Senju Hashirama's residence.
Renye hadn't even entered the courtyard when he heard Hashirama's hearty laughter.
This robust energy made it hard to believe that the owner of the voice was already nearing his end.
In the courtyard, Senju Hashirama sat cross-legged in front of a stone table, a gentle yet somewhat cunning smile on his lips.
A Tanuki Flower lay sleeping soundly on his shoulder.
Tsunade's chubby little hands tightly clutched a purse embroidered with a kitten, and she puffed out her cheeks, standing on tiptoe to lean over the table, her eyes fixed on the dice cup.
“This time I’m definitely going to win!” Tsunade bit her lip, forcefully lifting the dice cup, “Four, two, three!”
Her voice held a hint of anticipation, but when her gaze swept over the dice in front of Hashirama, her small face instantly crumpled.
In front of Hashirama, three sixes lay perfectly aligned.
“Hahahaha, Tsunade, a bet is a bet.” Hashirama’s hearty laughter echoed in the courtyard, and he reached out to ruffle Tsunade’s bun, “Now, hand over the money.”
Tsunade stomped her foot unwillingly, pulled out copper coins from the kitten-embroidered purse, and slowly placed them one by one into Hashirama’s open palm, muttering softly:
“Grandpa must have cheated, why do I lose every time?”
She had played several rounds with her grandpa, but she hadn't won a single time.
The pocket money her grandma gave her was almost all gone.
Thinking of this, Tsunade stared at Hashirama with watery eyes.
Senju Hashirama put the copper coins into his bosom and smiled, flicking Tsunade's nose.
“This isn’t cheating, it’s experience. When you grow up, you’ll be as good as Grandpa, and then you’ll be able to win all of this back.”
“I understand, Grandpa!” Tsunade nodded seriously.
She firmly believed that as long as she kept gambling, one day she would be as good as her grandpa!
“Tsunade, don’t let Grandma know about this.” Hashirama couldn’t help but remind her.
He only dared to teach Tsunade how to gamble while Uzumaki Mito was not at home.
If Uzumaki Mito found out by accident, he would be in big trouble.
“Don’t worry, Grandpa.” Tsunade patted her chest, “I won’t let Grandma know, this is our secret!”
Hashirama nodded in satisfaction at the sight.
Ever since Uzumaki Mito found out about his gambling addiction, she had stopped giving him pocket money, so he could only trick a little money from Tsunade as initial gambling funds.
Today, he was on a hot streak; he hadn't lost a single round to Tsunade.
He would definitely win a fortune at the casino tonight…
Thinking of this, Hashirama couldn't help but laugh uproariously.
Although Tsunade didn't know why her grandpa was laughing, she still joined in.
As Renye entered the courtyard, he saw a large and small figure laughing uproariously.
“Uncle Hashirama, what’s so amusing?”
Hearing this, Hashirama stopped laughing, “Renye, you’re here.”
Tsunade blinked her watery eyes and instinctively swallowed.
“Uncle Renye, are you here to cook for me again?”
Renye’s mouth twitched. Did this greedy girl really take him for a chef?
Ever since Tsunade tasted his cooking, every time he came, Tsunade would demand he cook a meal before he could leave…
Hashirama also looked at Renye with anticipation, “Renye, are you really going to cook for us, grandfather and granddaughter?”
Under the gaze of two pitiful pairs of eyes, Renye had no choice but to agree.
Seeing Renye agree, the grandfather and granddaughter high-fived each other excitedly.
“Yay, we get to taste Uncle Renye’s cooking again!”
“Hahaha, Renye, you’ll have a tough job tonight.”
Seeing this, Renye couldn't help but complain internally:
Wasn't he here to check on Uncle Hashirama’s health?
How did he end up becoming a chef again, all confused?!
He had just cooked for Senju Tobirama at noon, and now he had to cook for Senju Hashirama in the afternoon.
No, it seemed like he had to cook every time he came here…
He really had become the Senju family's personal chef.
Renye could publish a book in the future, titled: “The Hokage’s Personal Chef.”
After all, the First Generation, Second Generation, future Third Generation, Fifth Generation, and Pot Shadow all praised his cooking.
This would definitely establish him in the culinary world…
Renye’s gaze swept over Hashirama’s slightly gaunt face; he had lost even more weight than before.
“Uncle Hashirama, your health is still…”
Before he could finish, he was interrupted by a hearty laugh.
“Renye, look at Tsunade, this girl is getting desperate after losing again.”
Hashirama suddenly raised his voice, reached out to pinch Tsunade’s cheek, and used Wood Release vines to wrap around Tsunade’s purse, taking out a few copper coins from it.
“A bet is a bet, Tsunade.”
Tsunade snorted, turned her head, and winked at Renye, “Uncle Renye, don’t believe Grandpa! He definitely cheated, I didn’t win a single round.”
Looking at Tsunade’s confident expression, Renye smiled and shook his head.
So, Tsunade's 'fat sheep' physique existed from a young age?
She really had been losing from childhood to adulthood…
Senju Hashirama breathed a sigh of relief when Renye didn't press the matter further.
He didn’t know how to respond to Renye’s concern.
Hashirama knew his own body, and he didn't want the people who cared about him to worry.
Whether it was Uzumaki Mito, Tobirama, or Renye, he was unwilling to tell them.
The three of them knew Hashirama didn’t want to talk, so they were sensible enough not to press further.
But they all knew that Hashirama’s physical condition was probably more serious than expected.
Otherwise, Hashirama wouldn't be unwilling to tell them.
Renye looked at Hashirama gambling with Tsunade, sighing helplessly in his heart.
He watched for a while and then took his leave.
“Uncle Hashirama, I’ll head back first and come over later to cook.”
“Alright, thank you, Renye.”
As Renye stepped out of the courtyard, he encountered Uzumaki Mito coming in the opposite direction.
“Aunt Uzumaki Mito, long time no see.”
“It’s Renye, aren’t you on a mission these days?” Uzumaki Mito asked with a smile.
“Yes.” Renye nodded.
He then told her about coming over to cook dinner.
Uzumaki Mito naturally approved and said she would prepare the ingredients for Renye.
Renye hadn't walked far when he heard Uzumaki Mito's roar.
“Hashirama, you actually taught Tsunade how to gamble!!!”
“Uzumaki Mito, let me explain… I was wrong! Ah—!”
Hearing the commotion, Renye said nothing, his expression growing increasingly grim.
“Uncle Hashirama isn’t even willing to use his sensory abilities anymore.”
Given Senju Hashirama’s strength, it was impossible for him not to notice Uzumaki Mito’s arrival.
But he was still caught, which could only mean his physical condition was so poor that he couldn't constantly use his sensory abilities.
Of course, it couldn't be ruled out that Hashirama was too engrossed in gambling to notice.
However, that possibility was very low…
In any case, it was an undeniable fact that Senju Hashirama’s health was deteriorating day by day.
No one knew when he would collapse.
Life and death are unpredictable.
One day he might be full of life, and the next he could fall ill and never recover.
PS: Yesterday’s power generation was enough, but I really didn’t have time to write. Old rule, I’ll make it up on the weekend!!!