章 16: Academy

In the tranquility of his modest room, Chen sat cross-legged on his worn tatami mat.

The morning light filtered through the window, illuminating his serene yet determined face. He closed his eyes and began to breathe deeply, starting his daily ritual of chakra refinement.

Chen felt the familiar sensation of energy flowing through his body, but something was different. The chakra stream, which usually flowed like a mighty river, now felt like a lazy brook. He frowned slightly, focusing more intensely.

Minutes turned into hours. The sun climbed higher in the sky, bathing the room in light. Chen remained motionless, his mind solely on the task of compressing and refining his chakra.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Chen opened his eyes. Frustration was evident in his normally impassive gaze. He sighed deeply, allowing himself a moment of weakness.

"A year of constant training," he murmured to himself, "and progress has slowed so much..."

He slowly stood up, stretching his stiff muscles. Chen formed a seal with his hands, and in an instant, several shadow clones appeared around him.

"Continue the training," he ordered his duplicates. "I'll be back soon."

The clones nodded silently and left the room, leaving the original alone with his thoughts.

...

Chen walked through the streets of Konoha, his presence causing a quiet stir.

An elderly woman dropped her shopping bag, her eyes following Chen with a mix of awe and embarrassment. A young kunoichi crashed into a post, too distracted by the sight of Chen to watch where she was going.

Girls, teenagers, and adults couldn't help but stare at him, fascinated not only by his unique appearance.

Chen felt proud of the attention he received. He knew the reason behind it but preferred to keep a low profile.

'Luckily none of them have thrown themselves at me,' he thought, relieved to see that no woman came too close. He found dealing with so much attention uncomfortable, though he understood the reason behind it.

Finally, he arrived at the Ninja Academy. Pausing momentarily to admire the imposing entrance.

Upon entering, he approached the reception to register. "I'm here to enroll in the academy," he said confidently.

The receptionist, a young woman, couldn't help but stutter upon seeing him. "S-Sure, I just need some details and the enrollment fee," she replied, trying to keep her composure.

Chen raised an eyebrow upon hearing about the fee. "Enrollment fee? How much is it?" he asked, trying to hide his frustration.

The receptionist informed him of the cost, and Chen felt a twinge of displeasure thinking about his financial situation. "It's always about money," he murmured to himself as he took out the necessary money to pay.

The receptionist, with a flushed face, her hands trembling slightly as she processed his registration. "T-thank you for choosing our academy, Chen-kun," she said, her voice higher than usual.

Chen, uncomfortable but resigned, walked away while commenting, "The cost is quite high."

The receptionist, eager to see him go, quickly responded: "Oh, but it's worth every penny, Chen-kun! I'm sure you'll be an exceptional student."

…

Back on the streets, Chen noticed a group of academy girls whispering and looking at him. One of them, gathering courage, approached him.

"Hello, Chen-kun!" she said, her voice quivering slightly. "I was wondering if... if maybe you would like to join us for lunch one day."

Chen, thinking about his financial situation and his hunter's diet, replied calmly, "I appreciate the offer, but I have my own arrangements for meals."

The girl looked disappointed but moved away, returning to her friends who immediately began to console her and look at Chen nervously.

As he continued his journey, Chen reflected on his future. 'I should kidnap Konan soon, she could be the key to my wealth,' he thought, ignoring the persistent gaze of the women around him.

I could look for Konan, but I'm sure Konan has just been born, or worse, hasn't been born yet.

Lost in his thoughts until his senses warned him of a familiar presence, when a familiar voice pulled him out of his thoughts.

"Oh! Is that little Chen?"

"Little?!" Hearing that they called him small, Chen's head turned sharply, but he raised an eyebrow when he recognized the figure in front of the casino.

Tsunade looked at him with a mixture of surprise and affection.

Chen couldn't help but notice the changes in her figure, especially her breasts, which seemed to have grown to...a D cup, it seems to have developed well over the past year.

'Ah... how beautiful is youth,' thought Chen, with a subtle smile drawing on his face.

Tsunade, perceiving the intensity of Chen's gaze, whispered visibly. "Chen, where are your eyes looking?" she exclaimed, approaching to give him a playful blow to the head. But Chen avoided the blow with ease, his smile never hesitating.

'A mad woman…' thought Chen, amused by Tsunade's reaction.

Before he could say anything, Tsunade wrapped him in a hug, pressing his head against her wide chest.

Chen, like every man, let himself be embraced by a beautiful woman, and feeling Tsunade's breasts against his face, he breathed in her fragrance, suffocating in her embrace.

Tsunade was internally conflicted. Part of her felt embarrassed by her impulsive behavior, while another part harbored a strong desire to keep Chen close. 'He's grown so much,' she thought, pressing Chen's head more firmly against her chest.

Unbeknownst to Tsunade, the attraction she felt was partly due to a new ability Chen had recently won in a lottery.

This ability significantly heightened his appeal to the opposite sex, making women irresistibly drawn to him.

Recalling how he acquired this ability, Chen couldn't help but smirk inwardly. When he'd first gained it, he had laughed maniacally, feeling akin to the Ogre Yujiro Hanma. With his looks and this new power, he considered himself on par with Yujiro in terms of allure.

Despite savoring the moment, Chen maintained his outward composure. "Lady Tsunade," he said respectfully, gently pulling away from the embrace. "It's a pleasure to see you again."

Blushing, Tsunade regained her composure and nodded. "You've grown so much, Chen. How is your training going?"

As they talked under the Konoha sun, Chen was acutely aware of the effect he had on her.

With a mischievous smile, Tsunade patted her chest proudly, creating a visual that Chen couldn't help but notice. "Now that little Chen is here, your big sister will take you to the heavens," she declared confidently.

Chen, keeping his exterior calm, nodded slightly. "If you say so..." he murmured, his eyes lingering on her chest as it moved.

"Stop staring!" Tsunade exclaimed, her face turning a bright shade of red. Despite her embarrassment, she grabbed Chen's hand and dragged him toward the casino.

Chen was about to refuse; he wasn't in the mood for gambling with her. Suddenly, a brilliant idea struck him. 'This is a perfect opportunity to make some money,' he thought, a subtle smile forming on his lips.

As Tsunade led him eagerly, Chen weighed his options. He felt a twinge of guilt for exploiting the situation, but his pragmatism prevailed. 'After winning, I'll compensate Tsunade, but for now, let's win it all.'

"Chen, look! Let's start with this machine!" Tsunade exclaimed, pointing to a slot machine.

Chen nodded, assessing the situation. "Lady Tsunade, why don't you teach me how to play?" he asked innocently.

________

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