S-Rank Ninjutsu?!

"Are these ninjutsu scrolls too valuable? Does Senior Mito know about them?"

Though Watanabe was tempted, he was a rational person.

He figured that if Mito knew Tsunade was giving away ninjutsu scrolls, she would definitely stop her. After all, the three scrolls were worth more than ten thousand ryo in total. Even a wealthy family couldn't afford to waste money like that.

"Why would Grandma need to know what I do with my own things?" Tsunade retorted.

Then she slung her backpack over her shoulders again and turned away haughtily.

"I'm spending the afternoon training with my little brother, so I'm not sparring with you. Practice your ninjutsu by yourself!"

With that, Tsunade strode off without saying another word to Watanabe.

Watanabe felt that something was off about her today, but he couldn't put his finger on what. He decided to wait until she was in a better mood before thanking her properly.

He would definitely thank her. Tsunade had been so generous to him, and he needed to act like a proper friend in return.

"No wonder so many classmates suck up to Tsunade. Who wouldn't want to be friends with someone so generous?"

Watanabe thought with a sigh. Getting closer to Tsunade was probably the best decision he'd made since coming to Konoha.

Then, full of anticipation, he opened the ninjutsu scrolls to take a look.

Only after mastering advanced ninjutsu could someone truly call themselves a ninja.

The scrolls Tsunade had given him would at least contain C-rank techniques, right?

"Mutual Multiplication Paper Bomb Technique, A... A-rank?"

Watanabe froze when he saw the title on the first scroll.

He suspected his eyes were playing tricks on him and rubbed them hard.

He hadn't misread it. The technique called Mutual Multiplication Paper Bomb was indeed classified as an A-rank ninjutsu.

"Tsunade actually gave me an A-rank technique?"

Watanabe was stunned.

Even C-rank ninjutsu were incredibly valuable. The worth of an A-rank technique was beyond measure; it was the sort of thing money couldn't buy. Many of the great ninja clans didn't even possess an A-rank technique.

After a brief moment of shock, Watanabe hurriedly opened the second scroll.

"Flying Thunder God..."

"An S-rank Space-Time Ninjutsu??"

"Holy crap!"

Watanabe could no longer stay calm. Even as a Ninja Academy student, he knew exactly what an S-rank technique meant.

He opened the third scroll.

"Spirit Transformation Technique..."

Another S-rank!

Three scrolls: one A-rank and two S-rank.

Watanabe was deeply shaken. He couldn't help wondering whether Tsunade even knew what she'd given away.

Or was it that a rich young lady simply had no grasp of how much things were worth?

If Mito found out she'd given away such precious scrolls, would she be so furious that she'd send Tsunade away too?

"I can't keep these scrolls."

Watanabe made up his mind at once. If they were only C-rank scrolls, he could accept them, but S-rank scrolls were far too significant. Even if Tsunade was willing to give them to him, he didn't dare accept them.

Once he'd learned all three techniques, he'd return the scrolls to Tsunade...

"Watanabe!"

A deep voice rang out abruptly.

Inuzuka Kiba emerged from the woods, a tiny puppy perched on his head. It let out a couple of babyish woofs.

"Inuzuka Kiba, what are you doing here?"

Watanabe asked, discreetly closing the three scrolls as he spoke.

Inuzuka Kiba stared fixedly at the scrolls in his hands and said, "I saw everything between you and Tsunade."

Watanabe sensed the hostility coming from Inuzuka Kiba, and his heart sank.

Not long after leaving the grove, Tsunade regretted it.

She actually had nothing to do that afternoon. Her little brother was being taught to train by Mito, so he didn't need her company at all.

She'd refused to spar with Watanabe purely because she was upset. She wanted to make him realize he'd done something wrong, so he'd come after her and apologize.

But Watanabe hadn't come after her.

Maybe he didn't even know she was unhappy about him eating food from another girl.

"Idiot."

Tsunade muttered and glanced back toward the grove.

"Those three techniques won't be easy to master. Whatever, I'll go back and help you with them."

Tsunade returned to the grove.

After walking a few steps, she heard voices up ahead.

"I saw everything between you and Tsunade."

Tsunade immediately recognized Inuzuka Kiba's voice.

In Tsunade's eyes, Inuzuka Kiba was even more annoying than Jiraiya. He always smelled like a dog, and that was bad enough, but he just had to keep hanging around her and repeatedly invite her over to see his puppies.

He had no idea that dogs were the animals she hated most.

"Why is Inuzuka Kiba here? Was he following Watanabe and me?"

The thought popped into Tsunade's head.

Just then, she heard Watanabe's voice again.

"So what if you saw? Tsunade and I are friends. There's nothing to hide."

Watanabe admitted it frankly, and his answer warmed Tsunade's heart.

"Bullshit."

Inuzuka Kiba's face flushed with anger. "You don't really care about Tsunade. You're just using her to get something for yourself. The scrolls in your hands are proof!"

"Grow up."

Watanabe couldn't be bothered to argue with a kid who was being ridiculous.

The little brat didn't know the first thing about love.

But Inuzuka Kiba's words unsettled Tsunade. She hesitated, unsure what Watanabe really thought of her.

If Watanabe really was only using her, as Inuzuka Kiba claimed, Tsunade would be furious. All the good feelings she had for Watanabe would turn to loathing.

After thinking it over, Tsunade chose not to reveal herself. She stayed behind a tree, planning to listen to what Watanabe really thought.

"Don't move!"

Inuzuka Kiba blocked Watanabe's path and scolded him furiously. "Watanabe, you're shameless! Tsunade is the granddaughter of the First, while you're just a civilian orphan. You're from two completely different worlds. What gives you the right to go after Tsunade?"

Watanabe figured the guy had to be out of his mind. A simp ended up with nothing in the end. He retorted, "Tsunade and I are friends. Who are you to tell me what to do?"

"You..."

Inuzuka Kiba was stumped by the comeback, but he quickly shot back:

"You think you're worthy of being Tsunade's friend?!"

"Forget that your intentions in getting close to her are impure. Just because you're a civilian, you should keep your distance from Tsunade!"

Watanabe's gaze turned colder. "You keep calling me a civilian. You think you're so superior?"

"I'm still better than you!"

"I'm warning you: stay away from Tsunade from now on. If I catch you bothering her again, I won't go easy on you. Give me the scrolls. I'm taking them back to Tsunade."

As he spoke, Inuzuka Kiba reached out to snatch them.

Watanabe grew angry and darted out of reach.

Behind the big tree, Tsunade was just as furious.

She thought Inuzuka Kiba was a complete idiot.

Who did he think he was? What gave him the right to tell Watanabe to keep his distance from her?

He was so self-important, it was disgusting.

If she hadn't wanted to hear what Watanabe really thought of her, Tsunade would have gone out there and punched him. That would teach him to keep his nose out of her business.