A Good, Understanding Child

"Tsunade, aren't you going to introduce your teachers to us?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi wore a kindly smile. With his superb acting, he looked just like an ordinary, friendly old grandfather.

Tsunade curled her lips.

With his status as Hokage, he had obviously already investigated Shizune and Natsume's backgrounds.

He had gone to all this trouble for no other reason than to leave a good impression on them.

"This is Shizune."

Tsunade said it casually.

"Shizune, huh?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke nostalgically. "I can't believe how much you've grown in the blink of an eye. If only your uncle were still alive."

Tsunade narrowed her eyes in displeasure. "Old man, that's enough."

"Sorry. I was reminded of the past."

Hiruzen Sarutobi turned his gaze to Natsume and asked, "And who is this child?"

"Natsume, the apprentice I took in yesterday."

Tsunade reacted quickly. She suddenly realized that Hiruzen Sarutobi had come for Natsume.

As expected, he had probably already asked Yakushi Nonō.

"An apprentice? That's quite rare."

Hiruzen Sarutobi squatted down, reached out to pat Natsume on the head, and asked, "Tell Grandpa, which ninja clan are you from?"

What a rotten old man. He's really bad.

Natsume realized the problem even earlier than Tsunade.

In fact, he had already considered this issue beforehand.

As one of the Sannin, any apprentice Tsunade took in would definitely be investigated by Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Natsume had grown up in an orphanage, and the person who understood him best was naturally Yakushi Nonō.

However, as his adoptive mother, she would never betray Natsume. At most, she would tell Hiruzen Sarutobi that he was from the Senju Clan.

That reason was already enough for Tsunade to take him as an apprentice.

Natsume instinctively raised his head. He was not looking at Hiruzen Sarutobi, but at Tsunade.

Tsunade noticed those expressive eyes and couldn't help smiling. He really was clever.

"He possesses the bloodline of the Senju Clan. I saw that he had a talent for being a ninja, so I took him as my apprentice."

"I see."

Hiruzen Sarutobi showed not the slightest surprise.

He had indeed asked Yakushi Nonō.

But he had not connected it to Wood Style.

After the Senju Clan had scattered and merged into Konoha, Hiruzen Sarutobi had kept them under surveillance and maintained a complete list of them.

The reason was simple.

The importance of Wood Style.

Once anyone awakened it, Hiruzen Sarutobi would personally step in and take them away.

Unfortunately, decades had passed, and no one had awakened it.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was known as the Professor of Ninjutsu, and Konoha had conducted experiments with Wood Style and Hashirama Cells in its early years.

Comparing the two, he believed the problem lay in their physiques.

Hashirama Senju's physique had been absurdly powerful. Even his cells had retained astonishing vitality.

That might be the key to awakening Wood Style.

When Hiruzen Sarutobi had just patted Natsume's head, he had already examined him.

Natsume was pitifully weak.

It was impossible for him to awaken Wood Style.

Having eliminated his suspicions, Hiruzen Sarutobi said, "I see that Natsume is old enough to attend school. In a few days, I'll have the Ninja Academy prepare an admission notice for him."

"No need."

Tsunade instinctively didn't want Natsume to leave her. She said, "I can teach him myself."

"You should know how beneficial the Ninja Academy will be to his growth."

Hiruzen Sarutobi wasn't angry. He smiled and said, "Not only can it teach him knowledge related to being a ninja, but it will also allow him to make friends."

Tsunade frowned when she heard this.

She knew that what he said was true.

That was also why she had wanted Shizune to attend the Ninja Academy.

"Natsume, what do you think? Do you want to go to the Ninja Academy? You'll make plenty of friends there."

Hiruzen Sarutobi suddenly changed his approach and targeted Natsume.

When it came to children, he was quite confident.

Over the years, through his propaganda, he had built up an image of himself as the strongest Hokage and a kindly grandfather.

Children worshipped him.

Natsume was slightly taken aback. He actually did want to enroll.

