In a secluded residence somewhere in Konoha—
“Lady Mito, I’m back!”
Kushina Uzumaki skipped into the courtyard.
Hearing her voice, Uzumaki Mito stepped outside.
She was Senju Hashirama’s wife, and also the first jinchuriki of the Nine-Tails.
“How was your first day at school?”
Mito asked with a warm smile.
“It was pretty good.”
After saying that, Kushina pouted and added, “There were just a few boys who were really annoying.”
“They bullied you?”
Mito’s gaze sharpened slightly.
“I said I wanted to become Hokage, and they laughed at me.”
Kushina waved her little fist.
“If Natsuki hadn’t been there, I definitely would’ve punched them.”
“Who is Natsuki?”
Looking at her fierce but adorable expression, Mito asked again.
“He’s a really nice classmate.”
Kushina immediately started talking nonstop.
“He’s strong, he’s handsome, and the food he makes is really good too.”
“Sounds like you’ve made a very good friend.”
Mito smiled and quietly remembered the name Natsuki.
A new week began.
Natsuki took a day off and came to Konoha Hospital with Yakushi Nono.
Konoha Hospital had specially set aside a large classroom for the medical ninja training class’s exam that day.
Natsuki stopped at the door.
He wasn’t a student in the medical ninja training class, so there was no reason for him to go in.
“Nono, relax.
With your ability, there won’t be any problem.”
Natsuki reached out, patted her on the head, and encouraged her.
“Mm.”
Yakushi Nono replied softly, “I’ll do my best.”
After saying that, she turned and walked into the classroom.
Natsuki didn’t just wait around.
He went straight to Tsunade’s office.
After knocking and getting permission, he walked in.
“You’re not in class today?”
Seeing him, Tsunade paused for a moment and asked.
“I took the day off.”
Natsuki explained, “I came to watch Nono’s exam.”
“You don’t need to worry about her.”
Tsunade smiled.
“Her performance is definitely going to surprise you.”
Ever since Yakushi Nono joined the medical ninja training class, she had improved by leaps and bounds.
Tsunade had already started thinking about taking her as a student after she graduated.
“Lady Tsunade.”
Natsuki nodded, then changed the subject.
“There’s something I’d like to ask your help with.”
“What is it?”
Tsunade leaned forward slightly.
Natsuki immediately told her about how Shimura Danzo had cut off the Konoha Orphanage’s funding.
“So something like that actually happened?”
Tsunade showed no attempt to hide her disgust for Danzo.
She clenched her fist, and with her serious expression and jonin vest, she looked strikingly heroic.
Natsuki still preferred the more laid-back and generously endowed version of her from the original story, but the current Tsunade had her own kind of beauty.
“My teacher is still being far too lenient with him.”
Tsunade let out a cold snort.
“I’ll talk to him and make him restore the orphanage’s funding.”
“Thank you, Lady Tsunade.”
Natsuki bowed slightly.
“No need to thank me.”
Tsunade shook her head.
“This was my teacher’s negligence to begin with.”
Natsuki thought to himself that she was probably the only person in Konoha who dared say something like that.
Still, compared to her in the original story, she was already being pretty restrained now.
“The director and I are planning to open an izakaya to help support the Konoha Orphanage.”
Natsuki handed her an invitation card.
“I hope you’ll have time to come by when it opens.”
“Who did you hire as the chef?”
Tsunade became interested at once and asked curiously.
“I’m the chef.”
Natsuki answered.
Tsunade froze for a moment.
She had never eaten anything Natsuki made, so her first instinct was not to believe him.
Still, she didn’t call him out on it.
“I’ll definitely be there on time.”
Tsunade agreed readily.
The invitation made it very clear that Natsuki would be covering all her expenses that day.
In other words, free food and drinks.
Embarrassing as it was, she was always broke.
There was no helping it.
The biggest hobby in her life was gambling.
