Encountering Tsunade

"This won't do. It's too valuable—I can't accept it, Shinji!"

Kurenai Yuhi hurriedly waved her hands in refusal, her eyes full of surprise.

Ninja tools forged from Chakra Metal were simply not something ordinary shinobi could possess.

In all of Konoha, only a handful of prominent clans, elite jonin, or special units were qualified to be equipped with them. Ordinary shinobi would find it difficult even to catch a glimpse of one.

Even her father, Yūhi Shinkō, a veteran elite jonin of Konoha, had only treasured a small piece of Chakra Metal throughout his life and never showed it lightly to others.

Shinji lightly patted her arm and smiled easily. "It's fine. Just take it."

This material had been a mission reward to begin with. With the system, he might be able to get more in the future.

Perhaps someday, even his entire set of Shuriken could be forged from Chakra Metal.

Ninja tools were precious precisely because their production was scarce. Even with money, one might not be able to buy them.

Getting hold of them required not just money, but connections as well.

The future Asuma would be able to commission his own Chakra Blades only because of his Hokage father's status.

Sometimes, Shinji could not help thinking that without the system, being born into the Sarutobi Clan would have been far more comfortable than being born into the Uchiha Clan.

Having someone in court really did make things easier.

Seeing that Kurenai Yuhi was still hesitating, Shinji gently squeezed her hand and said with a quiet laugh, "Take it. If you really feel bad about it, just help me out a few more times whenever I run into trouble."

He paused, his tone turning teasing.

"Or, like what you did at my house just now."

Kurenai Yuhi's cheeks flushed bright red at once. She instantly understood what he was implying—the hug from earlier at his house.

Embarrassed and annoyed, she lightly kicked his shin, shot him a glare, and huffed, "You really do nothing but think nonsense."

Though she said that, she raised her chin slightly, unable to hide the smile at the corners of her lips.

"Since you've put it that way, then I'll accept it without standing on ceremony."

Kurenai neither agreed to Shinji's implication nor rejected it.

Behind the counter, Granny Cat puffed on her pipe and eyed the young pair from the side, silently grumbling, Are kids these days really this shameless?

Flirting right in front of an old woman like her.

She gave Shinji several more odd looks.

Granny Cat knew quite a few members of the Uchiha Clan. The Uchiha had always shared deep ties with ninja cats, and many contracts had passed through her hands.

Yet this boy before her was the least Uchiha-like Uchiha she had ever seen.

"Have you decided?" Granny Cat asked, raising her eyes.

"Yes." Shinji nodded. "Granny, forge this piece of Chakra Metal into a knife. Use all the remaining material to make Kunai."

He had already asked Kurenai Yuhi. She did not have any particular weapon she was accustomed to using; genjutsu was her main combat strength, and she rarely fought in close quarters.

For her, a refined Kunai that fit comfortably in her hand was already enough.

Granny Cat flicked her abacus and grinned. "Eight hundred thousand Ryo in total. Come collect them in half a month."

She was secretly delighted. This kid had really brought her a big deal.

Shinji's face darkened. "Why is it so expensive?"

His entire fortune was only around 1.4 million Ryo. If the Kannabi Bridge mission had not rewarded him with 1.2 million Ryo, he would not even have been able to pay half of those 800,000 Ryo.

Granny Cat rolled her eyes. "Do you think Chakra Metal is some roadside rock? Forging it requires a specialized smith, consumables, heat control, and countless procedures—all of it costs money. If you hadn't supplied the most valuable main material yourself, don't even dream of getting this price."

Shinji was utterly speechless and immediately began haggling, arguing his case with all the reasoning he could muster.

But Granny Cat remained utterly unmoved. She simply stared at him expressionlessly, her meaning obvious: no bargaining. Take it or leave it.

In the end, Shinji could only pay up resentfully.

"Thank you for your patronage!"

Granny Cat immediately beamed. Taking the money pouch, she swiftly pulled out a sheet of paper and wrote a brief note, then clapped her hands. "Denka!"

