Tsunade Can Hear My Inner Voice novel Chapter 59

Chapter 59 - 59: Ōtsutsuki Teuchi

Coming down from the Hokage Rock with Kamizuki Hikari, Tsunade's expression was a mix of crimson embarrassment and a hint of confusion.

Seeing her like this, Shizune couldn't help but start imagining some... rather spirited scenarios.

'As expected of Tsunade-sama, her tastes are truly... adventurous!'

Shizune silently mused, her eyes filled with admiration.

"Tsunade-sama, most of the documents from the other day have been processed, but a new batch just arrived today. How about we get something to eat first and leave the rest for tomorrow?"

Tsunade shuddered.

Shizune's "a new batch" genuinely terrified her.

Thinking about spending every day buried in paperwork at the Hokage office, Tsunade felt like her whole being was crumbling.

This kind of life was not what she wanted.

'Looks like reform is absolutely necessary. But setting up the advisory council... that'll need some careful planning.'

Dividing up responsibilities among departments was the easy part. As long as each department head handled the tedious, simple tasks, and only the critical issues were brought to the Hokage, things would run smoothly.

"Yeah, let's go eat."

Noticing Shizune's exhausted expression, Tsunade could easily imagine how much damage she'd taken from all those documents. To turn a seasoned jōnin into this... yeah, she felt a tiny bit guilty.

'Shizune, I will make it up to you.'

'Definitely!'

Shizune eyed Tsunade suspiciously. They hadn't been back in Konoha for long, and aside from the money they'd squeezed out of Hikari last time, they had no other income.

They needed to budget carefully—if word got out that the Hokage had to swindle money around Konoha, it'd be the biggest joke in the shinobi world.

"Let's go to Ichiraku Ramen! Tsunade-sama, what do you think?"

Ramen?

Tsunade hesitated. She didn't particularly care about eating ramen or not.

The real issue—no alcohol during meals. That was the painful part.

"Hikari, what do you want to eat?" Tsunade shot him a meaningful look.

'Hurry up and think of something, brat! I need a drink! I need a drink!'

Kamizuki Hikari responded with a warm smile. Just as Tsunade was expecting a smart suggestion from him, he said:

"I think ramen sounds great!"

[Most importantly, it's cheap. At my age, I still haven't gotten married—I should start saving. If Tsunade keeps swindling me, my assets might drop from ten digits to nine!]

Tsunade: 'Are you hearing yourself right now? Even Konoha's budget doesn't have that kind of money!'

'Fine. Ramen it is.'

The three of them arrived at Ichiraku Ramen. It was just about dusk—the setting sun cast a beautiful yet melancholic glow across the village.

The stand was still empty. Upon seeing Tsunade, Teuchi gave a hearty smile.

"Tsunade-sama! Welcome! What would you like? Today's meal is on the house!"

[Oh-ho~ Ōtsutsuki Teuchi's ramen isn't so easily given away.]

Just as Tsunade was about to order, she heard Hikari's inner thoughts... and was suddenly at a loss for words.

Ōtsutsuki Teuchi?

Was Teuchi secretly a member of the legendary Ōtsutsuki clan? What was he doing in Konoha—was he after the Scroll of Seals?

As Tsunade stared at Teuchi with an increasingly suspicious gaze, he blinked in confusion.

Had he done something wrong?

Could Tsunade-sama really be so incorruptible that even a small token of goodwill like a free bowl of ramen was off-limits? In Konoha, offering a free meal to the Hokage wasn't too much, was it?

"Boss, Tsunade-sama will have the Chashu Pork Tonkotsu Ramen. I'll take the Beef Ramen, extra meat. Shizune, what about you?" Hikari said, deciding for her without hesitation.