However, it was not enough.
Sosuke knew very well the importance of talent.
It took Sakura Haruno three years to master the “Mystical Palm Technique”; Rin Nohara went from zero foundation to self-taught mastery, while Shizune had followed Tsunade around for years and had only just barely touched the threshold.
In the end, Shizune couldn’t even learn Tsunade’s “Yin Seal,” which meant Shizune was unable to inherit Tsunade’s combat system.
Fortunately, Sosuke wasn’t bad either now.
With the 40% efficiency bonus from [Genius’s Loneliness], the focused state brought by [Perseverance], and now the foundation of the [Innate Medical Body, his progress would only get faster and faster.
If he wanted to live safely in the Ninja World, Sosuke wanted to improve more than anything.
…
Nighttime.
Shizune was already asleep.
Sosuke was alone in the front courtyard practicing Water Release Ninjutsu.
After learning “Water Style: Water Blade Slash,” Sosuke was now trying to practice “Water Release: Water Bullet.”
He had only practiced for a day or two before he got the hang of it, and now he could use it proficiently.
This Water Release Ninjutsu could fire bullet-like water projectiles from his hands to strafe opponents.
The “Water Style: Water Gun Jutsu” from the neighboring Hidden Mist Village was similar to this technique.
As for Tsunade, she had gone out again tonight.
Sosuke didn’t need to ask to know that nine times out of ten, it was the casino.
Just then, the courtyard gate was kicked open from the outside.
~Bang!
Sosuke turned around and saw Tsunade leaning crookedly against the doorframe.
Her cheeks were flushed with a rosy hue, and her amber eyes were veiled in a drunken mist.
Her waist was slender enough to be encircled by one’s hands, but as she stumbled forward, the fair, voluminous mounds on her upper body swayed, dizzying to behold.
“Brat…
aren’t you going to come and support me?”
Tsunade waved at him, her voice slurred.
Sosuke sighed, withdrew Chakra, walked forward, and supported Tsunade by her arm.
Tsunade’s entire weight pressed against him without hesitation.
Even though he was much smaller in size, supporting this “big” of a woman wasn’t too strenuous.
After settling Tsunade on the sofa, Sosuke went to the kitchen to prepare something to sober her up.
By the time he returned to the living room with the cup, Tsunade had already changed into a more heroic posture, sprawled out on the sofa.
She stretched, subconsciously crossing her left lower leg over her right knee.
The hem of her tight capri pants slid up a bit, revealing a plump, firm curve.
[Detected collectible trait: Tipsy Alcohol Tolerance]
[E-Rank Trait: Tipsy Alcohol Tolerance]
[Effect: Minor alcohol consumption will not cause loss of composure, slightly increased tolerance to alcohol.]
Sosuke looked at the text appearing before him with a subtle expression. You are reading on g.com, the official source.
This trait was a bit useless.
He had no interest in drinking.
After all, there was a living, breathing negative example right in front of him.
The only use for this trait was probably so that when he performed infiltration missions in the future, he could have a drink with the target without giving himself away on the spot.
“Sister Tsunade, how much did you lose today?”
Sosuke handed over the sobering drink.
“What do you mean, ‘how much did I lose again’?”
Tsunade replied with dissatisfaction.
Did this brat even know how to talk?
“Then did Sister Tsunade win a lot?”
Sosuke changed his phrasing.
After all, the less one has of something, the more one tends to emphasize it.
Tsunade took it and gulped it down, smacking her lips in satisfaction:
“Winning, well, that didn’t happen.
I was losing quite a lot initially…”
Sosuke’s heart sank.
Tsunade losing a lot meant that the household’s living expenses had shrunk again.
Although Tsunade, as the top figure in the Konoha Medical Ninja system, had a considerable income and a wealthy family estate,
As an insider, Sosuke knew very well that this household had long been in significant debt.
No matter how much money there was, it couldn’t withstand her habit of always losing whenever she gambled.
Moreover, many things belonging to the Senju Clan were actually priceless heirlooms, such as the First Hokage’s necklace around Tsunade’s neck.
So in daily life, things were sometimes very tight, and Tsunade often went to borrow money from Jiraiya.
As for Orochimaru, he had lent her money at first, but later he started claiming that experimental funding was tight and stopped lending to Tsunade.
“And then?”
Sosuke asked.
“Then I accidentally smashed the table with one punch.”
Tsunade said nonchalantly.
“So the last round didn’t really count for money.”
Sosuke raised an eyebrow.
Smashed a table with one punch?
He subconsciously imagined the scene.
Casino tables were not cheaply made; how much strength would it take to smash one with a single punch?
The next moment, three lines of text appeared before his eyes.
[Detected collectible trait: Great Strength]
[D-Rank Trait: Great Strength]
A surge of heat welled up from his limbs and bones without warning, as if something was coursing through his muscles and bones, then quickly merged into his core, deep inside his meridians and veins.
After a few moments, Sosuke only felt his body heat up, his skin even flushing slightly.
It was as if he had instantly leveled up.
‘I was wrong; you are still useful, Sister Tsunade.’
Sosuke thought sincerely in his heart.
“Why do you look so weird, kid?”
Tsunade’s face suddenly leaned in close.
Only then did Sosuke notice that the distance between them had become very close at some point.
There was still a drunken haze in Tsunade’s brownish-gold eyes, and she noticed that Sosuke’s face was a bit red.
Could this brat be shy?
Tsunade found it amusing and reached out to pat Sosuke’s head.
Come to think of it, this kid was actually quite handsome when you looked closely.
He had inherited the advantages of both the Uchiha and Senju families; his features possessed the delicacy of the Uchiha Clan without being too effeminate, and his black hair rested softly against his forehead.
“Don’t pat my head, Sister Tsunade.”
Sosuke subconsciously leaned back.
“Why not?”
Sosuke ignored her.
“It’s time to rest, Sister Tsunade.”
Sosuke glanced at the wall clock.
“Shizune is already asleep.”
If he hadn’t been practicing in the front courtyard and left the door unlocked, Tsunade probably wouldn’t have even been able to get in.
Or more accurately, Master Tsunade, exhausted from the day, would probably have chosen the simplest, most violent way to unlock the door.
Smashing the door to pieces with a punch…
“Okay.”
Tsunade responded groggily.
Sosuke bent down to help Tsunade take off her shoes.
A pair of crystalline, fair, and jade-like feet slid out of the shoes, with slender ankles and plump toes neatly painted with red nail polish.
Sosuke averted his gaze without changing his expression and supported Tsunade again.
He took Tsunade back to her bedroom and closed the door.
The next morning, Ninja Academy.
Sosuke was flipping through the Ninjutsu theory textbook for the day’s lesson when a figure stopped in front of him.
He looked up; it was Kurenai Yuhi.
“Sosuke, may I ask you some questions about Genjutsu?”
There was a hint of hesitation in Kurenai Yuhi’s tone, but she still stated her request completely.