This Is My Last Spar With You

"Boom!"

Watanabe fell like a meteor, smashing a meter-wide crater in the ground, dust billowing everywhere.

Tsunade panted, her beautiful eyes blinking as she stared at where Watanabe had fallen, her heart extremely tense.

Her previous attack could have leveled an entire street; could Watanabe still have emerged unscathed?

"Tsunade, you're so violent today."

Soon, a reassuring voice came from the smoke. Watanabe brushed the dust off himself and walked out with a wry smile.

Tsunade's expression softened, and she pouted. "It's not that I'm violent, it's that you're too weak, only good enough to be my punching bag."

Despite her words, she was actually quite impressed with Watanabe's resilience. To withstand her high-intensity assault like that, she doubted anyone else in Konoha could match him in terms of defense.

He would have a decent chance of protecting himself on the battlefield in the future.

"After all, it's Tsunade. It's normal that I can't beat you."

Watanabe smiled wryly, admitting defeat readily and throwing in a compliment.

Tsunade's chin lifted proudly at his words, and she walked towards a nearby rock.

Watanabe understood she was tired and wanted to rest, so he picked up his milk tea and solicitously followed her.

"Are you thirsty? Drink this."

Tsunade took the milk tea without any pretense. After taking a few sips, she ordered Watanabe, "My legs are sore, give them a massage."

"Okay."

Watanabe readily agreed. Tsunade had sparred with him, so it was only natural for him to do some service for her; there was nothing embarrassing about it.

He then sat down, lifted Tsunade's legs onto his lap, and began massaging from her calves upwards.

Tsunade had beautiful legs, and with her wearing leather pants today, her thighs were plump and firm, feeling substantial under his touch.

Watching Watanabe massage her thighs, Tsunade blushed slightly. She brought the milk tea to him and turned her head. "You must be thirsty too, have a few sips."

Watanabe was taken aback. A few drops of liquid clung to the tip of the straw, and he wasn't sure if it was milk tea or Tsunade's saliva.

"No, I'm not thirsty," Watanabe waved his hand, refusing.

Tsunade frowned. "Just drink it if I tell you to, don't be difficult."

"Alright..."

Watanabe couldn't refuse, so he could only lower his head, put the straw in his mouth, and take a big gulp.

The thought that Tsunade had just bitten this straw sent a strange feeling through him. Was this level of intimacy normal between friends?

"This will be the last time I spar with you," Tsunade suddenly said.

"Cough cough!"

Watanabe choked unexpectedly, spraying the milk tea in his mouth onto Tsunade's thigh. He quickly reached out to wipe it off.

"Clumsy," Tsunade chided him, then continued drinking the rest of her milk tea.

"Tsunade, are you graduating early?" Watanabe asked.

"Mhm," Tsunade admitted.

"My grandmother originally planned for me to stay in the academy until normal graduation. But the current ninja world situation is becoming very tense. No one knows when the Second Great Ninja War will break out. As the pride of the Senju Clan, I can't waste any more time in the academy."

Watanabe nodded.

He could understand. While Tsunade enjoyed the privileges, she also bore pressure beyond that of her peers. She had to be better than anyone her age.

"After you graduate, where will you go?"

Normally, students were assigned to teams led by Jonin to gain experience through missions after graduation. Watanabe figured Tsunade would have special treatment; he wouldn't be surprised if she went straight into Konoha's higher ranks.

Tsunade thought for a moment and answered truthfully, "The Third Hokage wants to take me as his disciple, and my grandmother wants me to run for Fourth Hokage. I've already agreed to him. The Third Hokage spoke with me last night and said he'll be giving me intensive, secluded training. I won't be able to go anywhere except to train with him."

Watanabe's heart sank.

If that was the case, then this sparring session with Tsunade truly would be their last.

There are no eternal banquets. Tsunade's future was far brighter than his, and her chances of becoming the Fourth Hokage were higher than anyone else's.

"How long will the secluded training last?"

Watanabe continued to ask, unconsciously increasing the pressure of his massage, his fingers digging deep into the flesh of Tsunade's thighs.

Tsunade looked at him, holding her milk tea, and understood that Watanabe was reluctant to part with her.

She was reluctant to part with Watanabe too, but as she had said earlier, she was the pride of the Senju Clan, and it was her duty to restore her ancestors' glory. There were many things she had to do.

"I don't know," Tsunade shook her head. "Maybe a year, maybe two, or maybe the training will continue until the ninja war breaks out."

"I see..."

Watanabe took a deep breath. "I wish you all the best. If you ever encounter any trouble in the future, you can come to me for help. I'd go through fire and water for you."

This parting might mean years before we see each other again. Watanabe only hoped that when he and Tsunade met again, they wouldn't be strangers, and could still have the same relationship as sharing a cup of milk tea.

After all, Tsunade was his only friend in Konoha.

Tsunade bit her lower lip, and Watanabe's words made her nose sting a little.

"Now that you've talked about my business, it's time to talk about you," she suddenly changed the subject.

"Talk about me?" Watanabe asked curiously.

"What else could it be?"

Tsunade put down her milk tea and leaned her pretty face closer to Watanabe, staring at him intently as she warned, "After I go for special training, you are not allowed to interact with any other girls. If I find out you're getting close to any girl, I will absolutely not forgive you!"

Watanabe froze.

Why did that sound so strange?

It was the kind of thing only couples would say, right?

"Tsunade, what do you mean?" Watanabe probed.

"That's what I mean!"

Tsunade clarified directly for him, "You pursued me first, and I've already agreed to you. You must wait for me to come back honestly."

"Uh..."

Her words hit him like a bolt from the blue, completely stunning Watanabe.

I pursued you first?

When did I ever pursue you?

And when did you agree to me?

"I have to wait for you to come back?" Watanabe suspected he was hallucinating and repeated Tsunade's words.

Seeing his hesitant and uncertain expression, Tsunade got angry and hit him hard on the head.

[Attacked: Blood Essence +21, Defense +11, Pain -13...]

"You've been touching me like this, don't you want to wait?!"

She pointed at Watanabe's ten fingers, which were deeply embedded in the flesh of her thigh, and questioned him indignantly.

If Watanabe dared to say "no," she would definitely fight him today, and it would be his lucky day if she didn't beat him senseless!

Watanabe originally wanted to say, "But you asked me to give you a massage," but he knew better than to say that now.

"I'll wait, of course I'll wait!"

Watanabe immediately declared his stance.

At the same time, he felt a sense of unreal, illusory feeling. He had thought about pursuing Tsunade before, but he had never dared to think too deeply about it, fearing he would mess up and end up not even being friends with Tsunade.

But now, he had somehow stumbled into pursuing Tsunade, and he himself was confused about how he got this girlfriend.

"That's more like it."

Tsunade nodded in satisfaction.