The more friends you have, the more paths you have. The more wives you have, the more routes you can take.

Besides, staying in Konoha would make it more convenient for him to collect Destiny Points.

"I'll listen to my teacher," Natsume replied.

Hiruzen Sarutobi froze for a moment. Why wasn't he following the script?

Could my propaganda over the years have been insufficient?

Tsunade pursed her lips and smiled faintly. She was very satisfied with Natsume's answer.

"I'll consider the matter of enrolling him."

"All right."

Hiruzen Sarutobi no longer pressed the issue and turned to business. "In three days, at eight in the morning, there will be a funeral for Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki. Remember to be there on time."

Tsunade's smile faded. She nodded and said, "I'll be there."

"Goodbye, Grandpa Hokage."

Natsume and Shizune spoke up together.

Shizune meant it sincerely.

As for Natsume, he was merely putting on an act.

Hiruzen Sarutobi left with a smile.

Even if there was something wrong with Natsume, as long as he remained in Konoha, it was impossible for him to escape Hiruzen Sarutobi's grasp.

"Let's go inside."

Tsunade withdrew her gaze.

She had long been accustomed to Hiruzen Sarutobi's way of doing things, so she hadn't been surprised by his probing this time.

The three of them entered the house.

"Shizune, you'll sleep in this room from now on."

After putting down the newly bought clothes, Tsunade spoke.

"Yes, Lady Tsunade."

Shizune immediately put the clothes into the wardrobe, showing just how self-motivated she was.

Tsunade was very satisfied. This meant things would be less troublesome in the future.

"Once you're done tidying up, wait for me in the living room."

With that, she headed upstairs.

Shizune tidied up the room, closed the door, and went to the living room.

She blinked.

So cute.

She saw Natsume sunk into the sofa, looking like a snow-white cat.

"Natsume, little brother."

Shizune sat across from him and asked, "How old are you this year?"

"Seven."

Natsume sat up straight and asked in return, "What about you, big sister?"

"I'm fourteen this year."

Shizune patted her Shenzhou Tablet and said, "I'm already a qualified Genin. If you ever need anything, Natsume, come to big sister."

There was a hint of wanting to grow closer in her words.

She thought Natsume had been with Tsunade for quite some time.

"Okay."

Natsume said happily.

He really was quite happy.

With Tsunade, Shizune, and Kabuto Yakushi added together, they could completely be called the Three Great Nurses of the Naruto world.

It would be difficult for him to die even if he wanted to.

"Looks like you two are getting along well."

Tsunade came downstairs, walked over to them, and handed a book to Shizune. "A book about Medical Ninjas."

Shizune opened it and was dumbfounded.

Natsume also leaned over to take a look.

It was actually a list of medical textbooks.

What a devil.

Encouraging someone to study medicine is practically asking to be struck by lightning.

Natsume finally understood that principle.

By comparison, being an ordinary ninja was much simpler.

"Shizune, your task for this period is to memorize the theoretical knowledge. After that, I'll teach you Medical Ninjutsu."

Tsunade looked at Natsume again and said, "Come with me. I have something to ask you."

Natsume could basically guess what it was about.

The Ninja Academy.

Sure enough, after entering the room, Tsunade asked, "Natsume, do you want to go to the Ninja Academy?"

Her original plan had been to leave Konoha with Shizune.

But now there was also Natsume.

If he followed her while she wandered outside, it would inevitably make things difficult for the child.

After spending the past two days together, she had grown very fond of Natsume and felt sorry for him. In addition, attending school did have some benefits, so she was caught in a dilemma.

After hesitating for a moment, Natsume said, "I'll leave it up to big sister."

Tsunade noticed his expression and understood that he wanted to go to school.

As for saying that he would follow her arrangements, that was simply Natsume being sensible.

The more sensible he was, the more Tsunade felt she couldn't let him down.

She picked Natsume up and placed him on her muscular thighs. Her two mountains pressed against him as she said, "What an understanding, good child."