Tsunade's Training: Expressing Their Feelings

Konoha's Hokage Office.

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at the empty room and the missing bottle from his collection of fine sake on the desk. He was so angry that his beard bristled and his eyes widened.

"That little bastard! Forget shaking me down—he even swiped my liquor?"

By then, Tobirama had long since slipped away.

"Flying Thunder God Technique!"

Land of Rain.

Tobirama landed steadily, carrying the aged brew he had swiped from the old man. He was in such a good mood he felt like humming a tune.

This trip back to the village had been hugely profitable.

Not only had he gained autonomy over the Anbu, he had nearly stripped the old man down to his underwear.

"Master?"

Konan's sleepy voice came from the room next door.

"It's nothing. Go back to sleep."

Tobirama called through the door, "Your master has an important matter to work on tonight. Don't wander out for no reason."

After soothing his obedient disciple, Tobirama adjusted his collar, drew a deep breath, and headed toward Tsunade's room at the end of the hallway.

Tonight, he had serious business to attend to.

Knock, knock, knock.

The sound of knocking was especially clear in the rainy night.

"Come in."

Her voice was somewhat languid, carrying an almost imperceptible tremor.

Tobirama pushed the door open.

Then he froze.

Even having lived two lives, even having seen all manner of things, his breath still caught for a beat at that moment.

The room's main lights were off. Only several warm yellow scented candles had been lit.

Tsunade was not wearing her signature green robe with the gambling character on it, nor was she wearing stiff ninja battle gear.

She wore a pale pink silk nightgown.

The fabric was thin and clung to her body, outlining devilish curves enough to drive every man in the Ninja World mad. Its neckline plunged low, revealing a broad expanse of fair skin gleaming beneath the candlelight. That deep cleavage seemed capable of sucking a person's very soul inside.

Her long golden hair was unbound, casually draped over her shoulders, its ends still damp from her bath.

She held two wineglasses and leaned against the window.

Hearing the door open, she turned around.

The face that was usually so heroic and imposing now bore light makeup, her eyes and brows overflowing with charm.

"What? Stunned silly?"

Tsunade swirled the wineglass in her hand, a half-smile curving her lips. Her eyes held a hint of provocation and a hint of shyness.

"Didn't the Uchiha brat say he wanted to celebrate?"

"What are you standing there for? Afraid I'll eat you?"

Tobirama came back to himself, his Adam's apple bobbing.

"Afraid?"

Tobirama shut the door behind him and locked it.

The crisp click sounded especially suggestive in the quiet room.

He strode over and placed the bottle on the table, his gaze burning like fire.

"I was just wondering whether I should drink first..."

"Or eat someone first."

Tsunade blushed, but she still forced herself to maintain that mature, commanding air as she handed him a wineglass.

"Quit talking nonsense."

"Drink first!"

The two sat down on the tatami by the window.

Outside was a cold rainy night; inside was a tender springtime scene.

After one cup of wine.

Tsunade's cheeks took on a peach-blossom flush, and her eyes gradually became hazy.

Alcohol was the finest catalyst.

She no longer kept up her airs. Her body unconsciously leaned toward Tobirama, carrying a pleasant scent of body wash that drifted straight into his nose.

"Hey, Tobirama..."

Tsunade propped up her chin with one hand and extended the index finger of the other, lightly poking Tobirama's chest.

Her fingertip slid down along his collarbone, carrying a touch like an electric current.

"You brat... have you had designs on me for a long time?"

"Back at the academy... I thought there was something off about the way you looked at me."

"Unlike those little brats who only knew how to drool, your gaze... was far too aggressive."

Tobirama grabbed that mischievous finger, brought it to his lips, and gently bit it.

"..."

Tsunade's body trembled slightly.

"Since you knew, why did you dare open the door for me in the middle of the night?"

Tobirama leaned close, their breaths tangling together.

"Wasn't this... inviting a wolf into your home?"

Tsunade laughed.

She laughed so hard that her body trembled, making the sight before Tobirama's chest surge even more wildly and leaving his mouth dry.

"Inviting a wolf into my home?"

Tsunade suddenly leaned over him, wrapped both arms around Tobirama's neck, and breathed out softly.

