Moonlit Conversation

Uchiha Kō looked up at the moon from the courtyard. Moonlight streamed down, bathing him in its glow. For a moment, he stood frozen.

"Though those alive today cannot see the moon of ages past, this same moon once shone upon those who came before." The ancient verse slipped from his lips, lending him an even more melancholy air.

Tsunade had excellent hearing. The moment she heard the poem, she was struck by its beauty. Looking at Uchiha Kō in the moonlight, she suddenly felt her cheeks grow warm.

"You have quite a way with words, Kō. 'Though those alive today cannot see the moon of ages past, this same moon once shone upon those who came before.' With lines like those, who knows how many girls will fall for you?" Tsunade said with a smile.

Uchiha Kō turned his head toward Tsunade. She was wearing a loose-fitting kimono, her flawless white arms exposed. Standing beside him, she gazed up at the bright moon.

"Lady Tsunade, you're too kind." Uchiha Kō smiled and bowed. Technically, he was a Genin and she was a jonin. They might be classmates, but in terms of rank, Tsunade was still his superior.

Tsunade shook her head. "Just call me Tsunade, Kō. There's no need to be so formal. We're not only superior and subordinate—we're classmates, too."

Only then did Uchiha Kō raise his head. Tsunade was looking up at the moon, giving him the chance to study her features up close.

She had a delicate, tapered face, a high ponytail, and two big, sparkling eyes. Her still-developing bosom and long, slender legs were striking, and the smile tugging at her lips was impossible to hide. At that moment, the moon was all she could see. It seemed to shine in her eyes like a pair of colored contacts, reflected in their depths.

Suddenly, Tsunade seemed to realize something. She looked up at the man a head taller than her and smiled. "Congratulations, Kō! After eighteen years, you've finally awakened your Sharingan!"

Her smile was clear and sincere. Unlike other people, she wasn't mocking or sneering at him in the slightest. She was simply offering him heartfelt congratulations.

Uchiha Kō's lips lifted in a faint smile. "You're the first person who's genuinely wished me well."

"Hm? Back at the compound, wasn't there anyone who cared for you or looked after you?" Tsunade asked, turning to him in surprise.

Uchiha Kō smiled faintly. "There used to be. But for various reasons, they're gone now..."

He was talking about his parents and friends. When his parents were alive, he had been the apple of their eyes, the most precious thing in their lives. But his father died on the battlefield during the First Shinobi World War, and his mother, worn down by overwork, died the following year.

He'd had a few friends, too, but after certain clansmen egged them on, they gradually began to distance themselves from him. And so he became an outcast in the Uchiha Clan.

Seeing that Uchiha Kō could still smile, Tsunade suddenly felt that he was remarkably mature for his age.

As for why, asking would have been tactless. Tsunade shook her head and smiled. "Well, get some rest, Kō. We're setting out tomorrow. If you don't sleep, you won't be able to get up in the morning."

She pointed toward the guest room, stretched, and went back to her bedroom.

Uchiha Kō smiled and headed in the direction she'd pointed. It was already midnight. The entire village was silent; apart from the patrols, the streets were deserted.

With war looming, going out at night was forbidden. If you were caught outside, you might be suspected of being a spy or planning something nefarious.

So Uchiha Kō had no choice but to stay at the Senju Clan Compound. When he entered the guest room and saw that it was spotless, he guessed Lady Mito had ordered someone to clean it.

He couldn't help feeling grateful to Lady Mito. If he remembered correctly, the Land of Whirlpools would be invaded by the four great nations next year, all of them vying for the Uzumaki Bloodline.

No matter what, he had to find a way to prevent that from happening! His gaze was as unwavering as stone. Then he lay down, pulled up the covers, and fell asleep.

At that moment, Uzumaki Mito opened her eyes, got up, and knocked on Tsunade's door. Knock, knock, knock.

"Who is it?" Tsunade had just taken off her clothes, leaving her pale thighs bare. This was her home, and this was her room, so she didn't feel the need to keep anything on.

Senju Nawaki had already gone to Orochimaru's home. Orochimaru had called him over to give him some advice on what to keep in mind during wartime, as well as some extra training. So he wasn't home tonight.

As for Uchiha Kō, after talking with him earlier, Tsunade was sure he was a decent person. He'd never sneak around, steal, or peep on anyone. But she couldn't rule out that he might have come to see her for some reason, so she'd asked who it was.

"It's me." Uzumaki Mito's voice came through the door. Tsunade perked up at once. She loved and revered her grandmother, who had raised her and Nawaki after her grandfather passed away.

Tsunade naturally felt both love and respect for her grandmother.

Creak—the door opened.

"Grandma!" Tsunade called out before she even appeared. Uzumaki Mito's face lit up with a smile. Her granddaughter's voice was so lovely.

But when the door opened and she saw Tsunade standing there completely naked, her smile vanished. Frowning, she said in a low voice, "How many times have I told you? A young lady should sleep with her clothes on, but you never listen!"

"Normally, I might let it go, but we have a guest in the house now. You're still being careless. What if someone sees you naked?" Uzumaki Mito scolded.

Tsunade shrank back. She knew her grandmother was angry. Her not particularly sharp mind scrambled to think of a way to appease her, but she couldn't come up with anything.

This made Mito laugh as soon as she stepped inside. "All right, stop trying to think. You're as bad at talking as your grandfather was!"

Tsunade could only scratch her head and offer an awkward smile. What could she do? Her grandmother was the head of the household. Besides, her grandmother was right—there was nothing she could say in her defense.

"Grandma, have a seat." After gesturing toward the tatami, she put on a silk robe and dutifully went to kneel on the other side, waiting for her grandmother to lecture her. Even kneeling, she was alluring, her ample bosom giving a little bounce. Uzumaki Mito could only shake her head at the sight.

Uzumaki Mito let it go and knelt across from Tsunade, poised and graceful, every movement proper and refined. The contrast between them was striking.

"Monkey called you to a meeting. What did he say?" Uzumaki Mito asked first, fixing her gaze on Tsunade. Tsunade lifted her head to look at her grandmother, her expression calm.

"Grandma, Sensei said he wants Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and me to each lead a thousand troops to the Land of Rain and wipe out its army. If necessary..." Tsunade hesitated.

"Go on," Uzumaki Mito said evenly.

Tsunade sighed. "If necessary, I'm to intercept Salamander Hanzō and buy the other units time to fight on the front lines."

Uzumaki Mito narrowed her eyes and fell silent for a long while.