Tsunade shook her head, pushing those messy thoughts out of her mind. The fact that she found Tōshirō more pleasant to look at lately must be due to his risking his life to save her, which greatly increased her fondness for him and brought about these strange thoughts. It would pass in time.
Thinking this, Tsunade took a deep breath and composed herself.
Besides, there hadn't been any rumors recently about Tōshirō sneaking off to peep with Jiraiya, so even if she intentionally...
Wait, what on earth was she thinking?!
Tsunade grabbed her head with both hands, feeling a splitting headache. What was wrong with her? She resolved that when she returned to the village, she would consult Grandma Mito.
Tōshirō saw her sudden reaction and holding her head in distress, and thought she must really have a cold, and a serious one at that.
Even though he was a medical ninja, the only healing jutsu he knew, the Mystic Palm Technique, didn't seem to work for colds.
Growl~
A sound like thunder echoed, and Tōshirō was startled. "What was that?"
Tsunade held her stomach, blushing and somewhat embarrassed. "I haven't eaten in a long time."
She had been so engrossed in researching medicine that she hadn't eaten or drunk anything. Just when she finally made progress and was about to have a big meal, she ended up getting captured. She hadn't had a drop of water since then. Considering she already had a big appetite, it was impressive her stomach hadn't made noise sooner.
Tōshirō shook his head, raised his hands, crossed them into a sword seal, and summoned several shadow clones, instructing them to go buy food to fill their stomachs.
Before long, the clones returned carrying bags full of food.
Tsunade's eyes lit up, and she devoured all the food at lightning speed, leaving Tōshirō wide-eyed in astonishment. No matter how many times he witnessed it, he was always stunned by her insatiable appetite.
Tōshirō glanced at Tsunade's figure, which remained unchanged despite her eating habits, and thought of a certain voracious princess. It seemed that a huge appetite was a prerequisite for some.
Tsunade was always sensitive about certain areas. Noticing Tōshirō's stealthy glances, she misunderstood and puffed out a snort, taking the offensive: "I know what you're going to say!"
Tōshirō: ???
"You're probably thinking, 'How can she eat so much and still have such a flat chest,' right?"
Tōshirō raised his hand and swore, "I really wasn't."
Tsunade didn't believe a word, clenching her fist as she declared, "Just you wait. One day, I'll make you see me in a new light. When that time comes, you'll apologize for everything you've ever said."
Tōshirō looked at her and let out a bitter smile. "Then I guess I'll really have to apologize someday."
However, to Tsunade, who was used to being teased, his words seemed like another jab. They ignited a fighting spirit in her eyes, fierce and defiant: "The river runs east for thirty years, then west for thirty years; never underestimate a determined young girl."
Tōshirō felt like crying but had no tears. He genuinely hadn't intended to tease Tsunade this time. Why wouldn't she believe him?
…....
The next day, Tsunade's recovery was faster than expected.
In the forest.
With a loud boom, a rock shattered, sending debris flying everywhere. With that one punch, Tsunade announced her triumphant return.
Clenching her fist, she felt the chakra surging through her body and looked at the blue sky and white clouds. "I'm back. I feel like everything's back."
"Congratulations," Tōshirō clapped, envious. "As expected of the Senju clan's superhuman strength. A simple punch with the force of a jutsu."
"Do you want to learn it?" Tsunade said offhandedly.
Tōshirō's eyes lit up, showing that she had piqued his interest. "Would you teach me?"
Tsunade grinned, "Do you want to learn?"
Tsunade nodded like a little chick pecking at rice.
"Get on your knees and beg me."
"Alright, I'll beg you." Without hesitation, Tōshirō prepared to kneel. Back then, Director Qi used a single kneel to achieve fame and fortune.
If he could master the technique of superhuman strength, he'd be unstoppable.
Seeing he was actually about to kneel, Tsunade quickly helped him up, saying, "I was just joking! You're really going to kneel? Don't you have any dignity as a man?"
"How much does dignity cost per pound?"
Tsunade placed the back of her hand on her forehead, feeling a bit of a headache, wondering why she was starting to feel an affection for this guy.
