The Meaningless Flying Kick

The little girl was clearly in low spirits; she didn't speak, just trudged along ahead of him, looking sullen.

Yusuke had already recognized her; this girl was destined to become the White Tiger of Akatsuki.

He hadn't expected her childhood to be so bleak. If Tsunade hadn't been present, her father likely wouldn't have survived.

The streets were currently crawling with patrolling ninja squads. Yusuke carefully scanned his surroundings; Amegakure's alert level was indeed incredibly high.

He took the opportunity to take Konan's small hand and asked gently, "Is there anything you particularly like to eat, Konan? I happen to be quite skilled at cooking."

The little girl tilted her head, her amber eyes fixed on Yusuke. She lowered her voice, feeling a bit shy, "Grilled... grilled fish would be fine."

"Alright, lead me to a nearby grocery shop, Konan."

"By the way, is there anything else you especially like?"

Yusuke smiled gently, like a warm breeze.

The little girl looked dazed. Aside from her father, how long had it been since someone smiled at her like that? Usually, she was met only with chases, beatings, and curses.

The two figures, one large and one small, walked through the rain. They looked just like an older brother and sister, chatting and laughing as they went.

The patrolling ninjas on the road mostly chose to ignore them as they passed, continuing their rounds.

After all, in their minds, no undercover agent would ever bring a child along while on a mission.

Yusuke successfully lulled the patrolling ninjas into a false sense of security. Through the edge of his rain hood, he observed their movements.

He recorded their patrol routes and eavesdropped on the intelligence they exchanged.

"They caught another spy trying to escape at the village exit today."

"Right, I really hope we can root out every single one of them."

Damn it, have they sealed all the exits? Yusuke's heart sank completely.

His hand tightened instinctively; this effectively cut off his path for a stealthy strategic retreat.

Am I forced to cling to Tsunade's coattails now? Yusuke pondered.

Feeling the pressure from his grip, Konan looked up, puzzled.

Yusuke smiled and patted her head. "A cold gust of wind just blew by. Are you feeling cold, Konan?"

Konan shook her head, a faint, almost imperceptible smile touching her lips as she continued to lead the way, holding his hand.

She didn't notice, however, that as they passed a fishmonger's shop, Yusuke quickly scratched a mark onto the wall.

An hour had passed by the time the two returned.

They had bought plenty of food and daily necessities. The little girl had stubbornly insisted on helping and was now sweating from the effort, yet she beamed with joy.

Seiichi looked at his daughter, who had returned skipping and jumping, and felt a weight lift from his heart.

Konan hasn't been this happy in a long time. He looked at Yusuke, thinking to himself.

Yusuke glanced at Tsunade and gave a subtle nod, signaling that the mission was complete.

Afterward, using the clay pot and stove, Yusuke showed off his culinary skills.

Tsunade, who had been starving, transformed into a ruthless eating machine, devouring the meal with zero decorum.

Yusuke had no doubt that if they were back in Konoha, she would be shouting, "Bring me two more bottles of sake!"

"I didn't expect this kid to be such a good cook." Tsunade clutched her rice bowl and cast an approving glance his way.

Yusuke took a piece of paper and wiped the grease from her face, making them look like a loving couple.

The gesture caught Tsunade off guard, and her cheeks flushed slightly.

The rain intensified in the afternoon, giving Yusuke and Tsunade an excuse not to go out for more supplies.

Tsunade continued to treat Seiichi, and his complexion had become much more ruddy, losing its previous pallor.

As night approached, Yusuke set up a sleeping mat.

There were no entertainment facilities in the ninja world during this era; if one had to name something, it was just the "huffing and puffing" of making babies at night.

Yusuke lay beside Tsunade, and a faint, delicate fragrance drifted over from time to time.

The cold, rainy night suddenly felt stiflingly hot.

Tsunade was clearly uncomfortable as well; her breathing grew slightly heavy, and she reached out to create a distance between them.

Yusuke looked at the fist she had planted in front of him. He had no doubt that if he made any suspicious move, Tsunade would greet him with a punch, showing him exactly what the taijutsu mastery of the Senju Clan was all about.

What kind of situation is this? Is she even guarding against a gentleman?

Yusuke reached out and took Tsunade's hand, tapping a coded message onto her palm: The meeting point is at the fish shop, but there are many patrolling ninjas on the street today. Be careful when we move.

