The next day, the sun was already high in the sky.
"Mm..."
Tsunade's lazy voice echoed through the room as she slowly opened one eye. The space was luxurious, with a queen-sized bed, elegant decor, and the softest bedding she had experienced in days.
As she reached out, her hand brushed against Kawakaze's large hand, which was tugging at the covers. Memories of the previous night began piecing themselves together in her mind.
She recalled being carried out of the bath by Kawakaze and brought to the room. Now, under the soft covers, she realized her body was still bare—without a single piece of clothing.
Her thoughts shifted to the wings she had revealed the previous evening and Kawakaze's comment: "That was so exciting."
A blush crept across her face, quickly replaced by rising anger. This lecher… he's really nasty.
Without hesitation, Tsunade turned and punched Kawakaze squarely in his eight-pack abs.
"Ugh..." Kawakaze groaned, doubling over. Fortunately, he had skipped breakfast, or the impact would've likely made him vomit.
Opening his eyes groggily, he saw Tsunade glaring at him. Her expression was a mix of embarrassment and fury, her cheeks flushed pink as she held a furious stare. Kawakaze immediately realized his retribution had arrived.
"You volunteered," he muttered defensively, hunching over and raising his arms to block any further blows.
"Volunteer, my ass! Prepare to die," Tsunade snapped. She didn't believe a word of it. How could I have volunteered?
"Murdering your husband~" Kawakaze teased as Tsunade pinned him down, flipping his entire body with ease.
"Scream all you want—it's useless today."
Tsunade straddled him, her fists striking his body with controlled strength. "I'm not going to let you forget this, so you won't try to make me do something this humiliating again!"
In the midst of their scuffle, the covers slipped away, leaving both of them entirely exposed to the air.
"I was wrong, I was wrong!" Kawakaze begged, feeling the sting of Tsunade's iron fist of love. "When I get the chance, I'll grow wings and show them to you too. I swear I won't go back on my word!"
"Bah, who wants to see that?" Tsunade huffed, rolling off him after what she deemed sufficient punishment.
"Pop~"
Still not satisfied, she landed a sharp kick, sending Kawakaze tumbling off the bed.
"You can sleep on the floor tonight," she declared, lying back down and pulling the covers over herself.
Kawakaze groaned, pushing himself up from the carpet. As his eyes lingered on Tsunade's perfect curves, he felt his thoughts wander in a certain direction.
"It's still early. Let's sleep a little more," he suggested, climbing back toward the bed.
"Stay away from me. Don't touch me," Tsunade said, her hands pushing him back. However, the force behind her resistance was… questionable.
"Come on~" Kawakaze coaxed.
"Umm..."
...
Kawakaze and Tsunade finished their morning exercises and made their way to the courtyard after washing up.
The two younger ones were already practicing diligently. Minato was focused on his right hand, studying the Rasengan once again. His dedication was admirable. Meanwhile, Nawaki had no choice but to practice Tobirama's Water Release outdoors; if he attempted it indoors, the small courtyard wouldn't survive. Instead, he alternated with practicing Kenjutsu.
"Have you two eaten yet?" Kawakaze asked, planning to grab breakfast with Tsunade.
"We've already eaten. I even brought some food for you, but it's cold now," Nawaki replied, his expression a little awkward.
He had initially planned to deliver it to their room but was scared off by the faint sounds he heard coming from inside when he reached the door. Knocking at that moment seemed like a surefire way to have his sister knock his brains out.
"That's very kind of you, but your brother-in-law and I will go out to eat," Tsunade said with a pleasant smile, which her younger brother immediately understood.
"Sensei, the ramen restaurant on the corner is really good," Minato suggested, briefly pausing his chakra work to recommend the spot to Kawakaze.
"Good, let's go eat ramen," Kawakaze agreed, leading Tsunade out the door toward the corner ramen shop, which was bustling with business.
After entering and ordering, the noodles were served promptly. Kawakaze touched his waist as the steaming bowl of ramen was placed before him. His portion featured ten neatly stacked oysters on top.
Tsunade glanced at him with a knowing, mocking expression.
