Night Talk

Uchiha Xiao stood in the courtyard, looking up at the moon in the sky. As the moonlight cascaded down upon him, he found himself momentarily lost in thought.

"The people of today do not see the moon of old, yet this moon once shone upon the ancients." The ancient poem that slipped from his lips only added to his melancholic air.

Tsunade's hearing was exceptional. The moment she heard the verse, she found it stunning, and when she looked at Uchiha Xiao bathed in moonlight, she suddenly felt her face flush.

"Xiao-kun, you have quite the literary talent. 'The people of today do not see the moon of old, yet this moon once shone upon the ancients'—with lines like these, I wonder how many young ladies would be captivated by you," Tsunade said with a smile.

Uchiha Xiao turned his head to look at Tsunade. She was wearing a loose kimono, her jade-white arms flawless as she stood beside him, both of them gazing at the bright moon in the sky.

"Lady Tsunade, you flatter me." Uchiha Xiao bowed with a smile. Logically, he was a genin while she was a jonin; although they were classmates, in terms of rank, Tsunade was still his superior.

Tsunade shook her head. "Xiao-kun, just call me Tsunade. There's no need for such formality. Beyond our professional relationship, we are also classmates."

Hearing this, Uchiha Xiao looked up. This time, it was Tsunade who was looking up at the moon, and he took the opportunity to observe her features at close range.

A heart-shaped face, a high ponytail, large, sparkling eyes, a budding bust, and slender legs—the smile playing on the corners of her lips could not be hidden. At this moment, the beauty had eyes only for the moon, which seemed to transform into colored contacts, reflecting in the depths of her gaze.

Suddenly, Tsunade realized something. She looked down at the man who was a head taller than her and laughed, "Xiao-kun, congratulations! After eighteen years, you've finally awakened your eyes!"

The young girl's smile was clear and pure. Unlike others, there was not a hint of mockery or sarcasm in it; it was a sincere, simple blessing and congratulation.

The corners of Uchiha Xiao's mouth lifted, and he smiled slightly. "You are the first person who has truly wished me well."

"Hm? Back at the clan compound, did no one care for you or look after you?" Tsunade suddenly paused, turning to look at Uchiha Xiao.

Uchiha Xiao replied with a faint smile, "There were some, once, but for various reasons, they are gone..."

Uchiha Xiao was speaking of his parents and friends. When his parents were alive, he had been the apple of their eye, but his father had died on the battlefield during the First War, and his mother had succumbed to illness the following year.

As for his friends, he had once had a few, but under the instigation of certain clansmen, they had gradually distanced themselves from him. Just like that, he had become a marginalized figure within the Uchiha clan.

Watching Uchiha Xiao, who could still smile despite everything, Tsunade suddenly felt that he was very mature—at least compared to others his age.

As for the reasons behind it, she knew it would be tactless to pry further. Tsunade shook her head and smiled slightly. "Well, Xiao-kun, get some rest early. We set out tomorrow; if you don't rest, you won't be able to get up."

With that, Tsunade pointed toward the guest rooms, stretched, and returned to her own bedroom.

Uchiha Xiao smiled and walked toward the area Tsunade had indicated. It was already midnight, and the village was silent; apart from the patrols, there was no one else on the streets.

With war looming, going out at night was prohibited. If caught, one might be suspected of being a spy or up to no good.

Thus, Uchiha Xiao had no choice but to stay at the Senju Clan Compound. Entering the guest room, he saw it had been cleaned until it was spotless, and he figured Lady Mito must have had it prepared.

He couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude toward Lady Mito. If he remembered correctly, the Land of Whirlpools would be invaded by the four great nations next year in a struggle for the Uzumaki bloodline.

No matter what, he had to find a way to prevent that from happening! His gaze was as firm as a rock. He lay down on the bed, pulled up the quilt, and drifted off to sleep.

At that moment, Uzumaki Mito opened her eyes, rose, and knocked on the door of Tsunade's room. Knock, knock, knock.

"Who is it?" Tsunade had just taken off her clothes, her snow-white legs exposed. This was her home, and this room was her own, so naturally, there was nothing she couldn't take off.

Senju Nawaki had been called home by Orochimaru to be briefed on wartime precautions and receive some private tutoring, so he was not home today.

As for Uchiha Xiao? After their conversation, Tsunade was certain he was a person of good character who wouldn't engage in petty theft or peeping, but she still had to ask who it was just in case.

"It's me." Uzumaki Mito's voice drifted in. Tsunade's spirits lifted instantly; she loved and respected this grandmother of hers. After her grandfather passed away, it was Mito who had raised her and Nawaki.

Therefore, Tsunade naturally held her grandmother in high regard.

Creeak~ The door opened.

"Grandmother." Before she was even seen, her voice was heard. Tsunade's voice rang out, and Uzumaki Mito's face immediately filled with a smile; her granddaughter's voice was always pleasant to hear.

However, after the door opened and she saw Tsunade standing there completely unclothed, her face fell. She frowned and said in a low voice, "How many times have I told you? A young lady should sleep in her clothes, but you just won't listen!"

"It would be one thing on an ordinary day, but we have a guest in the house, and you're still so careless! What if someone saw you?" Uzumaki Mito scolded.

Tsunade shrank her neck. She knew her grandmother was angry, and her brain—which she didn't use often—began to scramble for a way to appease her, but she couldn't think of anything.

This scene actually made Mito laugh. "Alright, stop thinking. Your mouth is just as clumsy as your grandfather's!"

Tsunade could only scratch her head and offer an awkward, apologetic smile. There was no helping it; her grandmother was the head of the household, and besides, she wasn't wrong. Tsunade couldn't argue.

"Grandmother, sit!" Tsunade pointed to the tatami, then put on a silk robe and obediently knelt on the other side to wait for her grandmother's lecture. As she knelt, her movements were full of charm, and her bust swayed, making Uzumaki Mito shake her head.

Mito didn't dwell on it. She knelt opposite Tsunade with an elegant posture and graceful movements, displaying the poise of a noblewoman, which made the contrast with Tsunade even more apparent.

"Monkey called you in for a meeting. What did he say?" Uzumaki Mito spoke first, her gaze fixed on Tsunade. Tsunade looked up at her, her expression calm.

"Grandmother, the teacher said that he wants Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and me to each lead a thousand troops to the Land of Rain to wipe out their army. And if necessary..." Tsunade hesitated.

"Speak," Uzumaki Mito said calmly.

Tsunade sighed. "If necessary, we are to intercept Salamander Hanzo to buy time for the rest of the troops to engage in the main battle."

Uzumaki Mito's eyes narrowed, and she remained silent for a long time.