Naruto Uzumaki, after receiving some explanation from Kiba Inuzuka, finally understood how important Tsunade really was. This made him even more envious of those with talent, especially considering his own struggles with chakra control and the difficulty he faced in mastering basic jutsu like the Transformation and Clone Techniques. Compared to Shinho Aburame and others who picked things up quickly, Naruto felt utterly ordinary.
As Shinho watched Naruto, he was reminded of Naruto's hidden potential to dominate the Ninja Academy. Naruto truly had the ability, but the problem lay in the "treasure" sealed inside him that often disrupted his chakra control. Helping Naruto improve without arousing Sarutobi Hiruzen's suspicion would be tricky, but Shinho figured his new status as Tsunade's disciple would offer him some leeway.
During lunch, Shinho once again took Hinata Hyuga outside to Ichiraku Ramen, reinforcing her confidence with their secret trips. This daily ritual of breaking rules was vital to slowly toughening her resolve. He estimated that by next week, his actors—four older students—would be ready for the next phase of Hinata's training. If she could beat them with a single punch, it would be a success.
Time passed quickly, and soon it was the end of the school day.
"Shinho-kun," Sakura Haruno approached him eagerly, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. "Can I come with you to meet Lady Tsunade?"
After hearing from Ino that Shinho had become Tsunade's student, Sakura was filled with admiration and envy. Tsunade was her role model, and meeting her would be a dream come true.
Ino, Kiba, and the others were equally curious and excited about the idea of meeting the legendary Tsunade.
Shinho nodded in agreement. He didn't think Tsunade would mind meeting them, as it was just an introduction.
"Awesome!" Sakura cheered, pumping her fist in the air, and the others followed suit, all giddy with excitement.
In this world, Tsunade was nothing short of a superstar.
"Hey, Sasuke-kun!" Sakura rushed to catch up with Sasuke Uchiha. "Are you coming too?"
"No," Sasuke replied, barely giving them a glance. He wasn't fond of crowds, and Tsunade didn't interest him in the least. In his mind, the only person worth following was his brother, Itachi Uchiha.
Sakura felt a little dejected, but her spirits quickly rebounded as the group made their way to the school gates, where Tsunade was already waiting for them.
Tsunade was mildly surprised to see Shinho surrounded by his classmates. Children were easy to read, and it was clear who the center of attention was—Shinho. She found herself somewhat impressed. Despite his aloof nature, he seemed to have garnered quite a bit of attention and respect from his peers.
"Lady Tsunade!" the group of kids swarmed her with excitement.
Tsunade smiled warmly. As much as she often kept a tough exterior, it was hard to dislike being greeted by such innocent enthusiasm.
After a brief introduction and some playful conversation, the group reluctantly left, leaving just Tsunade and Shinho behind.
"You're more popular than I expected," Tsunade remarked, her mood visibly lightened by the interaction.
Shinho, as usual, nodded calmly.
Tsunade raised an eyebrow, feeling a mischievous impulse. She reached out and tousled Shinho's hair.
Shinho instinctively leaned back, but it was too late—Tsunade's hand messed up his hair.
"Please don't touch my head," Shinho said seriously, attempting to smooth his hair back into place. Doesn't she know touching someone's head is frowned upon around here?
Tsunade grinned victoriously. So he's still just a kid after all! she thought, enjoying the rare moment of flustering him. She wasn't fond of how calm and composed he usually was, as it reminded her too much of Orochimaru.
"Before you can become a proper medical ninja, you need to understand the basics of medical knowledge," Tsunade said, pulling out a scroll from seemingly nowhere. "You need to study all of this within a week."
"What if I finish it early?" Shinho asked.
With the help of his Bookworm Gu, he could memorize everything within a single day.
"Finishing quickly isn't the point," Tsunade frowned. "A medical ninja must never be in a rush."
"I meant mastering it," Shinho corrected her calmly.
Tsunade was skeptical. "Are you serious? This scroll contains the equivalent of fifteen medical textbooks."
"How about a bet?" Shinho said, an idea forming in his mind.
Tsunade's eyes lit up with excitement. "You want to gamble with me, kid? Fine, what's the wager?"
"Let's bet that I can master all of this in one day," Shinho proposed. If I'm going to act like a genius, I may as well go all the way.
"One day?" Tsunade blinked, then smirked confidently. "You're on!"
"The winner can ask the loser for one favor," Shinho suggested, laying out the stakes.
"Deal," Tsunade grinned widely. "Don't cry when you lose, though."
For Tsunade, this bet was low stakes. Whether she won or lost didn't really matter, but she was curious to see just how far Shinho could go. Part of her hoped he would surprise her again.
As they prepared to leave, Tsunade led the way out of the village, moving quickly. Shinho had to keep up, speeding up his pace to match hers. When they passed the Hokage Rock, Tsunade stopped suddenly, causing Shinho to bump right into her.
Thanks to their height difference, Shinho's forehead landed squarely on Tsunade's thigh. Her leg, firm yet soft, seemed to absorb the impact with a slight bounce.
Shinho quickly stepped back, his mind wandering to an odd thoughts.
Tsunade glanced down at him, but didn't seem to care. Her focus was on the Hokage faces carved into the rock—those of Hashirama Senju, Tobirama Senju, Sarutobi Hiruzen, and Minato Namikaze.
"Let's go," she said after a moment, leading him through a bamboo forest and toward a row of old houses. They reached a large, traditional estate, and Tsunade pulled out a key to unlock the front door.
This was one of the properties that had once belonged to the Senju Clan—a place where both Hashirama and Tobirama had once lived.
Tsunade plopped down onto a couch, kicking her legs up and placing her sandaled feet in front of Shinho. Her toes, neatly painted with red nail polish, stood out in stark contrast to her otherwise casual appearance.
"By the way, what's your dream?" Tsunade asked, running her fingers through her golden hair. Her amber eyes sparkled with interest as she gazed at him.
Shinho hesitated for a moment, then answered earnestly, "I want to be the man who stands beside the Hokage."
He had always believed that if you were going to aim high, aim for the stars. Or, in this case, aim for the right woman. If Tsunade ever became Hokage, he'd be standing right beside her.
[Achievement unlocked: 'I see you've still got it.' Reward: Wine Flower Gu.]
[Wine Flower Gu: A Rank 1 Gu that, when cultivated with true essence, produces wine-infused nectar.]
Shinho's thoughts immediately turned to the possibility of unlocking the Wine Gu achievement through Tsunade. Wine Gu was incredibly rare and could enhance his essence, giving him a power boost.
Tsunade, meanwhile, rolled her eyes. "Another one who wants to be Hokage, huh?"
She clearly misunderstood, but Shinho didn't bother correcting her. He was, after all, avoiding getting punched.
"Pick any room upstairs," Tsunade said, changing the subject. "Make yourself at home."