"Not bad."
Tsunade slapped Yueshu on the back. She'd watched the whole match from the sidelines, so she'd seen his impressive performance for herself.
"It was all right."
Yueshu replied casually, showing little excitement.
"Didn't you win? At least look happy. You're always wearing such a gloomy expression. No girl will ever like you that way."
Tsunade reached out and ruffled Yueshu's hair.
There was nothing Yueshu could do. He was living under this woman's roof, after all. All he could do was sigh helplessly as Tsunade messed up his hair.
Just as Tsunade finished speaking, Kushina came over with Mikoto.
"You're something else. When did you get so strong? Minato's the same way. He's nothing but a sissy."
Kushina said this with a rueful sigh. After witnessing today's duel, she'd realized just how far behind Minato and Yueshu she was.
Konoha's two geniuses hadn't been exaggerating. She'd never really seen the full extent of Yueshu and Minato's abilities before, but when they both showed their strength today, they'd truly stunned everyone.
Honestly, being left so far behind made Kushina very unhappy. It also made her feel uneasy.
"Congratulations, Yueshu."
Compared to Kushina's relationship with Yueshu, Mikoto was just a friend of a friend, so she addressed him rather formally.
"You can just call me Yueshu."
Yueshu didn't care for formalities. They were such a hassle. This was much better.
"Oh? I think your name was Kushina. And judging by the other girl's attire, she must be from the Uchiha Clan."
Tsunade stopped ruffling Yueshu's hair and turned her gaze to Kushina and Mikoto.
"Hello, I'm Kushina Uzumaki. I'm sorry for the trouble I caused you before."
"Hello, I'm Mikoto Uchiha. It's a pleasure to meet you, Lady Tsunade."
The two girls introduced themselves, a little nervous around Tsunade. Unlike Kushina, Mikoto knew who the beautiful woman before them was.
"Don't worry, don't be so nervous. You're both lovely young ladies, after all. You'd better watch out for my Yueshu. He might make a move on you."
"Hey, what are you saying?"
Tsunade was being improper again. Yueshu stood beside her, looking exasperated.
Ever since Tsunade had taken him in for no apparent reason, her personality had gradually started to stray from how it was in the original story. She never seemed to do any missions anymore, spending all day lazing around at home and occasionally teasing Yueshu.
Seeing the girls' cheeks turn a little red, Yueshu sighed helplessly. Tsunade was saying weird things again.
It wasn't as if he were some insatiable pervert. Why would he make a move on them? Besides, they were just two little girls who hadn't even grown up yet. Making a move on them would land him at least three years in prison.
"Hahahaha."
Apparently pleased with herself, Tsunade laughed a few times.
"Let's go home. I'm hungry."
Yueshu ignored her and walked off.
"See you tomorrow, Kushina, Mikoto."
Yueshu called out to them and headed straight off. He'd just finished a fight, and his stomach was really starting to growl. Since there were no more classes, he might as well go home and eat.
"I wonder if Shizune's made dinner yet."
Yueshu muttered to himself.
"Sorry, that's just how she is. Please keep looking after her in the future."
Tsunade watched Yueshu walk away without a backward glance and sighed helplessly. She'd been hoping to help him get closer to Kushina and Mikoto. Joking around was a great way to bring people closer.
After all, a joke could always end up coming true.
"Yeah, that's not the first time she's done that."
Kushina nodded. Yueshu often acted so laid-back around people, and after knowing him for over a year, she'd gotten used to it.
Mikoto, who hadn't known Yueshu for long, didn't know what to say, so she could only nod along.
Tsunade smiled.
"Well, I'll be off."
Tsunade waved and ran after Yueshu with a girl-like gait, despite being much taller than him.
"Why are you walking so fast?"
"I told you, I'm hungry."
"Tch, your classmates are still here."
"I already said goodbye, didn't I? Filling my stomach is the most important thing."
Yueshu and Tsunade traded remarks as they headed home. Behind them, Kushina and Mikoto watched them for a few moments.
"Are you really not interested? Those two girls are both quite pretty. They'll definitely grow into beauties."
After walking for a while, Tsunade suddenly spoke.
"Since when did you care about that sort of thing? That's a surprise."
Yueshu shot Tsunade a sidelong glance.
"Well, I was just keeping an eye out for you. You should thank me."
"All right, you're right about everything."
Yueshu shrugged.
"You're so young, yet you're already thinking about romance and dating. That's not good."
"And an adult who can't do anything around the house, and only knows how to lie around and drink tea, isn't very popular either. Especially when she's encouraging little kids to date."
"Tch, I'm very popular."
"Only because they don't know what you're really like."
"Hm?"
Yueshu felt a hand grab his head and immediately changed his tune.
"I'm sorry. I was wrong."
"You really don't hesitate at all, do you? I thought you'd stand your ground."
"Why would I do that? It wouldn't do me any good."
"Tch, you're not manly at all."
Tsunade let go of Yueshu's head, and they continued walking side by side.
"Of course I'm not a man. Have you ever seen an eight-year-old man?"
"Manliness has nothing to do with age."
Tsunade glanced at Yueshu, who barely reached above her waist.
"Manliness is a state of mind. But you're just a little brat, so you wouldn't understand."
"Tch."
"Hahaha. You'll become a real man someday, just like you were that time before."
Tsunade spoke softly.
Yueshu glanced at her, then looked away.
Konoha was as peaceful as ever today. It was a fleeting peace that had cost tens of thousands of lives.
Tsunade and Yueshu walked beneath the sunlight, one tall and one small, their steps in sync as they headed home.
The sunlight over Konoha was just right: gentle and soft, falling across them and casting a long shadow beside a short one.
The two shadows walked on and on, their steps gradually falling into the same rhythm.
The streets were just as noisy as ever.
The duel was over, and Yueshu's daily life had returned to normal, as peaceful and uneventful as before.
This was fine.
At that moment, that was what Yueshu thought.
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