Tsunade's Loyal Fan

However, it was not enough.

Qingyu was very clear about the importance of talent.

Haruno Sakura mastered the Mystical Palm Technique in three years, Rin Nohara went from zero to self-taught, while Shizune followed Tsunade around for years only to barely touch the threshold.

Ultimately, Shizune could not even learn Tsunade's Yin Seal, which meant she could never inherit Tsunade's combat system.

Fortunately, the current Qingyu was not bad either.

The forty percent efficiency bonus from Solitude of a Genius, combined with the focused state brought by Persistent Perseverance, and topped off with the foundation of the Innate Medical Saint Body, meant his rate of progress would only grow faster.

To live safely in the ninja world, Qingyu wanted to improve more than anything.

Nighttime.

Shizune was already asleep.

Qingyu was alone in the front yard practicing Water Release ninjutsu.

After learning Water Release: Water Blade Slash, Qingyu was now attempting to cultivate Water Release: Water Bullet Barrage.

He had entered the basics after a day or two of practice, and now he could apply it proficiently.

This Water Release ninjutsu could fire bullet-like water projectiles from his hands to strafe an opponent.

The Water Release: Water Gun Technique from the neighboring Kirigakure was similar to this jutsu.

As for Tsunade, she had gone out again tonight.

Qingyu didn't need to ask to know that it was nine times out of ten a casino.

Just then, the courtyard gate was kicked open from the outside.

Bang!

Qingyu turned his head to see Tsunade leaning crookedly against the doorframe.

Her cheeks were flushed with a rosy hue, and her amber eyes were veiled in a drunken mist.

Her waist was slender enough to be held in one's arms, but as she stumbled forward, the sheer volume of her chest swayed in a way that made one's eyes dizzy.

Qingyu felt himself steadily moving toward becoming a fan of Tsunade's "assets," a loyal supporter.

"Kid... aren't you going to come and support me?"

Tsunade waved a hand at him, her voice slurred.

Qingyu sighed, withdrew his chakra, and walked over to prop up one of her arms.

Tsunade's entire weight pressed down on him without ceremony, but fortunately, Qingyu's strength was already much greater than his peers, especially with the Great Strength trait he had just collected from Tsunade earlier.

Even though he was much smaller in stature, supporting this "heavy vehicle" of a woman wasn't particularly strenuous.

After settling Tsunade on the sofa, Qingyu went to the kitchen to prepare something for her hangover.

When he returned to the living room with the cup, Tsunade had already sprawled out on the sofa in an even more boisterous posture.

She stretched, subconsciously crossing her left calf over her right knee.

The hem of her tight capri pants slid up a bit, revealing a plump, firm curve.

[Detected collectable trait: Slightly Tipsy Alcohol Tolerance]

[E-rank trait: Slightly Tipsy Alcohol Tolerance]

[Effect: Small amounts of alcohol will not cause loss of composure; slightly increased tolerance to alcohol.]

Qingyu looked at the text appearing before him with a subtle expression.

This trait was a bit useless.

He had no interest in drinking.

After all, there was a living cautionary tale right in front of him.

The only use for this trait was perhaps to have a drink or two with a target during future infiltration missions without giving himself away on the spot.

"Sister Tsunade, how much did you lose today?"

Qingyu handed over the hangover remedy.

"What do you mean, how much did I lose again?"

Tsunade replied with dissatisfaction.

Did this kid even know how to talk?

"Then, did Sister Tsunade win a lot?"

Qingyu changed his phrasing.

After all, the less one has of something, the more one tends to emphasize it.

Tsunade took the cup and gulped it down, smacking her lips in satisfaction:

"Win? Not really, I was already losing quite a bit..."

Qingyu's heart skipped a beat.

If Tsunade was losing a lot, it meant the household living expenses had shrunk yet again.

Although Tsunade was the top medical ninja in Konoha and had a considerable income, not to mention a wealthy family inheritance, Qingyu—as an insider—knew very well that this household had been in debt for a long time.

No amount of money could withstand her constitution of losing every bet she made.

Furthermore, many items belonging to the Senju clan were actually priceless heirlooms, such as the First Hokage's necklace around Tsunade's neck.

Because of this, they were sometimes quite strapped for cash, and Tsunade would often go to Jiraiya to borrow money.

As for Orochimaru, he had lent her money at first, but later he started claiming his experimental funding was tight and stopped lending to her altogether.

"And then?"

Qingyu asked.

"Then I accidentally smashed the table with one punch."

Tsunade said nonchalantly.

"So, the last round didn't really count."

Qingyu raised an eyebrow.

Smashed a table with one punch?

He instinctively tried to imagine the scene.

Casino tables weren't exactly flimsy; how much strength would it take to smash one with a single blow?

The next moment, three lines of text appeared before his eyes.

[Collectible trait detected: Great Strength]

[D-rank trait: Great Strength]

[Effect: Your strength is superior to the average person; physical power increased by 20%.]

A surge of heat welled up from his limbs and bones without warning, as if something were coursing through his tendons and marrow, before rapidly merging into his muscles.

Qingyu only felt a wave of body heat, his skin turning slightly flushed, while at the same time, his strength began to grow.

It felt as if he had instantly leveled up.

I was wrong, you are still useful, Sister Tsunade.

Qingyu thought sincerely to himself.

"Why do you look so strange, kid?"

Tsunade's face suddenly leaned in close.

Only then did Qingyu notice that the distance between them had become very small at some point.

There was still a hint of drunkenness in Tsunade's brownish-gold eyes, and she noticed that Qingyu's face was a bit red.

Could this brat be shy?

Tsunade found it amusing and reached out to pat Qingyu on the head.

Come to think of it, this kid was quite handsome when you looked closely. He had inherited the advantages of both the Uchiha and Senju clans; his features possessed the refinement of the Uchiha without being overly effeminate, and his black hair rested softly against his forehead.

"Don't pat my head, Sister Tsunade."

Qingyu instinctively leaned back.

"Why not?"

"Because people in the village don't like being patted on the head."

Qingyu said with a straight face.

In the arena, a head pat was a guaranteed way to trigger a "red-hot" rage.

Tsunade heard these strange words but didn't dwell on them, assuming it was just Qingyu having one of his periodic episodes.

This child would sometimes spout words she couldn't understand at all.

"It's about time to rest, Sister Tsunade."

Qingyu glanced at the wall clock.

"Even Shizune has gone to sleep."

If he hadn't been training in the front yard and left the door unlocked, Tsunade probably wouldn't have even been able to get inside.

Or, to be more precise, Master Tsunade, exhausted from the day, would likely have chosen the most primitive method of forced entry.

Smashing the door to pieces with one punch...

"Alright."

Tsunade replied in a daze.

Qingyu bent down to help Tsunade take off her shoes.

A pair of crystal-clear, fair, jade-like feet slid out from the shoes; the ankles were slender, and the plump toes were neatly painted with red nail polish.

Qingyu shifted his gaze away without changing his expression and helped Tsunade up once more.

He escorted Tsunade back to her bedroom and closed the door.

Early the next morning, at the Ninja Academy.

Qingyu was flipping through the ninjutsu theory textbook for the day's lesson when a figure walked up and stopped in front of him.

He looked up; it was Yūhi Kurenai.

"Classmate Qingyu, may I ask you some questions about genjutsu?"

There was a hint of hesitation in Yūhi Kurenai's tone, but she still managed to voice her request in full.