"I knew it!!"
"Hyuga Takashi!! Look at what you've done!!"
An enraged Tsunade stormed into the lounge, kicking the door open with a loud bang:
"Kushina was mocked by her classmates and ended up beating one of them, even knocked out their front teeth! Now the old man wants me to handle this. Tell me, how exactly am I supposed to deal with it?"
"There's still a ton of problems waiting for me in the medical department. You're not helping, but instead, you're giving me more trouble!"
Takashi, who was in the middle of changing his clothes in the lounge, calmly put on his white coat and asked in return:
"Kushina got mocked on her first day of school and hit back. Is there anything wrong with that?"
So it's okay for you to laugh at me, but not okay for me to hit you?
Where in the world is such a thing acceptable?
Honestly, Takashi wasn't bragging, but in the entire Konoha Academy, probably only Nawaki could match Kushina in terms of background. The rest, even those from the big clans, didn't come close.
With such strong backing, what is there to be afraid of?
What made Takashi most speechless was that, despite Kushina having this solid backing, she was still constantly bullied at school.
Mocked and pushed around by classmates, she fought back only after reaching her limit, and still, her opponent's brother tried to retaliate. Takashi had no idea where that kid got the nerve.
Unbelievable.
"..."
Tsunade's blood pressure started to rise in frustration: "She even threatened the teacher, saying her sister is Tsunade! The teacher didn't dare do anything to her."
"Well, isn't that true? You are her sister, aren't you?" Takashi spread his hands. "So, when everything's fine, you're her big sister, but when there's trouble, you're not?"
"I swear—"
Tsunade almost spat out a mouthful of blood in rage.
"You better go to the Ninja Academy and deal with this right away."
"You caused this, you handle it yourself."
Tsunade felt her head was about to explode.
Things were already busy at the hospital, and the medical department was in chaos because of the Elder Council Squad's reforms, keeping everyone on their toes. Tsunade really didn't have the time to deal with anything else.
"I'm not going. Kushina's not my sister."
Takashi firmly refused the errand.
It's not that he didn't want to help Kushina, but he knew well that if he stepped in, the other party would definitely not let it go easily. Even if he represented Tsunade, it would be the same.
He couldn't exactly go around threatening other parents, could he?
Their kid got beaten up by Kushina, and when the parents came for answers, would he have to beat them up too?
"If you're not going, then why did you teach her to use her fists?"
Tsunade wanted to punch someone so badly.
"So what? Should she just sit there and let others bully her?"
Takashi looked at Tsunade with utter confusion.
What sort of logic is this? Surely, they didn't think that by doing nothing, Kushina would naturally fit in at the village?
Maybe they thought kids fighting was a small matter, but the others definitely didn't see it that way.
Kushina was bullied at school, and when she fought back, her opponent got so mad that they called in reinforcements from home—utterly shameless.
"Lady Tsunade, Takashi-kun, there's a patient outside."
A young nurse rushed to the lounge door.
Takashi immediately started towards the door. "Coming, coming. I'll take this patient; no one else touch this case!"
Going to the Ninja Academy to argue?
Not a chance. For this kind of situation, Tsunade herself had to step in. Only her presence would carry the necessary weight.
Just wait, someday I'll deal with you too.
Glaring fiercely at Takashi's retreating back, Tsunade helplessly threw the stack of files she was holding onto the table, turned around, and left the hospital, heading towards the Ninja Academy.
"Who are the parents of this kid? I need to have a word with them. What did my son do to deserve being hit so harshly?"
Old Honda, father of Little Honda, was furious. After his son got beaten up, he had come straight to the Ninja Academy, demanding an explanation from the teacher.
"Please, calm down. It's not entirely Kushina's fault." Sarutobi Mokyu —who had returned to the school from the hospital—was already getting a headache.
Since it happened in his class, the first person the parent sought out was, of course, him.
"Kushina, apologize to Mr. Honda, now."
Sarutobi Mokyu tried his best to calm Old Honda while simultaneously ordering Kushina to apologize.
"No way." Kushina raised her head and looked away. Takashi had been right—these immature kids should be beaten into submission.
Kushina didn't think she had done anything wrong.
Oh, dear Kushina, can't you just apologize first?
Kushina's refusal to apologize made Sarutobi Mokyu want to dig a hole and jump in. Why did this kind of headache have to land on his head?
It's over!
There goes my Outstanding Teacher Award, and the year-end bonus is probably gone too.
"Teacher Mokyu, look at this. This little brat has no manners at all!" Old Honda was so furious that he was stumbling over his words.
"Mr. Honda, please calm down. This is—"
Bang!!
Sarutobi Mokyu was in the middle of trying to calm Old Honda down when suddenly, the office door was pushed open with force, slamming into the wall and startling everyone in the room.
Who is it now, with so little respect?
His body flinched reflexively, and Sarutobi Mokyu looked towards the door with dissatisfaction.
But when he saw who it was, all of his dissatisfaction instantly vanished. In a flash, he switched to a smile and walked up quickly to greet her, "Lady Tsunade, what brings you here in person?"
Oh no, Tsunade herself is here.
Kushina lowered her head nervously, not daring to meet Tsunade's gaze.
"My little sister gets bullied on her first day at school, and I shouldn't come here to ask why?" Tsunade walked into the office, her face completely expressionless.
An explanation?
Sarutobi Mokyu opened his mouth, wanting to say: The problem is that Kushina was the one who hit someone first.
"Was it you who just said my sister has no manners?"
Tsunade stepped up in front of Old Honda, staring him down with an unfriendly glare.
Who do you think you are? My sister needs you to judge whether she has manners or not?
"No, no, it was all a misunderstanding."
The moment Tsunade walked into the office, Old Honda was petrified.
In Konoha, the Third Hokage and Tsunade were the most well-known figures. Almost everyone knew them—one being the current Hokage, the other being the eldest daughter of the Senju Clan, Hokage's student, and also known as the Princess of Konoha, as recognized by the daimyo.
It would be impossible not to know her.
My son actually dared to bully Tsunade's sister?
This damned kid, he's definitely getting a good thrashing once we get home.
Tsunade frowned, looking at the sweating Old Honda. "Your son got beaten up; don't you want an explanation anymore?"
"No, no. Definitely not." Old Honda nervously put on a fawning smile. "This brat is too out of line, bullying his classmates at school. I'll make sure to discipline him properly. Rest assured, Lady Tsunade, this will not happen again."
"Good. I thought I'd have to send my brother to the lower-grade classroom to have a 'talk' with him. You seem very sensible."
Well done, you know the drill.
Sarutobi Mokyu, watching Old Honda continuously nod and bow, couldn't help but roll his eyes.