Smiles Don't Disappear, They Just Move Elsewhere

Tsunade, who had been silent, shoved away the cards in her hands.

After being tricked into three hundred days again, she would have been too foolish if she still had not caught on by now.

She was not too deeply "poisoned" yet—or rather, she had not yet gone through so much pain.

So once her excitement faded, she realized that she had been fooled again.

And judging by what had happened last time, she would not be able to weasel out of it this time either.

For a moment, Tsunade wore an expression of utter agony.

Smiles did not disappear. They merely moved elsewhere.

The delighted smile Tsunade had worn half an hour ago had now moved to Hoshiryu Uchiha's face.

Her gaze was somewhat frightening, but Hoshiryu Uchiha truly could not hold it in.

Tsunade's expressionless face still put him under some pressure.

So Hoshiryu Uchiha tried to defend himself.

"You know, as ninjas, we've received rigorous training. No matter how funny something is, we won't laugh."

"Unless we can't hold it in... hahaha."

After saying that, he could no longer restrain himself and burst out laughing.

Seeing how happily he was laughing, Tsunade's face became increasingly twisted.

Orochimaru, standing beside them, did not know the full story.

But his snake-like instincts told him that it would be best not to wade into this mess right now.

Looking at the smile on Hoshiryu Uchiha's face and listening to his ever-louder laughter, Tsunade grew angrier the more she thought about it.

The Ninja Body Technique: Monstrous Strength she had learned some time ago somehow came out on its own.

Crack!

With a sharp sound, the bed they had been sitting on while playing cards collapsed.

Now it was Hoshiryu Uchiha's turn to be stunned. That was his bed.

Hoshiryu Uchiha was a little particular about his bed, and he had only just gotten used to this new one over the past few days.

Yet the bed he had just grown accustomed to was gone like that.

The smile on Hoshiryu Uchiha's face slowly vanished.

Tsunade had not done it on purpose. Her emotions had fluctuated too greatly, and she had unconsciously used the Nintaijutsu she was still unfamiliar with.

Even she had been startled when she used it just now.

Although she had tried her hardest to control it immediately, she still failed to save Hoshiryu Uchiha's bed.

Tsunade had initially felt somewhat embarrassed, but when she saw Hoshiryu Uchiha at a loss for words, the smile returned to her face.

Tsunade widened her eyes and said innocently, "You know, I've been practicing Monstrous Strength recently. I haven't mastered this ninjutsu very well yet."

There was nothing Hoshiryu Uchiha could do.

He had even been the one to suggest that Tsunade practice Monstrous Strength, and now he had hoisted himself by his own petard.

It was only a bed, after all. It was not a big deal.

(Bed: Is no one going to speak up for me?)

Thinking that, Hoshiryu Uchiha sighed and stopped dwelling on the matter.

He looked at Tsunade, whose eyes had narrowed from smiling, and said, "Since you still can't use this Nintaijutsu properly, use it a few times for this bet. Consider it extra training for you."

"How about it? I'm good to you, right?"

Tsunade, who had been smiling happily, froze the moment she heard that.

She had not expected Hoshiryu Uchiha to use her own words against her.

That completely cut off her escape route, leaving her with no way to argue.

Training Monstrous Strength required not only Chakra control but also physical conditioning.

Thus, practicing Monstrous Strength was far more exhausting than simply learning Sealing Techniques.

After spending the past few days together, Tsunade knew Hoshiryu Uchiha's heart was harder than iron. He would not easily change his mind.

Especially when it came to tricking her—Hoshiryu Uchiha would create opportunities even when none existed.

So Tsunade did not beg for mercy. She merely kicked Hoshiryu Uchiha indignantly and said, "I'm not playing anymore. I'm going to practice Monstrous Strength!"

"Otherwise, someone will use this as an excuse to trick me again."

After saying that, Tsunade jumped off the collapsed bed, slipped on her shoes, and ran off in a flash.

Hoshiryu Uchiha and Orochimaru exchanged glances, both seeing speechlessness in the other's eyes.

Tsunade had been the one to suggest the game, yet she was the first to leave.

The two of them who remained had no interest in gambling.

Hoshiryu Uchiha put away the playing cards, took out a ninjutsu scroll, and handed it to Orochimaru. "Since you chose to exchange knowledge for knowledge, why not start now?"

"These are ninjutsu scrolls of Rank C and below. I'll give them to you now, and you can study them on your own."

"Once you've finished learning them, write down the results of your own research and come back to exchange them for new ninjutsu. What do you think?"

Orochimaru became somewhat excited.

Although Hoshiryu Uchiha had said he would nurture him, he had not expected him to be so generous.

In this era, and even in the era when the protagonist would later be born—

The greatest limitation for Civilian Ninja was their lack of ninjutsu resources.

Not to mention secret techniques, the kind of ninjutsu that could establish a small or medium-sized clan.

Even ordinary Rank C Ninjutsu were not something civilian Genin could obtain easily.

At the Ninja Academy, they only taught the Three Body Technique.

Not everyone would have a Jonin as their teacher when they were assigned to squads.

Being able to cast Rank C Ninjutsu already made one a qualified ordinary Chunin.

And now, Hoshiryu Uchiha was offering Rank C Ninjutsu right from the start, with even more ninjutsu available for exchange in the future.

This excited Orochimaru greatly and also made him deeply grateful to Hoshiryu Uchiha.

He accepted the scroll and said, "Thank you very much, Hoshiryu-kun. I will not betray this trust."

Hearing that, Hoshiryu Uchiha smiled unconcernedly. "Then come help me once I become Hokage."

The speaker had no particular intention, but the listener took it to heart.

Orochimaru remembered Hoshiryu Uchiha's words.

Hoshiryu Uchiha also did not know that he had unknowingly recruited Orochimaru.

Having obtained the new ninjutsu he had been longing for, Orochimaru exchanged a few awkward words with Hoshiryu Uchiha before beginning his studies.

Hoshiryu Uchiha also picked up his Sealing Techniques and began reading.

For a time, the only sound in the room was the turning of pages.

Outside in the courtyard, Tsunade was also practicing Monstrous Strength.

The three children were constantly moving forward for the sake of their dreams.

Once someone truly immersed themselves in studying, their sense of time passing became blurred.

While they studied diligently, Chika not only prepared Orochimaru's guest room.

She had even finished preparing dinner.

Watching Tsunade train so diligently, she became dazed for a moment.

It was as if she had seen the days when Mito Uzumaki taught her ninjutsu.

If I had become a ninja too, would I have had a different life?

Thinking that, she quickly shook her head, throwing those thoughts away.

Since I have decided to repay Lady Mito, then I must keep my word.

With that thought, Chika composed herself, walked over to Tsunade, and said, "Lady Tsunade, dinner is ready."

Stopping her training, Tsunade tugged at Chika's sleeve and said in a spoiled tone, "Chika, stop calling me 'Lady.' You watched me grow up, and Grandma likes you too."

"We both consider you family."

Chika did not argue. She had heard these words many times already.

She merely wiped the sweat from Tsunade's forehead and tidied her hair, which had become messy from training.

Once everything was in order and Tsunade looked radiant again, Chika smiled softly.

"Let's go, Lady Tsunade."