And she lost every single time, earning herself the legendary title of the Slug Princess—well, more precisely, the legendary sucker.
“Thank you for honoring me with your presence, Lady Tsunade.”
A smile appeared on Natsuki’s face.
In his previous life, he had majored in journalism, so he understood very well what a celebrity effect was.
Inviting Tsunade was, at its core, a way to use her fame to promote the izakaya.
That would be especially useful for the high-end route he wanted the place to take.
Soon it was afternoon.
The medical ninja training class exam shifted from theory to practical work.
After scanning the room, Natsuki realized Yakushi Nono was facing serious competition.
Because more than half the students in the class were already wearing Konoha forehead protectors.
That meant they were already officially ninja.
Compared to Yakushi Nono, that gave them a much bigger advantage.
“The exam begins now.”
The chief examiner was none other than Tsunade.
After all, she was the person in charge of the medical ninja training class.
The practical exam for the medical ninja training class consisted of transplanting an organ into a fish.
In less than half an hour, Yakushi Nono caused a stir.
Because she had already completed the transplant surgery.
“How can she be that fast?”
“She’s only seven, and she’s already faster than us genin?”
“What kind of talent is this?”
The classroom immediately erupted into noisy commotion.
“Quiet.”
Tsunade spoke up at once to stop them.
“Everyone else, continue with the exam.” You are reading on g.com, the official source.
After saying that, she looked at Yakushi Nono.
“You may leave now.
The rankings will be announced tomorrow.”
The corners of Tsunade’s lips lifted.
She was clearly very satisfied.
“Thank you, Lady Tsunade.”
Yakushi Nono packed up her things and left the classroom.
After only a few steps, she arrived in front of Natsuki and looked up at him.
“That was amazing.”
Natsuki pinched her cheek and praised her.
Yakushi Nono immediately showed a soft, gentle smile.
The next day—
The rankings for the medical ninja training class were announced, and Yakushi Nono took first place.
In the Hokage’s office—
“Nono’s talent as a medical ninja is really outstanding.
She’s only a little worse than you were.”
Looking at the rankings from the medical ninja training class, Hiruzen Sarutobi said with a smile.
The appearance of an excellent medical ninja was something that could have an immeasurable effect on Konoha.
As Hokage, naturally he was pleased.
“Mm.”
Tsunade didn’t deny it, then brought up the matter Natsuki had asked her to help with.
“As for the orphanage, I won’t let Danzo interfere with it again.”
Hiruzen said in a serious tone.
“He’s been overstepping far too much.
Teacher, you should keep a tighter leash on him.”
Tsunade said it bluntly.
“Danzo still knows where the line is.”
Hiruzen coughed lightly.
“I’ll keep an eye on him, so you don’t need to worry about it.”
Hearing that, Tsunade didn’t say anything more.
“After Nono graduates, will you be her team leader?”
Hiruzen changed the subject and asked.
“That’s fine.”
After thinking about it, Tsunade agreed.
The ninja world placed great importance on the teacher-student relationship, and she needed a student of her own too.
“Have Orochimaru be Nawaki’s team leader.”
Tsunade paused, then added, “And have Natsuki be his teammate.”
“So you’re very satisfied with Natsuki.”
Hiruzen understood Tsunade well.
The fact that she wanted Natsuki to be Nawaki’s teammate meant she had already acknowledged him.
“I already talked to Orochimaru about it before.
His answer was that he wanted to observe for a while first.”
Hiruzen continued, “Jiraiya will be back next week.
The three of you can discuss it properly then.”
“So who’s going to be Jiraiya’s student?”
Tsunade caught on immediately.
“I’m planning to have him be Minato’s team leader.”
Hiruzen answered.
“I see.”
Tsunade’s understanding of Minato Namikaze came mostly from what Natsuki and Yakushi Nono had said, and she knew he was a pretty good genius.
Next week, huh?
Perfect timing.
Natsuki’s izakaya will be opening, so I can stop by there too.