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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