Sister Will Give You a Checkup

Natsume did not rashly begin practicing Wood Style Ninjutsu.

His foundation was still rather weak, and problems could easily arise.

If Tsunade were here, then with her Medical Ninjutsu, as long as he was not blown to pieces, she could save him.

Natsume had begun studying ninja-related knowledge under Yakushi Nonō last year.

But his aptitude was not particularly good.

Up to now, he had not even mastered the Three Basic Ninjutsu. He had only learned the Chakra Refinement Method.

The door opened.

Natsume looked up and sweetly called out, "Sister Tsunade."

A smile immediately appeared on Tsunade's originally refined, cool face.

So adorable. So well-behaved.

She wanted to pinch him.

No one could refuse cute creatures. She was no exception.

"We'll eat in a moment."

Tsunade shook the plastic bag in her hand. Inside was takeout grilled meat.

"Okay."

Natsume answered obediently.

Tsunade turned and entered the kitchen, taking out two sets of bowls and chopsticks along with four plates to wash.

After washing them clean, she divided the grilled meat and rice onto the plates.

She could cook, actually.

Back then, she often cooked for her younger brother Nawaki. Watching him put on a pained expression had been quite entertaining.

Well, her cooking was dark cuisine. In two words: inedible.

But she liked cooking, because Nawaki's efforts to swallow it made her feel the affection between siblings.

Tsunade set out the food, then took off her tea-green coat.

Underneath, she wore a loose, sleeveless top resembling a kimono, revealing large swathes of soft, fair skin.

"Natsume, come eat."

Tsunade waved him over.

"Okay."

Natsume put down the Ninjutsu Scroll and looked up. When he saw Tsunade, his eyes could not help but light up.

Without her coat, her graceful figure stood out even more.

So big. So white.

Natsume worried that the thin top might not be able to hold up and split apart.

He almost wanted to reach out and help.

"What are you spacing out for?"

Tsunade raised an eyebrow and urged him, "Hurry up."

"Oh."

Natsume got up, walked over to the dining table, and sat down. He sniffed and said, "It smells so good!"

As he spoke, he swallowed.

Such a pitiful sight.

Three years. Do you know how I spent these three years?

Natto, rice balls, instant noodles.

The food had been worse than the school cafeteria in his previous life.

Now that he could eat delicious grilled meat, happiness—this was pure happiness!

Tsunade could not help but laugh.

Resting her cheek on one hand, she watched Natsume wolf down his food and suddenly found it rather amusing.

The house had lacked this kind of life for a long time.

Tsunade's thoughts drifted away somewhat. When she came back to herself, she found Natsume staring fixedly at her.

"Sister Tsunade, why aren't you eating?"

"I'm eating now."

Tsunade picked up her chopsticks and said softly, "If you like it, eat more."

"Mm."

Natsume withdrew his gaze.

That exquisite face, that deeply sunken necklace, and those beautifully curved lines.

A feast for the eyes.

He immediately turned into a food-devouring machine and polished off two large bowls.

"I'm full!"

Natsume put down his bowl, feeling a little stuffed.

Tsunade nodded.

This child could really eat.

But when she thought of his time at the Orphanage, pity appeared in her light brown eyes.

He must not have had it easy.

"What are you doing?"

Tsunade saw him clearing away the bowls in front of her and could not help asking.

"Washing the dishes."

Natsume said very sensibly, "Sister, you worked hard going out to buy things. Leave the dishes to me."

Tsunade froze for two seconds. Unable to hold herself back, she reached out and pinched his cheek.

A hint of affection rose in her heart.

"Put them down. Let your sister do it."

Tsunade snatched the bowls and chopsticks back and said, "You're still young. When I'm old, you can take care of me then."

"No."

Natsume said with a serious expression, "Sister will never grow old."

Tsunade's eyes widened.

That had gotten to her.

"You really know how to talk."

Tsunade tapped his forehead with her index finger and said, "All right, go read. Later, your sister is going to test you properly."

Without giving Natsume a chance to speak, she took the bowls and chopsticks and turned into the kitchen.

A moment later, the sound of running water rang out.

Natsume gave his acting skills a thumbs-up.

He had to admit, his face was far too deceptive.

Combined with his young age, no one would be wary of him, doubling the effect.

Before long, Tsunade left the kitchen, came to the living room, and sat down beside Natsume.

She glanced at the Ninjutsu Scroll and asked, "Did Nonō teach you the basic concepts of Chakra?"

Natsume looked up. Because of the difference in height, he could see the view beneath her shoulders perfectly.

From the front, she was a mountain ridge; from the side, a towering peak.

"She did," Natsume answered.

"Then I won't need to teach you the basics again."

Tsunade pondered slightly and took out a palm-sized test paper. "Since you've already refined Chakra, test your affinities."

"Okay."

Natsume took the test paper and sent Chakra into his hand. More than ten seconds later, the paper changed.

As though soaked in water, it became damp.

But it only spread across one half before stopping.

The next moment, the remaining half split down the middle and scattered onto the ground like snowflakes.

"As expected, Water Release and Earth Release."

Tsunade had anticipated it. She explained, "Wood Style is formed by combining Water Release and Earth Release Chakra. From now on, Wood Style will be your main focus, but you should also learn about Water Style and Earth Style."

A qualified Jonin knew more than one type of release technique.

The reason was simple.

Different release techniques had different uses, and they also countered one another.

Learning one more type of release meant having one fewer weakness.

"Do not reveal your Wood Style to anyone."

After some thought, Tsunade added this.

Wood Style held great significance for Konoha.

Whether it was Hiruzen Sarutobi or Shimura Danzō, both would actively fight to claim him.

Tsunade was not afraid of them, but she still found them troublesome.

"Okay."

That was exactly what Natsume intended.

As an old schemer and master of lying low, hiding his Wood Style would allow him to catch others off guard.

"Such a good boy."

Tsunade smiled brightly. "Next, your sister is going to examine your body. Don't resist, okay?"

No, Sister!

Natsume's eyes slowly widened, revealing an innocent expression.

What was going on?

But Tsunade did not explain. She reached out and pressed against Natsume's abdomen through his clothes.

A moment later, she said, "You have rather little Chakra."

Refining Chakra generally involved three steps.

First, mix the mental energy and physical energy within the body into stamina.

Second, convert that stamina into Chakra.

Third, transfer Chakra through the meridians to the internal organs for storage.

By examining Natsume's Chakra, Tsunade could determine his limits.

Given his current condition, using the most basic Three Basic Ninjutsu two or three times would leave him exhausted.

So during the lessons that followed, Tsunade would know when to stop, lest overtraining harm his body.

"You're young, so having little Chakra is normal. Just train gradually in the future."

Tsunade reached out, picked up the Ninjutsu Scroll, and said, "We'll start with the most basic Wood Style: Three Basic Ninjutsu."

Natsume nodded.

He thought of Naruto Uzumaki. Comparing people really could make one furious.

At the same age, if he did not suppress the Nine-Tails within him, their protagonist would already possess dozens of units of Chakra.

By the time they finished teaching at nine in the evening, Natsume was drenched in sweat and exhausted.

"All right, stop forcing yourself."

Tsunade scooped him up around the waist. Seeing him silently endure it, her maternal instincts surged, and she pulled him into her embrace.

Being too sensible only made people's hearts ache.

Help! Sister, this isn't how you hold a child. Are you trying to murder me?

Fortunately, it only lasted three seconds.

Tsunade carried him into a room, set him down, and said, "Rest well. Tomorrow, you're coming with me to meet someone."