(Tsunade Pov)
--------
"How long will it take?" I wondered, standing outside the Academy, my mind swirling with anticipation and worry.
Today was the Academy graduation test. I had spent the entire previous day training Nawaki, meticulously refining his skills in ninjutsu, genjutsu, and taijutsu to ensure he was well-prepared. Given the unpredictability of the test, which changes every year, I also made sure he was versed in medical knowledge to cover all bases.
As I waited anxiously outside the Academy, I couldn't help but wonder how long the test would last. Every minute felt like an eternity, each passing second amplifying my nerves.
Nawaki's position as the Senju heir often teetered on uncertainty, neither a fool nor a prodigy, leading many to question his suitability for the role. Without the guidance and mentorship of Sarutobi-sensei, his standing within the clan might have remained stagnant. Unfortunately, Sarutobi-sensei's lack interest towards Nawaki, assigning him to Orochimaru as his Jonin-sensei instead.
While not an ideal arrangement, it carried both promise and concern. Orochimaru, renowned as Konoha's prodigy, boasted mastery in wind jutsu, kenjutsu, and fuinjutsu—areas that diverged from Nawaki's expertise in taijutsu, earth, and water jutsu. However, Orochimaru's strategic acumen and vast ninjutsu knowledge held the potential to offer Nawaki invaluable guidance.
Despite Orochimaru being my friend, providing a measure of reassurance about Nawaki's safety under his tutelage, lingering worries persisted. The escalating difficulty of missions during wartime heightened the potential dangers they might encounter. What began as a simple C-rank mission could swiftly escalate to an A-rank challenge.
To imbue Nawaki with additional protection and a sense of luck, I made the heartfelt decision to entrust him with my grandfather's necklace. It was a small gesture, but one I hoped would offer him strength and fortune in the face of adversity
As I waited outside, people recognized me from a distance. The attention, fueled by my recent success in developing an antidote for the hag's poison, made me uncomfortable despite the admiration. It was surreal to see strangers' eyes light up with recognition, their murmurs of praise following me wherever I went.
Even though my effort has considerably increased our chance of victory against Sunagakure, being the center of attention is somewhat unbearable. While I was proud of my accomplishment and the potential it held for our cause, I longed for anonymity.
"You are a selfish woman, unwilling to bear the responsibility of your predecessor. Instead, you push it onto a child who lacks the qualifications to handle it, driving him to his grave while pretending to be his sweet elder sister." The memory of those harsh words made my fists clench and my teeth grit.
'Why do I have to remember his words?!'
"Sister?" Nawaki's voice broke through my thoughts, prompting me to smile and mask my anger. Despite the turmoil brewing within me, I couldn't let it show, not in front of Nawaki.
'I shouldn't waste my time remembering him.' I pushed the thought aside, focusing instead on Nawaki's eager face.
"Good, good, you passed," I said, ruffling his hair in congratulations. It was a reflexive gesture, one that brought a faint sense of nostalgia amidst the chaos of my emotions.
Seeing his headband brought back memories of my childhood, a time when both my father, mother, grandfather and grand-uncle were alive. Those were better days, filled with laughter that now seemed like distant dreams.
I still have my grandmother and my clan, it's not the same without them.
"Hey! Stop, you meanie!" Nawaki protested, embarrassed by my affectionate gesture. His reaction brought a small smile to my lips, a rare moment of lightness amidst the heaviness in my heart.
Snapping back to the present, Nawaki eagerly explained the exam. It had been tough, requiring a C-rank jutsu and a body flicker technique to pass. The war had clearly raised the standards, a stark reminder of the harsh reality we lived in.
Wait, shouldn't the opposite happen? The thought nagged at the back of my mind, a small seed of doubt amidst the uncertainty.
No matter, I don't see the point of dwelling on it. I pushed the thought away, choosing instead to focus on the present moment with Nawaki, a fleeting reprieve from the harsh realities of our world.
We headed to the Akimichi Yakiniku restaurant to celebrate. Though it wasn't a grand as celebration I got from my clan after returning from Land of Rivers, it was still an important milestone for Nawaki's first day as a shinobi, worth celebrating, so no money would be unspent to celebrate it. The atmosphere was lively as we entered the restaurant, filled with the savory aroma of grilling meat and the chatter of patrons.
I ordered the most expensive item on the menu, promising myself to avoid alcohol to prevent a repeat of my previous mess. Memories of the last celebration flooded my mind, urging caution as I made my selection.
"Brother Akio, why not join us?" Nawaki called out, causing my face to pale.
'Why is he here?!' I wondered, my mind racing to find a plausible reason for his presence.