Tsunade: How Could He Be?

That afternoon, after school, Sen and Kushina spotted Tsunade from a long way off.

It was hard not to notice her.

With her dazzling blond hair, alluring, firm features at twenty, and stunning figure, she stood out like a crane among the crowd of people picking up their children.

If everyone in the village didn't know the "Princess Tsunade" had a fiery temper, a crowd of men would have already been shamelessly hitting on her.

The two went over to greet her.

"Sister Tsunade, long time no see."

"Hello, Tsunade."

At Sen's lukewarm greeting, Tsunade's lovely brows drew together slightly.

As for Sen, he tried to look away from Tsunade, but failed every time. His gaze remained fixed on her two globes, as if there were a deadly black hole there.

This was a lethal, 106-centimeter abyss—truly terrifying!

If Sen weren't a six-year-old brat, Tsunade would probably have beaten him to death by now.

A while later, a nine-year-old boy with golden-brown hair and a faint flush on his face came running over. It was Tsunade's younger brother, Nawaki.

Seeing Tsunade and the others, Nawaki exclaimed happily,

"Big Sis! You came to pick me up! Kushina, you're here too. Is this your classmate?"

Tsunade nodded, and at last a hint of a smile appeared on her face.

"Hello, I'm Nawaki."

"Uchiha Sen, Kushina's classmate," Sen introduced himself succinctly.

That cold tone again! Tsunade's smile vanished at once.

As expected, everyone in the Uchiha Clan was cut from the same cloth—boring and arrogant.

Noticing Tsunade's displeasure, Kushina hurried to explain on Sen's behalf. "Sister Tsunade, Sen isn't usually like this. He's really nice to me, and to the other students too..."

As she spoke, even she began to lose confidence.

Thinking about it, which of their classmates—aside from her and Minato—hadn't Sen sent flying with a single move?

Then they'd lie on the ground clutching their stomachs and writhing. The tougher ones could handle it, but ordinary students basically just cried, right?

So... he was cold and aloof with everyone except her and that blond-haired guy!

Huh? If that was the case... then she really was one of a kind to him, the most special person in his heart?

Thinking that, Kushina started grinning foolishly to herself again.

Ignoring Kushina's wandering thoughts, Tsunade pointed to the snack shop nearby and said to her and Nawaki,

"You two, go get something to eat over there. I'm going to have a private chat with this Uchiha Sen."

Kushina reluctantly went over with Nawaki.

Tsunade walked up to Sen and bent down. An overwhelming sense of pressure washed over him as she asked in an unfriendly tone, "Kid, I hear you've got your eye on my little Kushina?"

Sen swallowed instinctively.

It wasn't that her imposing manner had intimidated him. It was... after she bent down, that bottomless ravine became even clearer.

Tsunade sensed something was off.

Why did this brat's gaze look so much like that lecher Jiraiya's? But he was only six or seven—surely not?

"Hey! I'm talking to you!"

Only then did Sen lift his head and meet Tsunade's gaze. Calmly, he countered, "What's wrong with me being with her? Hasn't Kushina been happier lately? Or were you the one standing by her and protecting her when people mocked her for being from another village?"

His string of questions left Tsunade speechless.

She straightened up and clenched her fists, her knuckles cracking.

Everyone in Konoha treated her with respect and called her Princess Tsunade. How dare this brat talk back to her!

Seeing that she was about to throw a punch, Sen quickly said, "Hey, don't start anything here. There are so many Anbu around."

Tsunade sensed their surroundings. He was right. Besides the three Anbu protecting Kushina, several others had locked onto Sen.

Just who was this kid?

He looked like an ordinary child, albeit a little cute. Could he be descended from some Uchiha elder? Why were so many people protecting him?

Seeing that Tsunade no longer seemed intent on attacking him, Sen continued, "I'm an Uchiha Clan elite, at least. No one my age can match me. The Uchiha are Konoha's strongest clan. Do you really think we'd let Kushina suffer?"

Just then, Kushina called from a distance, "Sen! Hurry over and pay! The squid skewers here are super tasty!"

Sen rolled his eyes and spread his hands as he looked at Tsunade, his expression seeming to say,

See? Isn't that proof enough?

Tsunade gave it some thought. The kid did seem like a decent choice. He had strength and a sense of responsibility, and most importantly, Kushina liked him.

But a Jinchuriki and an Uchiha... would the higher-ups agree?

Wait a minute. If they didn't agree, couldn't they just beat them until they did? Why was she even worrying about this?

"You're not half bad, kid," Tsunade said, keeping it brief.

Sen didn't reply. He headed straight for the snack shop, with Tsunade following behind.

"You didn't come back just to see us, did you?" Sen asked casually.

"How do you talk to your elders, you brat..." Tsunade sighed, too tired to argue with him. "I came back to see you all and report on the situation at the border."

She looked toward Nawaki, who was fighting Kushina for the food, and a trace of worry entered her eyes. "There's been friction between the nations lately, and war could break out at any moment. In a few years, little Kushina will probably have to go to the battlefield too.

"I heard from the school that you're pretty capable. When you have time, teach her a few things so she doesn't get hurt on the battlefield."

At the shop, Sen paid and took a squid skewer from Kushina. "Sure. How about I teach Nawaki too, while I'm at it?"

"You're pretty full of yourself, kid!" Tsunade's brows shot up. "You want to teach my little brother too?"

Sen ignored her and turned to Kushina. "Kushina, how does Nawaki usually treat you?"

Kushina took a huge bite of squid and answered around her food,

"It's hard to say. When Sister Tsunade's around, I can hit him and he doesn't dare hit back, so he's pretty nice. But when she's not there, he puts up a fight, and he's not as satisfying to hit. So then he's not so nice."

Tsunade: "..."

I told you to look after Kushina, but I didn't tell you to use my little brother as a punching bag, you fool!

Sen shook his head with a wry smile. "So he's pretty nice. Fine, I'll teach him."

Looking at the six snacks in his hands, he pretended to fret. "Oh no, I can't carry them all. I'll use a Shadow Clone to help."

As he spoke, he formed Hand Seals. With two poofs, two Shadow Clones appeared.

Three Sens, six hands, one skewer in each hand. Perfect.

One of the Shadow Clones even picked up a skewer and offered it to Tsunade. "Would you like one, Tsunade?"

Watching this, Tsunade nearly laughed in exasperation. Who used Shadow Clones so extravagantly just to carry a few snacks?

And there were six skewers in all; he could clearly carry them with two hands... Wait!

The anger on her face instantly turned to shock, then to delight!

Shadow Clone Jutsu?!

This Uchiha brat had learned a B-rank jutsu at his age?!

She hadn't learned it until she was ten!

Could he really be a genius?