klisemfg Chapter 585 I'm not betting with you anymore
Chapter 585 I'm not betting with you anymore
Looking at Zhang Hai's dejected appearance, Tsunade felt a pang of pity. She put away the banknotes in her hand, coughed lightly, and said, "Forget it, forget it, I won't gamble with you anymore." With that, she prepared to leave.
Zhang Hai instantly appeared in front of Tsunade, blocking her path. Tsunade, mistaking his actions as a sign he was going to back out and demand her lost money back, hurriedly hid her winnings behind her back, declaring firmly, "Kid, I won all of this honestly! I'm not giving any money back!"
Zhang Hai took out another small bottle from his pocket, which also contained the same crystal-clear red liquid. He handed it to Tsunade and said sincerely, "Lady Tsunade, I'm willing to give you another bottle of medicine. In exchange, I hope you can do me a favor and help me conceal my identity as a member of the Uchiha clan."
Tsunade understood, took the bottle, and a thoughtful look flashed in her eyes. "You...don't want people to know you're from the Uchiha clan?" she asked.
Zhang Hai nodded frankly: "Yes."
Tsunade found it strange. The Uchiha clan was a large and powerful family in Konoha, holding a prominent position. She asked, puzzled, "The Uchiha clan holds a high position in Konoha, so why do you want to sever ties with your clan? Take our Senju clan, for example. Although we are few in number, I have a strong sense of belonging to my clan." She used herself as an example, trying to understand Zhang Hai's thoughts.
Zhang Hai didn't understand Tsunade's stance, nor could he reveal the future direction to her. He simply replied, "I want to make a name for myself through my own efforts."
After hearing this, Tsunade didn't know if she fully believed Zhang Hai's words, but she still accepted the second bottle of "poison" he offered without hesitation. The value of this medicine was clearly far greater than the money she had won that day.
Just then, Orochimaru's somber and distinctive voice rang out from outside the door, carrying heartbreaking news: "Tsunade, your brother... is gone."
Amidst the torrential rain and a deafening clap of thunder outside, Tsunade's body jolted violently, as if struck by lightning. She didn't speak, but rushed out like a madwoman, running frantically through the rain, panting heavily, until she reached the entrance to the morgue. Her eyes stared blankly into the depths of the corridor at the cold, lifeless figure lying there.
At the door, Jiraiya tried to stop Tsunade, his voice tinged with sorrow and consolation: "Tsunade... you'd better not go."
Orochimaru followed closely behind, his voice still calm and collected, yet carrying a hint of cruel truth: "Even if you saw it, you wouldn't be able to tell that it's your brother."
"Orochimaru, shut up!" Jiraiya roared, grabbing Orochimaru by the collar to stop him from continuing.
Orochimaru remained unmoved, his snake-like golden eyes showing no emotion, his voice still cold and aloof: "Jiraiya, this is a time of war. Ninjas all become like this. Because on the battlefield... there are no doctors. And some children are always particularly excited, especially the day after receiving a gift."
As he spoke, Orochimaru pulled a necklace from his robes. The necklace was entirely emerald green, radiating a soft glow; it was a relic of the First Hokage. Tsunade's eyes instantly lost focus upon seeing the necklace. She snatched it away, clutching it tightly in her hand, lost in deep regret and self-reproach.
Zhang Hai, who had come along, stood in the rain, watching this scene, and sighed inwardly. He had long witnessed the cruelty of war. But even the grandson of the First Hokage, such a gifted and powerful individual, could not escape its demise, which gave him a deeper understanding of the cruelty of war.
At this moment, Zhang Hai finally understood the reason for Tsunade's unusual behavior today. She seemed to have a strange constitution; whenever she was about to encounter bad luck, her gambling luck would be exceptionally good, and she would win every time. And he, Zhang Hai, just happened to run into her when her gambling luck was at its peak, becoming her "target."
Just as Zhang Hai was about to leave quietly, Orochimaru, who had been leaning against the wall, appeared in front of him in a flash, like a ghost.
Zhang Hai appeared quite cautious in Orochimaru's presence. He knew this man was unfathomable and meticulous. He immediately composed himself and addressed him with utmost respect: "Lord Orochimaru."
Orochimaru clearly remembered Zhang Hai. He smiled coldly, his voice laced with mystery. "The Hokage will be holding a meeting tomorrow, and he specifically asked you to attend." His snake-like eyes were fixed on Zhang Hai, carrying a hint of warning. "Attend at nine o'clock sharp tomorrow morning. Don't be late."
Zhang Hai was filled with questions. Why had the Hokage specifically asked him to attend the meeting? Was it about his strength, or about his Uchiha identity? But he answered without hesitation, "Yes."
The next day, Zhang Hai arrived at the conference room on time. He found it unusually lively, with many ninjas chatting in small groups outside, creating a somewhat tense atmosphere.
However, the moment Zhang Hai stepped into the conference room, the previously noisy room suddenly fell silent. Everyone's eyes, more or less filled with curiosity, turned to him.
Zhang Hai hadn't expected his entrance to cause such a stir, nor that the conference room was already packed with people; it seemed this meeting was of a very high level. He quickly found a secluded corner and sat down quietly, ignoring everyone.
He looked around and recognized a few people. Dan, Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru were all there. Tsunade and Jiraiya both looked tired and sad, while Orochimaru remained as gloomy and unpredictable as ever.
He smiled kindly at Duan; the two hadn't seen each other for a long time. Duan still maintained his refined and gentle demeanor, unchanged even amidst the chaos of war.
Duan returned a smile. Zhang Hai sighed inwardly. In times of war, it was already difficult to meet acquaintances; one might be gone on the next mission. This harsh reality made him cherish every encounter all the more.
At exactly nine o'clock, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, entered the meeting room. He was wearing the Hokage robes and had a serious expression. He gestured with both hands, and the previously noisy meeting room immediately fell silent. Everyone held their breath, waiting for him to speak.
Zhang Hai was secretly amazed by the Third Hokage's extraordinary skill in controlling the situation. As someone who might have served as Hokage for the longest time, besides his formidable strength, his intellect and shrewdness were also indispensable.