Tsunade: This Is Our Secret

Night fell.

Orochimaru, Natsuki, and Nawaki returned to Konoha.

"It's getting late. Go back and get some rest. Come find me again tomorrow."

Orochimaru did not waste any more words. After giving them that instruction, he turned and left.

"Natsuki."

Nawaki suddenly remembered something and said, "It's time for dinner. I'll treat you to a meal at my house."

"Just a meal?"

Natsuki asked in return.

"It'd be even better if you could cook."

Nawaki said somewhat sheepishly.

After all, making a guest cook was rather improper.

"Let's go."

Natsuki said with a smile.

"Home!"

Nawaki immediately said happily.

The two quickly arrived at Tsunade's home.

"Big sis, I'm back!"

After opening the door, Nawaki called toward the living room.

Soon, a pair of long, fair legs entered Natsuki's view.

Tsunade, dressed in a fluffy set of pajamas, walked out.

"Teacher Tsunade."

Seeing that Tsunade looked a little cuter than usual, Natsuki took the initiative to greet her.

"Have you eaten dinner? If not, I'll make something."

Tsunade nodded and asked.

"Big sis, don't trouble yourself. Let Natsuki cook."

Nawaki hurriedly said.

"Hey! Brat, can't you rein in that expression on your face a little?"

Tsunade walked up to him, raised her hand, and flicked his forehead as she asked irritably.

The eager expression on Nawaki's face was far too obvious, as though it were saying that her cooking was terrible.

"Teacher Tsunade."

Seeing this, Natsuki stepped in to smooth things over. "Nawaki and I made a bet during the day. The stake was that I'd cook dinner tonight."

"Right, right, right!"

Nawaki said as if waking from a dream, nodding vigorously.

Tsunade flicked his forehead again.

She clearly did not believe Natsuki's explanation.

"We'll cook together."

Tsunade's eyes shifted as she said this.

"Huh?"

Nawaki instinctively showed a stunned expression.

"What do you mean, 'huh'?"

Tsunade glared at him. "Natsuki's young. I'm worried something might happen to him, so I need to keep an eye on him."

"It would be my honor if Teacher Tsunade is willing to teach me."

Natsuki said tactfully.

"You really know how to talk."

Tsunade pinched his cheek in satisfaction and said, "Come on, follow me into the kitchen."

Natsuki nodded.

But the moment he entered the kitchen, Tsunade wrapped an arm around him.

Caught off guard, Natsuki's head bumped into her soft embrace.

He instinctively raised his head, and his vision was filled with white.

Her skin rose and fell slightly with her breathing.

"Natsuki, from today onward, you'll teach me how to cook."

Tsunade lowered her voice.

"Understood."

Natsuki immediately guessed what she was thinking.

"This is our secret."

Tsunade gave a soft snort. "Remember, you can't let Nawaki find out. If you leak it, you'll bear the consequences yourself!"

"I definitely won't let a third person know!"

Natsuki said with a solemn expression.

However, his face was pressed against Tsunade's clothes, so only one-third of his expression could be seen.

"Very good."

Tsunade released him, patted his shoulder twice, and said, "I won't treat you unfairly."

"It's what I should do."

Natsuki shook his head. "Teacher Tsunade has taught me many things too."

He was still studying potion-making under Tsunade.

That was because he needed to bring his potion-making skill up to the level of the Red Healing Potion: Blood of God and the Stamina Recovery Potion.

"I don't have an apron in your size, so you'll have to make do for now."

Tsunade took out a white apron as she spoke.

"I brought my own apron."

Natsuki opened the Summoning Storage Scroll and tied on his apron.

Seeing that, Tsunade put on the white apron herself.

With an apron over her pajamas, she suddenly gave off the air of a virtuous wife and mother.

Natsuki opened the refrigerator and, seeing it packed full of ingredients, immediately got an idea.

He planned to teach Tsunade how to make Tempura first.

It was a common home-cooked dish, and the preparation was relatively simple.

Before long, the lesson officially began.

Natsuki also discovered why Tsunade's cooking tasted so bad.

She had no concept of seasoning quantities and added everything by feel.

Under Natsuki's guidance, a plate of Tempura came out of the pan successfully.

Tsunade impatiently picked up a piece of fried shrimp with her hand and put it into her mouth.

After chewing twice, her eyes lit up.

Did she really make this?

Tsunade was both surprised and excited.

After finishing the fried shrimp, she parted her red lips and licked her finger.

"Don't tell Nawaki yet."

Tsunade pouted and said, "That brat complains every day that my cooking tastes bad. After some time, I'll definitely make him apologize!"

After dinner, Natsuki returned to Konoha Orphanage.

A new week began.

After lunch, Nawaki mysteriously dragged him to the Forest of Death.

Upon arriving at the Forest of Death, Natsuki saw that enormous Eagle.

"Well?"

Nawaki said proudly, "This Ninja Hawk is the Summoning Beast I found for you!"

"It looks impressive."

Natsuki asked curiously, "Where did you find it?"

"Konoha has always been connected with the Ninja Hawk Clan."

Nawaki explained, "My sister and I went there this morning and picked the biggest Ninja Hawk."

A Ninja Hawk?

Natsuki remembered that, in the original story, Konoha had used Ninja Hawks to deliver intelligence.

He could not help but nod as he looked at the Ninja Hawk.

He already had Crow Black Feather for delivering intelligence, so he did not need this Ninja Hawk for that.

But this Ninja Hawk's greatest use was that it could carry him through the air.

In the Ninja World, being able to fly was a tremendous advantage.

Because Ninja who could fly were truly rare.

[Congratulations, Host, you have obtained Ninja Hawk Blue Sky.]

[Ninja Hawk Blue Sky's flying speed is permanently increased by 30% when summoned using the Ten Shadows Technique.]

It had the same effect as Crow Black Feather, but it suited him well, so Natsuki did not mind the duplicate effect.

After October passed, November arrived.

During the first week of November, a line of text appeared before Natsuki's eyes.

[Congratulations, Host, you have unlocked Megumi Fushiguro Template Ability Two: Shadow Assassin.]

After Natsuki and Nawaki assassinated Special Jonin Yasuda, Orochimaru maintained a pace of two or three missions per month.

By November, Natsuki had finally fulfilled the condition of killing two Chunin.

The effect of Shadow Assassin was to hide oneself within shadows, making it highly suitable for sneak attacks or avoiding attacks.

The only problem was that Natsuki could not use it openly yet.

He planned to come clean to Orochimaru after entering the third grade.

When November ended, Natsuki and Nawaki welcomed winter break.

But for them, winter break was no different from school. They still trained and went out on missions.

Of course, there was also teaching Tsunade how to cook.

However, because both of them were busy, their teaching time was rather tight.

As winter break drew to a close, Konoha welcomed the New Year.

Orochimaru also gave Natsuki and Nawaki a week off.

Natsuki finally got to relax during that week.

That was because, before the New Year, he had successfully unlocked two abilities from the Shippo Template.

[Congratulations, Host, you have unlocked Shippo Template Ability Two: Fox Fire.]

[Congratulations, Host, you have unlocked Shippo Template Ability Three: Fox Demon Arts.]

At this point, the Shippo Template had been fully fused.

Natsuki's next goal was to defeat Nawaki.

As long as he unlocked Uzumaki Naruto Template Ability Four, Chakra Ton, he would not lack Chakra for a long time.