Students Must Not Defy Their Teachers

Dinner took on a different nature once Tsunade started drinking.

Hikawa was still a child and did not eat much, so he was soon full.

But after Tsunade finished one cup, she poured herself another. The scent of alcohol mixed with her fragrance and wafted toward him.

"Stop drinking, Sensei!"

Hikawa could not help reminding her.

"What are you making such a fuss about, brat?"

Tsunade asked, her face flushed red with drink.

"You still have to teach me later!"

Hikawa said with a headache.

"I... I know my limits. It won't... it won't affect anything."

Tsunade swayed her cup and drained it again.

"Drinking too much is bad for your health."

Hikawa narrowed his eyes, then reached out and snatched the sake flask from in front of her.

"Give it back!"

Tsunade leaned forward unsteadily and said, "I can see you don't understand at all. Remember, students must not defy their teachers!"

As she moved, her clothes shifted, revealing skin as white and dazzling as a chandelier.

Hikawa blanked out for a moment. Then his right hand suddenly felt empty—the sake flask had returned to Tsunade's hand.

"Trying to fight your teacher? You... you're still too young."

Tsunade said smugly.

You have no martial ethics!

Using such underhanded methods to launch a sneak attack.

What student could withstand a test like that?

Hikawa sighed. There was nothing he could do about this drunkard.

He now deeply understood what it meant to be beyond one's reach.

"What? Are you... are you angry?"

Tsunade took a swig from the flask, shot him a glance, and asked.

"No."

Hikawa shook his head.

Something this minor was hardly worth getting angry over.

"Then smile for your teacher."

Tsunade studied his expression, reached out to pinch his cheek, and said.

What kind of female hooligan was this?

Hikawa flew into a rage and glared at her.

"Ha ha ha!"

Tsunade's face glowed red as she laughed happily. "You're so fun!"

"I'm not your toy."

Hikawa protested.

"Students are meant to be played with."

Tsunade said with a brilliant smile.

Hikawa suddenly regretted this. Had he boarded some kind of pirate ship?

Still, he would endure it for now and strike back someday.

Amid the cheerful atmosphere, dinner finally came to an end.

"You rest first. I'll wash the dishes."

Hikawa said as he cleared the table.

"You're quite conscientious."

Tsunade nodded in satisfaction, got up, walked to the sofa, and flopped down on it.

She let out a comfortable sigh, increasingly convinced that taking on a student had been the right choice.

Hikawa carried the bowls and chopsticks into the kitchen.

A few minutes later, after washing the dishes, he returned to the living room.

Hikawa could not help but freeze slightly.

Tsunade lay quietly on the sofa with her eyes closed. The contrast with her earlier self was striking; she had become a sleeping beauty.

"Sensei?"

Hikawa hesitated for a few seconds before calling out tentatively.

Tsunade frowned groggily, then suddenly pulled him into her chest and covered his mouth.

Hikawa crashed straight into her and even bounced twice.

He was stunned for several seconds before realizing what had happened.

He had nearly fallen into the Baby Cafeteria.

"Don't make noise. I want to sleep."

Tsunade released him and lay back down.

Before long, her breathing became steady.

Feeling the rise and fall against his face, Hikawa struggled out of her embrace.

He took a deep breath. The air around him was still filled with fragrance.

"I knew this would happen."

Hikawa could not help shaking his head as he looked at the sleeping Tsunade.

But wasting one night was not a big deal.

One could not rush everything.

Besides, after the Final Exam, he would have a full two-month vacation and plenty of time.

Hikawa did not disturb her further and soon returned home.

"You're back?"

Yuhi Shinko asked curiously, "What did Tsunade-sama want you to do?"

"Take me as her student."

Hikawa glanced around but did not see Yuhi Kurenai.

Oh, take him as a student.

Yuhi Shinko smiled, then his expression froze.

He sprang to his feet and asked urgently, "What did you just say? Who took a student? Who became the teacher?"

"Could I be the teacher?"

Hikawa could not help laughing. "Of course Tsunade-sama became my teacher."

Tsunade was a student of the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, and one of the Konoha Three Ninjas. News of her taking on a student could not possibly stay hidden.

And why should it be hidden?

In a sense, the more famous Hikawa became, the safer he would be.

Hmm, perhaps Kumogakure should give him some kind of reward?

Hikawa thought that he could visit someday when he had the time.

Besides that, he needed to withdraw the royalties from "Taimanin" and find someone to forge a handy samurai sword.

"Ha ha ha ha ha!"

Yuhi Shinko stared blankly for several seconds before finally failing to hold back his laughter.

Are you one of the Uchiha Four Heroes too?

Hikawa could not help mocking him as he listened to that exaggerated laughter.

"I guessed that defeating Kakashi was what made Tsunade-sama finally make up her mind."

Yuhi Shinko calmed down, took a deep breath, and said, "Hikawa, work hard. You absolutely must not disappoint Tsunade-sama's expectations."

"Mm."

Hikawa nodded, then asked, "Where's Kurenai?"

"She's in her room doing homework."

Yuhi Shinko still could not hide his excitement.

Though Hikawa did not share the Yuhi surname, he had learned genjutsu and lived in his home, so he was not all that different from a Yuhi.

Now that he had become Tsunade's student, they would benefit from it as well.

And perhaps they might even become family.

Yuhi Shinko smiled as he watched Hikawa enter Yuhi Kurenai's room.

"Hikawa?"

Hearing the door open, Yuhi Kurenai instinctively looked up.

"Why are you doing homework the moment vacation starts?"

Hikawa asked solemnly, "Shouldn't homework be done two days before school starts?"

"Who says that?"

Yuhi Kurenai gave a light snort and asked.

"I do."

Hikawa said with a serious expression, "Listen, I have four kinds of homework I won't do. First, if it's too easy, I won't do it..."

Yuhi Kurenai was amused by him and laughed happily.

After a moment, she patted her chest, stopped laughing, and asked, "Why did you come back earlier than usual today?"

Learning Medical Ninjutsu was rather time-consuming, so he normally would not return this early.

"I didn't study today."

Hikawa said casually, "I went to become a disciple."

"You became Tsunade-sama's student?"

Yuhi Kurenai asked in surprise.

"Mm."

Hikawa nodded.

"That's amazing!"

Yuhi Kurenai said excitedly, "That's Tsunade-sama!"

"She's nothing special."

Hikawa sighed and said, "She's a real hassle."

"...?"

For some reason, Yuhi Kurenai felt an urge to hit him.

Night fell.

Tsunade woke up.

Looking at the familiar ceiling, her thoughts gradually returned.

"That brat was rather considerate."

Tsunade noticed the blanket covering her.

She lifted it aside, sat up, and flicked her hand. A stream of Chakra precisely struck the switch.

The living room immediately lit up.

"Hmm?"

Tsunade casually picked up the note on the coffee table.

Hikawa had left it behind.

"If you wake up, go back to your room to sleep. I'll come again tomorrow morning."

Tsunade stared at the line of writing and could not help falling into a daze.