Naruto: Starting By Saving Mikoto

The next day arrived sooner than either of them expected. Hiro had been waiting, his thoughts lingering on the progress they had made. It wasn't a cure—far from it—but seeing Tsunade fight through her fear had given him hope.

Tsunade arrived at their secluded spot in the afternoon, just as promised. Her expression was stoic, though Hiro could tell she wasn't entirely looking forward to another round. 

Still, she had shown up, and that was all he needed to know she was committed.

Without a word, they moved to the clearing, the quiet enveloping them once again. Hiro gave Tsunade a nod, silently asking if she was ready. She took a deep breath and nodded in return, though her eyes betrayed the anxiety she still carried.

"Let's begin," Hiro said softly, activating his Mangekyō Sharingan once again.

The world around them shifted as he guided her into another illusion. This time, the battlefield was more detailed—closer to the true horrors she had witnessed in the past. 

The blood was no longer distant or faint; it stained the ground around her, soaking into the earth. Bodies littered the field, but Hiro still held back, not letting the illusion overwhelm her.

Tsunade's breath hitched immediately. Her body tensed, fists clenched at her sides as her eyes darted across the scene before her. She was on the verge of shutting down, but she didn't turn away.

"You've faced worse than this," Hiro's voice echoed through the illusion. "You've lived through battles that would break most people. This isn't real—none of this can hurt you."

Tsunade swallowed hard, her jaw tightening. "It feels real," she muttered through clenched teeth. "It always feels real."

"That's because you're stronger than the illusion," Hiro countered, stepping closer to her in the battlefield. "You know how to fight through it. You just need to remind yourself."

Tsunade's eyes were locked onto the blood, her breath shallow and fast. 

Hiro knew she was battling her instincts, the deep-rooted fear clawing at her mind. 

But she didn't move, didn't retreat. Her legs trembled, but she stood her ground.

"Focus," Hiro's voice came again, steady and firm. "You've trained your whole life to control your body, your mind. This is no different."

Tsunade closed her eyes briefly, taking in a shaky breath before opening them again. She took a step forward, then another, her movements slow and deliberate. Each step was a battle, but she wasn't frozen this time. The blood was there, vivid and raw, but she was moving through it.

"That's it," Hiro encouraged. "One step at a time."

Tsunade's hands were trembling, her breath ragged, but she kept walking. The battlefield stretched out before her, endless in its brutality, but she wasn't running. She wasn't turning away.

"Think of all the lives you've saved," Hiro continued, his voice softer now. "The people who rely on you. The ones who look to you for strength. You're more than this fear, Tsunade."

Her eyes flickered at his words, a spark of something fierce igniting in them. She clenched her fists and pushed forward, her breathing still uneven but steadier with each step. 

The battlefield didn't disappear, the blood didn't vanish, but she was walking through it. Facing it.

When Hiro released the Genjutsu this time, Tsunade didn't collapse. She stumbled, her legs shaky, but she caught herself before she fell. 

Her chest heaved with effort, sweat beading on her brow, but her eyes were sharper now, more focused.

"That was..." Tsunade paused, catching her breath. "That was better."

Hiro smiled faintly, nodding in approval. "You didn't freeze."

Tsunade gave a small, tired smirk. "I didn't freeze," she repeated, as if trying to convince herself.

"Tomorrow," Hiro said, stepping forward, "we'll push a little more. You're getting stronger each time."

Tsunade looked at him, her expression softening ever so slightly. "I still hate this, you know."

"I know," Hiro said, his tone warm. 

Her eyes lingered on Hiro for a moment, her mind replaying the agreement they'd made. The thought sent a shiver down her spine, both from uncertainty and something else she couldn't quite put her finger on.

"Can I really be cured?" she wondered to herself, doubt creeping in. But deep down, the progress was undeniable. Each time they did this, it felt a little less impossible.

She clenched her fists again, the weight of the deal between them settling like a heavy cloud. 

"If I'm cured…" she murmured under her breath, recalling her promise to Hiro, "I'll have to give him something else."

A faint blush crept up her cheeks, though she quickly shook it off. 

It wasn't the time to think about that. Not yet.

She turned away from Hiro, focusing on the horizon. "Let's just get this over with."

Hiro smiled to himself, sensing that behind her tough exterior, she was closer than ever to breaking through her fear—for good. 

Three Months Later...

Tsunade's eyes locked onto the blood, but this time, there was something different. Her breath was calm, controlled, a stark contrast to the panicked gasps that had gripped her before. 

She stood in the middle of the battlefield, the familiar scene of blood and carnage stretching around her, but her body no longer trembled.

Two months had passed since she and Hiro began this grueling routine. 

Day after day, Hiro pushed her to face her fear, and each time, she grew a little stronger, a little less paralyzed by the memories.

The blood was still there, as vivid as ever, but it no longer held the same power over her."Focus," Hiro said, though by now, Tsunade hardly needed the reminder.

She closed her eyes briefly, taking in a deep, steadying breath. When she opened them again, her gaze was sharp, determined. Clenching her fists, she walked through the thick of the illusion, the blood and chaos around her no longer holding the same power.

"Not bad," Hiro remarked with a faint smile. "You're handling it like a pro."

Tsunade gave him a small, confident smirk in return, her breathing still steady despite the intensity of the illusion. "I'm not done yet."