"It looks like your talent for combat really is greater than I expected."
She stretched.
"Let's head back. I'm a little tired."
Tsunade turned around, leaving Qingyu with only a view of her back.
She glanced at the sky and realized the sun was almost setting.
Then Tsunade walked forward to pick up the water flask on the ground.
"Let's head back, then."
Qingyu spoke.
From where Qingyu stood, he could see Tsunade's golden twin tails swaying gently behind her shoulders, her peach-shaped bottom rocking slightly with each step, tracing the full curves unique to a mature woman.
Qingyu followed her for a few steps, then suddenly spoke.
"Tsunade, let me carry you back."
Tsunade picked up the flask, took a sip, and looked back at him.
"...Carry me?"
"Our sparring took quite a bit out of you, didn't it? And you said you were tired."
Qingyu walked up to Tsunade, turned his back to her, and crouched down.
As Tsunade looked at Qingyu's broad back, a strange feeling welled up inside her.
Somewhere along the way, this brat's shoulders had grown broad enough to carry her.
She hesitated, but finally wrapped her arms around Qingyu's neck and pressed her body against his back.
Qingyu supported her under the knees and stood up.
Tsunade felt almost weightless to him.
Qingyu followed the camp's dirt path toward Tsunade's tent.
Just then, a clear voice rang out ahead.
"Lady Tsunade! Qingyu!"
Tsunade raised her head and saw Kushina waving at her from in front of a tent nearby.
A woman followed behind her, her long, deep-red hair pinned up at the back of her head. It was Karin Uzumaki.
Tsunade froze for a moment, then patted Qingyu's shoulder.
"Put me down."
Qingyu crouched, allowing Tsunade to get off his back.
"Kushina, what