The moment she spoke, a grayish-brown ninja cat with messy fur darted out from the back hall. A clear character for "ninja" was marked on its forehead.

"Deliver this letter to Mr. Chita."

Chita was the blade-smith she worked with exclusively.

Shinji recognized the ninja cat under Granny Cat's command at a glance. He immediately stepped forward and crouched down.

Denka tilted its head and asked curiously, "Do you need something?"

The next second, Shinji reached out with both hands and expertly, gently scratched beneath its chin while smoothing down its fluffy fur.

Denka immediately narrowed its eyes, its face full of bliss.

"Not bad, not bad. Your technique is excellent."

"Yes, yes, yes, that's the spot!"

"I approve of you, boy."

His tail had curled up in pleasure. Just as he was immersed in the ultimate bliss, Shinji suddenly withdrew his hand, stood up, and pulled Kurenai Yuhi along.

"Let's go, Kurenai."

He casually bade Granny Cat farewell and pushed the door open as he left without looking back.

Denka was left frozen in place, that wonderful sensation stuck halfway, neither rising nor falling. The whole cat was a complete mess.

Granny Cat stared, dumbfounded.

A moment later, a string of furious cat yowls erupted from the shop:

"Meow—!! Mrow—!!"

They were all insults, and terribly nasty ones at that.

After leaving Granny Cat's shop, Shinji and Kurenai Yuhi headed toward the shopping district side by side.

Kurenai Yuhi's shoulders trembled lightly, her eyes curved into crescents. "Shinji, you're too mean. That ninja cat is definitely going to hold a grudge against you."

Shinji shrugged indifferently. "I'm not afraid of it."

He had spent so much money—what was wrong with petting a cat a couple of times?

Besides, Denka was just unlucky today. Even if he ran into the Two-Tails Matatabi, he would still dare to reach out and pet it a few times.

As the sky gradually darkened, the shops along the street grew more lively.

The two were just about to find somewhere to eat when, as they passed an izakaya, two figures emerged from inside.

The older woman had striking blonde hair and fair skin. Most eye-catching of all were the diamond-shaped mark on her forehead and her especially exaggerated curves.

Shinji's heart stirred.

Lady Tsunade? Why was she here?

Tsunade's cheeks were slightly flushed as she let out a satisfied breath. "Konoha's sake really is the best. After this drink, I'm in great shape. This time, I'll definitely win it all back."

As she spoke, she walked in their direction, her steps unsteady and the two mounds on her chest heaving constantly, making Shinji unconsciously glance over a couple more times.

So big!

The thought instinctively drifted through his mind.

But Kurenai Yuhi was right beside him, so he did not dare look any longer, lest he ruin his image.

"Shinji, look!" Kurenai Yuhi suddenly tugged on his arm and pointed excitedly in that direction.

"Huh? I-I wasn't looking!" Shinji jumped in alarm and hurriedly shook his head in denial.

Kurenai Yuhi looked utterly baffled, but still pointed at Tsunade. "Look, quick! That's Lady Tsunade!"

Tsunade was the only woman among Konoha's Sannin. Nearly every female ninja admired her, and Kurenai Yuhi was no exception.

Shinji quietly wiped away a cold sweat and sighed in relief. "It really is Lady Tsunade."

He had thought she had caught him sneaking a look just now.

Since Tsunade was here, the person beside her should be Shizune.

Shizune had been in the same class as them. After graduation, Tsunade had taken her away, and the two had left the village together.

Why had they suddenly returned?

On the other side, the moment Shizune heard that Tsunade wanted to go to the casino again, her expression immediately turned anxious. She rushed up from behind and wrapped her arms around her, looking grief-stricken and indignant.

"Lady Tsunade! We're almost out of money! You're not allowed to squander the last of our savings too!"

Only then did Shizune notice Shinji and Kurenai Yuhi ahead of them. Her eyes lit up as though she had found a lifeline.

"Shinji! Kurenai! Come quick, help me stop Lady Tsunade!"

Shinji: "..."