At this point, a cat could be doing handstands and a dog breakdancing, and it still wouldn't change anything between them.
Kawakaze was effectively useless, so Tsunade and he retreated to their respective rooms. Both had already washed up. Tsunade, dressed in a loose-fitting robe, walked about with her delicate skin faintly visible. She seemed mentally prepared, and in the moment she was struck by the memory of Hanzō's Explosive Tag, Kawakaze's figure surfaced in her mind.
Tsunade sat by the bed, watching as Kawakaze slowly approached. His toned upper body was bare, and he wore only a pair of loose underpants. Her face flushed with shyness, two bright blushes coloring her cheeks. In Kawakaze's eyes, Tsunade appeared even more enchanting in that moment.
"Tsunade, you look so beautiful today," Kawakaze said, breaking the silence as he sat beside her. He refrained from being too forward, cautious of the possibility of rejection.
"I wasn't pretty before?" Tsunade asked, her tone carrying the subtle logic unique to women. Kawakaze didn't fall for the trap.
"You were always beautiful, but tonight, you're especially radiant." With that, he placed his hand gently on her shoulder, feeling the subtle tremor in her body.
"Are you thirsty? I'll get you a glass of water," Tsunade offered, attempting to deflect.
"I'm not thirsty; having you is enough," Kawakaze replied firmly, steadying her. With both hands, he turned her to face him, closing the distance between them. He leaned in, their lips meeting softly.
Kawakaze felt the warmth and softness of her lips as he held her gently, bringing her closer to him. He savored the sweetness of her kiss. Unaware of how it happened, the two fell onto the bed. When their lips parted, Tsunade's eyes were filled with affection, her brows soft with love.
"Kawakaze, I love you," she whispered.
"I love you too," he murmured, his voice tender, his gaze hazy with emotion. To have her in his life was enough.
Their lips met again. Clothes fell away, silence enveloped the room, the moon hung high in the sky, and the air was filled with the warmth of spring.
...
Kawakaze and Tsunade lay on the bed, a thin quilt draped loosely over them. Their arms and legs were half-exposed, hinting at the warmth lingering in the air.
"Tsunade," Kawakaze called softly.
"Mm." Her response was lazy and content, the blush on her face still faintly visible.
"My Hatake Clan is sparsely populated..." he began.
"Don't start. I haven't even rested properly yet," Tsunade murmured.
"My Hatake Clan is sparsely populated, so I have no choice but to trouble you," Kawakaze said with a teasing smile before rolling over and pinning her beneath him once more.
"Umm..." Tsunade let out a soft sound, her voice trailing off.
...
After a long time, Tsunade finally managed to rest quietly, her head resting on Kawakaze's arm. However, she was slightly annoyed by the large hand wandering across her body. If she weren't so exhausted, she would have told him to move it away.
"Tsunade, are you willing to take Hatake as your family name?" Kawakaze asked, his tone sincere and his expression serious. He gazed at her profile, speaking softly.
"I am willing," Tsunade replied, turning her head to meet his eyes. Without hesitation, they both agreed. No further words were needed that night.
The next morning, Tsunade got up looking composed and unaffected. As a medical-nin, a little physical strain was nothing to her.
"Big Brother, Sister-in-law," Tsunade greeted Sakumo and his wife casually in the dining room, not bothering to address them by name.
"Come and eat," Sakumo replied, unsurprised. As a man, he knew full well what had transpired. This sister-in-law was officially part of the family now.
"Sensei, Sensei's wife," Minato called out as he entered the dining room with his three little students in tow.
"Sit down. After breakfast, I'll evaluate your talents," Kawakaze said with a cheerful energy that reflected his good mood. He was brimming with enthusiasm for what lay ahead.
After the meal, Tsunade prepared to head to the hospital to continue her research. As Kawakaze saw her off at the door, Nawaki approached and mentioned that Orochimaru had already left for Ryūchi Cave.
"Sister, Brother-in-law," Nawaki greeted them with a teasing smile, showing no hesitation in using the new title for Kawakaze.
