Tsunade's Younger Brother, Nawaki

They stayed with Uzumaki Mito for a while. When she was ready to rest, Shin and the others left.

"Hey, my grandma said you have some kind of extraordinary power. What is it? I've noticed you have quite a few secrets."

Tsunade stared intently at Shin, her eyes filled with curiosity.

"How should I know?"

Shin shrugged at Tsunade, indicating that he didn't know. He couldn't let anyone find out about his Perfect Sage Body.

But even if it really did get exposed, probably no one would know what a Perfect Sage Body was!

After all, the only thing people remembered Senju Hashirama for was

Wood Release, not his Sage Body. And yet without a Perfect Sage Body, Wood Release would never have had such devastating power.

Take Yamato's Wood Release, for example. It was only a little stronger than ordinary nature transformations, and had earned the nickname "Fake Wood Release."

Speaking of the Senju Clan, they should have Wood Release ninjutsu left behind by Senju Hashirama, right? Shin really wanted to see it.

Although he didn't have the Wood Release Kekkei Genkai yet, Shin believed that with enough research, he could master Wood Release too—not Yamato's kind, but the kind Senju Hashirama had.

"Shin, what are you thinking about? You're going to walk into a wall."

Kushina tugged at Shin, bringing him back to his senses.

Seeing the wall in front of him, Shin felt awkward. If Kushina hadn't pulled him back, he would have walked straight into it.

"Hey, are you sure you can see properly?"

Tsunade looked at Shin mockingly.

Staring at this woman, Shin wondered how he could give her a good beating.

Then he remembered that he still wasn't a match for Tsunade. He'd have to put up with her for now. Once he was stronger than her, he'd make her pay.

Tsunade raised an eyebrow under Shin's openly hostile gaze,

but didn't take it to heart.

"By the way, I'm planning to send the four of you to the Ninja Academy."

Tsunade looked at Shin, Kushina, Uzumaki Kai, and Uzumaki Akiko. She couldn't let them stay at the Senju Clan Grounds forever. They were at the right age to start school, and she thought the Ninja Academy would be a good choice.

"Of course, if you don't want to become shinobi, you don't have to go."

Tsunade wouldn't force them if they didn't want to become shinobi.

"I'm going to the Ninja Academy. I want to become a shinobi and avenge my

family one day." Uzumaki Kai's face twisted with hatred.

"I want to go to the Ninja Academy too," Uzumaki Akiko said.

The destruction of the Uzumaki Clan had taught the young girl that she needed strength. She wanted to become a shinobi, if only so she could protect herself.

"All right. Since you've all decided to go, I'll tell the Third Hokage tomorrow," Tsunade said with a nod.

"Hey, you haven't even asked what we think."

"Oh? You two don't want to become shinobi?" Tsunade asked Shin and Kushina in surprise.

"Of course we do. I just think you should at least go through the motions and ask us," Shin said.

Tsunade clenched her fist and said irritably, "Brat, if you don't want to get beaten up, stop messing around."

Shin sheepishly fell silent. With Tsunade's personality, she'd definitely hit him if she said she would. Better not provoke her.

"Um, Lady Tsunade, what have you planned for me?" Uzumaki Hikari asked her. He was the only adult among the survivors.

"If you can pass the assessment, you can become a Konoha Ninja. If you don't want to be a shinobi, you'll have to find some other way to make a living."

Tsunade turned to Uzumaki Hikari.

Uzumaki Hikari thought it over, then said, "Sorry to trouble you, Lady Tsunade. Please tell Lord Hokage that I want to become a Konoha Ninja."

"All right. I'll tell the old Third. Whether you make it as a Konoha Ninja is up to you."

With that, Tsunade left with Shin and Kushina, while Uzumaki Akiko, Uzumaki Kai, and Uzumaki Hikari headed back to where they were staying.

"Damn it, why is Lady Tsunade so nice to that guy, Uzumaki Shin?" Uzumaki Kai was

incredibly jealous.

And when they'd met Uzumaki Mito earlier, she'd spent most of her time looking at Uzumaki Shin, while he'd been completely ignored.

Uzumaki Kai had already held a grudge against Uzumaki Shin. Now, fueled by jealousy, he hated him even more.

Uzumaki Akiko and Uzumaki Hikari glanced at Uzumaki Kai but ignored him.

Unlike Uzumaki Kai, neither of them was jealous, and neither held a grudge against Shin.

As they followed Tsunade back, Shin suddenly saw a boy about his age walking toward them with several skewers of grilled meat.

When the boy saw Tsunade, his expression changed. He turned around and tried to sneak away.

"Nawaki, stop right there! Where do you think you're going?"

Tsunade spotted Nawaki and marched over to him angrily, glaring at him.

"Is he Tsunade's younger brother, Nawaki?"

Shin glanced at Nawaki. The kid had it rough too—he died when he was only twelve.

"Big Sis."

Nawaki turned around reluctantly, hiding the grilled meat skewers behind his back.

"You've already been caught. Why are you hiding them? Tell me, where did you get those skewers?"

"I, uh... I bought them."

"Bought them? Didn't you say you were out of pocket money?" Tsunade asked, displeased.

Last time, Tsunade had lost at gambling and gone to Nawaki to "borrow" money. Nawaki knew his big sister was a gambler who never won. If he lent her money, it would be like throwing a meat bun to a dog—gone for good.

So he'd made up an excuse, saying he'd spent it all on ninja tools. Tsunade had no choice but to leave in frustration.

But now he'd gone and bought himself something tasty,

only to get caught. Nawaki was crying on the inside.

"You even lied to your own sister. I'm confiscating these skewers."

In the blink of an eye, the skewers were in Tsunade's hands. Nawaki could only watch helplessly.

"Okay, stop staring. I'll give you one."

Tsunade counted the four skewers, gave one to Nawaki, then one each to Shin and Kushina, and kept the last for herself. That used them all up.

"Mmm, they smell so good! They smell even better than the ones we grill ourselves," Kushina said, breathing in the aroma.

"Not bad. They're really tasty, and the skewers are pretty big too."

Shin took a bite. They tasted great—better than the grilled meat he made himself. Maybe he hadn't prepared the right ingredients.

"Big Sis, who are they?" Nawaki asked Tsunade curiously.

"They're members of the Uzumaki Clan, distant relatives of our Senju Clan. Something happened to their clan, so they'll be staying here from now on."

"By the way, they'll probably be going to the Ninja Academy in a few days. Make sure to look after them at school," Tsunade told Nawaki.

"Oh, hello. My name is

Nawaki," he introduced himself to Shin and Kushina.

"Hi, I'm Uzumaki Shin, and this is Kushina Uzumaki. We'll be staying here from now on, so thanks for having us," Shin introduced himself in turn, getting acquainted with Nawaki.