Tsunade's Apprentice

After gambling all the way back and losing all her money, Tsunade stood once more at Konoha's gates, hands on her hips and chin held high.

"Mm, Tsunade the Legendary Sucker is back!"

Shizune didn't give her time to show off. She grabbed Tsunade and hurried her along. They had to keep moving—the longer they stood there, the more embarrassing this was!

"Lady Tsunade, we're already so many days late getting back to Konoha. Please hurry into the village and report in. Your new student has been waiting for you all this time!"

"Hey! Hey! Hey!"

Tsunade couldn't get away from Shizune, who dragged her toward the Hokage Building.

Qinglong was at home, already planning a trip.

He had a geography atlas of the ninja world and a guide to its local customs.

"Mm, for my first stop, I absolutely have to go to the Land of Hot Water. I'll soak in the hot springs there and experience the local customs. It'll help me recover from all this training."

"Ah~! I heard they have mixed-gender hot springs. I wonder if it's true."

Slurp. Qinglong swallowed, having already budgeted his money. Once he'd spent it all, he'd head home.

"Knock, knock, knock!"

Someone knocked at the door.

"Who could be coming to see me at this hour?"

Qinglong muttered to himself. All his classmates were out on ninja missions, so no one should have time to visit him. Could it be Hanabi?

"Click!"

The door opened, and a pair of weapons thrust right into his face.

Qinglong took a deep breath. Beyond the towering peaks, he saw a pretty face beaming at him.

"Ah! It's Big Sis Tsunade! What brings you here? And you too, Big Sis Shizune."

"Why, to see my little student, of course!"

Tsunade said with a smile as she strode into Qinglong's home.

"Hmm! Kid, why is your house such a mess?"

Tsunade looked at the scattered clothes, the packed travel bag, and the atlas of the ninja world.

"Ah~, I'm terribly sorry. This is so rude of me! Please excuse the mess, Big Sis Tsunade."

Qinglong hurried to tidy up, clearing a space for them.

"It's fine. My room's just as messy."

Tsunade didn't seem to mind. She casually found herself a place to sit.

Shizune smiled awkwardly off to the side. Lady Tsunade really was something—she didn't even try to preserve her dignity as a teacher.

"Ah! Qinglong, are you planning to go somewhere?"

Shizune asked, looking at the atlas on the table.

"Yeah, I'm planning to travel! I really envy you two, going all over the place every day. What a life!"

"Er~ hehehe..."

Shizune laughed awkwardly, trying to hide her guilty conscience.

Lady Tsunade, look at you! You took so long to return to the village that he was about to go traveling. If you'd been any later, you wouldn't have found your student at all.

But Tsunade wasn't embarrassed in the slightest. She waved a hand grandly.

"Is that so? Then this works out perfectly! You're my student now, so I'll take you out of Konoha to see the sights and broaden your horizons."

"Ah?!"

Qinglong froze. Tsunade waved a document in front of him: the Hokage's assignment for the Ninja Academy graduates. Qinglong had been assigned to Tsunade as her student.

Qinglong stared at it, dumbfounded. Tsunade leaned toward him with a smile. "Little brother, aren't you going to call me 'Teacher'?"

"Um..."

Qinglong thought it over, then said, "Could you maybe not take me as your student? I like someone."

"Hmm?"

Tsunade arched an eyebrow, leaned toward him, and asked coldly, "Think that over again. Who do you like?"

Qinglong sighed helplessly. "You."

Tsunade smugly curled her lips. The kid still hadn't refused to become her student. Who would turn down the chance to be Tsunade's pupil?

Qinglong knew that if he rejected Tsunade, the tigress would fly into a rage!

After seeing Tsunade and Shizune off, Qinglong looked at the mess in his house, the packed travel bag, and the travel guide.

He sighed helplessly.

All that work for nothing!

With his travel plans ruined, Qinglong decided he'd find an opportunity to really fleece his cheap teacher.

The Akimichi Barbecue Restaurant was where Tsunade had suggested they meet for dinner that evening.

The three of them took their seats. The table was already piled high with food.

Sitting back on the sofa, Tsunade waved her dainty hand.

"Waiter, bring me a pot of sake."

The server soon brought a pot of sake and a cup. Tsunade picked up the bottle, poured herself a drink, and sipped away.

Tch! Talk about living the high life. I'll eat you out of house and home!

"Itadakimasu!"

Qinglong dug in with gusto. When he looked up, he saw that Tsunade spent most of her time drinking, while Shizune ate politely. The two of them together couldn't begin to match his appetite!

Qinglong had planned to order himself a pot of sake too, but they wouldn't sell it to him.

Tsunade even took the opportunity to lecture him about how kids shouldn't drink. How could he put up with that?

Qinglong angrily ordered another huge plate of barbecue. He was going to eat her out of house and home tonight, anyway.

The meal ended with both host and guest thoroughly satisfied! Tsunade and Qinglong were both pleased.

Only Shizune forced a smile, feeling terribly uneasy as she wondered whether the Akimichi family would let them run up a tab since they were acquaintances.

Qinglong leaned back in his chair with his arms crossed, looking as if he were calmly waiting for Tsunade to pay the bill.

Tsunade rested her elbow on the table. She held a bottle of sake, poured herself the last cup, and slowly drank it down.

Her cheeks were flushed, and her eyes held a sultry look. She was pleasantly tipsy, swaying gently as she sat, and her ample bosom bobbed along with her movements.

"Hmm! Brat, why are you staring at me?"