Still, it wasn't enough.
Qingyu knew all too well how important talent was.
Haruno Sakura had spent three years learning the Mystical Palm Technique. Rin Nohara had gone from having no foundation to mastering it on her own, while Shizune had followed Tsunade from place to place for years and had only just managed to grasp the basics.
In the end, Shizune couldn't even learn Tsunade's Yin Seal, which meant she couldn't inherit Tsunade's combat style.
Fortunately, Qingyu wasn't lacking in talent either.
The 40% efficiency boost from [Solitude of a Genius], the focused state granted by [Persistent Perseverance], and the talent foundation of [Innate Medical Saint Body] meant that his progress would only accelerate.
If he wanted to live safely in the Shinobi World, Qingyu was more than eager to improve.
Night fell.
Shizune was already asleep.
Qingyu practiced Water Release Ninjutsu alone in the front yard.
After learning Water Release: Water Blade Slash, Qingyu had started trying to master Water Release: Water Bullet Barrage.
He had gotten the hang of it after just a day or two of practice, and now he could use it with ease.
This Water Release technique let him fire bullet-like jets of water from his hands to rake his opponent.
Kirigakure's Water Release: Water Gun Technique was similar.
As for Tsunade, she had gone out again that evening.
Qingyu didn't need to ask. There was a good chance she was at the casino.
Just then, someone kicked the courtyard gate open from outside.
Bang!
Qingyu turned and saw Tsunade leaning crookedly against the doorframe.
Her cheeks were flushed, and a drunken haze clouded her amber eyes.
Her waist was slender enough to fit in a hand, but as she staggered forward, the ample curves of her chest swayed enough to make his head spin.
Qingyu felt he was steadily becoming a fan of Tsunade's... assets—a devoted fan, at that.
"Kid... come help me up already."
Tsunade waved at him, her voice slurred.
Qingyu sighed, dispelled his chakra, and went over to brace one of Tsunade's arms.
Tsunade unceremoniously shifted her entire weight onto him. Fortunately, Qingyu was already much stronger than other kids his age, and he'd also just acquired the [Great Strength] trait from Tsunade.
Though he was much smaller than her, helping Tsunade—the big rig—wasn't all that difficult.
After settling Tsunade on the sofa, Qingyu went to the kitchen to get her something to sober up.
By the time he returned to the living room with a cup, Tsunade had flopped onto the sofa in an even more carefree pose.
She stretched and unconsciously crossed her left leg over her right knee.
The tight hems of her capri pants had ridden up a little, revealing the full, firm curves of her legs.
[Collectible trait detected: Slightly Tipsy Alcohol Tolerance]
[E-rank trait: Slightly Tipsy Alcohol Tolerance]
[Effect: A small amount of alcohol won't make you lose control; slightly increases your tolerance for alcohol.]
Qingyu stared at the words that appeared before him, his expression turning odd.
This trait was a little underwhelming.
He wasn't particularly interested in drinking.
After all, he had a living example of what not to do right in front of him.
The trait's only real use was probably to have a couple of drinks with a target during an undercover mission without giving himself away on the spot.
"Tsunade, how much did you lose this time?"
Qingyu handed her the drink.
"What do you mean, how much did I lose?"
Tsunade replied indignantly.
Could this kid ever learn how to talk?
"Then did you win a lot?"
Qingyu tried rephrasing it.
After all, the less someone had, the more likely they were to insist they did.
Tsunade took the cup and gulped down some of it, smacking her lips in satisfaction.
"Win? No, not that. I'd lost quite a lot to start with..."
Qingyu's heart sank.
The more Tsunade lost, the less money there was for the household expenses.
Though Tsunade, as the top medical ninja in Konoha's medical system, earned a considerable income and had a sizable inheritance, Qingyu knew as an insider that the household was already deep in debt.
No amount of money could withstand her knack for losing every bet.
Besides, many things belonging to the Senju Clan weren't for sale, like the First's Necklace around Tsunade's neck.
So money could be tight at times, and Tsunade often went to Jiraiya to borrow some.
As for Orochimaru, he'd lent her money at first, but later started claiming that his research funds were tight and stopped lending to her.
"And then?"
Qingyu asked.
"Then I accidentally punched a hole in the table."
Tsunade said it casually.
"They didn't even count the money for that last round."
Qingyu raised an eyebrow.
She'd punched through a table?
He couldn't help imagining what that must have looked like.
Casino tables weren't made of flimsy materials. How much strength did it take to smash one with a single punch?
The next moment, three lines of text appeared before him.
[Collectible trait detected: Great Strength]
[D-rank trait: Great Strength]
[Effect: Your strength is beyond that of an ordinary person; your physical strength increases by 20%.]
A wave of heat rose without warning through Qingyu's limbs and torso, as though something were coursing through his bones and muscles, then rapidly merging into his muscles.
He felt heat spread through his body, and his skin flushed slightly. At the same time, his strength began to grow.
It was like he'd shot up several inches in an instant.
"I take it back. You're useful after all, Tsunade."
Qingyu thought sincerely.
"Why do you look so strange, kid?"
Tsunade suddenly leaned in close.
Only then did Qingyu notice how close they'd gotten.
Tsunade's golden-brown eyes were still hazy with drink. She noticed that Qingyu's face had turned a little red.
Could the kid be blushing?
Amused, Tsunade reached out and ruffled Qingyu's hair.
Now that she looked closely, the kid really was handsome. He'd inherited the best features of the Uchiha and Senju families. His face had the Uchiha Clan's refined features without looking too feminine, and his soft black hair fell over his forehead.
"Don't ruffle my hair, Tsunade."
Qingyu instinctively leaned back.
"Why not?"
"People in the village don't like having their heads touched."
Qingyu said with a straight face.
In the dueling arena, getting your head touched was a surefire way to get tilted.
Hearing his strange remarks, Tsunade didn't press him. She just assumed Qingyu was having one of his episodes again.
The kid sometimes came out with words she couldn't understand at all.
"Shouldn't you get some rest, Tsunade?"
Qingyu glanced at the clock on the wall.
"Shizune's already asleep."
If he hadn't still been practicing in the front yard and left the door unlocked, Tsunade probably wouldn't have been able to get in.
Or, more accurately, after a long day, Tsunade would probably have chosen the simplest method of forced entry.
One punch, and the door would be smashed to pieces...
"Okay."
Tsunade murmured, still half-asleep.
Qingyu bent down and helped Tsunade take off her shoes.
Her pearly white feet slipped out of them, her ankles slender and her full toes neatly painted red.
Without changing expression, Qingyu looked away and helped Tsunade back to her feet.
He took her to her bedroom and closed the door.
Early the next morning, at the Ninja Academy.
Qingyu was flipping through the textbook for that day's ninjutsu theory lesson when someone walked up and stopped in front of him.
He looked up. It was Yūhi Kurenai.
"Qingyu, could I ask you a few questions about Genjutsu?"
There was a hint of hesitation in Yūhi Kurenai's voice, but she still managed to make her request.
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