"Ahem~ I just suddenly felt like eating it," Kawakaze muttered, sounding a bit defensive. The truth was, he had been feeling a little overworked.
"I'll prescribe something to help, if you have the time," Tsunade replied nonchalantly before starting on her own noodles. Her cheeks, however, turned faintly pink.
That night, Kawakaze hadn't ended up sleeping on the floor after all. Instead, he slept soundly in Tsunade's arms. While he indulged in moderation, Kawakaze was mindful of his body—after all, they were heading to war soon.
He couldn't help but recall the movie Young and Dangerous, where Shan Chi's legs trembled when he went to Macau to kill someone because he was holding a knife. Kawakaze didn't want to end up like that.
Three days later, the main force finally arrived. Following the marks left by Kawakaze, Sakumo led the troops to the town, where they regrouped with the others.
After discussions, the group decided to rest for the night before setting out for the Land of Wind the following day.
That evening, Kawakaze, Tsunade, and the two younger ones gathered together for dinner.
"Have you finished?"
Sakumo sat down next to Kawakaze after everyone had shared a drink. At the same time, Duy's gaze shifted toward Kawakaze, his curiosity piqued.
"Yes," Kawakaze replied, deliberately playing hard to get, offering no further explanation.
"What is it, Kawakaze? Don't you trust us?" Duy asked, his curiosity on the verge of exploding. His youthful spirit refused to let him go without an answer.
"It's nothing important, just that I caught a Tailed Beast to play with," Kawakaze said with a faint smile, his tone carefree. He casually picked up a piece of meat and popped it into his mouth.
Tsunade glanced at him and immediately rolled her eyes in exasperation. He's acting like a fool again. Childish and lecherous—how did I end up in his hands?
"What?" Sakumo's voice rose, his face full of shock. He even sounded slightly angry. "You didn't tell me about something as huge as capturing a Tailed Beast?"
Sakumo had seen the devastation a Tailed Beast could unleash. If something had gone wrong, how would he have faced their deceased parents?
"Big Brother, it's already been sealed, so don't worry," Tsunade interjected calmly.
To confirm her words, butterfly wings appeared on her back, showcasing her status as a Jinchūriki.
"So you can fly?" Duy exclaimed, his reaction focused not on her being a Jinchūriki but on how awesome it was to fly.
"Yes, with the help of the Seven-Tails, we have a better chance of winning this war," Tsunade replied.
She knew Shukaku of the Land of Wind would be a formidable opponent. With his mastery of Wind Release and Fūinjutsu, he was highly defensive and difficult to subdue.
However, now that she was a Jinchūriki, she could stand a chance against him. Even if she couldn't defeat him outright, she would at least be able to hold her ground.
"It's better not to use it unless absolutely necessary," Sakumo advised. While the situation seemed settled, he was wary of the potential consequences of Konoha possessing two Tailed Beasts. Such news could make the other great nations more cautious—and possibly more hostile.
"Big Brother, there's no need to worry. As long as we're strong enough, it won't matter even if Konoha has all nine Tailed Beasts," Kawakaze said, understanding Sakumo's concerns but confidently brushing them aside.
"Let's keep this news a secret for now—it can still serve as a trump card," Sakumo said after a moment of thought.
"Of course. Starting tomorrow, I won't use the power of the Seven-Tails anymore," Tsunade readily agreed, allowing the butterfly wings on her back to disappear.
She understood the strategic importance of secrecy. If word spread that Konoha had deployed a Jinchūriki, the Land of Wind would likely respond by sending their own Jinchūriki into the fray. After all, in the minds of most people, the best solution to counter a Tailed Beast was to fight fire with fire—or Tailed Beast with Tailed Beast.
Only legends like Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha had treated Tailed Beasts like mere playthings.
With a single clap of his hands, Hashirama's Great Buddha could pin down any number of tails, grabbing them all at once and slamming them into the ground as if they were nothing.
Meanwhile, Madara's Mangekyō Sharingan shone as he subdued one Tailed Beast after another. Such feats were unimaginable to the other nations.