But it still was not enough.
Kiyohane understood very well how important talent was.
Sakura Haruno had taken three years to learn the Mystical Palm Technique.
Rin Nohara had gone from zero foundation to figuring it out without a teacher.
Meanwhile, Shizune had followed Tsunade around for years and only barely touched the threshold.
In the end, Shizune had never even learned Tsunade’s Strength of a Hundred Seal.
Because of that, she had been unable to inherit Tsunade’s combat system.
Fortunately, the current Kiyohane was not lacking either.
The forty percent efficiency boost from [Genius’s Solitude], the focused state brought by [Persevering Willpower], and now the natural foundation from [Innate Medical Body]—his growth speed would only become faster and faster.
If he wanted to live safely in the shinobi world, Kiyohane desperately wanted to improve.
…
Night.
Shizune had already gone to sleep.
Kiyohane practiced Water Release ninjutsu alone in the front yard.
After learning Water Release: Water Blade Slash, Kiyohane had started trying to practice Water Release: Water Barrage.
He had grasped the basics after only a day or two, and now he could already use it skillfully.
This Water Release ninjutsu allowed him to fire bullet-like jets of water from his hand to sweep across an opponent.
Kirigakure’s Water Release: Water Gun Technique was somewhat similar to this jutsu.
As for Tsunade, she had gone out again tonight.
Kiyohane did not need to ask to know that there was a ninety percent chance she had gone to a gambling hall.
Just then, the courtyard gate was kicked open from outside.
Bang!
Kiyohane turned around and saw Tsunade leaning crookedly against the doorframe.
A drunken flush colored her cheeks, and her amber eyes were covered with a misty layer of intoxication.
Her waist was slender enough to grasp in one hand, but as she staggered forward, the fullness of her upper body swayed so much it made people dizzy.
Kiyohane felt that he was steadily advancing toward becoming one of Tsunade’s loyal fans.
“Brat… come help me.”
Tsunade waved at him, her voice slurred.
Kiyohane sighed, withdrew his chakra, and walked forward to support one of Tsunade’s arms.
Tsunade unceremoniously leaned her entire weight onto him.
Fortunately, Kiyohane’s strength was already far greater than most children his age, and he had also recently obtained the [Great Strength] trait from Tsunade.
Although he was much smaller, helping Tsunade move was not too difficult.
After settling Tsunade onto the sofa, Kiyohane went to the kitchen and prepared something to help her sober up.
When he returned to the living room with the cup, Tsunade had already shifted into an even more unrestrained posture as she sprawled across the sofa.
She stretched lazily and unconsciously crossed her left calf over her right knee.
The hem of her tight cropped pants slid upward slightly, revealing a full, firm curve.
[Collectible trait detected: Tipsy Alcohol Tolerance.]
[E-rank Trait: Tipsy Alcohol Tolerance.]
[Effect: A small amount of alcohol will not make you lose composure.
Alcohol tolerance slightly increases.]
Kiyohane looked at the text that appeared before him, his expression subtle.
This trait was a little useless.
After all, there was a living negative example right in front of him.
The only use for this trait might be during an infiltration mission in the future, where he could drink a couple of cups with a target without exposing himself on the spot.
“Tsunade-nee, how much did you lose today?”
Kiyohane handed her the sobering drink.
“What do you mean, how much did I lose again?”
Tsunade replied unhappily.
Did this brat even know how to talk?
“Then did you win a lot, Tsunade-nee?”
Kiyohane changed his wording.
After all, the more someone lacked something, the more they tended to emphasize it.
Tsunade took the drink and gulped down a mouthful, then smacked her lips in satisfaction.
“Win?
Well, not exactly.
I was losing quite a lot at first…”
Kiyohane’s heart sank.
If Tsunade lost a lot, that meant the household living expenses had shrunk again.
Although Tsunade, as the top figure in Konoha’s medical-nin system, actually earned a considerable income and also possessed a large family inheritance, Kiyohane knew the inside truth very well.
This household had long since accumulated a lot of debt.
No matter how much money there was, it could not withstand her constitution of losing every time she gambled.
Besides, many things belonging to the Senju clan were not for sale, such as the First Hokage’s necklace around Tsunade’s neck.
So when it came to daily life, things were sometimes quite tight.
Tsunade often went to Jiraiya to borrow money.
As for Orochimaru, at first he also lent her money.
Later, he began saying things like his experimental funds were tight and stopped lending to Tsunade.
“And then?” Kiyohane asked.
“Then I accidentally smashed the table with one punch,” Tsunade said lightly.
“So they didn’t really count the money for the final round.”
Kiyohane raised an eyebrow.
Smashed the table with one punch?
He subconsciously imagined the scene.
Casino tables were not fragile junk.
How much strength would it take to smash one apart with a single punch?
The next moment, three lines of text appeared before his eyes.
[Collectible trait detected: Great Strength.]
[D-rank Trait: Great Strength.]
[Effect: Your strength is beyond ordinary people.
Physical strength increases by 20%.]
A surge of heat suddenly rose from every part of his body without warning, as if something were flowing through his bones and tendons before quickly merging into his muscles.
Kiyohane felt his body warm up, his skin faintly reddening. Enjoying the story? Read on at g.com.
At the same time, his strength was growing.
It was as if he had instantly been elevated by an entire level.
I was wrong.
You really are useful, Tsunade-nee.
Kiyohane thought that sincerely.
“Why do you look so strange, brat?”
Tsunade’s face suddenly leaned closer.
Only then did Kiyohane realize that the distance between them had somehow become very short.
There was still drunkenness in Tsunade’s brown-gold eyes.
She noticed Kiyohane’s face was a little red.
Was this brat embarrassed?
Tsunade found it amusing and raised a hand to pat Kiyohane’s head.
To be honest, when she looked closely, this brat really was handsome.
He had inherited the strengths of both the Uchiha and the Senju.
His features had the refinement of the Uchiha without being too delicate, and his black hair fell softly over his forehead.
“Don’t pat my head, Tsunade-nee.”
Kiyohane instinctively leaned back.
“Why not?”
“Because people in the village don’t like having their heads patted,” Kiyohane said seriously.
In the duel arena, head-patting was guaranteed to make people tilt.
Tsunade listened to his strange nonsense and did not think much of it, simply assuming Kiyohane was having one of his usual episodes.
This child sometimes said things she completely could not understand.
“You should rest, Tsunade-nee.”
Kiyohane glanced at the wall clock.
“Shizune is already asleep.”
If he had not still been practicing in the front yard and left the door unlocked, Tsunade probably would not have even been able to get in.
Or more accurately, after a long day, Master Tsunade would likely have chosen the simplest and most violent method of unlocking.
Smashing the door with one punch…
“Okay.”
Tsunade answered vaguely.
Kiyohane bent down and helped Tsunade take off her shoes.
A pair of smooth, fair feet slipped out of them, with slender ankles and neatly painted red toenails.
Kiyohane calmly looked away and helped Tsunade up again.
He brought Tsunade back to her bedroom and closed the door.
…
Early the next morning, at the Ninja Academy.
Kiyohane was flipping through the ninjutsu theory textbook for today’s lesson when a figure walked up and stopped in front of him.
He looked up.
It was Kurenai Yuhi.
“Kiyohane-kun, may I ask you some questions about genjutsu?”
There was a little hesitation in Kurenai’s voice, but she still voiced her request completely.