"That's something you say to the weak."

"But for me..."

"This is called... taking the bait willingly."

After several rounds of wine.

The two had changed from sitting across from each other to leaning together.

Tsunade rested in Tobirama's arms, listening to his powerful heartbeat. Her earlier teasing and banter gradually faded, replaced by a vulnerability and tenderness she had never shown before.

"Tobirama, do you know?"

Tsunade looked at the rain beyond the window, her voice somewhat distant.

"Ever since I was little, everyone called me the Senju Clan princess, or the granddaughter of Hashirama, the God of Shinobi."

"They revered me, fawned over me, or wanted to use me."

"Grandfather left early, and my second grandfather also died on the battlefield..."

"I desperately became stronger and desperately studied Medical Ninjutsu because I never wanted to see the people around me die again."

At that, she lifted her head. Moisture shimmered in her brown eyes as she stared steadily at Tobirama.

"I once thought I would be like every other ninja, fighting on until I died on some nameless battlefield."

"Until... I met you."

"You saved my life, and you gave me a sense of security... like even if the sky fell, someone would be there to hold it up."

Tsunade reached out and caressed Tobirama's face.

Her fingers traced his brows, his eyes, and finally came to rest on his lips.

"This feeling... is too dreamlike."

"So dreamlike that I'm afraid I'll wake up and find myself back on that battlefield covered in corpses."

Tobirama took her hand and placed it over his heart.

"This isn't a dream."

His voice was low and firm, stripped of its usual teasing.

"Tsunade."

"From the day you entrusted your life to me in that tent, you had no way back."

"The Uchiha Clan is greedy. Once something falls into our hands, we will never let go, even in death."

"From now on, let me protect you!"

It was a promise.

A man's promise to a woman.

Tsunade looked at him.

Her tears finally fell, but the brightest smile rose on her lips.

"Idiot..."

"Who needs your protection... I'm very strong..."

Though she said that, she took the initiative to lift her head and offer him her lips.

"But..."

"Since you've said all that..."

"Then... don't let me down."

The last string of reason snapped.

Tobirama lowered his head and fiercely kissed those soft red lips.

It was no longer a tentative taste, but a storm-like plundering.

The wine bottle was knocked over, and fragrant liquor spilled across the carpet, making the intoxication in the air even stronger.

"Mmph..."

Her hands clutched Tobirama's back tightly, her nails nearly digging into his flesh.

The candlelight flickered.

At some point, the tie of the pink nightgown came undone.

It slipped down.

The highest snowy white peaks of Mount Everest were displayed before Tobirama without reservation.

That maddening sight was more lethal than any genjutsu, and it also made any mountain-climbing enthusiast unable to resist ascending it.

Tobirama's palm caressed those smooth jade-like peaks, climbing constantly as he became the first person to set foot upon the Everest of writing.

"Tsunade..."

Tobirama's voice was terrifyingly hoarse, as if two flames burned in his eyes.

Tsunade's face was flushed, her eyes hazy, and all her usual forcefulness had long vanished.

He swept Tsunade into his arms and carried her toward the soft bed. The two were about to begin an important ninja training session.

The rain outside grew louder and louder, concealing every sound within the room.

A ninja's training was destined to be difficult and exhausting.

The Sage Body of the Senju Clan possessed life force as vast as the sea.

The chakra of the Uchiha Clan was scorching and violent like fire.

As the two trained, their chakra in an ordinary forest and blazing fire rapidly increased.

Tsunade felt as though she were rising and falling upon a storm-tossed sea amid the circulation of their combined chakra.

Every movement and fusion of chakra made her soul tremble.

That soul-trembling sensation during training made her forget every burden and duty she bore.

She could only clutch Tobirama's hand tightly and train even more actively.

"Tobirama..."

Not until the horizon turned the pale white of dawn.

The storm finally subsided.

Like a lazy cat, Tsunade curled up in Tobirama's arms. Her golden hair was scattered about, and her body was covered in little red marks.

Those were the injuries she had suffered during this training.

She was exhausted, without even the strength to move a finger.

Yet a satisfied smile hung on her lips.

Tobirama held her close and played with a lock of her beautiful hair, countless emotions stirring within him.

Finally...

He had won her.