[Recognize Tsunade as Older Sister?]

Following the trail from the izakaya to the casino and the red-light district that didn't open until noon, Hyuga Bin still found no trace of this "Big Orange Heavyweight."

Hyuga Bin had no choice but to go find Uchiha Obito and Nohara Rin to regroup first.

It wasn't until the afternoon that the three of them finally caught this big orange cat sneaking a meal in a hidden corner, brought it back to the old lady's house, and completed the mission.

The next day, another D-rank mission. This time, it was helping a farmer with an injured hand harvest vegetables.

With a ninja's hand speed, Hyuga Bin and his team finished the task by noon, reaping all the vegetables.

On his way home, Hyuga Bin ran into Tsunade.

This wasn't a chance encounter—Tsunade had sought him out on purpose.

"For this month before I leave the village, you'll study under me." Tsunade got straight to the point, stating her intent.

As for mentioning that she'd be leaving the village in a month, she didn't mind telling Hyuga Bin—she'd already let it slip yesterday anyway.

"Huh?" Hyuga Bin felt a bit surprised.

"I'm only teaching you for a month, not becoming your teacher." As if afraid Hyuga Bin might misunderstand, Tsunade explained.

"Yeah, I know." Hyuga Bin nodded calmly.

If Tsunade wanted to take him as her disciple, she would definitely have taken him out of Konoha.

"You don't seem happy?" Watching Hyuga Bin's composed expression, Tsunade felt an inexplicable twinge of frustration.

After all, in all of Konoha, students who wanted her guidance could form a long line.

She, a proud member of Konoha's Sannin, had come to him personally, offering to teach—any other student would probably be ecstatic.

She didn't expect Hyuga Bin to be moved to tears, but at least he could show some normal reaction.

"I'm very happy, Lord Tsunade, thank you." After thanking her, Hyuga Bin voiced his concern: "It's just that I currently have a team leader, and I'll need to go out on missions later, so I need to get his approval first."

He was looking forward to Tsunade's hands-on teaching, but he was far from excited.

After all... he was a man with a cheat.

"Don't worry. Before coming to you, I already discussed it with Masayuki Jonin."

"Alright." Hyuga Bin nodded.

Since Tsunade had arranged everything, he would just go along with it.

"Then let's head to my place now." Tsunade gestured for Hyuga Bin to follow her.

A month was tight—she had to make good use of every day.

"Your place?" Hyuga Bin walked beside Tsunade, a bit puzzled.

"What else?" Tsunade shot back.

"I thought it would be a dedicated training ground." Hyuga Bin said with a smile.

"My home has a training ground big enough."

Tsunade lived in the Senju Clan's old estate, with a training ground spanning over a thousand square meters—more than enough for Hyuga Bin to mess around in.

"I see." Hyuga Bin acknowledged, falling half a step behind as he followed Tsunade home.

Even though their relationship was different, this was still the first time Hyuga Bin had gone home with a girl since he'd been transported to the Naruto world.

The spring wind was about to bring the summer rain.

Hyuga Bin and Tsunade walked along the lush, shaded path of Konoha.

Hyuga Bin occasionally said something novel to amuse her, making Tsunade laugh despite herself.

But even when she smiled, her brow never fully relaxed.

Right now, Tsunade looked truly sorrowful.

As someone who had read the original story and known Tsunade for four years, Hyuga Bin felt a pang of sympathy for her at this moment.

Family and lover all dead, close friends not by her side.

Her teacher was still alive, but he had changed his original ideals, completely at odds with her worldview.

It seemed she was just living on, all alone.

As if responding to Hyuga Bin's inner thoughts, the system gave him a new option mission:

code
[Option A: Give Tsunade a warm hug. Completion reward: Monster Strength (A-rank reward).]
[Option B: Make Tsunade not leave Konoha. Completion reward: Wind Release - Vacuum Sphere (B-rank reward).]
[Option C: Recognize Tsunade as an older sister. Completion reward: Fire Release - Great Fireball Technique (C-rank reward).]

The feeling Hyuga Bin had just built up vanished.

Quickly scanning the mission, Hyuga Bin found it hard to choose.

Because this time, the system wasn't playing by the rules again—none of the random options included +0.1 Attribute Points.

Hyuga Bin's mind raced as he began to analyze.

If it was Option A, Lord Tsunade would directly punch him flying.

Option B, Lord Tsunade would definitely press him for answers, and when he couldn't give a reasonable explanation, she'd punch him flying.

Option C, Lord Tsunade would surely refuse him, then ask for his reason, and when he couldn't give one, she'd punch him flying.

Moreover, the system's option task couldn't be abandoned—he had to make a choice.

From this perspective, this option task was very likely a death sentence!

Holding to the attitude that the greater the reward, the greater the risk, Hyuga Bin decisively chose Option C.

"I've already gained so many random Attribute Points in a row; I should be able to withstand one C-rank task."

After taking a deep breath, Hyuga Bin lifted his head and spoke to Lord Tsunade: "Lord Tsunade, can I call you Older Sister?"

[Option task complete!]

[Subsequent task unlocked: Become Lord Tsunade's sworn younger brother. Reward issued upon task completion.]

[Task completion criteria: Become Lord Tsunade's sworn younger brother.]

"Why do you want to call me Older Sister?" Lord Tsunade turned her head, looking at Hyuga Bin, who had somehow moved three meters away from her.

"Because I've always wanted an Older Sister," Hyuga Bin said with a lack of confidence. The perverted follow-up to this task made him plan to abandon it outright.

Of course, the part about wanting an Older Sister came from the heart.

Before his transmigration, he had no older sister. After transmigrating, he still had none. So he'd always envied those who did.

"So that's what you meant." Lord Tsunade realized she had misunderstood the meaning of Hyuga Bin's words earlier—or rather, his phrasing had been problematic.

It had made her think he was calling her Older Sister to get closer, because she was youthful, beautiful, and invincible.

But instead, Hyuga Bin wanted to recognize her as a sworn sister.

After three seconds of thought, Lord Tsunade didn't say, "I want to be your teacher, and you're thinking about sister stuff." Instead, she directly refused Hyuga Bin: "No."

As the disciple of the Hokage and the Princess Tsunade of Konoha, every word and action of hers would draw the attention of the village's higher-ups.

She could accept ninjas from the Hyuga Clan or even the Uchiha Clan as disciples, but she couldn't accept a "younger brother," because that would imply taking sides.

Besides, aside from age, she had never regarded Hyuga Bin as a little brother at all.