Naruto’s Dump Station

Chapter 16: Tsunade’s Teasing

“Ah… what is going on here?! My Kirin Exhaustion!”

Ruofeng’s eyes burned with anger. He had originally placed three Kirin Exhaustions in his pocket, yet now only one remained. Frantically, he rummaged through his pockets, searching every corner, but the remaining two were nowhere to be found.

“Hoo…” Ruofeng exhaled sharply, irritation evident in his voice. “This is impossible. My clothes have special pockets—there is no way they could have just gone missing. Could I have dropped them while I was out? No… that does not make sense. The stores I visited today all belong to me. If I had dropped something, the staff would have already returned it. Could it have happened in the principal’s office?”

Ruofeng closed his eyes, focusing as he retraced his steps. With his strong mental acuity and sharp memory, it did not take long for him to piece together the day’s events. His expression darkened as realization struck.

“Tsunade… so it was you!”

He recalled the scene in the principal’s office—Tsunade’s sly smirk, how she had approached him just before he left, and how she had quickly dragged Jiraiya away afterward. It was obvious. She had stolen them. The teachings of Hatsuneyoshi extended beyond just eating, drinking, and pleasure-seeking.

“Ah… Tsunade, you will pay for this!” Ruofeng roared in frustration.

This was Kirin’s Exhaustion—precious beyond measure! While he was unsure whether it held the legendary healing abilities of the artifacts in Tomb Raider’s Notes, it undeniably had remarkable restorative properties. If Jiraiya had not dragged him along to the academy today, Ruofeng would have never brought them with him. And now, Tsunade had taken two! He could barely contain his frustration.

Meanwhile, on the other side of town, Tsunade sipped her sake, a satisfied smirk playing on her lips. “Good stuff. Really good stuff. That kid has quite the collection.”

Jiraiya, seated beside her, raised an eyebrow. “This is a bit underhanded, don’t you think? Ruofeng values those herbs a lot. If he finds out, he is going to hate you.”

Tsunade twirled one of the Kirin Exhaustions between her fingers. “Let him hate me, then. I will just teach him a few jutsu later to make up for it. But seriously, where did he get these herbs? Judging by their age, they must be at least three thousand years old! I do not recognize the exact type, but any medicinal herb that has survived that long and still retains this much potency is priceless.”

In the dimly lit room, a pale figure observed them from afar. “A medicinal herb preserved for three thousand years is no ordinary plant. Not only has the passage of time failed to destroy it, but its potency has likely only increased. It appears plain on the surface, its medicinal properties deeply astringent, but once consumed, its effects will be explosive. With three millennia of accumulated power, its effects could very well be comparable to extending one’s life. Furthermore, its resemblance to wood suggests it may possess unique properties beyond healing.”

With just a few words, the pale figure had accurately deduced much about Kirin’s Exhaustion. If Ruofeng were here to witness this, he would surely marvel, that Uncle Snake is truly on another level!

Tsunade chuckled, raising her cup once more. “This is a treasure wasted on Ruofeng. We are heading to the Land of Earth on a dangerous mission, and if we get surrounded by enemy shinobi, these two herbs could save our lives. It is better off in our hands. As for that brat, I will compensate him when we return.”

Without a hint of hesitation, she claimed Ruofeng’s Kirin Exhaustion as her own.

Jiraiya sighed, rubbing his temples. “Alright… it is decided, then. Even if Ruofeng figures out that you took them, we will be gone by tomorrow. He will not be able to do anything about it. We will make it up to him later. Besides, the Senju Zan has plenty of rare items. Just pass something down to him.”

Tsunade nodded, her lips curling into a knowing smile as she downed another sip of sake, lost in thought.

And just like that, the legendary Sannin conspired to take Ruofeng’s treasured herbs. Even Jiraiya, who initially had reservations, had ultimately gone along with it. If Ruofeng saw this scene, he would be livid!

Back in his room, Ruofeng sat cross-legged on his bed, eyes blazing with determination. “Tsunade… just you wait. My belongings are not so easily taken. You should know that everything I own accrues interest. Steal from me, and you will pay it back for the rest of your life!”

With that, he exhaled sharply, securing the last remaining Kirin Exhaustion in a jade box and locking it away.

At this moment, Ruofeng longed for a new dimensional storage item—a Nascent Sacred Ring, or even just a simple Spatial Ring. Only with a proper storage artifact could he feel at ease. Right now, he had to worry about fire prevention, theft prevention, and most importantly—Tsunade prevention.

A sudden cough broke the silence.

“Cough… cough…”

Ruofeng turned to see a frail figure stepping into his room. The old man’s movements were slow, yet his presence carried undeniable authority.

“Grandfather…? What brings you here?”

Ruofeng’s maternal grandfather was a man of great influence, providing him with limitless resources and a luxurious life, but he rarely engaged in personal conversations with him. For him to visit at this hour was unprecedented.

Grandfather gave a gentle smile. “Are you surprised? I do not usually visit at night, but there are things I must tell you.”

Ruofeng’s expression turned serious. He studied his grandfather’s face before asking, “Is this about my parents?”

Grandfather nodded solemnly. “There are truths I have long hesitated to share with you. But since you have chosen the path of a ninja, it is time you knew.”

Ruofeng’s gaze hardened. “I have already made my decision. In this world, only those with power have control over their fate. Especially in times of war, peace is as fragile as paper. The weak can only survive under the protection of the strong. But what happens when that protection is gone? Without power, all that remains is annihilation.

“I refuse to be a helpless civilian, relying on others for protection. I will carve out my destiny.”

His words hung in the air, heavy with conviction. Grandfather studied him in silence, before finally speaking.

“Then listen carefully, Ruofeng. What I am about to tell you will change everything.”