Tsunade, You Definitely Took Money, Didn't You?

Kushina wasn't easy to fool.

If she found out she'd been deceived and went to the Third Hokage, Tsunade would inevitably get an earful from him.

Tsunade hated it most when people nagged at her.

"Is this because of Kushina?"

If it had only been a guess before, then once Tsunade took out a ninjutsu scroll, Chiyue could be certain that this was Kushina's idea.

There was no way Tsunade would reward someone just for treating her to two meals.

The only explanation was that Kushina had asked Tsunade to do this, so she could smoothly deliver the ninjutsu scroll to him.

For all he knew... money had changed hands as well.

How had this brat guessed it?!

Was he a worm in her stomach or something?!

Tsunade's eyes widened in disbelief. Chiyue had actually figured it out just like that!

She hadn't even mentioned Kushina.

Were kids these days all this smart?

Why was her own little brother such a dimwit?

After washing the dishes and drying his hands, Chiyue walked out of the kitchen. He glanced at the scroll on the table and looked calmly at Tsunade.

Rubbing his chin, Chiyue suddenly asked, "How much did Kushina pay you, Senior, for you to use the meal as an excuse to give me a ninjutsu scroll?"

"What?!"

Tsunade was stunned. She practically jumped up, retorting with a guilty conscience, "Nonsense! Nothing like that happened."

"In that case, Senior, please leave. I won't take this scroll."

Chiyue stuffed the scroll into Tsunade's hands and pushed her toward the door.

She had definitely taken money. Would Tsunade be this kind-hearted if she hadn't?

There was no love without reason in this world, nor was there hatred without reason.

His relationship with Tsunade was only slightly better than that of strangers.

There was only one reason she would care this much: money.

This brat was ridiculously strong.

Seeing that she was about to be pushed outside, Tsunade helplessly chose to compromise.

"Fine, stop pushing. It was Kushina's idea. She said you really wanted the Shadow Clone Technique, so she asked me to bring the scroll over. She gave me four hundred thousand!"

Satisfied now?

"Kushina..."

Chiyue truly didn't know what to say. She had even gone so far as to send him a ninjutsu scroll.

Their relationship hadn't reached that point yet, had it?

He did want the Shadow Clone Technique, but not by obtaining it this way.

"Senior, please go back. Please tell Kushina for me that we're only classmates. We aren't close enough for her to give me a ninjutsu scroll."

"Kid, do you have to be this heartless?"

Tsunade couldn't understand it. He was turning down benefits delivered right to his door?

It was free! No one was asking for his money.

"Senior, I don't want to bring trouble upon myself."

At this point, Chiyue couldn't be bothered hiding anything anymore.

"Maybe there's something wrong with my identity, or maybe it's because of Kushina. Whenever Kushina comes looking for me, I notice someone watching me. I hope it's only my imagination. Can you understand where I'm coming from, Senior?"

"..."

What did it mean to exceed expectations?

This was it!

Tsunade opened her mouth, realizing she had underestimated Chiyue. He could even detect the movements of Anbu shinobi. This kid really wasn't simple.

"I understand. I'll pass your words on to Kushina. Nothing like this will happen again in the future. As for certain people..."

At the door, Tsunade paused and said, "As long as you don't do anything that harms the village's interests, no one will trouble you."

As if.

The Third Hokage was a real scheming old bastard!

He loved putting on the appearance of a kind old man to brainwash youngsters, while doing filthy things behind their backs.

Danzo was even worse. As long as he was around, Konoha's dark side would never be cleansed.

Bang!!

The Hokage's office door was forcefully pushed open.

"Old Man, I think we need to have a good talk."

"It's Tsunade. Did you send Kushina back?"

The Third Hokage set down the document in his hand.

Tsunade curled her lip. "Old Man, stop playing games with me. Do you really not know whether Kushina was sent back?"

From the moment she returned to the village, Anbu had resumed following Kushina. It was impossible for Tsunade not to notice.

Yet the Third Hokage was still playing dumb with her. Was that interesting?