"Haha, Brother-in-law loves you," Kawakaze replied playfully, ruffling Nawaki's hair before nudging him back toward the house. "Go practice in the dojo with Minato."
Tsunade rolled her eyes at Kawakaze's smug grin, unable to understand his exaggerated joy. "I'm leaving now. I'll come back tonight."
"Don't forget," Kawakaze said with a mischievous smile. "I'm afraid I won't be able to sleep alone."
Blushing, Tsunade snapped, "Leaving, you lecher!" She turned and walked away without looking back, unable to endure his teasing any longer.
"We common people are really happy today…" Kawakaze hummed a tune unfamiliar to the servants as he entered the dojo.
Inside, Nawaki was already sparring with Minato, the two trading blows in a lively match. The three younger children watched intently, their eyes shining with interest. It was clear that Minato's strength was gradually overpowering Nawaki, despite the latter being older.
Nawaki's natural Chakra reserves were impressive, but without further opportunities or unique techniques, he would struggle to catch up with Minato in the long run. He hadn't inherited his grandfather's Wood Release, leaving him at a disadvantage in terms of specialized abilities.
"Come over here, you three," Kawakaze called after observing for a while, deciding there was nothing that required intervention. He led the three younger children aside.
"I'll teach you how to use your Chakra first," he began. "Chakra is innate, but mastering it depends entirely on your own efforts."
The three listened intently, their desire for power stemming from their shared wish to control their destinies and protect those they cared for. Following Kawakaze's instructions, they assumed the Horse Stance and began focusing on sensing their Chakra.
Once they were familiar with the process and could feel the flow of Chakra within them, Kawakaze singled out Nagato and took him to a secret room hidden within the house since its construction by their ancestors.
"Lift your hair," Kawakaze instructed, standing still as Nagato hesitated before revealing his Rinnegan. Slowly, Nagato parted his hair, remembering the two Konoha ninja who had died in front of him.
"Sensei, be careful," Nagato warned. He was unfamiliar with the power of the Rinnegan and worried he might harm Kawakaze.
"You still have a long way to go," Kawakaze said calmly. He knew from the original story that without Obito's guidance, Nagato couldn't possibly master the Rinnegan's power so quickly.
Nagato said nothing, finally parting his hair completely to show the unique, concentric circles of his eyes. This was the Rinnegan—the legendary "eyes that control life and death," wielding the highest level of Dōjutsu.
"Sensei," Nagato spoke softly.
"Well, can you feel the power granted by your eyes now?" Kawakaze asked, snapping out of his thoughts.
"No," Nagato admitted, shaking his head. At the moment, he couldn't sense or use the Rinnegan's abilities.
"Don't worry. Once you have enough Chakra, the power will come naturally," Kawakaze reassured him. "These eyes allow you to control all Chakra Nature Transformations except some special ones. That is your greatest advantage."
Despite this reassurance, Kawakaze felt a tinge of disappointment. He had hoped to witness legendary techniques like "Banshō Ten'in" or "Shinra Tensei," but Nagato was not ready yet.
"Practice hard," Kawakaze encouraged. "You have even greater potential than Yahiko and Konan." His words weren't meant to downplay Yahiko or Konan but to emphasize that Nagato's power came with immense future responsibilities.
"Sensei, I will work hard," Nagato promised, nodding as his hair fell back into place, concealing his Rinnegan once more.
"Go back and focus on sensing your Chakra," Kawakaze instructed. "Afterward, I'll teach you Ninjutsu."
Kawakaze had no intention of teaching Nagato Kenjutsu. Nagato was better suited to a "Mage-like" role, excelling in high-powered Ninjutsu with exceptional offensive and defensive capabilities. Before mastering the Rinnegan, Nagato would already be formidable if he could perform complex Ninjutsu reliably.
Though Kawakaze himself knew limited Ninjutsu, his connections and wealth ensured he could easily procure scrolls and resources for Nagato's training.