Encountering Great Thunder

Upon returning to the Hidden Leaf Village, Tsunade asked Uchiha Ling about the situation, and Uchiha Ling did not hide anything, telling her everything one by one.

"I never expected that a brat like you would have the talent to cultivate Sage Mode?" Tsunade felt a bit jealous; even the Second Hokage and she herself had failed to master the sage arts of Shikkotsu Forest, yet her own disciple had started learning it first.

In the Hidden Leaf Village, the night grew deep.

After finishing his dinner, Uchiha Ling simply organized his ninja tool pouch, changed into a clean, dark-colored training outfit, estimated the time, and headed toward the Senju Ancestral Grounds at a steady pace.

When Uchiha Ling arrived, the bright moon was hanging directly overhead, and the cold moonlight bathed the earth, yet there was no sign of Tsunade.

The entrance to the Senju Ancestral Grounds was deserted, with only the rustling sound of the night wind blowing through the grass.

Uchiha Ling waited patiently for about a quarter of an hour, but there was still no movement.

Could Teacher Tsunade be waiting for me in the cabin?

Uchiha Ling hesitated for a moment, then decided to go and check.

The cabin was not lit, but as he approached, he could vaguely smell a faint scent of alcohol drifting in the air.

Uchiha Ling understood immediately; it was likely that after Tsunade made the appointment, she had gone off to drink first and ended up missing the time due to intoxication.

Uchiha Ling walked to the door of the cabin and knocked gently: "Teacher Tsunade, it's Uchiha Ling."

There was no response from inside, only a rustling sound and what seemed to be the splashing of water.

Uchiha Ling called out two more times, but still, no one answered. Worried that Tsunade might have had an accident due to her drunkenness, he hesitated for a moment before gently pushing open the unlocked door.

The room was dim, with only a little moonlight filtering in through the windows.

Several empty wine bottles were scattered messily on the living room table, and the smell of alcohol in the air was even more pronounced.

The sound of water was coming from the bathroom at the back of the house.

"Teacher Tsunade?" Uchiha Ling called out tentatively again while walking toward the bathroom.

The wooden door of the bathroom was left ajar, not fully closed, and a gap revealed warm steam and the clearer sound of flowing water.

Out of concern and a hint of curiosity, Uchiha Ling reached out and gently pushed open the ajar wooden door.

In an instant, warm, humid steam rushed toward him, mixed with the fresh scent of body wash and a faint trace of alcohol.

The scene inside the bathroom caused even Uchiha Ling, who possessed the memories of two lifetimes and prided himself on his composure, to have his pupils slightly constrict.

In the center of the bathroom was a large wooden tub, and Tsunade was sitting with her back to the door, soaking in the steaming water.

Her dazzling golden hair was wet; part of it clung to her smooth back, while the rest floated on the surface of the water like spread-out golden silk.

Due to the angle, Uchiha Ling could see her rounded shoulders, her beautifully contoured back, and part of her profile.

The hot water rose past her waist, and the rising steam gave her smooth skin a tempting, rosy luster.

Tsunade seemed drowsy from the alcohol, her head tilted slightly back as she rested against the edge of the tub, unaware of the movement at the door.

The moonlight filtered through the bathroom window, perfectly outlining the contour of her profile, with tiny water droplets hanging from her long eyelashes.

Her face, usually so heroic and imposing, revealed a rare, defenseless charm under the influence of the moonlight and steam.

The water rippled gently, and two large, soft mounds floated upon the surface.

Uchiha Ling stood frozen in place, unable to decide whether to advance or retreat.

He had to admit that the scene before him was incredibly impactful.

Tsunade's figure was already exceptionally proud, and now, appearing faintly in the tub, it displayed the charm of a mature woman to the fullest.

The steam, the moonlight, and the stunning beauty relaxed by alcohol formed a picture that would make any normal man's blood boil.

Even Uchiha Ling could feel his heart skip a beat and his breathing hitch slightly.

Perhaps his gaze was too intense, or perhaps it was intuition, but Tsunade, soaking in the hot water, moved, let out a lazy nasal sound, and then slowly opened her hazy eyes.

Tsunade turned her head subconsciously, her vision somewhat blurred as she met the dark shadow standing by the door.

For the first few seconds, the alcohol made Tsunade's thinking sluggish; she only felt that there seemed to be someone at the door.

But the next second, when she saw the outline of the shadow clearly—especially those black eyes that seemed exceptionally sharp in the darkness—her hangover-induced confusion was instantly blown away!

"Who?!" Tsunade sat up abruptly, splashing a sheet of water.

This movement made the scenery above the water even more unobstructed; her proud bust was completely exposed to the air, and water droplets rolled down her delicate skin.

However, when she clearly saw that the teenager at the door—who wore a calm, even slightly playful expression—was her own disciple, Uchiha Ling, Tsunade's brain went "boom," as if it had been hit by an Explosive Tag.

Shock, shame, disbelief... various emotions instantly overwhelmed her reason.

[Shock from Tsunade +20]

[Shame from Tsunade +60]

[Anger from Tsunade +30]

"U! CHI! HA! LING!" A heaven-shaking roar almost blew the roof off the bathroom.

Tsunade instantly erupted with astonishing speed; disregarding any sense of decorum, she lunged up from the tub, grabbed a bath towel from the nearby rack to wrap around herself haphazardly, and at the same time, her other fist, carrying terrifying Strength of a Hundred, smashed fiercely toward Uchiha Ling's face!

This punch was thrown in a fit of rage, causing the air to emit a sharp sonic boom; if it landed, it was likely that his entire head would shatter like a watermelon.

"Hey, hey, Teacher, calm down."

Uchiha Ling seemed to have anticipated this; the moment Tsunade's fist swung out, his figure drifted backward like a phantom, dodging the lethal blow with perfect precision.

The gale force trailing her fist stung his cheeks, a testament to the terrifying nature of Tsunade's strength.

"Calm down?! You brat! How dare you... how dare you..." Tsunade trembled with rage, her bath towel wrapped in such a rush that it barely covered the essentials.

Large swaths of snow-white skin and long, shapely legs remained exposed, while her damp blonde hair clung to her cheeks and neck, adding a sense of chaotic beauty to her appearance.

Shame and fury mingled within her, and she stepped forward once more, her assault descending like a violent storm, every strike aimed directly at his vitals.

Uchiha Ling dodged and weaved within the cramped space, relying on his superior Body Flicker Technique and keen anticipation, all while explaining in that infuriatingly calm tone:

"You can't blame me for this, Teacher. Didn't you tell me to come over tonight to learn the Strength of a Hundred?"

"I arrived and didn't see anyone, so I came in to check on you, worried that you might have gotten drunk and run into trouble. The door wasn't locked, and the bathroom door was open, too."

Uchiha Ling's explanation caused Tsunade's movements to falter slightly.

Training tonight? She struggled to recall, and fragmented memories began to piece themselves together... it seemed... perhaps... that did indeed happen.

Her mood had been complicated that afternoon; she felt gratified by her student's potential, yet the fact that Uchiha Ling was about the same age as her late brother, Nawaki, had stirred up her grief, leading her to drink.

As it turned out, she had drunk too much, returned to soak in the bath to relieve her fatigue, and completely forgotten about the appointment!

Thinking of this, Tsunade's anger plummeted instantly, replaced by a wave of immense embarrassment and awkwardness.

To have her body seen by her own student! This was quite simply the most mortifying moment of her entire life!

Her assault ceased, and Tsunade stood rooted to the spot, her chest heaving violently, her face cycling between shades of red and white, unable to tell if it was from anger or shame.