Hanekawa arrived at Tsunade's house but didn't knock right away. Instead, he pulled out the scroll Tsuchibashi had given him.
Lightning Release: Chakra Activation—it sounded simple, but execution was far more complicated.
After reading through it, Hanekawa noticed a problem:
He was too young. His body hadn't fully matured yet, so training in this technique would require at least another two years.
Fortunately, the scroll wasn't entirely useless.
It provided a method for physical training, far more complex and effective than mere jogging.
Hanekawa put the scroll away and knocked on the door.
Moments later, the door opened.
Tsunade stood there in an oversized pajama set, clearly just out of bed.
"Good morning, sensei," Hanekawa greeted.
"Mm," Tsunade nodded slightly before suddenly extending her hand. "Here, take this key."
"Why are there two keys?" Hanekawa asked, puzzled.
One was large, the other small. They clearly weren't for the same door.
"The other one is for the room next to mine," Tsunade said lazily, yawning. "If I don't wake up, you can go take a nap there."
"Sensei, you really haven't read the ninja code, have you—ow! What was that for?"
Before Hanekawa could finish his sentence, Tsunade flicked his forehead.
"You're the student. Why are you always trying to boss around your teacher?" Tsunade said, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Go make me breakfast!"
"Yes, ma'am," Hanekawa replied, walking toward the kitchen. After a few steps, he turned back and emphasized, "I'm not bossing, just giving advice!"
With that, he hurried into the kitchen, leaving Tsunade no chance to reply.
"That brat!"
Tsunade froze for a moment, then smiled.
She returned to her room, removed her pajamas, and revealed her perfectly proportioned, curvaceous figure.
After changing clothes, she stepped out and sat at the dining table, combing her hair as she waited.
Tsunade raised her hands, gathering her hair to reveal her fair neck. After a few simple adjustments, her twin ponytails were complete.
Hanekawa came out of the kitchen with ramen just in time to see the final moment of her transformation.
His hands itched with the urge to play with her twin tails.
But, of course, that wasn't going to happen.
"Beef ramen," Hanekawa announced, setting the bowl on the table.
"Where'd you get beef?" Tsunade asked, stirring the ramen with her chopsticks.
"I bought it on the way here," Hanekawa replied casually.
"Not bad. You're already learning to contribute to the household," Tsunade chuckled.
"This isn't my household," Hanekawa corrected her.
"It is now that you have a key," Tsunade said, slurping some ramen. A faint sheen of oil glistened on her soft lips.
Hanekawa blinked.
What was this supposed to mean?
It almost felt like... he was being taken care of.
No, wait—actually, if you looked at it, he was the one paying and doing the work.
Tsunade was the one being taken care of.
"Don't you have the day off? Why are you here again?" Tsunade asked, glancing at him.
"Because I'm a filial student," Hanekawa replied with a grin. "I was worried my teacher might go hungry."
"I'm not that helpless," Tsunade said, rolling her eyes, though the corners of her mouth lifted slightly.
So she's trying to act tsundere now?
Hanekawa quickly shook off his stray thoughts.
"Well, since you're here, why don't you accompany me to the casino?" Tsunade suggested, a sly grin forming.
And there it was—the legendary Four Famous Excuses:
"Since you're already here,"
"It's a big holiday,"
"He's just a kid,"
"Everyone's having a hard time."
"I'm just a kid!"
Hanekawa countered Tsunade's proposition with humor, using what his father once said: fight magic with magic.
"And what exactly do you plan to do?"
Tsunade slurped her ramen in one go, setting the bowl down without a change in expression.
"Training," Hanekawa replied after some thought.
"Training should be balanced—work and rest," Tsunade said, placing her chopsticks down. "How about this? I'll take you to visit someone."
"Where?"
Hanekawa paused, curiosity piqued. Considering Tsunade's circle of acquaintances, there weren't many places they could visit.
Could it be Hiruzen Sarutobi?
"You'll find out when we get there," Tsunade replied with a mysterious smile. "I guarantee it won't be boring."
Hanekawa sighed inwardly. Why is she being so cryptic?
He stood up and picked up her bowl and chopsticks.
"What are you doing?" Tsunade asked, a hint of dissatisfaction in her tone.
"I'm washing the dishes," Hanekawa replied, walking toward the kitchen.
Tsunade pouted slightly.
She realized that her student wasn't the least bit afraid of her.
How strange.
I'm not even nice!
A few minutes later, the two of them left the house.
As they walked through the village, the roads became increasingly remote until there were no passersby in sight.
Hanekawa began piecing things together.
If it was this far and this isolated, then it could only be... Kushina Uzumaki.
"We're almost there," Tsunade said, looking up at a two-story wooden house in the distance.
"Lady Tsunade!"
A cheerful voice rang out the next moment.
Kushina Uzumaki appeared before them, her vibrant red hair flowing behind her as she rushed over.
"Kushina," Tsunade greeted with a smile. "This is—"
"Hanekawa!"
Kushina cut her off, grinning. "Minato and I met him before, but I didn't know he was your student!"
"I only just took him in," Tsunade replied, slightly surprised.
"Welcome, little Hanekawa!"
Kushina grabbed Hanekawa's hand and began walking toward the house, enthusiastically pointing things out.
"See that cherry blossom tree? Minato planted it!"
Tsunade sighed as she followed behind them.
Only a select few had the privilege of visiting this house—her, Hiruzen Sarutobi, Minato Namikaze, and now Hanekawa.
Kushina's lively personality meant she was always excited to meet new people, and Hanekawa was no exception.
"There's a peach grove behind the house. Come back in a couple of months, and you'll get to taste fresh peaches," Kushina said, gently ruffling Hanekawa's hair. "Oh, and there's a swing too! Feel free to use it."
Hanekawa blinked in surprise.
Isn't this... a little too warm?
Before he could even react, she had already patted his head.
Darn it, is this the power of a jinchūriki?
Tsunade walked alongside them, glancing at the two with a slight pout.
She was used to being the center of attention, but today, she felt completely ignored.
Inside the living room, Kushina pulled Hanekawa onto the sofa and shifted the conversation to the recent finals.
"How did you beat Kakashi?" she asked eagerly.
"With a sword," Hanekawa replied casually.
"Details!" Kushina pressed.
Hanekawa relented and recounted the story.
"That's amazing!" Kushina exclaimed, her tone filled with admiration. "It's a shame I don't have any students of my own."
As the jinchūriki of the Nine-Tails, Kushina was unlikely to ever become a team leader.
If she were to take on a student, it would have to wait until the next jinchūriki was chosen—and even then, finding someone to her liking would be tough.
Someone like Hanekawa, however, caught her eye. He's so good-looking, after all.
"Are you interested in sealing techniques?" Kushina suddenly asked, her enthusiasm reignited.
"Kushina, he's too young for all that," Tsunade interjected, sensing Kushina's attempt to poach her student. "He hasn't even gotten through the basics of medical ninjutsu yet."
"True," Kushina said with an apologetic smile. "Well, let's wait until you're older."
"Got it," Hanekawa replied eagerly.
Sealing techniques are practically cheat codes in the ninja world. Of course, I want to learn!
But as he turned to glance at Tsunade, he noticed her face darkening with a hint of murderous intent.
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