Satoru's Sense of Urgency

For the past few days, Satoru had been somewhat distracted during class.

This feeling... it can't be wrong. There are always troublemakers plotting against me!

Quietly withdrawing Mage Eye, Satoru felt a headache coming on.

He had not yet practiced Mage Eye to the point where he could use it to perceive his surroundings.

This surveillance sweep around the classroom had turned up nothing.

Everyone appeared normal, but based on Satoru's instincts, he constantly felt that something was watching him from the shadows.

This feeling had appeared not long after he last met Tsunade.

Is Tsunade keeping tabs on me? Or has she already contacted Orochimaru?

Satoru could not be certain. Considering their personal strength, no matter which of them was watching him, it would be perfectly normal for him to fail to notice.

But Tsunade probably would not do something so boring, and this style was more like something Orochimaru would do.

That guy had mastered who knew how many strange and bizarre techniques. Keeping someone under surveillance would be far too easy for him.

At least, Satoru had not sensed that feeling at home.

In other words, the surveillance technique had not escaped his father's notice.

I still need to improve my strength as soon as possible... preferably with a few more Trump Cards!

A trace of urgency rose in Satoru's heart. Although Orochimaru was still a fine young man devoted to the village and concerned for his comrades, his intense thirst for knowledge meant Satoru did not dare hope that he would be able to restrain himself.

Curiosity killed the cat, let alone a snake...

Right now, he still had several spells unknown to outsiders that could serve as Trump Cards.

For example, Blink, Slow Fall, Mage Eye, as well as Flame Impact and Magic Suppression, which he had successfully mastered not long ago.

But aside from Blink, which could turn the tide, none of the others qualified as Trump Cards.

Nonō, who sat beside him, curiously watched Satoru as he alternated between frowning and looking lost in thought.

She was filled with admiration for this classmate beside her who was responsible for tutoring her, but she was also deeply curious about him.

Sitting so close, she naturally noticed some of Satoru's traits that set him apart from other children.

In her eyes, Satoru was far more than merely what the teacher called "the student with the best foundation."

She had skipped ahead into this class, and the reason she had not skipped again into fourth grade was not because she had failed to master the knowledge taught in third grade, but because she had not mastered everything recorded in Satoru's notebook.

Many of his analyses of techniques and ideas for their application had greatly broadened Nonō's horizons.

Simply put, Nonō, who was already more mature than children her age, believed that she could learn more by staying at Satoru's side.

Not just knowledge, but also Satoru's thinking and composure, both far beyond his years.

This interesting classmate should be much more formidable than he looked.

Nawaki from the graduating class had also been coming to discuss things with Satoru frequently lately, and Nawaki's older sister was none other than Lady Tsunade, whom she admired!

Thinking of that, Nonō found Satoru's current appearance even more interesting.

Normally, he was quiet yet confident. She had never seen Satoru like this before.

"Hey, Satoru, is something bothering you?"

Nonō furtively glanced around before asking in a low voice.

"Hm?"

Satoru was slightly taken aback. Was his expression really that obvious? Had Nonō seen through him?

"It's nothing... I just feel like something might happen soon."

Perhaps he had been bottling it up for too long. Satoru no longer cared about whether it might affect his research progress and lightly grumbled:

"It must be Tsunade's doing. Are all well-endowed women really that petty?"

"..."

A faint blush quietly crept across Nonō's face. Only after Satoru finished his expressionless complaint did he remember...

Girls really do mature much earlier in certain respects!

Adding another silent complaint to himself, Satoru furtively glanced around. Not caring whether Orochimaru, who might be secretly watching him, saw this little incident, he hurriedly explained to Nonō in a low voice:

"Ah, I meant Lady Tsunade is petty... no, I mean careful... cautious, yes, that's right. Don't overthink it."

Then, with a face full of dark lines, Satoru watched the little girl, not even seven years old yet, cautiously glance down at her own chest... and blush even harder!

"Um... Satoru... do you know Lady Tsunade?"

"Yeah, I've met her once... she's Nawaki's older sister."

Satoru quietly wiped away some sweat. The teacher was speaking animatedly at the front of the class and apparently had not noticed their whispers.

Those guys Shikaku and the others, who loved to stir things up, were also listening obediently. Today's lesson seemed to interest them greatly:

"I saw Lady Tsunade's Medical Ninjutsu with my own eyes... it really was incredible—"

Satoru suddenly recalled that Nonō would become an outstanding Medical Ninja in the future, so he asked:

"Nonō, do you want to learn Medical Ninjutsu? Maybe I can introduce you to Lady Tsunade."

Satoru had never heard of any prominent clan behind Nonō's surname, Yakushi.

It felt much like his own Mitokado family. Though his father, Mitokado Homura, held a high position, it was usually just the two of them.

His mother had died on a mission when he was very young, causing his father to become increasingly stern and rigid around others. Only in front of Satoru did he act like a normal father.

There was not much left of Nonō's family either. All she had inherited was a surname and an old house, which was why she had started school so early.

Thus, if she relied on herself, it would basically be impossible for her to come into contact early with a Medical Jonin of Lady Tsunade's caliber.

Unless, after graduation, her Jonin instructor discovered her Medical Talent and sent her to study in the medical corps. That was all.

But now that Satoru, who knew of her talent, was here, things were different.

"I... I really do... admire Lady Tsunade... and I want to help other people too!"

Nonō was clearly startled. Excited, yet conflicted, the little girl said:

"B-but I've heard that becoming a Medical Ninja requires special talent. I don't know whether I have that kind of talent..."

"Don't worry, you definitely have the talent. After class, I'll get Nawaki over here. If he refuses to call Lady Tsunade over, I'll beat him until he agrees!"

Satoru chuckled softly and winked at Nonō.

"Lady Tsunade loves gambling most of all. It's fine if you study under her, but don't ever pick up that bad habit!"

"If she were good at gambling, that would be one thing, but the problem is that she loses every time she gambles and keeps gambling the more she loses. In the future, people will call her a 'fat sheep.'"

Hearing Satoru's assessment of her idol, Nonō could not help staring blankly.

But a Lady Tsunade who was so down-to-earth... was wonderful too!

"Then... then I'll be counting on you, Satoru..."

Though delighted, Nonō was somewhat puzzled.

"Isn't a fat sheep already fat?"

Smack!

A chalk stub flew toward him. Satoru instinctively reached out and caught it, only to suddenly realize that the atmosphere had gone eerily quiet.

"Satoru! I've put up with you for a long time!"

At the front of the classroom, the teacher's eye twitched as he watched the bewildered Satoru casually catch the chalk stub he had thrown.

"You answer this question!"

"..."

Satoru stood up awkwardly, glanced at the blackboard, and swiftly gave the answer, only to see Choza, Shikaku, and Inoichi looking in his direction with utter disdain.

"Closet pervert!"

They grumbled in unison, making the corner of Satoru's mouth twitch.