If I drag this out any longer, I’ll lose my chance.
I have to seize the one and only opening to counterattack!
Another close pass—Tsunade’s roundhouse hook came whistling in with terrifying force, driving Genshin to twist aside and dodge it.
In the instant their figures crossed and the distance between them was at its closest, Genshin’s gaze suddenly hardened, and he gave up on continuing to defend.
His body dropped low all at once, his center of gravity pressed fully down; even as he avoided the oncoming fist-wind, the toes of his right foot pushed off the ground, and his figure slid before Tsunade like a flitting shadow.
His palm flipped over, and a kunai imbued with Hamon Chakra slid out from his sleeve, seized in Genshin’s grip.
During the process of dodging the attack just now, Genshin had used Hamon to keep the kunai suspended against the forearm inside his sleeve, while simultaneously—splitting his focus—continuously channeling Hamon Chakra to strengthen the kunai’s sharpness.
The tip of the kunai had even extended a Chakra Blade, just like Asuma Sarutobi’s short knife!
This was the final strike!
Genshin gathered all his remaining Hamon Chakra; not aiming for the body, not striking a vital point, the kunai stabbed with pinpoint precision toward Tsunade’s waist!
Swish!
The kunai imbued with Hamon Chakra was sharp beyond compare.
But… against a powerhouse like Tsunade, it still wasn’t enough.
The kunai stopped before Tsunade’s waist, pinched between two of her fingers.
But there was one thing she hadn’t noticed—this kunai… had a Chakra Blade.
Shk!
The next second, the navy-blue cloth belt snapped apart with a sound!
The belt’s fastening function instantly failed, Tsunade’s top loosened slightly, and the fabric over her chest slid slowly to either side.
Holy crap, is this something I’m even allowed to look at?!
Genshin’s eyes went wide.
Luckily, the sliding garment was caught by a hand, preventing the domain expansion that would have followed.
It was precisely Tsunade’s hand—she’d stopped it, sparing this book from the ban-hammer.
Genshin looked up at Tsunade, meeting head-on her dangerous smile that didn’t reach her eyes… and another fist raised high, its knuckles cracking.
Oh boy, I’m done for.
Brothers, am I gonna die?
“You… you rotten little brat!!!”
Bam!
The fist slammed heavily down onto Genshin’s forehead.
No serious injury, no sending him flying—Tsunade controlled her force just right, dazing him without harming his brain.
Genshin’s vision went black; his head had already planted into the ground, his whole body stuck upside-down in the dirt like something out of a manga.
“So painful…”
After thinking it over, Genshin figured his head might as well stay in the ground a while longer; pulling it out now would probably just earn him another punch, so he’d stay planted like this and wait until Tsunade’s anger cooled before pulling out—no rush.
This round was no loss—hell, it was a blood-profit.
A dignified member of the Sannin, a top-tier powerhouse of the Shinobi World, nearly getting a fanservice CG beaten out of her by a six-year-old kid—I can brag about this feat for the rest of my life.
Above ground, Tsunade drew a deep breath and unclenched her fist.
Yes—if Genshin had dared to pull his head out just now, Tsunade really had been planning to plant him in the ground one more time.
She shot the ground-planted, tactful Genshin a fierce glare, yet couldn’t summon up the slightest bit of anger anymore.
She lowered her head to tidy her clothes and retie them, then raised her eyes to look at Genshin—who was struggling to pull his two legs out of the ground while little Naruto yammered and squawked around him—her eyes full of complicated feelings.
“You brat… you’re really something else.”
Tsunade sighed helplessly, the anger already gone from her voice.
“Six years old, and able to use Chakra to this degree, holding out this long against my Chakra Enhanced Strength, even finding the flaw to strike back—the old man was right, you really do have talent on par with my grandfather.”
As she spoke, Tsunade bent down and pulled the redheaded radish out of the ground.
Looking at Genshin—filthy-faced with a big red lump swelling on his forehead—a hint of tenderness flickered in Tsunade’s eyes.
Genshin’s features did bear some resemblance to Uzumaki Mito, and combined with his First-Hokage-like Chakra traits and his status as a direct heir of the Uzumaki Clan, she truly couldn’t just leave him be.
She sighed and reached out to pat Genshin’s forehead.
Holy crap, again?
Genshin shrank his head back, only to find no pain came; he reached up to touch his forehead.
Huh?
The swelling was gone?
Tsunade withdrew her hand, the green light of Medical Ninjutsu on her palm slowly dispersing.
She looked at Genshin, her expression utterly serious.
“Uzumaki Genshin, are you willing to become my disciple?”
A smile appeared on Jiraiya’s face—this was exactly the situation both the Third and he had hoped to see.
Having Tsunade personally instruct Genshin was, without a doubt, the choice best suited to his talent.
A surge of wild joy welled up in Genshin’s heart, and he immediately nodded hard: “I’m willing!
Master Tsunade!”
Not a shred of hesitation—this was the top-tier opportunity Genshin could grab at this stage.
Seeing how decisive he was, Tsunade broke into a hearty grin: “A kid who isn’t wishy-washy is far more likeable!
C’mere, big sis will treat you to a good meal first!”
By now it was already evening; ordinarily around this time Genshin and little Naruto would be eating too.
The group headed toward the Akimichi family’s barbecue restaurant, the setting sun stretching the four figures’ shadows out long.
Genshin walked at Tsunade’s side, rubbing his no-longer-swollen forehead, still replaying that exhilarating sparring match in his mind—being able to hold out this long under a member of the Sannin, and even advancing his Chakra control technique quite a bit, this had already far exceeded his expectations.
Tsunade glanced at the spaced-out Genshin, reached out and roughly ruffled his red hair; the soft strands tickled her palm, and she raised an eyebrow with a smile: “Alright, once a fight’s over you eat and drink as you please.