Tsunade, thinking the brat had been overcome by base instincts and preparing to teach him a lesson, received the signal instead.

Tsunade replied: Understood.

Yusuke: "This is the Amegakure patrol route I observed; you can use it for reference."

He then traced the route from his memory onto Tsunade's palm.

However, the two failed to notice that as they exchanged secret signals, the distance between them was constantly closing.

Suddenly, Tsunade grew alert, sensing something stirring restlessly.

With a flushed face, she sent a secret signal to Yusuke: "You bastard, keep your weapon in check! Do you believe I'll rip it off for you?"

Only then did Yusuke notice that while passing information, the distance between them had unconsciously shrunk to less than two fists' width.

He silently muttered a prayer for forgiveness; his dormant weapon had nearly wounded an ally.

He exhaled, hunched his body, and thought to himself, What a fierce woman!

His warm breath brushed against Tsunade's ear, making her shiver. She glared at him hatefully before pretending to sleep.

Yusuke felt a sudden rush of satisfaction, as if a great grudge had been settled, and a smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.

Time slipped away quietly. At one or two in the morning, when people were sound asleep, a masked figure flashed out of the dilapidated house and merged into the curtain of rain.

Seiichi, lying on his bed, squinted at Yusuke's cot.

Having survived for a long time at the bottom of Amegakure's social hierarchy, he was a light sleeper, always on guard against nighttime thieves.

He had vaguely sensed something off about the pair during the day, and now he was certain: they were definitely spies from another nation.

Yet, Seiichi turned his head to look at his sleeping daughter, his eyes flickering as he pondered something unknown.

Tsunade didn't return until three or four in the morning, which finally allowed Yusuke to relax.

To avoid exposure and implicating others, the team members only communicated with their captain.

Therefore, after Tsunade returned, she didn't share the specific details with Yusuke.

Feeling a lump of ice-cold skin press into his warm bedding, Yusuke reached out and took Tsunade's small hand.

Perhaps because she had been intimate with Yusuke so many times today, Tsunade didn't pull away.

The night passed in silence, and the two soon fell into a deep sleep.

The next morning, the sky was heavy with thick clouds, though it wasn't raining.

Tsunade felt like she was lying in a warm place; the sensation made her feel very secure, and she subconsciously curled her body inward.

However, her muddled consciousness cleared quickly, and she instinctively kicked out at the man in front of her.

"Ouch."

A cry of pain rang out, followed by the sound of a heavy object hitting the floor.

Yusuke lay sprawled on the ground, his brain still stuck on the philosophical question of "Who am I, and where am I?"

Tsunade, who had slept in her clothes, rose angrily: "You..."

But after glancing at the position she occupied on the bed, she suddenly felt a bit guilty, and the rest of her words died in her throat.

She admitted that her voice had been a bit loud just now.

Blushing, Tsunade said with some embarrassment: "I just... had a nightmare."

Yet, seeing her guilty expression, Yusuke knew this fierce woman had definitely done it on purpose.

At breakfast, Yusuke wore a sour face the entire time.

Tsunade no longer ate with her usual boldness; she ate in small, guilty bites, looking more like a wronged young wife.

Last night, you were clearly the one who crossed the line into my arms, and then you kicked me this morning.

Very well, Tsunade, just you wait. Yusuke noted her crimes in his mental ledger.

In the morning, under the guise of buying local specialties, Yusuke left the house to gather intelligence.

Tsunade remained at the wooden house to watch over the two, using the excuse of treating Seiichi's condition.

The streets were very cold today, and there were even fewer patrolling ninjas.

The atmosphere today seems a bit strange, Yusuke thought to himself.

He acted as if nothing were wrong, went to a crowded shop, and bought some items.

Secretly, he pricked up his ears, listening to the conversations around him.

"Those damn ninjas from the great nations don't treat us Amegakure people like human beings at all. There was a battle in the West District last night, and many people died."

"Damn it, how much longer does Lord Hanzo intend to endure this?"

"Shh! If you dare to badmouth Lord Hanzo, do you have a death wish?"

Yusuke frowned. Something was wrong—very, very wrong.

If a riot had occurred, security should have been tightened, not reduced like this.

So, where had the reassigned ninjas gone?

Without hearing any further information, Yusuke quietly left, only to run into a lone Amegakure ninja just as he stepped out of the shop.