Awkward

The scenery beneath the bath towel rose and fell with her ragged breathing. Uchiha Ling's gaze swept over it inadvertently before quickly shifting away, yet that fleeting glimpse of lush, snow-white skin was already seared into his mind.

"You... how much did you see?" Tsunade asked through gritted teeth, her voice carrying a tremor that was difficult to detect.

Uchiha Ling rubbed his chin, wearing an expression of earnest contemplation, before delivering an answer that made Tsunade wish she could punch him again: "Hmm... everything that was meant to be seen, I suppose. The moonlight is quite bright, and you really do have a great figure, Teacher."

"You!" Tsunade was so angry she nearly choked, pointing toward the door, "Get out! Get out of here this instant!"

Uchiha Ling shrugged, seemingly unbothered by his teacher's fury, and instead added, "Very well, Teacher. However, regarding the new ninjutsu for tonight's training..."

"Training is canceled! We'll talk about it tomorrow! Now, immediately, right this second, disappear from my sight!" Tsunade interrupted him with a near-roar.

"As you command." The smile at the corner of Uchiha Ling's mouth could no longer be contained. He turned and left the small cabin with nimble steps, even remembering to pull the door shut behind him for Tsunade.

Standing under the moonlight, Uchiha Ling could still hear the sound of Tsunade stomping her feet in a fit of rage and the noise of something being smashed inside the room.

Uchiha Ling shook his head, though his mood was somewhat subtle.

This unexpected, sultry interlude tonight seemed to have shown him a side of this Sannin, the legendary Lady Tsunade, that was different from her usual bold and formidable self—she was actually a bit cute.

Inside the cabin, Tsunade leaned her back against the bathroom door and slowly slid to the floor, her cheeks burning with an alarming heat. She buried her scorching face into her knees and let out a groan of vexation. Never in her life had she been so humiliated! And in front of her own disciple, no less! How was she supposed to maintain her dignity as a teacher from now on?

Yet, amidst the extreme shame and annoyance, an image flashed inappropriately through Tsunade's mind: Uchiha Ling's calm and teasing expression from just moments ago.

That brat—he had clearly seen such a scene, yet while there was admiration in his eyes, there was more of an insightful, playful quality. There was none of the panic or shyness one would expect from an ordinary youth.

This composure, far beyond his years, and his almost wicked sense of ease made Tsunade feel a faint, lingering curiosity beneath her shame and anger.

The next morning, Hidden Leaf Village, Training Ground 3.

The morning sun seemed even more scorching than usual, at least as far as Tsunade was concerned.

Tsunade appeared at the training ground earlier than the agreed time, arms crossed over her chest, back turned to the entrance, her gaze seemingly fixed with intense focus on a massive rock in the distance that served as a target.

But if anyone could see her profile, they would notice that her usually heroic and imposing face carried a trace of indescribable irritability and a faint, hard-to-detect blush.

She couldn't focus her thoughts on training at all.

The misty steam in the bathroom last night, her own defenseless posture under the moonlight, and Uchiha Ling's face at the door—appearing overly calm and even slightly playful—played on a loop in her mind like a nightmare.

In particular, the memory of her own panicked, towel-wrapped pursuit made her want to curl her toes in mortification.

She, Lady Tsunade, had traversed the ninja world for years; when had she ever lost her composure in front of a man? No, even just a half-grown boy! And to think that person was her own disciple!

"Damned brat..."

Tsunade squeezed these words out from between her teeth, her chest rising and falling with the fluctuation of her emotions.

Tsunade tried to use anger to mask the deeper, heart-palpitating embarrassment and shame.

The feeling of being seen through, of being scrutinized, felt like a thin thorn pricking at her heart.

She kept telling herself it was just an accident, that Uchiha Ling had only entered because he was worried about her, and that the door really hadn't been locked.

But rational analysis could do nothing to quell the instinctive heat rising in her body or the awkwardness she felt about to confront Uchiha Ling.

She had even considered finding an excuse to cancel training today, but her strong pride and sense of responsibility as a teacher prevented her from doing so.

Run away? Wouldn't that just make it look like she cared more, that she was more guilty? When had Tsunade ever needed to run away? She had to act as if everything were normal; she had to use absolute authority to turn the page on last night!

Yes, that was it! Tsunade took a deep breath, trying to straighten her back, attempting to reclaim her usual aura of dominance.

Just then, steady footsteps sounded behind her. Tsunade's body stiffened almost imperceptibly, but she forced herself not to turn around immediately.

"Good morning, Teacher Tsunade."

Uchiha Ling's voice rang out, as calm and steady as ever, even carrying just the right amount of respect; there was no hint of anything unusual.

Uchiha Ling was wearing clean, dark training gear, his posture upright, his black eyes like deep pools, showing no ripples, as if he weren't the same person who had stumbled upon his master bathing and then "teased" her about it.

This demeanor only made Tsunade feel more stifled. How could this brat be so composed?

Did last night's events have no impact on him at all? Or did he simply not see her as an attractive woman?

This thought inexplicably made her feel even more annoyed, a complex emotion mixed with shame, anger, and the feeling of being slighted churning in her heart.

"...Hmm." Tsunade let out a short, clipped sound from her nose in response, still not turning around, her tone deliberately maintaining coldness and detachment. "Starting today, I will teach you higher-level applications of medical ninjutsu, focusing on the field of combat."

She finally turned around, though her gaze was somewhat unfocused, trying her best to avoid direct eye contact with Uchiha Ling, letting her eyes fall instead on his shoulder or the empty space behind him.

She felt her cheeks burning and could only hope the sunlight was strong enough to hide this damned blush.

"Yes, Teacher." Uchiha Ling replied, his gaze meeting hers openly.

He had, of course, noticed Tsunade's abnormality. That deliberately evasive gaze, the body lines that were more tense than usual, and the tone that was forced into a calm that betrayed a subtle unnaturalness—none of it could escape his perception.

Because...

[Shame and anger from Tsunade +30]

[Embarrassment from Tsunade +20]

The collection from the Emotion System had explained everything.

Uchiha Ling found it quite interesting.

His teacher, a powerhouse who struck fear into the hearts of those on the battlefield, was now so flustered because of an accident.

This contrast gave him, a transmigrator with a "troll" personality at his core, a sense of subtle pleasure.