Kawakaze watched Tsunade's swaying figure, following her with his gaze until she disappeared from sight.
"Come back to us."
"Come back to us, Big Brother."
Nawaki patted Kawakaze's arm. His sister was gone—so why keep looking?
Could it be that his sister possessed some hidden qualities he hadn't noticed? Nawaki's small head swirled with big question marks.
"Ahem."
A tactical cough.
"I was just thinking about my lost ideals."
"Let me teach you something useful."
Kawakaze lied smoothly, changing the subject as he turned to instruct Nawaki.
"What are you going to teach me, Big Brother?"
Nawaki's eyes lit up with excitement, as though whatever he learned would make him as strong as Kawakaze by tomorrow.
"Stand up straight, half squat, and keep your arms straight," Kawakaze said, taking the Eight-Sided Han Sword from his back. He used it to correct Nawaki's unsteady horse stance, patting and adjusting until the posture was right.
He then placed the Eight-Sided Han Sword across Nawaki's outstretched arms.
"What is this? Will it work?"
Nawaki looked skeptical, feeling like he was being played. Could crouching really make him stronger?
"Breathe in deeply," Kawakaze instructed.
"Exhale."
He continued giving directions on breathing.
"Now hold it for two hours."
This was something Kawakaze had experienced firsthand. Thanks to the strong constitutions and various energies present in individuals from the Naruto world, even simple exercises like the horse stance had greatly enhanced effects.
Not only did it build leg muscles, but it also stimulated cellular activity and accelerated Chakra transformation.
"Remember to transform your Chakra and use Water Attribute Chakra to relieve muscle fatigue," Kawakaze added.
Nawaki, determined to become stronger, reluctantly followed the instructions. If he hadn't acknowledged Kawakaze as his Big Brother, he wouldn't have put up with this. And it definitely wasn't because of the Eight-Sided Han Sword.
Kawakaze, having set Nawaki up, moved to a nearby tree, pulling out a beauty magazine to flip through. He sighed inwardly—there really wasn't anyone with a better figure than Tsunade.
Meanwhile, Nawaki adjusted his breathing, striving to maintain his balance while transforming his Chakra. When his legs began to ache, he mobilized his Chakra to ease the discomfort. At first, his control was clumsy—his legs even twitched, nearly making him fall.
After some trial and error, he discovered the method's surprising effectiveness. His Chakra transformation noticeably accelerated.
Big Brother Kawakaze truly lives up to his reputation, teaching me such an amazing training method right away. Nawaki clenched his fists in determination. I'll work hard—not just to get stronger, but to help him woo my sister!
One big, one small; one perched in the tree, the other in the field—neither disturbing the other.
After about two hours, Kawakaze had dozed off in the tree. Having watched countless movies in his time, he couldn't stay engrossed in a magazine for long.
Meanwhile, beads of sweat dripped from Nawaki's forehead, forming a small puddle on the ground beside him.
"Time to eat, Kawakaze."
Tsunade's voice carried through the air. Though she couldn't see him, she could sense Kawakaze's presence in the tree.
Nawaki remained crouched in the same position. He had lost track of time, but since Kawakaze hadn't told him to stop, he persisted.
Such a promising seed shouldn't be wasted. Kawakaze climbed down from the tree and approached Nawaki, removing the sword from his back and holding it out to him.
"You like it, right? Here, play with it. I'll make another one for you later."
Nawaki's face lit up, as if he had just received his favorite toy. He would have admired it longer if it weren't already time to eat.
"Big Brother, this sword looks so sharp," Nawaki said as he struggled to pull the blade out of its sheath. It was still too long for him; his arms couldn't span its full length.
As he gazed at the eight razor-sharp edges, he felt a faint, icy aura emanating from it. This sword had seen its share of bloodshed.
"Of course, this is the most successful creation of our Hatake Weapon Workshop," Kawakaze said proudly.
"No one else in Konoha can forge something like this."
The pride in Kawakaze's voice was evident—this workshop was his crowning achievement, his golden goose.
"So, Big Brother, does that mean you're really rich?"
Nawaki's small eyes sparkled with admiration, filled with the hope that this brother-in-law could be the savior of their family's finances. After all, he knew how much money his sister had squandered over time. If not for their grandmother, they might have lost their estate long ago.
"Not really," Kawakaze replied with a modest wave of his hand. "Just one of the top three wealthiest in Konoha."
"Wow..."
Before Nawaki could express his awe, Tsunade's impatient voice cut in.
"Nawaki! I told you to eat—can't you hear me? Come here!"
Her tone toward her younger brother was commanding, leaving no room for argument.
Kawakaze felt as though he'd been swept up by her authoritative energy. For a brief moment, he wondered if he should reconsider his plans.
Before he could dwell on it, Nawaki grabbed him and pulled him toward Tsunade.
"Let's go, Kawakaze. I've got some good sake," Tsunade said, her demeanor softening, almost as if spring had arrived in her expression.
Kawakaze blinked, trying to reconcile this warmth with her earlier sternness.
"Okay, from now on, just call me Kawakaze, Tsunade," he said, his words spilling out before he could stop himself.
Only close friends addressed each other so casually, and they'd known each other for barely two days. It felt premature no matter how he looked at it.
"Okay, Kawakaze," Tsunade replied, her cheeks faintly pink as she adapted to the name with surprising ease.
"I'm hungry," Nawaki interrupted, blissfully unaware of the charged atmosphere, leading the way with his sword in hand.
Tsunade and Kawakaze exchanged a smile and followed behind, heading toward the dining room.
The Senju Clan's resources ran deep, and even their dining room radiated grandeur, far beyond the current state of the Hatake Clan.
Upon entering, they saw an older woman with striking red hair tied in a topknot seated at the head of the table. Despite her age, she was youthful and good-looking. Beside her sat a young girl with matching red hair.
Kawakaze had a hunch about their identities, and the timing fit perfectly.
He watched as Nawaki walked over, greeted the woman at the table as "Grandma," and took his seat, carefully placing his sword next to him.
As expected, the sword immediately caught the young girl's attention. Her eyes sparkled with curiosity—it was a weapon unlike anything she had ever seen.
"Kushina, this is my Big Brother's sword. Isn't it cool?"
Nawaki's voice brimmed with energy as he proudly showed off the blade, knowing it had captured her gaze.
"How cool is it?"
Kushina, often teased at school for her red hair, found solace in her bond with Nawaki. Perhaps their familial connection gave her a sense of belonging.
...
Tsunade led Kawakaze to their seats, offering a polite greeting to her grandmother.
"Lady Mito, it's an honor to meet you. I am Kawakaze Hatake. Pleased to make your acquaintance."
Kawakaze bowed respectfully, though the closer he got, the more acutely he sensed an ominous Chakra presence. Mito Uzumaki concealed it well, but Kawakaze's sharp perception picked up on the subtle energy nonetheless.
"Kawakaze, there's no need for such formality. Tsunade has already told me about you. Please, have a seat," Mito said with a gentle smile, extending her hand to guide him to a seat next to Tsunade.
Kawakaze noted her calm demeanor and discerned no malice in her.
Once everyone was seated, the servants began to bring out the food and drinks.
Dishes were placed on the table one after another—familiar sashimi, a variety of snacks to pair with the drinks, and delicately crafted sushi.
Tsunade filled Kawakaze's glass with sake, then poured one for herself. To Kawakaze's surprise, Mito also requested a glass and filled it before pouring her own.
At the other end of the table, Nawaki and Kushina had already started showing off, their lively energy filling the room. Mito watched them with an indulgent smile, clearly granting them her permission to carry on.