As for how you train going forward, just leave it to big sis to arrange.
So young and already fretting over so much—careful you go bald when you grow up!”
Wagh, you wicked old woman, what a vicious curse!
Grumbling and muttering inwardly, Genshin’s body was nonetheless very obedient as he bowed and assented.
The aroma of street-side barbecue wafted over; little Naruto’s nose twitched, and he tugged at the hem of Jiraiya—whom he was gradually warming up to—and ran toward the barbecue place.
Tsunade laughed and pulled Genshin along to follow: “Let’s go, let’s go, big sis is treating today—eat all you want!”
The moment they stepped into the barbecue restaurant, the meaty fragrance mixed with charcoal smoke rushed straight into their nostrils; the sizzling, oil-dripping meat flipped over on the iron griddle, and the aroma of splattering grease set stomachs growling.
When the Akimichi family’s shopkeeper saw Tsunade and Jiraiya, he blanked for a moment, then immediately recognized the legendary Sannin, and hurriedly led the group to a private room.
Tsunade waved her hand grandly and ordered a whole table full of dishes right away—sake, beef tongue, short rib, and pork belly all laid out in a row, the grill set in the middle of the table, the fat soon beginning to sizzle.
Naruto gripped a grilled short rib in both hands, cheeks stuffed full and bulging, juices dribbling down his chin; Jiraiya handed him a towel, earning a muffled thank-you from the little guy.
Halfway through the meal, Tsunade set down her cup, wiped her hands with a napkin, and spoke to Genshin: “Starting tomorrow, in the mornings you’ll train Ninjutsu fundamentals with me, in the afternoons you’ll hone your Taijutsu and Chakra, and three times a week we’ll spar and check your progress in sync.
Any problems?”
Genshin immediately set down his chopsticks and sat up straight, nodding earnestly: “I’ll follow whatever Master arranges.”
…
The night wind swept fine flecks of snow along; everyone was on their way back.
Tsunade was taken home by her disciple-cum-maid, Shizune.
The carefree Tsunade hadn’t said a word to Shizune when she’d gone out to eat; by the time Shizune found the barbecue restaurant, all she saw was a dead-drunk Tsunade and three people wearing headache-stricken expressions.
Hardened—Shizune’s fist had hardened.
Letting out a sigh, the well-behaved Miss Shizune still chose to prop up Tsunade, and after bidding farewell to her junior and his group, headed back.
As for Jiraiya, he took charge of walking Genshin and Naruto home.
At this moment Naruto was sprawled asleep on Jiraiya’s back, snoring away; Jiraiya gently supported Naruto’s legs, adjusting his posture so the boy could sleep more soundly, afraid that too large a movement might disturb the slumbering child.
“Master Jiraiya… you know Naruto, don’t you?”
“Oh, so you saw through it after all?
But I can’t tell you the specifics, you know—it’s a debt I owe this child.”
“Then, Master Jiraiya, could you stay and look after Naruto?
You must have noticed—Naruto is actually very afraid of loneliness.”
This child was short in stature, always fond of clutching at other people’s clothes, afraid of walking down empty streets, staring blankly at the lit windows of other people’s homes, unable to tell goodwill from pity; as long as someone spared him even an extra glance, he would desperately try to please them.
If it were at all possible, Genshin sincerely hoped Jiraiya could stay and care for Naruto.
Jiraiya gently shook his head, lifting a hand to brush aside the messy blond hair on Naruto’s forehead, a few complicated feelings hidden in his eyes: “I’ll be leaving Konoha early tomorrow morning.
Since a war won’t be breaking out, I need to head out to gather intelligence.
The old man previously entrusted me to investigate Kumogakure’s subsequent movements and guard against the Raikage breaking the agreement.”
At these words, Genshin was slightly startled, and lifted his eyes to look at Jiraiya.
They’d only just met not long ago, and he hadn’t yet had the chance to thank the man for bringing him to Konoha, and now the other was already about to travel far.
As if seeing through the thoughts in Genshin’s heart, Jiraiya raised a hand and lightly patted his head of soft red hair: “When I came back and heard the Third mention you, even now I’m still counting my blessings—thank goodness I found you in the Land of Bears.”
“Found a child who carries the Will of Fire, who cares for his comrades, cares for the village, who has principles and knows his limits.”
He paused; the Naruto on his back let out a faint sleep-murmur, and Jiraiya instinctively softened his voice: “With you looking after Naruto, I can travel with peace of mind.
Tsunade will personally teach you Taijutsu and Ninjutsu, and the old man in the village will back you up.
With your talent, if peace in the Shinobi World should someday fail, then with you in Konoha, there’ll be one more irreplaceable barrier.”
Hearing this warmed Genshin’s heart.
Is this the brainwashing power of the Will of Fire?
Why do I feel like I’m about to offer up my heart for Konoha too?
Seemingly casual and easygoing, but in fact meticulously attentive, the white-haired uncle meant every single word from the bottom of his heart.
Arriving at the residence, Jiraiya handed Naruto over to Genshin.
“Safe travels, Uncle Jiraiya.” Genshin bid him farewell.
With his back turned, Jiraiya waved a hand, saying no more, his figure soon vanishing into the depths of the winding streets and alleys, melting into the hazy night.
Gazing at the hazy outline of the distant Hokage Rock, Genshin’s eyes were full of a clear goal.
There were still nine years until the official plot began, and he would use these nine years to develop himself to the point where he could end the Fourth Shinobi World War.
As for immersing himself in the world of dreams—better to forget about that…
Reality is sometimes beautiful, sometimes cruel, but no matter what, it is real; only when we are awake is the sky truly at daybreak.