章 4: Sister, let’s check your body
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Natsume practiced his Wood Release ninjutsu with caution. His foundation was still weak, and pushing too hard could lead to complications.
"If Tsunade were here," he thought, "she could heal me with her medical ninjutsu—assuming I wasn't blown to bits."
Natsume had started learning ninja basics from Yakushi Nono just last year, but his talent wasn't anything exceptional. He hadn't even mastered the Three Basic Techniques yet; he'd only learned how to extract chakra.
The door creaked open.
Natsume looked up and called out sweetly, "Tsunade-nee."
Tsunade's usual stern and cold expression softened into a warm smile.
"What a sweet, sensible kid," she thought. How could she resist?
"Eat first," she said, holding up a plastic bag filled with takeout barbecue.
"Okay," Natsume replied obediently.
Tsunade headed into the kitchen, pulling out two sets of tableware and four plates, carefully washing them.
After rinsing everything, she divided the barbecue and rice onto separate plates. Cooking wasn't her thing, but she used to do it for her younger brother, Nawaki. She smiled, remembering his pained expressions as he struggled through her 'meals.'
Tsunade's cooking? Two words—inedible. But Nawaki had eaten it anyway, showing the bond they shared as siblings.
She placed the food on the table and shrugged off her teal coat, revealing a loose, sleeveless top that resembled a kimono. The soft fabric exposed large areas of her pale skin.
"Natsume, dinner's ready," she called, waving him over.
"Okay," Natsume said as he put down the ninjutsu scroll, eyes widening slightly as he noticed Tsunade's appearance. Without the coat, her graceful figure was even more apparent.
"She's so... big," he thought, "and pale..."
He couldn't help but worry whether her top could hold everything together.
"What are you staring at?" Tsunade asked, eyebrow raised. "Come eat."
"Right." Natsume sat down, taking in the scent of the food. "It smells amazing!"
After three years of living off natto, rice balls, and instant noodles, this meal was like heaven.
He eagerly began eating.
Tsunade chuckled as she watched him devour the food. It had been so long since this house felt so warm.
"Aren't you going to eat, Tsunade-nee?" Natsume asked between bites.
"I am," she replied, picking up her chopsticks. "If you like it, eat as much as you want."
"Mhm." Natsume nodded, his attention drifting as he noticed her necklace hanging between her collarbones and her graceful curves. She was... beautiful.
He quickly cleared two large bowls and leaned back, satisfied. "I'm stuffed!"
Tsunade nodded, impressed. For a kid, he sure could eat a lot. But then again, life at the orphanage hadn't been easy. Her eyes softened with sympathy. It must have been tough.
She looked up in surprise as Natsume began collecting the dishes.
"What are you doing?" she asked.
"I'm washing the dishes," Natsume said matter-of-factly. "You went through the trouble of buying the food, so I'll handle the cleanup."
Tsunade blinked, then smiled, reaching over to pinch his cheek.
"Such a responsible boy," she said fondly. "But leave it to me. You're still young—save the dishwashing for when I'm old and gray."
"That won't happen," Natsume replied seriously. "Tsunade-nee will never grow old."
Her eyes widened in surprise at his sincerity.
"You're quite the smooth talker," she said, tapping his forehead lightly. "Alright, go read your book. I'll quiz you after."
Before Natsume could protest, she took the dishes and headed into the kitchen. Soon, the sound of running water filled the air.
Natsume smirked to himself. His face was too innocent for anyone to suspect his true thoughts.
Tsunade finished the dishes and returned to the living room, sitting beside him. Her eyes fell on the ninjutsu scroll he'd been reading.
"Has Nono taught you the basics of chakra control yet?" she asked.
Natsume nodded. From his angle, the view below her collarbone was... distracting. He quickly looked away.
"Yes, she taught me," he replied.
"Good. No need to go over that again."
Tsunade pulled out a small piece of chakra paper and handed it to him. "Since you've started extracting chakra, let's check your nature affinities."
Natsume nodded and channeled his chakra into the paper. After several seconds, one side of the paper became damp, while the other half began to crumble.
"As I thought—Water and Earth affinities," Tsunade said with a nod. "Wood Release is a combination of those two. From now on, focus on that, but don't neglect Water and Earth Release either."
A skilled ninja doesn't rely on just one nature release. Each has its strengths and weaknesses. Learning multiple types reduces vulnerabilities.
"Also, don't let anyone know about your Wood Release," she warned seriously.
The significance of Wood Release in Konoha couldn't be overstated. If Sarutobi Hiruzen or Danzo caught wind of it, they'd want him in the village's grasp.
"I understand," Natsume said. He had already planned on keeping it a secret.
"Good boy." Tsunade smiled. "Now, I'll check your chakra levels. Don't resist."
Natsume's eyes widened. Wait—what?!
Before he could protest, Tsunade pressed her hand against his abdomen, channeling chakra into him.
After a few moments, she sighed. "Your chakra reserves are pretty low, but that's to be expected at your age. You'll build them up with training."
She placed the ninjutsu scroll back on the table. "We'll start with the basics of Wood Release and work on the Three Basic Techniques."
Natsume nodded. He couldn't help but compare himself to Uzumaki Naruto. At this age, Naruto's chakra reserves were already massive, even if he didn't know why.
They trained until late in the evening. By nine o'clock, Natsume was drenched in sweat and thoroughly exhausted.
"That's enough for today," Tsunade said, picking him up as he wobbled on his feet. He was too tired to protest, despite his usual determination.
Her maternal instincts kicked in as she hugged him close, cradling his head against her chest.
Help! Tsunade-nee, I can't breathe!
Thankfully, the hug only lasted a few moments.
She carried him to his room and gently laid him on the bed. "Get some rest. Tomorrow, I'll introduce you to someone."
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