"Ahem."

The Third Hokage looked somewhat awkward. "All right. What did you want to see me about?"

"Nothing much. I just came to tell you that although Kushina is the new Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, she's still a child. She's still in school.

"She needs normal social interactions, friends, and friendship with her classmates. You're watching her too closely."

"Tsunade, everything I do is for the good of the village."

The Third Hokage knew exactly what Tsunade meant.

Everyone who got even slightly close to Kushina had been investigated. He had personally arranged it.

Tsunade's expression turned serious as she said earnestly:

"Old Man, I know you're doing this for the village, and I know Jinchuriki are important to the village. But you can't affect other children's lives because of that."

"Oh, and those two kids, Yagami Chiyue and Minato Namikaze, are pretty good. They're worth cultivating."

Tsunade placed the Shadow Clone scroll on the desk. She wanted the Third Hokage to deliver it to Chiyue himself, while including Minato in the arrangement.

That way, Yagami Chiyue would have no objections, right?

This would be the village recognizing them as talents worth cultivating and specially rewarding them.

"Yagami Chiyue? Minato Namikaze?"

He knew those two children who were relatively close to Kushina. They were also among the academy's top students and were considered key observation targets.

Minato Namikaze was fine. He came from a civilian background, had good talent, and was someone the village intended to cultivate.

But Chiyue was somewhat problematic. He had Uchiha Clan blood.

"I'll consider it."

After thinking for a moment, the Third Hokage said he would consider it.

Tsunade said nothing more. She waved and headed outside. "Then I'm leaving. Get off work early and go home to rest."

After Tsunade left, the Third Hokage said, "Investigate the matter between Yagami Chiyue and the Uchiha Clan."

"Yes, Lord Hokage."

An Anbu shinobi appeared in the Hokage's office, then vanished again.

When Tsunade returned home, she grabbed Kushina in a hug and vigorously ruffled her full head of red hair, complaining:

"That hateful brat is as shrewd as a fox. He actually guessed why I went to see him."

"Huh?!"

Kushina was dumbfounded.

Ignoring her messy hair, she anxiously asked, "Then what should we do? Did Lord Chiyue accept the ninjutsu scroll?"

Tsunade didn't seem to have brought the scroll back.

"Accept what?"

Tsunade flopped weakly onto the sofa and kicked her legs several times.

"He refused it. He knew you were deliberately trying to give him the ninjutsu scroll. From what he said, if you keep doing this, he'll cut off contact with you, because he discovered that Anbu are watching him."

"That brat may be young, but he's certainly capable."

Sitting up, Tsunade muttered to herself, "What a pain. Why does he have to have Uchiha Clan blood?"

Kushina nervously twisted the corner of her clothes in her little hands. She was worried that Chiyue would ignore her. What would she do then?

"Silly child."

Holding Kushina close, Tsunade comforted her gently:

"I've already sent the scroll to the Old Man. He should find an opportunity to give it to Chiyue and Minato. That way, he'll have no reason to refuse it."

"You've achieved your goal too, haven't you?"

"I hope so."

Kushina forced out a smile, but it was a very strained one.

It's over for you, little girl.

Tsunade was speechless.

She could only hope that Kushina and Chiyue's relationship truly wouldn't go any further.

Otherwise, with Kushina's personality, Chiyue might end up having her completely wrapped around his finger.

"Coming."

After seeing Tsunade off, Chiyue had been practicing hand seals at home when he heard a knock at the door. He put on his shoes, ran over, and opened it.

"Sister Mikoto?"

Chiyue's eyes lit up when he saw the person outside.

"Did you miss me?"

Uchiha Mikoto held a lunch box in one hand and pinched Chiyue's cheek with the other.

"Graduation is coming soon, so I've been busy lately and haven't had time to come over."

"Chiyue, you won't blame me, will you?"

Although Chiyue's mother had not returned to the Uchiha Clan, she had been close to Uchiha Mikoto.

As a result, Uchiha Mikoto had always looked after Chiyue.

She often brought him food.