You'd Only Get Beaten to a Pulp by Me

"Have a seat for a while. The food will be ready soon."

When they got home, Watanabe left Tsunade in the living room and went into the kitchen to get busy.

Tsunade didn't offer to help. She couldn't cook, and Mito usually handled the cooking.

With nothing else to do, she casually looked around. This was her second time visiting Watanabe's home.

Watanabe lived in a modest one-bedroom apartment. The furniture was plain and simple, and there wasn't even a television. Still, the place was neat and tidy, making it feel comfortable.

"He's pretty clean."

Tsunade thought of the one time she'd visited Jiraiya's home. His place had been a total pigsty; it couldn't compare to Watanabe's.

As for why she'd gone to Jiraiya's home that time, it was because she'd beaten him up badly. Feeling guilty afterward, she'd delivered some medicine at Mito's request.

"After our sparring match that day, were you hurt?"

Tsunade suddenly asked. The medicine she'd prepared was still in the classroom.

"I'm fine. I just coughed up a couple mouthfuls of blood at the time. I was better after a night's sleep," Watanabe replied as he stir-fried the food.

"Don't try to act tough. There's no shame in getting hurt by me. I started learning Medical Ninjutsu because I was afraid I'd accidentally beat someone to death."

"..."

Watanabe was amused by Tsunade's words and laughed. "Don't worry. If I really get hurt, I'll tell you."

Tsunade pursed her lips. What did he mean, don't worry?

As if I care about you or anything.

The two of them chatted off and on. Half an hour later, Watanabe came out of the kitchen carrying a table full of delicious-looking dishes.

"Give them a try. They should taste pretty good." Watanabe was quite confident in his cooking.

Tsunade was impressed. Just looking at the food on the table made her hungry, and it smelled wonderful.

Watanabe really did know his way around the kitchen. No wonder he'd dared to cook for her.

She tentatively picked up a piece of beef. An indescribably delicious flavor burst across her tongue, and she couldn't help closing her eyes.

"Delicious!"

Seeing that Tsunade approved of his cooking, Watanabe finally relaxed.

He'd gone all out for this meal. If Tsunade still wasn't satisfied, it would have been a huge waste.

"Try this braised shrimp, too. Have some more."

Watanabe cheerfully served her another helping.

Tsunade didn't turn anything down. After the braised shrimp, she tried the sweet-and-sour carp, and the more she ate, the more she enjoyed it.

She hadn't expected Watanabe to be such a good cook. To be blunt, his food was tastier than her grandmother's and even the restaurants outside.

"How do you make these dishes? I've never seen anything like them before."

Tsunade asked with her cheeks stuffed full. Her table manners weren't very ladylike, but she was cute.

Of course, Watanabe wasn't going to tell Tsunade the truth: all his recipes came from Earth.

Peace had only recently returned to the Shinobi World, and people in many regions still couldn't get enough to eat. Most people had only one concern when it came to food: filling their stomachs. In such circumstances, no one had the time or inclination to develop different cuisines. Earth's countless recipes were a whole new level compared to what the Shinobi World had to offer.

"I just came up with them myself. I'm glad you like them."

Watanabe wanted to get along with Tsunade, so he was being especially warm and considerate, his smile bright and gentle.

Tsunade thought to herself, Well, I'll be. Watanabe might not be much of a fighter, but he was an undeniable genius in the kitchen. If he opened a restaurant someday, it would surely be a hit.

Tsunade then transformed into a champion eater and swept through every dish on the table, showing Watanabe no restraint at all.

Watanabe ate less than she did. After all, eating weakened him.

[Currently eating: Hunger +13, Weakness +5, Stamina -6...]

He had no choice. He still had to eat, even if it weakened him; otherwise, he'd starve to death.

He'd been eating instant noodles every day lately, and his mouth was practically growing feathers from the lack of flavor. A change of pace was pretty nice.

Before long, every dish on the table had been devoured. Tsunade put down her chopsticks and sighed contentedly. "I'm so full. I almost ate too much!"

Watanabe silently nodded. Unlike Tsunade, he'd managed to eat himself hungry.

"I'll wash the dishes."

Watanabe picked up the bowls and chopsticks and headed for the kitchen.

Tsunade felt a little embarrassed and volunteered, "Let me help you wash them."

"No need. I invited you over today. How could I make you do the work?"

That made Tsunade feel perfectly comfortable about slacking off.

She leaned against the kitchen doorway and watched Watanabe diligently washing the dishes at the sink. Suddenly, she realized he had a lot of good qualities.

He kept the house tidy, was a great cook, and was gentle and handsome. Whoever married him someday would probably be very happy.

"Watanabe, why don't you stop being a ninja and become a chef instead? I'd make sure to eat at your place every day."

After sharing lunch, the two had grown closer without realizing it, and Tsunade was joking with him now.

"I can't. Being a chef won't help me achieve my dream." Watanabe shook his head.

Tsunade was curious. "Huh, you have a dream, too?"

Watanabe: "..."

What kind of question was that? I'm not some deadbeat.

Realizing she'd put her foot in her mouth, Tsunade corrected herself. "I mean, do you want to become Hokage, too?"

Boys their age all dreamed of becoming Hokage. Her younger brother, Nawaki, and their classmates Jiraiya and Dan Katō were all the same. It was a tired old dream.

Watanabe replied casually, "No. My dream is world peace."

"??"

Tsunade froze, her expression gradually shifting from surprise to contemplation.

World peace... Wasn't that what her grandfather had devoted his life to achieving?

Thinking of Watanabe's background as an orphan, Tsunade felt as though she understood.

Watanabe must be just like her grandfather. He hoped that war would disappear forever, that everyone in the Shinobi World could live in peace and happiness, and that there would never be another war orphan like him.

That dream was countless times greater than the dream of becoming Hokage.

In that moment, Tsunade suddenly felt as though light were shining down on Watanabe. But because he was an ordinary person, even with such a lofty ideal, the light around him was bright without being blinding. Even so, it made her want to look up to him.

"Hm? Why'd you go quiet?"

Watanabe turned around in surprise and saw Tsunade staring into space, lost in thought.

"Was my joke that bad?"

Watanabe scratched the back of his head, thinking that winning Tsunade over was no easy task.

Afraid of making things worse, he didn't tell any more bad jokes and quietly washed the dishes.

Tsunade remained lost in thought.

The more she imagined, the brighter the light around Watanabe seemed.

By the time Watanabe finished washing the dishes, it was already one o'clock. There was only half an hour left before class, so the two of them left together.

On their way to the Ninja Academy, Watanabe hesitated several times, wanting to say something.

Finally, he steeled himself and made his request. "Tsunade, could I ask you for a favor?"

Tsunade was still thinking about Watanabe's "great dream," wondering what kind of person he really was. She reflexively asked, "What is it?"

Could you beat me up? (Struck through.)

"Could you spar with me?"

Tsunade paused.

Spar with me?

You're no match for me. You'd only get beaten to a pulp.