A Bad Woman Who Toyed with Feelings

Morning.

Tsunade woke up.

She pressed a hand to her forehead, feeling a faint ache.

Although she was a ninja, she never used Chakra to sober up when drinking, so she suffered from hangovers.

Tsunade lowered her gaze.

Her clothes were half undone, exposing a large expanse of pale skin.

Her skin rose and fell gently with each breath.

She recalled that she had fallen asleep halfway through taking off her clothes last night.

Tsunade did not mind. She casually got dressed.

After all, she lived alone. There was no chance of anyone catching a glimpse.

"Hmm?"

Tsunade suddenly caught a whiff of something fragrant.

It was coming from the living room.

Her body tensed slightly as she prepared to attack.

"Why are you here?"

Tsunade pushed open the door and saw Hikawa.

"Good morning, Tsunade-sama."

Hikawa waved at her and said, "I came to bring you breakfast, along with some gifts."

Tsunade glanced at the rice balls on the table, then at the large bag of gifts on the floor, confusion appearing on her face.

"Salmon Rice Balls."

Hikawa said casually, "They were a little expensive, but they really do taste good."

"What is this about?"

Tsunade picked up a rice ball from the table, took a bite, and asked.

"I bought them with the six hundred thousand ryō Tsunade-sama gave me yesterday."

Hikawa explained, "Since it was the first huge sum of money I'd ever had, I wanted to buy some meaningful gifts."

"Then why give them to me?"

Tsunade chewed the rice ball, her pink tongue brushing over her lips as she asked.

Because I'm kind.

Hikawa made up an excuse. "In Konoha, there are only four people I'm close to: the director, Uncle Shin'kō, Kurenai, and you."

He had spent around three hundred thousand ryō on gifts for Tsunade, Yuhi Shinko, and Yuhi Kurenai.

As for the remaining three hundred thousand ryō, he planned to give it to Yakushi Nonō and the orphanage.

Tsunade's movements paused slightly, and she felt an unfamiliar sensation she had not experienced in a long time.

She had been right yesterday. This little brat would definitely fool plenty of young girls in the future.

"Have you spent all your money?"

Tsunade swallowed several bites, then picked up a second rice ball.

"Yeah."

Hikawa nodded, then added, "But Tsunade-sama doesn't need to give me any more money."

"I never said I was going to give you money."

Tsunade's lips curled upward as she smiled. "I mean, once we're done eating, we'll go to the Casino."

Give my touching moment back!

Hikawa was furious.

She was simply a bad woman who toyed with his feelings!

"I have school to go to. You can gamble by yourself."

Hikawa stood up and said.

"Goodbye, little brat."

Tsunade said with a smile.

Ten minutes later, at the school gates.

"Morning."

The moment Hikawa arrived at the Ninja Academy, he ran into Sarutobi Asuma.

"It's not morning anymore!"

Sarutobi Asuma snorted.

He really was just a child.

Hikawa held no ill will toward him.

After all, Sarutobi Asuma was merely rebellious, not a complete villain like Obito Uchiha.

As for Yuhi Kurenai, it had been mutually consensual.

Hikawa had always been a Pure Love Warrior.

"I'll challenge you during the Final Exam!"

Sarutobi Asuma narrowed his eyes and spoke with a determined expression.

"I'll be waiting."

Hikawa replied quite sincerely.

This was someone delivering talent to him.

What a good person!

"...?"

Sarutobi Asuma could not understand Hikawa's reaction at all. "Just you wait!"

After leaving behind that threat, he turned and walked away.

Hikawa was about to follow him into the classroom when he suddenly heard someone calling him.

He turned around and saw Hatake Kakashi.

"Morning."

Hikawa greeted him as usual.

"I'm planning on Early Graduation."

Hatake Kakashi got straight to the point.

Hikawa found that strange. Why tell him just because he was graduating?

"Before I graduate, I want to spar with you once."

Hatake Kakashi revealed his purpose.

Hikawa was somewhat surprised.

The genius Kakashi was actually challenging him?

"Of course."

Hikawa agreed without hesitation. "I'm looking forward to it."

As far as he was concerned, winning meant no loss, and losing cost him nothing.

Why refuse?

"Yeah."

Hatake Kakashi shoved his hands into his pockets and coolly walked away.

The class bell rang.

Hikawa took out a medical book as usual.

But unlike before, he no longer used a textbook to hide it, making no effort to conceal what he was doing.

Eiichirō spotted Hikawa slacking off at a glance.

He wanted to say something, but in the end, he could only let it go.

There was no helping it. Hikawa had someone powerful backing him now: Tsunade, one of the Konoha Three Ninjas.

"How... how did you do that?"

Shizune, his deskmate, asked like a curious child.

"Maybe it's the understanding between men."

Hikawa made up nonsense.

In truth, he had pulled some strings.

"..."

Naturally, Shizune did not believe him.

After class, Hikawa closed his medical texts. After reading for so long, he needed to rest his eyes.

"Hikawa!"

The next moment, Obito Uchiha appeared before him.

He had deliberately come over while Rin Nohara was out using the restroom.

They had been discussing problems every day lately, and he had finally reached his limit.

"Need something?"

Hikawa blinked and asked.

"I challenge you!"

Obito Uchiha declared righteously, "At the Final Exam!"

Again?

Are you taking turns fighting me?

No big deal. Three in a row with one sword.

"Sure."

Hikawa nodded slightly.

"When the time comes, I'll definitely knock you flat!"

Obito Uchiha's face lit up as he declared proudly.

He lacked confidence in theory, but in actual combat, he had absolute confidence.

Very few first-year students could use ninjutsu, and he was one of them.

"Good luck."

Hikawa did not take it seriously and replied casually.

Obito Uchiha angrily tossed his head and returned to his seat.

After school, Hikawa went to the orphanage.

"Where did you get this money?"

Yakushi Nonō looked at the neatly arranged three hundred thousand ryō, her heart trembling.

"Tsunade-sama won it."

Hikawa explained.

"Huh?"

Yakushi Nonō froze for a moment, then said gently, "If you don't want to tell me why, you don't have to lie to the director."

It was like building armor penetration on Garen.

He fell silent, completely defeated.

Of course, Hikawa could only remain silent.

For a moment, he did not know how to refute her.

"Please accept it, Director."

Hikawa said in the most sincere tone possible, "Tsunade-sama really gave it to me."

Yakushi Nonō hesitated for a few seconds before nodding.

The orphanage truly needed money.

Long ago, Konoha's funding had fallen under Shimura Danzō's control.

Yakushi Nonō had to work for him in order to receive the money and protection needed to keep the orphanage running.

Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, the end of March arrived.

The Ninja Academy entered its busiest week.

The Final Exams for every grade would be completed this week.

Naturally, the sixth-years would not be taking Final Exams, but graduation exams.

The Final Exams for the other grades were divided into two days.

Theory on the first day, practical combat on the second.