Uzumaki Mito

Kawafune watched Tsunade's swaying figure, his gaze following her until she vanished from sight.

"Snap out of it."

"Snap out of it, bro."

Nawaki patted Kawafune's arm. His sister was already out of sight, so what was he still staring for?

Could it be that his sister had some shining quality he had failed to notice? Nawaki's little head filled with huge question marks.

"Ahem."

A tactical cough.

"I was just thinking about the dreams I'd lost."

"I'll teach you something useful."

Kawafune lied with his eyes wide open, changing the subject as he began instructing Nawaki.

"What are you going to teach me, bro?"

Nawaki's face was full of excitement, as though learning it would make him as strong as Kawafune by tomorrow.

"Stand properly. Half squat. Stretch out your arms."

Kawafune took the Eight-Faced Han Sword from his back, adjusted Nawaki's improper horse stance with a few pats, and corrected his posture.

Then he rested the Eight-Faced Han Sword across both of Nawaki's arms.

"What is this?"

"Is it useful?"

Nawaki felt like he had been thoroughly duped. What was this supposed to be? Could squatting really make him stronger?

"Take a deep breath."

"Exhale."

Kawafune guided his breathing.

"Keep it up for two hours."

Kawafune had discovered this himself. Since people in the world of the Hokage generally had better constitutions and all kinds of energy, the effects of horse stance training were greatly enhanced.

It not only trained the leg muscles, but also promoted Cellular Activity and accelerated Chakra conversion.

"Remember to convert Chakra. Try using Water-natured Chakra to ease your muscle fatigue."

Nawaki could only do as he was told if he wanted to grow stronger. If he hadn't acknowledged Kawafune as his big brother, he definitely would not have listened to him. It absolutely wasn't because he wanted an Eight-Faced Han Sword. Absolutely not.

In a flash, Kawafune appeared in a nearby tree. He pulled out a beauty magazine and began reading. After all, there really was no one with a better figure than Tsunade.

Following Kawafune's instructions, Nawaki adjusted his breathing, maintained his balance, and converted Chakra.

Once his legs began to ache slightly, he started mobilizing Chakra to ease the discomfort. At first, he could not control such delicate manipulation, and his legs even twitched, nearly making him fall.

After slowly feeling his way through it for a while, he discovered that it had an astonishing effect. His Chakra conversion speed was even faster than before.

As expected of Big Brother Kawafune. The first time they met, he had already taught him such an excellent training method. He would definitely work hard to help him win over his sister.

One big and one small, one in the tree and one in the courtyard, neither disturbed the other.

About two hours passed. Kawafune took a nap in the tree. Having seen countless films, how could he possibly spend too long looking at a single magazine?

Sweat dripped from Nawaki's forehead, soaking the ground around him and forming a tiny puddle.

"Dinner's ready, Kawafune-kun."

Though Tsunade could not see Kawafune, she could sense that he was in the tree.

Nawaki remained squatting where he was. He no longer knew how long he had been holding the stance, but since Kawafune had not told him to stop, he continued.

It would be such a waste if such a promising talent died. Kawafune descended from the tree, came to Nawaki's side, and removed the sword from his back before handing it over.

"You like it, right? Play with it for now. I'll make one for you and bring it over later."

Like a child receiving his favorite toy, Nawaki held the sword in his hands, overjoyed.

If it were not already time to eat, he would have swung it around for a while longer.

"Bro, this sword looks so sharp."

Nawaki struggled to draw the sword. It was still too long for him, and his arms were not long enough.

As he examined the eight ridges along the blade, he could vaguely feel its chilling aura. This was a sword meant for killing, one that had tasted plenty of blood.

"Of course. This is the most successful work of our Hatake Armory."

"No one in all of Konoha besides Hatake Armory can forge one."

Hatake Kawafune was quite proud of the armory he had built with his own hands. After all, it was his only business that laid golden eggs.

"Then does that mean you have lots of money, bro?"

Nawaki's little eyes nearly sparkled with gold. He, Nawaki, had decided this brother-in-law was the one. Who knew how much money his sister had lost gambling?

If their grandmother had not still been around, the estate would probably have been gone sooner or later.

"Not much, not much. Just top three in Konoha."

Kawafune waved a hand, showing off modestly.

"Wow..."

Before Nawaki could praise him, Tsunade had already grown impatient.

"Nawaki, can't you hear me calling you to dinner?"

"Get over here."

Her attitude toward her younger brother really was different—so domineering.

Kawafune wondered if a pair of breasts had clouded his judgment. Maybe he should think this over more carefully.

Before he could figure it out, Nawaki grabbed him and pulled him toward Tsunade.

"Come on, Kawafune-kun. I prepared some fine sake."

Tsunade's warm, spring-breeze-like attitude once again left Kawafune unable to tell which side of her was the real one.

"Sure. Just call me Kawafune from now on, Tsunade-chan."

Kawafune was once again dazed by her ample chest, speaking without thinking.

Only people with close relationships used -chan. He and Tsunade had known each other for less than two days, so it was somewhat presumptuous no matter how one looked at it.

"Alright, Kawafune-kun."

Tsunade's face reddened slightly. She did not act too bashful and quickly adapted to the new form of address.

"I'm hungry!"

Nawaki ruined the pleasant atmosphere without a shred of tact, charging ahead with the sword in hand.

Tsunade and Kawafune exchanged a smile, then followed behind him toward the dining hall.

The Senju Clan had deep foundations, and even their dining hall was exceptionally grand—at the very least, it was beyond anything the current Hatake Clan could compare with.

Upon entering the dining hall, Kawafune saw a beautiful, youthful-looking elderly woman with red hair tied in a bun seated at the head of the table. Beside her sat a little girl with the same red hair.

Kawafune already had a guess. The timing matched as well.

Nawaki went over, called out, "Grandma," and took his seat, placing the sword beside him.

Unsurprisingly, the sword caught the girl's attention. She had never seen a sword like it before.

"Kushina, this is my big brother's sword. It looks really cool."

Nawaki was at that lively, restless age. Seeing Kushina's attention drawn to the sword, he could not resist showing off.

"How cool is it?"

Because of her red hair, Kushina was ostracized at the Academy. Still, she got along fairly well with Nawaki, perhaps because they were related.

Tsunade led Kawafune over to take a seat, and he greeted her grandmother as well.

"Lady Mito, it's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Hatake Kawafune. Please guide me."

Kawafune bowed respectfully. The closer he got, the more he could sense an evil Chakra.

Although Uzumaki Mito had concealed it well, it still could not escape Kawafune's keen perception.

"No need for such formality, Kawafune-kun. Tsunade has already told me about you. Please, take a seat."

Uzumaki Mito smiled and gestured for Kawafune to sit beside Tsunade. She could not sense even the slightest malice from this young man.

Once everyone was seated, the servants began bringing out the food and wine.

Familiar dishes of seafood sashimi, drinking snacks, and sushi were placed on the table one after another.

Tsunade poured Kawafune a drink. To everyone's surprise, her grandmother asked for a cup as well, and only then did Tsunade fill her own.

With Uzumaki Mito's permission, Nawaki and Kushina had already begun stuffing themselves.