Night Talk

Uchiha Kō looked up at the moon from the courtyard. As the moonlight cascaded down upon him, he found himself momentarily lost in a trance.

"The people of today do not see the moon of old, yet this moon once shone upon the ancients." The ancient verse that slipped from his lips only added to his melancholic air.

Tsunade's hearing was exceptional. The moment she heard the lines, she found them stunning, and as she looked at Uchiha Kō under the moonlight, she suddenly felt her face flush.

"Kō-kun, you have quite the literary talent. 'The people of today do not see the moon of old, yet this moon once shone upon the ancients'—with lines like these, I wonder how many young ladies would be smitten with you," Tsunade laughed.

Uchiha Kō turned his head to look at Tsunade. She was wearing a loose kimono, her jade-white arms flawless as she stood beside him, both of them gazing at the bright moon in the sky.

"Lady Tsunade, you flatter me." Uchiha Kō smiled and bowed. Technically, he was a Genin and she was a Jōnin; although they were classmates, in terms of rank, Tsunade was his superior.

Tsunade shook her head. "Kō-kun, just call me Tsunade. There's no need for such formality. Besides being superior and subordinate, we are also classmates."

Hearing this, Uchiha Kō looked up. This time, it was Tsunade who was looking up at the moon, and he took the opportunity to observe her features at close range.

A heart-shaped face, a high ponytail, large, sparkling eyes, a budding figure, and long, slender legs—the smile tugging at the corners of her mouth could not be hidden. At this moment, the beauty had eyes only for the moon, which seemed to transform into colored contacts, reflecting deep within her gaze.

Suddenly, Tsunade realized something. She looked up at the man a head taller than her and smiled. "Kō-kun, congratulations! After eighteen years, you've finally awakened your eyes!"

The young girl's smile was clear and pure. Unlike others, there was not a hint of mockery or sarcasm; it was a sincere, simple blessing and congratulation.

The corners of Uchiha Kō's mouth lifted, and he smiled slightly. "You are the first person who has genuinely wished me well."

"Hm? Back in the clan compound, did no one care for you or look after you?" Tsunade suddenly paused, turning to look at Uchiha Kō.

Uchiha Kō replied with a faint smile, "There were some, once, but for various reasons, they are gone..."

Uchiha Kō was speaking of his parents and friends. When his parents were alive, he had been the apple of their eye, but his father died on the battlefield during the First War, and his mother succumbed to illness the following year.

As for his friends, there had been a few, but under the instigation of certain clansmen, they had gradually distanced themselves from him. Just like that, he had become a fringe figure within the Uchiha clan.

Watching Uchiha Kō, who could still manage a smile, Tsunade suddenly felt that he was very mature—much more so than their other peers.

As for the reasons behind it, she knew it would be tactless to ask further. Tsunade shook her head and smiled slightly. "Well, Kō-kun, get some rest early. We set out tomorrow; if you don't rest, you won't be able to get up."

With that, Tsunade pointed toward the guest rooms, stretched, and headed back to her own bedroom.

Uchiha Kō smiled and walked in the direction Tsunade had indicated. It was already midnight, and the village was silent; apart from the patrols, there was no one else on the streets.

With war looming, being out at night was prohibited. If caught, one might be suspected of being a spy or up to no good.

Thus, Uchiha Kō had no choice but to stay at the Senju Clan Compound. Entering the guest room, he saw it had been cleaned until it was spotless, and he assumed Lady Mito must have had someone tidy it up.

He couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude toward Lady Mito. If he remembered correctly, the Land of Whirlpools would be invaded by the four great nations next year, all vying for the Uzumaki bloodline.

No matter what, he had to find a way to prevent that from happening! His gaze was as firm as a rock. He then lay down on the bed, pulled up the quilt, and drifted off to sleep.

At this moment, Uzumaki Mito opened her eyes, rose, and knocked on the door of Tsunade's room. Knock, knock, knock.

"Who is it?" Tsunade had just taken off her clothes, her snow-white legs exposed. This was her home, and this was her room, so naturally, there was nothing she couldn't take off.

Senju Nawaki had been called to Orochimaru's home to be briefed on wartime precautions and receive some private tutoring, so he was not home today.

As for Uchiha Kō? After their conversation, Tsunade was certain he was a person of good character who wouldn't engage in petty theft or peeping, but she still had to be cautious, hence her question.

"It is I." Uzumaki Mito's voice drifted in. Tsunade's spirits lifted instantly; she loved and respected this grandmother of hers deeply. After her grandfather passed away, it was she who had raised Tsunade and Nawaki.

Therefore, Tsunade naturally held her grandmother in high regard and affection.

Creeeak. The door opened.

"Grandmother." Before she was even seen, her voice was heard. As Tsunade spoke, Uzumaki Mito's face was instantly filled with a smile; her granddaughter's voice was always a delight to hear.

However, after the door opened and she saw Tsunade completely unclothed, her face fell. She frowned and said in a low voice, "How many times have I told you? As a young lady, you must sleep fully clothed, yet you never listen!"

"On ordinary days, that might be fine, but now that there is a guest in the house, you still don't pay attention! What if someone were to see you!" Uzumaki Mito scolded.

Tsunade shrank her neck. She knew her grandmother was angry, and her brain—which she didn't use often—began to scramble for a way to appease her, but she couldn't think of a thing.

This scene actually made Mito, who had just entered, laugh. "Enough, stop thinking. Your mouth is as clumsy as your grandfather's!"

Tsunade could only scratch her head and offer an awkward, apologetic smile. There was no helping it; her grandmother was the head of the household, and besides, she wasn't wrong—she was right, and Tsunade couldn't argue.

"Grandmother, sit!" She pointed to the tatami, put on a silk robe, and obediently went to the other side to kneel, waiting for her grandmother's lecture. As she knelt, her movements were full of charm, and her chest heaved slightly, causing Uzumaki Mito to shake her head.

Uzumaki Mito didn't dwell on it, kneeling gracefully opposite Tsunade with proper posture, displaying the poise of a noblewoman—the contrast with Tsunade was stark.

"Monkey asked you to a meeting; what was said?" Uzumaki Mito asked first, her gaze fixed on Tsunade. Tsunade looked up at Uzumaki Mito, her expression calm.

"Grandmother, the teacher said that I, Orochimaru, and Jiraiya are each to lead a thousand troops to the Land of Rain to eliminate their army. And if necessary..." Tsunade hesitated.

"Speak," Uzumaki Mito said calmly.

Tsunade sighed. "If necessary, we are to intercept Salamander Hanzō to buy time for the rest of the forces to engage in the main battle."

Uzumaki Mito's eyes narrowed, and she remained silent for a long time.