Youth Was Sweated Out

"Big brother!"

"I know. Don't think you can drag me off with Monster Strength."

Diejian was admiring the foliage plants in his room when Tsunade barged in and latched onto him.

Thanks to their grandmother Mito's teaching and her starting to learn the basics of ninjutsu at the Ninja Academy, Tsunade's already violent behavior had gained an extra element: Monster Strength.

As a result, Diejian had recently become very afraid of refusing Tsunade's requests. Unless he had a good enough reason to convince her, he usually just went along with it.

Just what is it about me that she admires so much? Diejian wondered, looking at the pink hair ornament bobbing atop her head. He had bought it on a whim not long ago and given it to her.

"Tsunade, I'm fine with it, but you really shouldn't use that Monster Strength on other people."

"Big brother, don't say such a rude thing. I've never used it on anyone except Jiraiya, the sexual harasser, and you."

"I think that's pretty rude in itself."

At least it meant she treated him just like that sexually harassing boy Jiraiya. As her big brother, Diejian had mixed feelings about it.

"So? Where are we going today?"

"Training!"

That was unusual. When it came to Tsunade, everyone assumed she was going gambling. When she occasionally invited him out, it was always to places adults frequented, like izakaya.

Of course, she never drank alcohol, but the little girl who gulped down nonalcoholic drinks while devouring yakitori had become something of a local celebrity. It was said that she had once eaten all the food in an all-you-can-eat izakaya, leaving the owner at their wits' end. The story had become something of a legend.

Training on a day off after finishing a mission was exhausting mentally, even if it was no big deal physically. The mission had involved little more than carrying goods, after all.

Diejian wasn't as easily bored as Juri, but he did get tired of things fairly easily, so as the one who'd suggested it, he was actually a little apprehensive.

It might not be a bad idea to get a feel for Tsunade's strength, Diejian thought. He agreed, then took a simple first-aid kit from the large emergency box.

He'd put the kit together himself. It held ointment and bandages for when Tsunade's Monster Strength sent him flying, as well as medical food like Military Ration Pills to maintain a minimum level of energy in case he ever got too tired to move.

They headed out and walked for a while.

Tsunade talked nonstop, telling him about school and her friends, and occasionally teasing him with a hint of precociousness about his relationship with Ina.

Before they knew it, they had arrived at the Training Ground.

They set their luggage down on a bench near the entrance to the fenced-off Training Ground and were about to warm up when they heard the sound of someone striking a scroll target.

"Someone got here before us?"

"Looks like it. It's rare to see anyone here so early."

But this was a ninja village, after all.

It wasn't strange for one or two diligent people to train early.

Besides, there was no problem with someone else being there.

As long as Diejian didn't use Fire Release and disturb those around him.

Of course, there was no guarantee that the person who'd arrived first wouldn't be standing where Tsunade sent him flying.

The two put their luggage back on and entered the Training Ground. They passed through an area set up with small props like an amusement park and headed toward the clearing.

On the opposite side from where they were going stood the logs where Diejian and the others had taken their Genin promotion exam.

Curious, they wanted to see which ninja had been training at the Training Ground before them.

Maybe I can learn something from an adult's dedication, Diejian thought, with a little self-interest in mind.

There, drenched in sweat, was a boy repeatedly kicking a scroll target.

His eyebrows were astonishingly thick, and his long lower eyelashes made for a wonderfully incongruous pairing.

His clothes were unusual, too: a green, skin-tight outfit that accentuated his build.

"Uh, what's with that? What a terrible sense of style..."

"That's..."

Tsunade frowned in undisguised disgust, but Diejian narrowed his eyes slightly as he watched the boy.

The red scarf around the boy's neck seemed soaked through with sweat. It was completely drenched.

It was still early morning.

How long would it take to sweat that much?

The boy probably hadn't started at dawn.

He must have been out here alone, kicking the scroll target nonstop since even earlier.

As the boy raised his leg to kick the target, his supporting foot slipped, and he fell.

Tsunade couldn't help laughing at the sight, but Diejian looked down at the boy's feet.

The place where the boy had planted his supporting foot—and only that spot—was worn down and hollowed out.

How long had he stood in that very spot? How many times had he kicked the target? ...

"Hey, big brother, that guy with the thick eyebrows—"

"Tsun..."

Diejian's rare stern reprimand caught Tsunade by surprise. The mocking look on her face faded, and she was briefly at a loss for words.

Diejian gently patted Tsunade's startled head and spoke to her in a kind voice.

"You mustn't make fun of people who are working hard."

Diejian was considered a genius, but there were always people more talented than him. Hatake Sakumo was one of them.

He'd once lagged behind Kagami because of his lack of experience, but even then, he'd already mastered the fundamentals at a level no lower than a Chunin.

Even Diejian couldn't claim that he'd never felt inferior to Sakumo, his friend and rival.

And now, unable to use ninjutsu properly, he was mocked by Juri whenever he tried even a single Fire Release technique.

Diejian, who'd once been praised with, "That's a Senju for you," was now just one of the mediocre masses.

People talked behind his back, and he knew they teased him as a "fallen Senju."

It would have been a lie to say he didn't care. He knew the bitterness of it all too well.

