Chapter 256: Medical Report
Konoha.
Tsunade held a medical report in her hand as she knocked on Kushina’s door.
Footsteps quickly approached from inside, and the door swung open to reveal Kushina holding a plate of sliced apples.
"Tsunade-sama? Why are you here so early? Come in, come in!"
Tsunade stepped inside, took off her shoes, and walked straight into the living room.
"Are you still feeling nauseous in the mornings? Can you keep anything down?"
"Much better. Following the diet you wrote, my stomach isn’t churning as much."
Kushina placed the fruit plate on the table and poured her a glass of warm water.
"Minato has been a nervous wreck these past two days. He’ll even ask if I’m getting too full if I eat half a piece of cake more than usual."
Tsunade took the glass, sat down on the sofa, and handed the report to her.
"The results are in. About two months along. The pregnancy is stable, and your health is fine."
Kushina looked down and scanned the records in the report, a wide smile slowly spreading across her face.
"Tsunade-sama, thank you!"
"Don’t mention it. Just eat on time and stay away from those irritating, spicy foods," Tsunade replied with her usual bluntness, though the fatigue etched into her brow was impossible to hide.
Kushina wanted to celebrate more, but seeing her friend like this made her heart sink.
Tsunade’s hair was tied back haphazardly, and there were faint dark circles under her eyes. Kushina had seen her like this frequently over the past month.
Kushina rested the report on her lap and hesitated before speaking.
The last few times she had mentioned Kitahara Kaede, Tsunade’s explosive temper had flared instantly.
’He can go wherever he wants! Why ask me?’
’He’s nothing to me!’
Kushina still remembered vividly how Tsunade had looked as if she wanted to blow the roof off the house.
But today, Tsunade just sat there in silence, clutching the water glass without taking a single sip.
Kushina took a bite of melon, trying to sound casual.
"By the way, what’s really going on between you and Kaede?"
"You two still haven’t made up?"
The living room fell silent.
Tsunade’s instinct was to snap, but as the words reached her lips, the fire wouldn’t ignite. Instead, a wave of unfamiliar helplessness washed over her.
For the past month, she had tried to let go.
But it wasn’t that simple.
When she got too busy during the midday rush, she would subconsciously glance toward her office door.
’Why hasn’t that idiot brought me lunch yet?’
The moment the thought occurred, she would realize he was long gone.
After work, upon leaving the hospital, she would habitually look across the street.
It was always empty.
’Damn it! I can’t break this habit!’
Tsunade had cursed herself more than once. Even when she indulged herself at the gambling dens, she would have moments of distraction, remembering how he used to scold her.
Kushina didn’t press her; she simply waited.
After a long while, Tsunade set the glass back on the table with a loud *thud*.
"I don’t know," she murmured, her voice sounding muffled.
Kushina blinked.
"I don’t know if he’s worth it."
It wasn’t that Tsunade was unaware of how well Kitahara Kaede treated her. But Pakura and Terumi Mei were also in the picture. They weren’t just random women who had appeared out of nowhere, nor were they people who could be dismissed as a "misunderstanding."
He had told her clearly that he couldn’t cut ties with those two.
Tsunade could accept that Kitahara Kaede had secrets, but she found it incredibly difficult to accept a relationship where she had to share his affection with two other women.
Kushina put down her fruit, the playful expression vanishing from her face.
"Tsunade-sama."
Tsunade looked up.
Kushina looked at her best friend with total sincerity, speaking slowly and clearly.
"You’ve thought about this for so long, and you’re still willing to think about him..."
"That, in itself, is your answer."
Tsunade froze.
She opened her mouth to argue, but the words wouldn’t come.
Kushina’s words were simple, but they pierced straight through the walls of the heart Tsunade had tried so hard to protect.
If she truly didn’t care, she would have thrown Kitahara Kaede out of her mind long ago. Why would she sit in her office daydreaming? Why would her heart ache inexplicably upon hearing that he had gone to Amegakure?
Tsunade suddenly stood up.
"The most important thing for you right now is the baby! I can figure my own problems out!"
Kushina watched her walk away and waved a hand.
"Alright, alright! I won’t ask anymore. Just make sure you figure it out!"
Tsunade reached the door and couldn’t resist glancing back to glare at her.
"If you feel uncomfortable, go to the hospital immediately!"
"I know, Dr. Tsunade!"
Tsunade yanked the door open and stepped quickly out of the house.
***
Amegakure.
Pakura knocked on the door right on time.
Kitahara Kaede was already packed and ready. He opened the door to find Pakura standing gracefully in the hallway.
Pakura tilted her head toward the stairs.
"Let’s go."
Kaede nodded and followed her downstairs.
They walked along the streets, passing through layers of overlapping steel pipes, heading toward the border of the Land of Rain. Along the way, they engaged in light, sporadic conversation.
"Thanks for everything this past month," Kaede said suddenly as he walked beside her.
Pakura looked at him, a helpless expression on her face.
"Why are you thanking me again?"
"I know you don’t like hearing it, but I still have to say it."
Kaede kept walking, his eyes fixed on the border watchtowers appearing in the distance. Hearing his serious tone, Pakura fell silent for a moment, a small smile appearing on her lips.
"Kaede, we don’t need to keep score between us."
She reached up to brush a stray lock of hair blown by the wind, her voice soft.
"When I was abandoned by Sunagakure and didn’t even know where to go, you gave me a new identity. What I’m doing now is nothing in comparison."
Hearing this, the sense of indebtedness in Kaede’s heart only grew heavier. What he had done for her was far less than what she had sacrificed for him.
Soon, they reached the border line. Beyond this point lay the road leading out of the Land of Rain.
Kaede stopped. Pakura stopped as well and turned to look at him.
"What is it?"
Kaede looked at her and remained silent for two beats.
"Pakura."
"Hmm?"
As soon as she responded, Kaede took a step forward. He reached out and gently pulled her into a hug.
Pakura’s body stiffened instantly.
The hug was light and restrained; it didn’t last long, just a brief moment of closeness. Yet, the warmth radiating through their clothes was enough to make Pakura’s breathing completely erratic.
She slowly raised her hands and patted his back twice, trying her best to make her voice sound casual.
"Alright, go on."
"Any later and it’ll be dark by the time you reach Konoha."
Kaede released her and prepared to step away. Suddenly, Pakura’s gaze shifted over his shoulder toward the other side.
An figure had appeared there unnoticed.
Her eyes flickered, and she suddenly reached out to grab Kaede’s collar. Before he could react, Pakura stood on her tiptoes and kissed him on the cheek.