Where is the upbringing of the Senju clan?

In the morning, the dew condensed by the morning mist had yet to dissipate, and the warm sunlight already streamed through the shadows of the verdant trees, falling onto the gradually bustling streets.

The morning light, like gauze soaked in honey, gently draped over the stone-paved streets of Konohagakure. The copper bells hanging from the eaves of the Three-Color Dango shop tinkled softly in the morning breeze, startling a few dew-kissed cherry blossoms to fall. Four round tables made of cherry wood outside the shop were still glistening with night dew, and scattered on the bamboo woven stools were a few pink cherry petals fallen from last night's spring rain.

A Jonin wearing a dark blue ninja uniform hurried past, picking up a paper-wrapped dango with one hand and quickly leaving. The Kunai pouch on his back gleamed with a cold metallic luster in the morning light.

Passing through the cloth curtain, the wooden lattice window panes cut the morning light into diamond-shaped patches, slanting across the grayish-blue floor. An elmwood counter by the wall held seven or eight porcelain jars with underglaze red decoration, containing red bean paste, cherry blossom jam, and mugwort paste.

Three layers of maple wood steamers were stacked by the stove. The dango on the top layer were revealed as the bamboo lid was lifted, the emerald green mugwort dango wrapped in cherry blossom petals trembling slightly in the steam. The freshly made dango were skewered on cypress wood sticks, the glutinous rice skin gilded with a golden edge by the morning light. The syrup oozing from the red bean filling formed amber-colored puddles in the celadon dish.

Children from the Ninja Academy noisily streamed into the shop, their clamorous discussions full of vitality and youth, much like the rising morning light. A boy with an orange forehead protector stood on tiptoe, reaching for the glass counter. Several mini Three-Color Dango for tasting lay on the bamboo tray, their green, moon-white, and dark wood colors swirling in the morning light.

He pressed his nose tip against the counter, leaving a round mark, and pointed foolishly at one of the plates, "I want that one with the salted plum inside!"

Just then, a low whistling sound came from the street corner. Three ninja wearing Anbu masks silently swept past the front of the shop. One of them suddenly stopped, placed three banknotes on the counter, and continued on his way.

Nawaki, holding a tray, sighed as he watched them disappear in the distance. He took out a bamboo tube filled with iced dango from under the counter and tied it with a rope specifically for ninja tools.

"My, my! Business is quite good here!"

"Right! Right!"

A boisterous voice came from outside the shop door.

"What would you like to eat, customer..."

Nawaki turned his head with a smile, but his smile froze on his face.

Three figures, large, medium, and small, parted the cloth curtain and walked in. The smallest figure at the front was holding various snacks and, acting as if they owned the place, greeted the white-haired person by the innermost table.

"Yo! Kakashi, skipping work again?"

Suddenly, two people had headaches.

Kakashi was helpless. He didn't know why he suddenly wanted to come here, but perhaps when he saw that figure on the street today, he had a sudden premonition?

"Lady Tsunade, you're here too."

Kakashi scratched his head and stood up. His gaze swept over Qing Xuan, but stopped behind him, leaving him momentarily unsure of what to say.

That girl, exuding an aura of "stay away," always made Kakashi feel a sense of restraint.

At this moment, a small, greasy hand entered Kakashi's line of sight and directly grabbed the girl's tender hand.

"Hey! Ling, that perverted salty fish is staring at you!"

"No, it's not, I'm not..."

Kakashi instantly panicked.

However, the girl completely ignored him. She crouched down, pulled out a tissue, and repeatedly wiped Qing Xuan's small hands clean. Then, she ruffled his hair.

"It's okay, don't mind him."

Facing Qing Xuan, this girl showed a completely different side of herself.

Are cute little boys just that likable?

Kakashi muttered helplessly in his heart.

Who exactly is this girl?

Meanwhile, Qing Xuan, whose hands were being wiped by the older sister, was actually more confused than Kakashi.

Didn't Tsunade's attendant used to be Shizune? Where did this Ling come from?

This morning, after leaving the Uchiha Compound, he had asked all the way and only learned that Ling was a follower and disciple Tsunade had recruited outside the village years ago. Tsunade refused to mention anything else.

This was quite puzzling...

"Kakashi."

Tsunade nodded at Kakashi, as if they were very familiar. "I heard you've been slacking off lately. Wasting your talent is not a wise choice."

Her gaze was stern, like an elder's, as she reprimanded Kakashi. "Also, skipping work to eat dango is not a good habit."

Kakashi was speechless. I'm clearly on vacation today, alright? You believe Qing Xuan's nonsense so easily?

Tsunade didn't give him time to explain and turned to look at Nawaki, who was standing by the counter with a stiff expression. She frowned, "What's with that expression? Don't you even know how to greet your dear sister when she returns? Where did you throw the upbringing of my Senju Clan?"

Didn't you gamble away all the upbringing of the Senju Clan? My sister...

Looking at this sister, whose creditors always arrived before she did, Nawaki truly wished he never had to see her.

Indeed, today was not a good day to open for business.

Were these two, mother and daughter, really trying to drive him to his death?

Nawaki resisted. He didn't want to deal with them, but soon, under his sister's fists, he became enthusiastic.

"Of course, I'm very happy!"

Nawaki forced a smile and, not forgetting, served Qing Xuan a plate of his favorite dango. This child coming to freeload every time had allowed Nawaki to fully understand his tastes.

After the familiar daily bickering, the small shop finally returned to peace.

Qing Xuan naturally pulled Ling and Bai, who had hurried over from behind, to sit at Kakashi's table.

This lazy bum Kakashi didn't know what he did all day. Every time Qing Xuan came for dango, he could always find him here.

Isn't Ichiraku Ramen your favorite anymore? What's with you coming here every day for dango?

Meanwhile, Tsunade and Nawaki stood at a counter further away, striking up a sibling chat.

"It seems you're getting along well with Qing Xuan."

Tsunade turned her head to look at the small figure wolfing down dango and couldn't help but complain, "I don't know how those Uchiha teach their children, this kid's eating manners are truly unsightly..."

Despite her complaints, a faint smile and doting look could be seen in Tsunade's eyes.

This overflowing maternal affection finally dispelled the last shred of doubt in Nawaki's heart.

He propped one hand on the counter, a gentle breeze mirroring the smile on his face. His gaze also shifted to Qing Xuan, "I really like this kid, he just lacks manners..."

"What are you talking about?"

Tsunade immediately became displeased, glaring angrily at her brother, always feeling like he was hinting at something.

"Do you want me to throw you into the Land of Wind and see if you have any manners?"

Speaking of which, even Nawaki became curious. Seeing that Tsunade was in a good mood, he couldn't help but tentatively ask, "What exactly happened that day?"

The smile on Tsunade's face froze instantly, as if she had recalled something unpleasant.

"Nothing happened."

"Then why did you go outside the village to have a child?"