Oh well, it's not like she just met Tōshirō yesterday.
This guy was indeed greedy and extremely timid. However, at times, he could be braver than anyone else.
Tsunade couldn't help but recall Tōshirō's heroic figure when he risked his life to save her, a faint smile appearing at the corners of her lips without her realizing it.
Tōshirō noticed her expression, thinking Tsunade was pleased with his performance. He seized the opportunity and said, "Since I'm being so sincere, you should teach me the super strength technique now, right?"
Tsunade flatly refused, "No."
Tōshirō's footing faltered, nearly making him trip. His excitement was wasted. "Then what was all that for, making me excited for nothing?"
A mocking smile appeared on Tsunade's lips. "I only said you should ask me, but I never said I'd definitely teach you."
Tōshirō's eyes widened, and he shouted in exasperation, "That's just taking advantage of an honest person!"
With his finger jabbing up and down and his loud voice, he looked every bit the image of someone who had been deceived.
Tsunade was speechless. "Honest person, my foot! You're more like a sly fox."
From Tōshirō's accounts of his battles, Tsunade had learned that Tōshirō fought in an extremely cunning manner, using every trick in the book.
Tsunade sighed and explained, "Alright, enough joking. It's not that I'm stingy and don't want to teach you. But you know the relationship between our two clans. If you weren't from the Uchiha clan, it wouldn't matter, but since you are, if I taught you, I wouldn't be able to justify it to my clan."
Tōshirō, who was not unreasonable, gave up reluctantly when he heard this. "Got it. You could've just said that earlier."
Tsunade suggested, "Why don't you pick another one?"
Tōshirō paused, "Another one?"
Tsunade nodded.
Tōshirō thought for a moment. He couldn't learn the Senju clan's techniques, but maybe switching focus would work. He decided to try his luck and asked, "If I can't learn the Senju clan's techniques, can I learn the Uzumaki clan's sealing techniques?"
Tsunade was taken aback, "The Uzumaki clan?"
"Yes, I've always heard that the Uzumaki clan's sealing techniques are famous, but I've never had the opportunity. I want to take this chance to learn a skill in case I encounter someone who can't be defeated with normal jutsu and only sealing techniques would work. What do you think?"
After a moment of thought, Tsunade found the idea reasonable and within acceptable bounds. This would also be a way to repay Tōshirō for saving her life. "It could work. If I ask Grandma Mito, she might be willing to teach me. I can then pass it on to you. How does that sound?"
"Great."
Seeing his excitement, Tsunade decided to temper his expectations to avoid disappointment later. "Just so you know, I won't be able to teach you the particularly powerful sealing techniques."
Tōshirō readily agreed, "No problem."
Tsunade looked at him, "Alright then. What sealing technique do you want to learn? Do you even know what sealing techniques the Uzumaki clan has?"
She wasn't underestimating Tōshirō but rather pointing out that the Uzumaki clan had so many sealing techniques that even she didn't know them all, let alone an outsider like Tōshirō .
Tōshirō pondered for a moment, then spoke decisively, "Adamantine Sealing Chains."
Tsunade's eyes widened in surprise. Even she, who didn't study sealing techniques extensively, knew about this one. It was a signature technique of the Uzumaki clan and an incredibly powerful sealing technique.
"What's the matter? Is there a problem?"
Tsunade looked at him strangely. "Aside from other issues with this technique, it requires the unique physical constitution of the Uzumaki clan to practice. Even I can't learn it. Since you know about this technique, you should be aware of that basic principle, right?"
Tōshirō, having been given special training within the Uchiha clan, wasn't surprised to know about this technique.
Tōshirō nodded, "Yes, but I'm not trying to learn this ninjutsu. I want to study it to gain insight and expand my ice-style techniques."
To be precise, he wanted to analyze the ninjutsu, absorb its concepts, and merge it with his ice-style.
He even came up with a name for it.
It would be called: Chains of Ice.
Hmm, a name he thought of on the spot.
P.S.: One should be self-aware. I'm writing as I think, with no draft saved up before publishing, which is pushing me to the limit. I really can't handle it.
(End of Chapter)
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