Kushina's Enthusiasm

Chapter 46: Enthusiastic Kushina

Hikawa arrived at Tsunade's house, but he didn't rush to knock. Instead, he took out the scroll Tsuchihashi had given him.

Lightning Release Chakra Mode. It sounded simple, but doing it was hard.

After reading through it, Hikawa spotted a problem.

He was too young, his body not fully developed yet. To train in this, he'd have to wait another two years.

But fortunately, it wasn't completely unusable.

The scroll provided a set of body-tempering methods, far more complex and effective than simple running.

Hikawa put away the scroll and raised his hand to knock.

A moment later, the door opened.

Tsunade stood there in loose pajamas, clearly just out of bed.

"Good morning, teacher."

Hikawa greeted her proactively.

"Mm."

Tsunade nodded slightly, then suddenly extended her hand. "Here's a key for you."

"Why are there two on it?"

Hikawa asked, a little puzzled.

The two keys were one big and one small—definitely not for the same door.

"The other one is for the room next to mine."

Tsunade yawned, speaking lazily. "If I'm not up yet, you can go sleep there."

"Teacher, you haven't read a single line of the Ninja Rules... Ow, what are you doing?"

Before Hikawa could finish, she flicked him on the forehead.

"You're the student, why are you always trying to manage your teacher?"

Tsunade glared with her beautiful eyes. "Go make me breakfast!"

"Yes."

Hikawa took a few steps, then turned back to emphasize, "I'm not managing, I'm suggesting!"

He finished speaking and dashed into the kitchen, giving Tsunade no chance to retort.

"This brat!"

Tsunade blinked, then a smile spread across her face.

She returned to her room, shed her pajamas, revealing a perfectly proportioned, curvaceous figure.

After changing clothes, Tsunade turned and left, sitting at the dining table. She tidied her hair while waiting.

She raised both hands, lifting her hair to reveal her pale neck. With a simple bind, her twin-tails took shape.

Hikawa came out carrying the ramen and caught the last scene.

His fingers itched—he wanted to play with those twin-tails.

But that was obviously impossible.

"Beef ramen."

Hikawa set the ramen on the table.

"Where did the beef come from?"

Tsunade picked up her chopsticks and stirred the noodles.

"I bought it on the way here."

Hikawa said casually.

"Not bad, you've already learned to help with household expenses."

Tsunade chuckled lightly.

"This isn't my home."

Hikawa corrected her.

"You have the key now, so it is your home."

Tsunade slurped a mouthful of ramen, a thin layer of oil glistening on her soft lips.

Hikawa blinked.

What kind of logic was that?

It made him sound like he was being kept.

No, that wasn't right.

If you really counted it, he was the one putting in money and effort—Tsunade was the one being kept.

"Didn't you have today off? Why are you here again?"

Tsunade glanced at him and asked.

"Because I'm filial."

Hikawa said with a smile. "Wasn't I worried you'd have nothing to eat, teacher?"

"I'm not at that point yet."

Tsunade rolled her eyes, the corners of her mouth twitching upward despite herself.

Tsundere's been phased out, huh.

The eye roll was pretty nice to look at, but the expression wasn't quite there.

Hikawa quickly dispelled the stray thoughts.

"Anyway, since you're here, how about you come with me to the casino?"

Tsunade changed the subject and asked.

There it was! One of the legendary four great phrases: "Since you're here," "It's New Year's," "He's still a child," "We all have it hard."

"I'm still a child."

Hikawa countered with magic.

Dad said you had to fight magic with magic.

"So what are you planning to do?"

Tsunade slurped up the ramen, swallowing it all in one go, her expression unchanged as she asked.

"Train."

Hikawa thought for a moment, then said.

"Balance between tension and relaxation is what training really is."

Tsunade set down her chopsticks. "Tell you what, I'll take you visiting."

"Where to?"

Hikawa blinked, a little curious.

Given Tsunade's network, there weren't many people she'd visit.

It wasn't Sarutobi Hiruzen, was it?

"You'll know when we get there."

Tsunade smiled mysteriously. "I promise you won't be bored."

Riddle-spewer, get out of Konoha!

Hikawa stood up and took her bowl and chopsticks.

"What's with that reaction?"

Tsunade asked, a little dissatisfied.

"I'm washing the dishes."

Hikawa turned and walked into the kitchen.

Tsunade pouted.

She'd figured out that this student of hers wasn't afraid of her at all.

How strange.

It wasn't like she was gentle.

A few minutes later, Hikawa followed Tsunade out the door.

After crossing several streets, the road grew more and more secluded, until finally there wasn't a single passerby.

Hikawa thought to himself.

This far out, and this remote—it was probably Kushina Uzumaki.

"We're almost there."

Tsunade looked up, already spotting a two-story wooden house.

"Tsunade-sama!"

The next second, an excited voice rang out.

Kushina Uzumaki appeared before them.

Because of her speed, her red hair all streamed backward.

"Kushina."

Tsunade smiled and said, "He is..."

"Hikawa!"

Kushina Uzumaki cut her off and said, "Minato and I met him before, but we didn't expect him to be your student."

"I just took him on."

Tsunade paused briefly, then said.

"Welcome, little Hikawa."

Kushina Uzumaki grabbed Hikawa's hand and introduced as they walked, "Look at that cherry blossom tree—Minato planted it!"

Tsunade sighed at the sight.

Only a handful of people were qualified to be here. Besides her, it was just Sarutobi Hiruzen and Namikaze Minato.

Kushina Uzumaki's personality was naturally lively, and seeing a new face made her incredibly excited.

"There's a peach grove behind the house. If you come back in two months, you can eat fresh peaches."

Kushina Uzumaki reached out and patted Hikawa's head, saying, "There's a swing up there too. You can play on it if you want."

Aren't you being a little too enthusiastic?

Hikawa hadn't even reacted before his head was already patted.

Damn, so this is what a Jinchuriki is like?

Tsunade walked beside the two, unable to help but pout.

She, who was usually quite popular, was being neglected today.

They entered the living room.

Kushina Uzumaki pulled Hikawa onto the sofa and turned the topic to the Final Exam a few days ago.

She asked with a curious look, "How did you beat Kakashi?"

"With a blade."

Hikawa said casually.

"What about the details?"

Kushina Uzumaki pressed.

Hikawa had no choice but to recount it.

"That's amazing!"

Kushina Uzumaki said with envy in her voice, "Too bad I don't have students."

She was the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki and was destined never to become a team leader.

As for students, she wouldn't have any until the next Nine-Tails Jinchuriki was chosen.

But whether they'd suit her tastes was another matter.

Someone like Hikawa, for instance, she found pleasing to the eye—mainly because he was good-looking.

"Are you interested in Sealing Techniques?"

Kushina Uzumaki suddenly perked up and asked.

"Kushina, he's still young. He can't learn that much."

Tsunade couldn't help speaking up when she saw Kushina trying to poach her student. "He hasn't even gotten started on Medical Ninjutsu yet."

"True."

Kushina Uzumaki smiled sheepishly. "Let's talk about it when you're older."

"Alright."

Hikawa quickly agreed.

Sealing Techniques were practically a cheat code in the Ninja World.

If he could learn them, of course he would.

But as he turned his head, he saw Tsunade's face brimming with murderous intent.