Precise Tracking

Could I really be a pervert?

Watching Kushina walk away, Tsunade sank into deep self-doubt.

At that moment, two little figures, one black and one white, seemed to appear in her mind.

The white figure looked disgusted. "You actually shoved your feet into your student's arms. Tsunade, have you no shame?"

The black figure snorted. "So what? A student warming his teacher's feet—is that not allowed?"

The argument erupted instantly. Pointing at the black figure, the white one declared indignantly, "You call that warming her feet? That was obviously... Anyway, you're shameless!"

"Then answer me this: did Minato push her away?"

"He's only five! What does he know?"

"It's just warming someone's feet. What does he need to know? The most I did was keep him from leaving. Did I do anything inappropriate?"

The black figure shrugged. "Sure enough, people with dirty minds see filth everywhere~"

"You, you, you..."

The white figure was furious, pointing at the black one, her chest heaving. "You're just deceiving yourself! Deceiving yourself!!"

As she spoke, she blew herself up in a fit of rage.

The black figure disappeared with her, leaving Tsunade lying motionless beneath the kotatsu.

After a long while, she gently touched her burning cheek, a trace of bewilderment in her eyes.

"I'm back!"

Before long, Nawaki came home with bags and bundles in his hands.

"Thanks for the effort."

Minato set down his teacup and murmured, "Well, I should get lunch ready too."

At his words, the pair of white snakes in his arms shifted reluctantly.

Minato reached beneath the kotatsu and gently held them. They felt as smooth and tender as peeled eggs.

He discreetly pinched their round, adorable toes, then lightly traced the curve of their arches with his fingertips. The two little white snakes immediately seemed startled and hurriedly crawled off his legs.

You little brat!

Seeing Minato get up, Tsunade quickly buried her face in her arms, unable to stop herself from grumbling inwardly.

The mutton hot pot was delicious.

Nawaki and Kushina ate like bandits, their chopsticks sweeping wildly through the pot, but Tsunade barely paid attention to her food. Her mind was filled with the subtle sensation that had just seemed to touch the depths of her soul.

No, this couldn't go on!

She glanced at Minato's youthful face, forced herself to focus, and put down her chopsticks.

"I have something to tell you."

She suddenly interrupted the enthusiastic eating at the table. "I'm working on refining an important jutsu, so I'll be away for a while, looking for inspiration."

"Huh? How long will you be gone?" Nawaki asked reluctantly.

"I'm not sure."

Tsunade pursed her lips and secretly watched Minato's reaction.

When she saw that Minato didn't react much, a wave of disappointment rose in her heart.

"Are you leaving the village?" Kushina asked.

"Yeah, probably." Tsunade nodded.

"Then take these with you, sensei."

Minato held out a handful of seeds. "These are seeds with cells that have undergone a mutation. Just infuse them with chakra, and they'll grow into my Wood Clones. They'll make it easy to keep in touch with the family."

"Keep in touch..."

There was something strange in Tsunade's tone.

She was planning to leave the village and train for a while precisely so she could cut off contact.

Still, just in case, she took the seeds and put them in her ninja pouch.

After a moment's thought, she got up and returned to her room, then came out with a huge scroll.

"This is... the jutsu you're going to train in, big sister?"

"No. This is the Summoning Scroll of Katsuyu Sage of Shikkotsu Forest, one of the Three Great Sage Lands."

Tsunade unrolled the scroll and pointed to her name. "I'm going to have you form a Summoning Contract with Katsuyu. Write your names in blood, and you'll be able to summon a part of Katsuyu's body."

(The claim that Katsuyu's real name is Katsuyu is actually wrong; it's just a translation issue. In Japanese, the characters 活 and 蛞 are the same. Please don't criticize me, thanks.)

"Katsuyu..."

Nawaki's mouth twitched. As Tsunade's younger brother, he had naturally seen Katsuyu before.

"Katsuyu?"

Kushina's eyelid twitched. When she pictured Katsuyu's damp, sticky body, she found it hard to accept.

"This is an ability you must learn."

Tsunade was also worried that Minato might run into danger while she was away.

Although she knew that, with Minato's current strength, he was basically in no danger in the village, she still couldn't help worrying.

Every Katsuyu you summon is a part of Katsuyu Sage. If you're ever in danger, you can summon Katsuyu. Even a tiny one can relay a message for you.

Hearing this, the three didn't hesitate. They each bit their fingers and signed their names on the scroll.

"Wait... what are the hand signs for Summoning Jutsu again?"

Nawaki tilted his head, trying to remember. He recalled that they'd covered it in class.

"Boar, Dog, Bird, Monkey, Ram!"

Before the blood had dried, Kushina performed the Summoning Jutsu.

With a poof, a palm-sized Katsuyu appeared before them.

"Hm?"

As soon as Katsuyu appeared, she tilted her head like a person. "You are..."

"This is Kushina Uzumaki, this is Minato Namikaze, and this is my younger brother, Nawaki. You've met him before."

Tsunade introduced them. "I have to leave the village for a while, so I had them sign the Summoning Contract with Shikkotsu Forest."

"Oh, I see~"

Katsuyu's antennae bobbed. "Got it, little Tsunade. I'll take good care of them! If you need help, just summon me~"

As she spoke, she vanished with a poof.

Nawaki stared at Kushina in astonishment. "Why are you so good at using the Summoning Jutsu when you're only in your first year?"

"Kushina's from the Uzumaki Clan," Minato explained.

"The clan specializes in Sealing Jutsu, so it makes sense that they're also proficient in the related Summoning Jutsu."

"In that case, I'll be going."

As Tsunade spoke, she got up to leave.

"Huh? So soon?"

"Isn't it a bit sudden? Can't you leave after lunch?"

"No, there's no time to waste. The sooner I finish refining it, the sooner I can come back. Don't worry, I won't be gone long."

Tsunade waved them off, ignoring their protests as she picked up her ninja pouch and left.

She had worked so hard to prepare herself mentally. If she stayed any longer, she was afraid she'd change her mind about leaving.

"Big sister's been acting a little strange lately."

After Tsunade left, the three returned to the table. Nawaki said worriedly, "I don't know why, but her mood's been changing a lot."

Kushina's eyes lit up. "Could she be in love?"

"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"

Nawaki waved his hand. "My sister has really high standards. I've never seen her take a special interest in any guy. Well, except Minato. This guy's talent really is off the charts."

Kushina looked at Minato. "Do you know what's going on, Minato?"

"I don't know."

Minato shook his head, a faint, almost imperceptible smile flickering in his eyes. He had sensed the Wood Clone Seed in the courtyard.

The Wood Clone Seed could track her location, but judging by this, Tsunade clearly didn't know that...