Damn, That's So Cringe?

Hikawa had ultimately managed to save his ass.

With the blessing of the 'God of Gamblers' entry, these five hundred thousand ryō were as good as won. Not even Jesus could stop it.

"What do you want to eat tonight?"

Tsunade waved the money she had just won around in her hand.

Paired with that question, anyone unaware of the situation might have thought she was planning to keep Hikawa as her boy toy.

"Grilled meat."

Hikawa answered without the slightest politeness.

He deserved at least a third of the credit for Tsunade winning those five hundred thousand ryō.

After gambling for so long, shouldn't they enjoy themselves a little?

"No problem!"

A smile appeared on Tsunade's face as she reached out and ruffled his hair.

Don't just start petting my head in the middle of a conversation.

Hikawa instinctively pushed at her arm, but he could not move it.

Not bad strength.

Feeling the force behind his push, Tsunade raised an eyebrow.

That was thanks to the arm strength added by 'Ninja Tool Throwing.'

But she did not know that.

"This way."

Tsunade directly took his little hand and led him across the street.

Warmth and softness enveloped his hand.

Hikawa glanced at the hand wrapped around his, quickened his pace, and soon arrived at the grilled meat restaurant.

"Tsunade-sama!"

The moment they entered the restaurant, someone called out.

Hikawa instinctively looked over.

It was Yamanaka Inoichi.

Besides him, there were two young men.

One was a big, fat redhead, while the other had a pineapple-shaped hairstyle.

Though it was his first time seeing them, Hikawa guessed who they were: Akimichi Chōza and Nara Shikaku.

Together with Yamanaka Inoichi, they were known as Ino-Shika-Chō.

The Yamanaka clan was Ino, the Akimichi clan was Chō, and the Nara clan was Shika.

"Tsunade-sama, we've already ordered some meat. Would you like to join us?"

After exchanging pleasantries, Yamanaka Inoichi took the initiative to ask.

Tsunade gave a slight nod.

Like Hikawa, she had no idea what being polite meant.

"Is this Tsunade-sama's new student?"

Nara Shikaku curiously examined Hikawa.

"No."

Tsunade explained, "He's a child from Nonō's orphanage. I'm helping look after him."

You're looking after him?

Recalling all sorts of legends about Tsunade, Nara Shikaku could not help finding that a little strange.

"Was the memory extraction last time useful?"

Tsunade looked at Yamanaka Inoichi and casually asked.

"No."

Yamanaka Inoichi sighed. "He saw the murderer, but the murderer was wearing a mask."

"A mask?"

Tsunade complained, "Could it be that disgusting old bastard Danzo again?"

Given her personality, she naturally loathed Shimura Danzō to the extreme.

He was like a sewer rat, always doing shady, underhanded things.

"There's no evidence yet."

Cold sweat ran down Yamanaka Inoichi's face.

Tsunade dared to badmouth Shimura Danzō, but they did not.

If that old bastard set his sights on them, Ino-Shika-Chō would have to pay up again.

Shimura Danzō's Root had already forcibly taken who knew how many geniuses from their three clans.

Hikawa glanced at Tsunade.

Lu Xun had once said: for forbidden techniques, go to Tobirama Senju; for taking the blame, go to Shimura Danzō.

This time, Tsunade had actually guessed half of it right.

One of the masterminds was Shimura Danzō.

Hikawa fell into thought.

In the original story, after Sarutobi Hiruzen learned that Shimura Danzō was responsible, he did not punish him at all. He merely took Yamato away.

He told Tsunade that there was not much use in it.

Besides being unable to explain the source, it would also anger Shimura Danzō. Then he might end up stabbing himself with eight kunai and dying by suicide.

The only valuable thing was Yamato.

Although his Wood Release was far inferior to Hashirama Senju's, it was still Wood Release, which held special meaning for Tsunade.

He could find an opportunity to tell Tsunade later.

After the grilled meat meal ended, Hikawa followed Tsunade home.

They did not do anything else, only study Medical Ninjutsu.

In the blink of an eye, Saturday arrived.

Over these five days, Hikawa had done only three things: train, train, and fucking train.

Konoha Hospital.

Hikawa practiced swordsmanship in the open space outside Yakushi Nonō's office.

Since it was Saturday, he had rushed over early in the morning.

Of course, before practicing his swordsmanship, he had been treating that carp.

Now that his Chakra was nearly depleted, he went outside to practice Konoha-Style Swordsmanship.

After an unknown amount of time, four lines of text appeared before his eyes.

It's here!

Hikawa's spirits rose.

He had finally crossed the threshold into this one.

E-Rank Ninjutsu Entry: Swordsmanship Ninja (Acquired).

Trigger Condition: Konoha-Style Swordsmanship reaches beginner level.

Effect: Konoha-Style Swordsmanship power increased by 10%.

Note: Increasing proficiency can deduce an advancement to the D-Rank Entry Swordsmanship Genin.

The effect and advancement path were simple and straightforward.

Hikawa nodded in satisfaction.

After beginner came proficient, then mastery.

Once he reached mastery, he estimated that he would be a Special Jōnin.

Besides 'Swordsmanship Ninja,' the progress bar for 'Seven Ninja Tools' had also surged.

After Konoha-Style Swordsmanship reached beginner level, his tachi proficiency met the requirements.

'Seven Ninja Tools' had now reached 90%, leaving only the final ninja tool.

At the office window some distance away.

"Tired?"

Tsunade looked at Hikawa, who had stopped, and asked, "Can this little guy really keep up with learning so much?"

"I tried to persuade him, but he said it was fine."

Yakushi Nonō said helplessly.

With Hikawa's training volume, many genin could not compare to him.

And he was learning everything: genjutsu, swordsmanship, and Medical Ninjutsu.

Tsunade suddenly let out a soft sound of surprise.

Hikawa had begun practicing swordsmanship again.

But it was completely different from before. His proficiency was skyrocketing, as though he had just experienced an epiphany.

In Tsunade's eyes, Hikawa's attainments in Konoha-Style Swordsmanship had already surpassed those of most genin.

Yakushi Nonō noticed it as well.

She froze for a moment, surprise appearing on her face.

Sure enough, geniuses could not be judged by common sense.

"Looks like there's nothing to worry about."

Tsunade withdrew her gaze, sat on the sofa, and crossed her legs again.

The ample flesh of her thighs stretched her pants taut, accentuating their curves.

"I'm going back to work, Tsunade-sama."

Yakushi Nonō was accustomed to her behavior. After greeting her, she turned and left.

While Hikawa practiced swordsmanship, Konoha Knowledge Bookstore was livelier than usual.

A poster was pasted outside the bookstore's entrance.

The poster depicted three female ninjas.

The one in the middle was wrapped from head to toe in a purple bodysuit, her figure explosive as she held a tachi.

The one on the left wore a black bodysuit, though her fair legs were exposed.

The one on the right stood with her back turned, displaying a beautiful bare back and buttocks.

Near the lower middle of the poster, the three words "Taimanin" were written in orange.

Below them was a line of smaller text: A masterpiece by the genius rookie novelist Thunder Fire Sword. An adult novel not to be missed.

The excessively eye-catching poster drew an endless stream of customers.

Driven by curiosity, they opened "Taimanin," then found themselves drawn in by its contents.

Just then, a man in a red outer robe and a forehead protector bearing the character 'oil' stopped in his tracks.

Looking at the poster before him, his eyes widened.

Damn, that's so cringe?

He had to give it a taste.