Office Flirting! Konan the Disciple!

Amegakure Tower, top-floor office.

Rain poured outside the window, while spring was in full bloom within.

Smack!

Tsunade slammed the pen in her hand onto the desk and sprawled gracelessly across the leather swivel chair. Her impressive curves rose and fell with each breath, enough to make anyone dizzy.

"I'm done! I'm going on strike!"

Rubbing her aching wrist, Tsunade glared resentfully at Tobirama across from her.

"How are there still so many damn documents? Resource allocation, postwar reconstruction, and all those nobles' pointless letters..."

"Tobirama! You sure have it easy, dumping everything on me!"

Tobirama sat on the sofa with one leg crossed over the other, sipping tea. At her words, he set down his cup, a mischievous grin curling across his lips.

He rose and walked behind Tsunade.

He wrapped his arms around her and lightly tickled her waist.

"Mm-hmm..."

A soft, syrupy moan slipped from Tsunade's nose. Then she realized something was wrong, hurriedly bit her lip, and her face instantly flushed red.

"Secretary Tsunade, this is your job responsibility."

Tobirama bent down, resting his chin on her shoulder, his cheek nearly brushing against her earlobe.

His warm breath washed over her.

Tsunade's entire body felt as though electricity had run through it, leaving her tingling and weak.

"What secretary... You just made that up!"

Tsunade tried to struggle, but his hands felt far too comfortable against her. Her body refused to obey her, and she instead melted backward into him.

"That wasn't made up."

Tobirama's hands slid down from her shoulders. Even through her turtleneck sweater, the heat of his palms was still startlingly intense.

"Shut up!"

Flushed with embarrassment and anger, Tsunade reached back to cover his mouth, only for Tobirama to seize her wrist.

Then he gave it a tug.

The swivel chair spun around.

Before Tsunade could react, Tobirama had trapped her between the chair and the desk.

They were so close that they could count each other's eyelashes.

"Y-you... what are you trying to do?"

Tsunade's heart raced, her gaze panicked like a little deer cornered with nowhere to run.

"Of course, I'm giving my hardworking secretary a reward."

Tobirama lowered his head and kissed those endlessly chattering lips.

"Mmph..."

Tsunade's eyes widened, then slowly closed. Her arms instinctively wrapped around Tobirama's neck.

The kiss was forceful and lingering.

Only when Tsunade was nearly out of breath did Tobirama finally release her.

Watching Tsunade pant in his arms, her eyes glistening with desire, Tobirama licked his lips in satisfaction.

"Oh, right. I need to tell you something."

Tobirama idly played with a strand of her golden hair, his tone casual.

"I went out for a walk today and picked up a little girl."

Still savoring their kiss, Tsunade froze for a moment. Her eyes immediately turned wary as she switched into jonin mode.

"You picked up a child?"

"Tobirama, be careful."

"Though Amegakure has surrendered, there are still plenty of assassins loyal to Hanzo. Children who look harmless are often the most dangerous weapons."

"Don't worry. I know what I'm doing."

Tobirama smiled with the confidence of someone who had everything under control.

"I checked the girl. She's a good prospect, and her chakra nature is quite special."

"I plan to take her as my disciple."

"Your disciple?" Tsunade raised an eyebrow and looked Tobirama up and down. "How old are you? And you already want to be a teacher?"

"The capable teach."

Tobirama leaned closer to her face and grinned wickedly.

"Just like in certain areas, although I'm the student, I'm far more experienced than you are, Teacher Tsunade."

"Get lost!"

Tsunade's face turned as red as a tomato. She kicked Tobirama's shin, though she did not use Strength of a Hundred.

"If you want to take her in, then do it. You make the decisions here anyway."

"But..."

Tsunade straightened her rumpled collar, her gaze softening.

"Don't let things get out of hand. If that child is a problem, I'll deal with her for you immediately."

"Of course."

Tobirama kissed her forehead.

"I'm leaving."

Back at his residence.

Night had fully fallen.

Tobirama pushed open the door, carrying warm takeout from the cafeteria.

The room was silent.

A small lump rose beneath the blanket on the bed, trembling faintly.

"Stop pretending to sleep."

Tobirama set the food containers on the table and opened their lids.

The fragrance of the dishes instantly filled the room.

For a child who had wandered homeless for years, that smell was more devastating than an S-rank ninjutsu.

The blanket shifted.

A little blue head cautiously poked out.

Konan watched Tobirama warily, though her nose twitched uncontrollably.

"Come eat."

Tobirama beckoned to her, sounding as though he were calling over a stray cat.

Konan hesitated for a long time.

In the end, hunger overcame fear. Barefoot, she jumped down from the bed and slipped to the table like a shadow, grabbing the chopsticks and shoveling food into her mouth.