Even so, Diejian hadn't grown bitter, entirely because people existed who believed in him—and whom he believed in.

What kind of person is he? Diejian glanced at the boy.

He wasn't wearing a Forehead Protector, so he was probably still at the Ninja Academy—or perhaps he hadn't even enrolled yet.

The ninjas Diejian had met, especially the ones led by his grandfather Hashirama, all seemed to radiate talent. But honestly, he couldn't see any glimmer of talent in the boy before him, who kept kicking the scroll target.

His kicks were wild and lacked power, and his stance wavered.

He looked like an amateur imitating martial arts.

But he hadn't noticed Diejian and Tsunade approaching this close. Was he an oblivious mediocrity who couldn't pay attention to his surroundings, or was he simply concentrating with all his might?

"Good morning."

Diejian suddenly greeted the boy, and Tsunade's eyes widened in surprise.

Unsure what to do, she copied Diejian and bowed her head.

"G-good, good, good morning, you two! Y-y-youth!"

Had he really not noticed them until they were this close?

The boy was breathing hard, drenched in sweat. He stuck out an arm and gave them a forceful thumbs-up.

Tsunade jumped backward with a squeak as droplets of sweat flew off him.

Even Diejian hadn't expected that reaction. He blinked, thinking the boy was quite the character.

"Want some?"

Diejian offered him his canteen, but the boy shook his head.

When Diejian asked why he wouldn't drink after sweating so much, the boy said that drinking water weakened the spirit.

Diejian wondered what kind of nonsense that was, then insisted, "Maybe not spiritually, but physically, that's wrong," and shoved the canteen into the boy's hands.

The boy didn't seem to have anything nearby to rehydrate with, not even a canteen. If Diejian left him alone, he would probably keep sweating without replenishing his fluids.

Diejian told him the drink contained salt and some nearly tasteless herbs that were good for the body, and that drinking it would make him stronger. The boy accepted the canteen, saying, "Thanks for the encouragement!"

When the boy started gulping it down, Diejian stopped him and said drinking like that was bad for him, too.

"You're almost dehydrated. Take small sips. Your stomach won't be able to handle it."

Diejian told him sternly but kindly. The boy looked surprised and pleased as he tipped the canteen back.

"That's why I told you not to gulp it down!" Diejian scolded.

"Oh, I see." The boy smiled sheepishly.

Looking around, Diejian noticed that the boy didn't even have a towel to wipe away his sweat.

When he asked, the boy replied, "I'm not wiping off the sweat because I want to experience the feeling of a real battle."

Diejian said, "You'll catch a cold," and handed him a towel. Then they went through the same back-and-forth as before.

Tsunade worried that Diejian would be left without one, so he used the Shadow Clone Technique and sent a clone to fetch a replacement. That took care of it.

"Ooh, what was that just now!? A clone with a physical body!? You! You really are a ninja, aren't you!"

"It's not exactly a secret technique, but it is classified information, so I can't teach it to you."

The boy pointed at Diejian, and the two exchanged a grin, as if they'd reached some kind of understanding.

"Sorry for interrupting you so suddenly. I'm Senju Diejian, a Genin. This is my little sister Tsunade. She's cute, isn't she?"

"Big brother!"

Tsunade's face flushed slightly as she shouted at him.

Diejian had a habit of adding a compliment whenever he introduced Tsunade to someone he'd just met.

"Isn't that why she looks up to you?" Sakumo had once answered when Diejian, feeling a little foolish, had asked him for advice.

"Thank you for introducing yourselves!! I'm the Blue Beast of Konoha, Might Duy! Pleased to meet you!!"

Duy's arm shot out with a whoosh, and he gave them a thumbs-up.

Diejian laughed, copied Duy's thumbs-up, and the two lightly bumped fists with a tap.

The clammy sensation on his fist was strangely not unpleasant.

★

"Heh, so we're the same age."

Everyone in the village knew the name Senju Diejian.

That was mostly because he was the First's grandson, but Duy had also heard of Diejian, who was the source of all kinds of rumors.

Recently, in particular, the story of him attacking the Hokage's residence during the Genin promotion exam had become a legend.

At Duy's request—he was interested in Diejian in more ways than one—the two sparred. Diejian was unable to use ninjutsu, but still won overwhelmingly, easily defeating Duy with Taijutsu alone.

For Diejian, who often sparred with Tobirama, Sakumo, and Kagami, it honestly hadn't been much of a challenge. But Duy didn't seem upset. Instead, he encouraged himself to train even harder.

When Diejian asked further, he learned that Duy had been considered untalented and couldn't even get into the Ninja Academy.

Diejian worried that he'd asked something he shouldn't have, but Duy simply puffed out his chest and said that if he couldn't get into the Academy, he'd just train his body on his own.

Diejian felt something indescribable toward Duy.

Was it admiration for the astonishing optimism he himself lacked?

Or envy for his noble spirit, which would never fade?

Diejian simply thought that Duy was an interesting guy, and he was drawn to the cheerfulness and nobility that shone through his enthusiasm.

That was also because there was no one like Duy among the people around Diejian.

But Tsunade, his little sister, saw it differently.

She knew that Diejian was a slightly "annoying" guy in a different way.

With a subtle feeling she couldn't quite put into words, she watched the two of them interact.