Holy Crap, So Lame?

Hikawa ended up keeping his butt intact.

With the blessing of the 'God of Gamblers' title, those five hundred thousand ryō were as good as won—Jesus himself couldn't take them away.

"What do you want to eat tonight?"

Tsunade waved the freshly won money around.

With that line, anyone listening might think she was about to take him in as her kept man.

"Grilled meat."

Hikawa answered without any hesitation.

Tsunade owed at least a third of that five hundred thousand ryō win to him.

After gambling for so long, didn't he deserve a little enjoyment?

"No problem!"

A smile spread across Tsunade's face as she reached out and ruffled his hair.

Don't start talking and then pat my head.

Hikawa instinctively pushed at her arm, but it didn't budge.

Pretty strong grip.

Tsunade felt his resistance and raised an eyebrow in surprise.

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

But she didn't know that.

"This way."

Tsunade directly grabbed his small hand and pulled him across the street.

A warm, soft sensation came through.

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

"Tsunade-sama!"

As soon as they entered the restaurant, someone called out.

Hikawa instinctively looked over.

It was Yamanaka Inoichi.

Besides him, there were two other young men.

One was a big red-haired guy, the other had a pineapple-shaped head.

Though it was their first meeting, Hikawa guessed who they were: Akimichi Chōza and Nara Shikaku.

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

Among them, Yamanaka was the 'Ino' (Boar), Akimichi was the 'Chō' (Butterfly), and Nara was the 'Shika' (Deer).

"Tsunade-sama, we've already ordered 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 the new student Tsunade-sama has taken on?"

Nara Shikaku studied Hikawa with curiosity.

"No."

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

You're looking after him?

Nara Shikaku recalled the various legends about Tsunade and couldn't help but feel a twinge of unease.

"Was the memory extraction useful last time?"

Tsunade turned to Yamanaka Inoichi and asked casually.

"No."

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

"A mask?"

Tsunade scoffed. "Don't tell me it's that disgusting old man Danzō again?"

Given her personality, she naturally loathed Shimura Danzō.

He was like a sewer rat, always slithering around in the shadows doing dirty work.

"There's no evidence yet."

A cold sweat trickled down Yamanaka Inoichi's face.

Tsunade dared to badmouth Shimura Danzō, but they didn't.

If that old bastard took a disliking to them, their Ino-Shika-Chō would have to cough up more gold coins.

Root under Shimura Danzō had already forcibly taken who knows how many geniuses from their three clans.

Hikawa glanced at Tsunade.

Lu Xun once said, look to Tobirama Senju for forbidden techniques, and Shimura Danzō for scapegoats.

This time, Tsunade had guessed half right.

One of the masterminds behind the scenes was indeed Shimura Danzō.

Hikawa was lost in thought.

In the original story, after Sarutobi Hiruzen found out it was Shimura Danzō's doing, he handed down no punishment at all—just took Yamato away.

He told Tsunade it wasn't very useful.

Aside from being unable to explain the source, it would also enrage Shimura Danzō, and then he'd end up stabbed with eight kunai, dying by suicide.

The only thing of value was Yamato.

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

He'd find a chance to tell Tsunade later.

After a meal of grilled meat, Hikawa followed Tsunade home.

They didn't do anything else—just purely studied Medical Ninjutsu.

Time flew by, and it was Saturday.

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

Konoha Hospital.

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

Since it was Saturday, he'd come over early in the morning.

Of course, before training with the sword, he'd been treating that carp.

Now that his chakra was mostly spent, he'd run outside to practice Konoha-Style Swordsmanship.

After who knows how long, four lines of text appeared before his eyes.

Here it comes!

Hikawa's spirits lifted.

He'd finally stepped through that door.

code
[E-Rank Ninjutsu Entry: Swordsmanship Ninja (Acquired).]
[Trigger Condition: Konoha-Style Swordsmanship reached Beginner.]
[Effect: Konoha-Style Swordsmanship power increased by 10%.]
[Note: Increasing proficiency can evolve and promote to D-Rank Entry: Swordsmanship Genin.]

Simple and straightforward effects and promotion path.

Hikawa nodded in satisfaction.

After Beginner came Proficient, then Mastery.

Once he reached Mastery, he figured he'd be a Special Jōnin.

Besides 'Swordsmanship Ninja,' the progress bar for 'Seven Ninja Tools' had shot up.

With Konoha-Style Swordsmanship at Beginner, his Tachi proficiency had met the conditions.

Now 'Seven Ninja Tools' had reached 90%, with just one last tool remaining.

At the office window not far away.

"Tired?"

Tsunade looked at Hikawa, who had stopped, and asked, "Can this little guy really learn so much at once?"

"I advised him, but he said it's fine."

Yakushi Nonō said with some helplessness.

With Hikawa's training volume, many genin couldn't even compare.

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

Tsunade suddenly let out a soft sound of surprise.

Hikawa had started practicing swordsmanship again.

But this time was completely different from before—his proficiency was skyrocketing, as if he'd just had an epiphany.

From Tsunade's perspective, Hikawa's current skill in Konoha-Style Swordsmanship had already surpassed most genin.

Yakushi Nonō also noticed the issue.

She froze for a moment, surprise spreading across her face.

Truly, geniuses couldn't be judged by common sense.

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

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

The fullness of her thighs tightened the fabric of her trousers, accentuating their curves.

"I'll get to work now, Tsunade-sama."

Yakushi Nonō, accustomed to her manner, gave a brief greeting before turning and leaving.

While Hikawa was practicing his sword, the Konoha Knowledge Bookstore was busier than usual.

A poster was pasted at the bookstore's entrance.

On the poster were three female ninjas.

In the center, one was wrapped head to toe in a purple bodysuit, her figure explosive, holding a tachi.

On the left, another wore a black bodysuit, but her pale legs were exposed.

On the right, one stood with her back turned, revealing a beautiful bare back and hips.

In the lower-middle part of the poster, the words "Taimanin" were written in orange lettering.

Below that was a line of smaller text: "A masterpiece by the genius new novelist Thunder Fire Sword—an unmissable adult novel."

Because of the eye-catching poster, customers streamed in endlessly.

Driven by curiosity, they opened "Taimanin" and were captivated by its content.

Just then, a man in a red haori with a forehead protector bearing the character "Oil" stopped in his tracks.

He stared at the poster in front of him, his eyes widening.

Damn, this was that lewd?

He had to give it a taste, no matter what.