Days in the Infinite

The scent on Kiri's body was still unpleasant, but that didn't matter—her soft and supple figure alone was enough to bring Li Ke a sense of joy...

And also a bit of pain.

Because Tsunade's sleeping position was a little awkward.

Lying face-down in his arms, her stomach happened to press against his lower abdomen, making his "sword" point directly at his own navel.

Her head rested on his chest, and in this perilous situation, just the slightest movement from her could make her "overwhelming force of justice" strike down upon his "dagger," dealing him a heavy blow.

Which also meant that the moment Tsunade woke up, she would instantly notice his... situation.

In fact, Li Ke could already feel his "hero's sword" pressing against Tsunade's navel.

But Kiri didn't care about that at all. Since Li Ke had offered to stand guard for a while, she was perfectly content to get some sleep. As for whether he'd do anything strange...

Well, she was already planning to do that kind of thing with him once they got back, so it didn't really matter. In fact, it was the perfect opportunity to add a romantic memory—something to look back on fondly in the future.

After all, a Gunner must be romantic!

It was a necessity!

But for Li Ke, this was an extreme test of endurance.

Before long, Kiri, who had actually fallen asleep, began snoring. At first, it was just light breathing, but soon it turned into full-on snores, leaving Li Ke's ears with no peace at all.

And then, suddenly, a thought struck him.

Tsunade snores too.

So why wasn't she snoring now?

Just as this realization hit him, he felt something grab his "dagger." At the same time, another hand struck Kiri's body, silencing her snores instantly and putting her into a deep, almost baby-like sleep.

And then—an icy sensation touched the hilt of his "hero's sword."

A chilling voice followed.

"Is what you said true?"

Li Ke didn't even dare to breathe.

Because he knew exactly what that cold sensation was.

Tsunade's kunai.

She had been pretending to sleep!

But why was she suddenly turning hostile?!

Li Ke had no idea, but one thing was certain—Kiri wasn't waking up anytime soon.

Still, he forced himself to speak louder.

"W-What are you talking about?"

"It's useless," Tsunade said flatly. "Kiri's body may be special, but she's still human. Chakra doesn't affect her much, but it still works. I've put her into a deep sleep—she won't wake up for at least six hours."

Her voice was hollow, laced with a strange guilt.

But Li Ke wasn't focused on that.

What did catch his attention was how incredibly soft her hands were.

They didn't feel like a ninja's hands at all!

"Hah... you're getting even more excited," Tsunade murmured. "Your body is strange. When I first met you, this part of you was completely normal, even showing signs of aging. But now, it's suddenly full of energy again... I don't know if you're the mastermind behind all this, but I only care about one thing."

A green glow suddenly illuminated the pitch-black room.

In the eerie light, Li Ke could see it clearly—chakra radiating from Tsunade's palm.

"Can you really send women who've been with you back home?"

Under the glow of her medical ninjutsu, Li Ke met Tsunade's vacant eyes and hesitated for a moment.

"I... I'm not sure," he admitted. "Sending someone back requires energy—exactly a thousand points. When I was with Erina, I gained energy because I genuinely liked her. But with you all... I don't know if it will—"

Before he could finish, Tsunade's kunai was suddenly at his throat.

"So you were lying to us?"

"I don't know!"

Tsunade fell silent.

Li Ke felt uneasy under her hollow gaze. He could see her lips trembling—her entire state was clearly unstable.

And yet, she forcefully grabbed his collar, staring into his eyes with an empty, emotionless look.

"I don't care anymore," she said. "If you can't send me back, I'll kill you."

"Wait—hold on, I really don't know if—"

Before he could finish his sentence, he was suddenly pinned onto the bed with overwhelming strength.

A moment later, he felt something press against his lips—soft and clumsy.

At the same time, warm tears dripped onto his face.

There was no doubt—Tsunade's mind was on the verge of collapse.

"I'm sorry... I'm sorry..."

She muttered those words, but her actions showed no hesitation.

She swiftly cut open Li Ke's clothes, gripping his "dagger" as if she were about to force it in.

Because she didn't want to stay here any longer.

Trapped in the darkness, surrounded by the stench of blood and the ceaseless roars of zombies, her hemophobia tormented her mercilessly.

Unlike Li Ke and Kiri, who could only hear the sounds of zombies, Tsunade's heightened senses painted a far more vivid picture.

She could hear everything—the tearing of flesh, the cracking of bones, the gnashing of rotten teeth against mangled bodies. She could hear how the zombies fought among themselves, ruthlessly attacking and devouring their own kind, all just to get to them.

And it happened again and again, relentlessly, in the darkness.

Already fearful of blood and the dark, Tsunade had been barely holding on. And earlier, when Li Ke and Kiri were fighting, it had felt as if she were reliving the 3rd Great Ninja War all over again.

She saw it all—Kato Dan's lifeless body, her younger brother Nawaki's mangled corpse. The zombies outside weren't just monsters anymore. In her mind, they had become Dan and Nawaki, endlessly clawing at the house, demanding why she hadn't been able to save them.

The overwhelming stench of blood only cemented the illusion, making it impossible for her to deceive herself into thinking she was safe.

She had no time for self-treatment. No reassuring words from a "Child of Destiny" to pull her back from the edge.

And so, at the very moment when her hemophobia was at its worst—Tsunade's mind finally snapped.

Yet, even as she tried to take control, her body betrayed her.

Though she fumbled with Li Ke's "dagger," she couldn't seem to do what she intended. Her brain was too overwhelmed to process the movement properly, making her actions erratic. Instead of what she planned, she repeatedly grazed against the "forest," causing Li Ke enough pain that he nearly cried out.

Finally, unable to endure any longer, Li Ke took advantage of her momentary distraction, grabbed both her wrists, and flipped her over—pinning her beneath him on the bed.

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