She ate too quickly, her cheeks puffed out like a hamster's.

Tobirama sat across from her, propping his chin up with one hand and watching her with a smile.

"Eat slowly. There's more."

He casually poured her a cup of water and pushed it over.

Konan froze at this sudden kindness, and her movements slowed.

She raised her head, confusion filling those orange eyes.

This Konoha ninja...

Why didn't he kill her?

Why was he giving her such good food?

"Are you full?"

Only after Konan put down her chopsticks did Tobirama speak, his voice gentle.

Konan nodded, nervously clutching the hem of her clothes.

"Since you're full, let's talk business."

Tobirama's smile faded, and his expression grew a little more serious.

"Konan, right?"

Konan abruptly looked up, her pupils shrinking.

How did he know my name?!

"Don't be nervous." Tobirama waved a hand. "I don't just know your name. I also know that you're very talented."

"In these chaotic times, orphans like you have only two possible endings."

"Either you starve to death in the streets, or someone takes you away to serve as cannon fodder."

Konan bit her lip and lowered her head.

She knew.

She knew all too well.

"So, I'll give you an opportunity."

Tobirama leaned forward and looked directly into her eyes.

"Become my disciple."

"From now on, I'll be your family."

The word family struck Konan's heart like a heavy hammer.

She suddenly raised her head, instinctively wanting to refuse.

"No..."

She was a child of the Land of Rain.

Her parents had died in the chaos of war.

To become the disciple of a Konoha ninja? That would be betrayal!

"Don't reject it so quickly."

Tobirama interrupted her, seemingly seeing through her thoughts.

"You can stay here with me for a few days first and think it over properly."

"As my disciple, you'll have food to eat, new clothes to wear, and you'll never have to worry about your safety again."

"Most importantly..."

Tobirama extended his hand, gathering a ball of chakra in his palm.

"I'll teach you how to become strong."

"Strong enough to protect the people you want to protect. Strong enough to turn your ruined homeland into the place you want it to be."

"Don't you want to use your own hands to make your homeland into the place you want it to be?"

Konan froze.

Protect the people she wanted to protect...

The images of her dead parents surfaced in her mind, along with the many displaced children of Amegakure.

If she had power... would she no longer have to keep hiding?

But... he was a Konoha ninja!

He was an invader!

Konan's heart was locked in a fierce struggle.

On one side were the pride and hatred of a Land of Rain orphan. On the other were the warmth and hope offered by the man before her.

For a child only a few years old, such a burden was too heavy.

Tobirama did not force her.

He stood up and gathered the bowls and chopsticks from the table.

His movements were practiced and natural.

That ordinary domestic gesture made Konan feel, in a daze, that this was not the room of a ninja from an enemy nation at all, but an ordinary home.

After cleaning up, Tobirama walked to the bed.

Konan instinctively shrank back.

But Tobirama merely lifted her gently and placed her back on the bed, then carefully tucked in the blanket around her.

"It gets cold at night. Keep yourself covered."

His large hand lightly patted the top of her head twice.

It was warm.

It was the warmth only family could give.

Konan's defenses completely collapsed in that instant.

Tears spilled from her eyes.

Since her parents had died, no one had ever cared for her like this.

She did not want to return to that cold, damp cave.

She did not want to be beaten half to death over a moldy piece of bread anymore.

She wanted... a home.

"I'm willing!"

Just as Tobirama turned to leave.

Behind him came the girl's tearful yet exceptionally resolute shout.

"I want to become strong! I want to be your disciple!"

"Please teach me ninjutsu and let me become a strong person like you, Teacher!"

Tobirama stopped in his tracks, a smile curling at the corner of his lips.

It worked.

He turned around and looked at the little girl poking her head out from under the covers, her face streaked with tears but her gaze stubborn.

"Of course."

"Get some sleep, my good disciple."

"I'll wake you tomorrow morning. Ninja training is very hard."

With that, Tobirama turned off the light and shut the door in one smooth motion.

The room fell back into darkness.

But this time, the darkness was no longer cold.

Konan curled up beneath the covers, her heart pounding wildly.

Was this... a new life?

"Teacher..."

She silently repeated those two words in her heart.

She was still a little afraid, and she still had no idea what the future would bring.

But at least tonight.

She could have a good dream.

"I have to work hard... I have to become stronger..."

"Once I'm strong enough, I'll make sure everyone gets to enjoy the good life!"

Konan clenched her tiny fists and, amid her hopes and unease for the future, drifted into a deep sleep.

Outside the door.

Tobirama leaned against the wall, listening to the steady breathing from within.

"Done."

"Next, I just need to raise Konan properly."

"Hmm... maybe I can take the Rinnegan while I'm at it?"