Fighting Tsunade

Beside them, Tsunade had already set out the meal. The group sat down to eat, and the whole meal was quiet. Aside from Nawaki glaring at Uchiha Gen now and then, everyone else stayed silent.

After the meal, Uchiha Gen said he was leaving.

"Have Little Tsunade see you out. It'll give you two a chance to get to know each other."

Mito Uzumaki didn't try to stop Uchiha Gen from leaving. Instead, she smiled as she spoke.

"No need to trouble her."

Uchiha Gen gently shook his head and stood up.

"Don't be polite. Little Tsunade is curious about you, and besides, it'll be nice for you to take a walk together."

"..."

On the streets of Konoha.

Uchiha Gen and Tsunade walked together in silence. Wherever they went, countless gazes followed them, stirring up quiet speculation.

Someone from the Uchiha... had come out of the Senju Compound, and Princess Tsunade was actually escorting him all the way toward the Uchiha Clan Compound!!!!

What was going on?!?!

The news spread rapidly among the great ninja clans.

"What exactly is going on between you and Grandma? Why did she ask me to teach you the Strength of a Hundred, and even say I should teach you whatever you want to learn?"

On the way back to the Uchiha Clan Compound, they were both quiet. It was only when they drew near the compound and the road emptied of passersby that Tsunade couldn't help asking Uchiha Gen.

"She's doing what the Hokage should have been doing all along."

Uchiha Gen spoke slowly, but his words only deepened Tsunade's confusion.

"Kid, can you be a little clearer?"

Believing that if you didn't understand something, you should ask, Tsunade pressed on.

"Lady Mito will tell you."

"...Hey, kid, how about a fight? If you want to learn the Strength of a Hundred, we'll be spending plenty of time together from now on. I also need to see where you're at before I figure out how to arrange your lessons."

Looking at Uchiha Gen's calm, almost "mature" expression, Tsunade curled her lips into a smile and spoke.

"If you're only using this as an excuse to beat me up, there's no need. I'm not stupid."

Uchiha Gen glanced at Tsunade's mischievous grin and replied flatly.

He was confident in his strength, but as things stood, there was no way he could beat a ninja like Tsunade.

"Oh? You figured out what I was thinking and turned me down so decisively. Kid, you're not scared, are you?"

Tsunade said with a teasing smile.

You really know how to provoke an Uchiha.

"Let's go."

Chakra gathered beneath Uchiha Gen's feet, and he darted away with the Body Flicker Technique.

"Heh."

Tsunade saw him go, curled her lips into a smile, and followed close behind.

At the familiar banks of the Naka River.

Uchiha Gen raised his hand, and a long, gleaming white blade appeared in it.

Across from him, Tsunade chuckled.

"Oh? The Ninja Tool Summoning Technique, and that blade... It's got quite an edge, kid."

Watching Uchiha Gen standing with his blade in hand, Tsunade smiled and beckoned lightly with her right hand.

"Come on, kid."

Seeing that hand, Uchiha Gen changed his breathing. In an instant, lightning enveloped his entire body.

"??"

The sudden flash of lightning from Uchiha Gen startled Tsunade.

Wait, weren't you a first-year student? What the heck is this?!?!

Whoosh!

As Tsunade stared in surprise, a streak of white, wrapped in lightning, was already right in front of her.

Without hesitation, Tsunade punched the ground.

Boom!!

A dull, heavy crash rang out. A powerful shockwave instantly knocked away the blade that had closed in on Tsunade, while the ground centered around her split open.

But the blade that had been knocked aside abruptly changed course. The dancing lightning followed its shift, slicing through the shockwave Tsunade had kicked up.

"Thunder Breathing—Second Form: Rice Spirit!"

Lightning spread in every direction. Five swift, razor-sharp slashes instantly shattered every stone that had been flung into the air.

But Tsunade merely threw a punch, unleashing a terrifying force that instantly scattered the lightning and blade flashes. Uchiha Gen's figure shot backward.

"What incredible strength..."

Watching Tsunade perfectly demonstrate what it meant to "overcome all techniques with sheer force," Uchiha Gen couldn't help but marvel.

This was the first time anyone had ever overwhelmed his strength so completely.

The Strength of a Hundred was definitely worth learning.

"Not bad swordsmanship, kid. But since when did the Uchiha have a Lightning Release sword style? Shouldn't it be Fire Release? Shall we continue?"

Tsunade stood with one hand on her hip, smiling as she spoke after punching Uchiha Gen back.

"Let's continue."

Uchiha Gen flicked his blade and charged at Tsunade again. As he rushed forward, he formed Hand Seals with one hand.

Shadow Clone Technique!!

Ordinary ninjutsu couldn't break through Tsunade's defenses. If he wanted to win, he'd have to use his head.

"One-handed Hand Seals?! Impressive, kid."

Seeing Uchiha Gen split into three, Tsunade narrowed her eyes and stepped forward. The ground cracked beneath her, and she clenched her left fist.

Before Tsunade could throw her punch, Uchiha Gen and his Shadow Clone suddenly used the Body Flicker Technique, darting in different directions. At the same time, a pair of crimson eyes opened.

"Two-Tomoe!!!!!!"

Seeing Uchiha Gen activate his Sharingan, Tsunade was startled. As a descendant of the Senju, even though she hadn't inherited the Senju name, she couldn't possibly be unfamiliar with the Uchiha's Kekkei Genkai.

When Tsunade saw the two black Tomoe in Uchiha Gen's eyes, she was completely dumbfounded.

What the hell, he was only a first-year!!!!

"Thunder Breathing—Third Form: Gathering Mosquitoes into Thunder!!"

With a quiet murmur, Uchiha Gen appeared behind Tsunade and slashed with his blade.

Clang!

A crisp ring sounded. Tsunade held a Chakra Scalpel and precisely blocked Uchiha Gen's slash. Uchiha Gen simply flashed away and vanished.

The instant Uchiha Gen disappeared, two slashes came at Tsunade from different directions. The Chakra Scalpel in her hand spun, precisely blocking them again.

Uchiha Gen attacked at a furious pace. From the sidelines, it looked as if countless copies of him had completely surrounded Tsunade.

His blade flashed fiercely, yet not a single strike landed on Tsunade.

Every slash was deftly blocked by the Chakra Scalpel.

Uchiha Gen's strikes were no match for Tsunade's strength.

As expected, I'm lacking moves with enough power. Against a ninja like Tsunade, my swordsmanship isn't advanced enough to inflict any damage.

Another slash was blocked. Uchiha Gen sprang back and looked at Tsunade, whose smile hadn't faded, thinking silently.