Rehanging the Plaque

"Take it slow? Brat, where do you think you're putting that hand?"

Tsunade shot a sidelong glare at the hand resting on her waist, her brows drawing together.

"It's called helping you walk, Elder."

Chiba withdrew his hand, grinning as he stepped over the threshold and entered the main hall first.

"Chiba, it's covered in dust. There's no way anyone can stay here tonight."

Shizune patted the tatami behind him, sending up a cloud of choking dust. She hurriedly covered her nose and mouth with her sleeve.

"Cough, cough. It is a little dusty."

Chiba waved a hand through the air and looked around at the dilapidated roof.

"You already got the money. Why go back to that place?"

Tsunade found a relatively clean wooden chest to sit on and brushed away the dust on top.

"We'll make do here tonight. Starting tomorrow, we'll renovate the place."

"Fine, I'll listen to the clan head."

Chiba pressed his palms together as chakra surged through his body.

"Wood Release: Wood Bed Technique."

Several thick vines burst from cracks in the floor, weaving together in midair. In the blink of an eye, they formed two sturdy wooden beds on either side of the hall.

"You're getting more and more skilled with that Wood Release of yours."

Tsunade curled her lip as she looked at the two beds, which carried the scent of fresh timber.

"A handy trick for daily life. No reason not to use it."

Chiba lay down on one of the beds, folding his hands behind his head.

"Shizune, you sleep on that one with Auntie tonight. I'll take this one."

"Okay, Chiba."

Shizune lay down holding Tonton and closed her eyes, exhausted.

As the night deepened, the only sound in the desolate ancestral estate was the rustling wind through the treetops.

The next morning.

Sunlight streamed through the broken window and fell across Chiba's face.

Chiba rolled out of bed, walked to the center of the courtyard, and stretched his limbs.

"Time to get to work."

He took a deep breath and suddenly pressed his palms together.

"Hey, keep it down. Don't shake down the neighbor's wall."

Tsunade came out carrying a teacup, leaning against a wooden pillar in the corridor as she watched the boy in the courtyard.

"Don't worry. You know how good my control is, don't you?"

Chiba grinned as chakra surged out of him like a tide.

"Wood Release: Connected Pillar House Technique!"

The earth began to tremble.

Countless thick timbers burst from the soil. They crossed and joined in midair, swiftly replacing the rotten beams and pillars.

The crumbling roof was covered in newly formed, sturdy wooden planks. Moss and weeds were buried beneath churning earth, while fresh grass rapidly spread across the courtyard.

Reinforced by Wood Release, the walls became tall and solid. Their vermilion lacquer gleamed beneath the sunlight.

In the span of a breath, the desolate ruins had become an enormous new estate brimming with life.

Shizune stood at the entrance to the main hall, her mouth hanging open at the miraculous sight before her.

"Th-this is already finished?"

"What else did you expect? The Senju Clan's Wood Release is no joke."

Chiba dusted off his hands and turned toward Tsunade.

"You little brat, you really do have some skill."

Tsunade stepped down from the corridor onto the brand-new wooden floor, satisfaction flashing in her eyes.

"Auntie, we're not done yet."

Chiba pointed toward the gate.

"The most important step still remains."

By then, quite a few villagers had gathered outside the gate.

The commotion from Konoha rebuilding the Senju ancestral estate was too great. The shaking ground had drawn half the village over to watch.

"Oh my god, is that Wood Release?"

"The Senju Clan is really going to rise again!"

"That boy is Chiba, right? His Wood Release is incredible."

Voices of discussion rose and fell outside the gate.

Chiba took out a massive gilded plaque from a sealing scroll.

Two powerful, vigorous characters were written upon it.

[Senju]

"Come on, Auntie. Let's hang it together."

Chiba lifted one end of the plaque.

Tsunade looked at the plaque, her expression dazed for a moment. Then she stepped forward and lifted the other end with one hand.

They pushed off with their toes and leaped onto the towering gate beam.

Click.

The plaque settled firmly in the center of the gate beam.

The fading glow of the setting sun fell upon the gilded characters, reflecting a dazzling radiance.

Watching that scene, many of the older villagers outside burst into tears.

"The Senju... have returned!"

"Lady Tsunade has returned!"

Standing atop the gate beam, Chiba looked down at the villagers below and raised his voice.

"From this day onward, the Senju Clan officially returns to Konoha!"

"Yeah!"

"That's wonderful!"

Cheers rang through the sky.

Tsunade looked at the cheering villagers. Her hand tightened, then relaxed, and a smile appeared on her lips.

"Come on, let's head inside. Tonight, we celebrate properly."

Tsunade turned and leaped down.

Night fell.

The Senju main hall.

The brand-new tatami gave off a faint woody fragrance.

The table was laden with the lavish dishes Shizune had prepared, along with more than a dozen flasks of fine sake.

"Cheers!"

The three clinked cups.

After only a few drinks, Shizune could barely hold herself together. Hugging Tonton, she swayed toward the back room.

"Chiba, Lady Tsunade, I'm going to sleep first..."

"Go on, go on."

Chiba waved his hand.

Only Chiba and Tsunade remained in the hall.

Moonlight spilled across the floor through the bright windows.

Tsunade propped her chin up with one hand. Her cheeks were flushed, and her eyes carried a drunken haze.

She was very happy today and had drunk more than usual.

"Kid... you looked pretty handsome today. Way better than that old man."

Tsunade breathed softly, her voice somewhat slurred.

"Only today?"

Chiba raised his cup and moved over to sit beside her.

"I've always been handsome, Auntie."

"Full of yourself..."

Tsunade spat at him, swayed slightly, and naturally leaned against Chiba's shoulder.

A faint scent of alcohol mixed with the warmth of her body drifted over.

Chiba turned his head and could see the glistening red mole at the tip of her ear, as well as her delicate collarbone.

The pale moon-colored kimono collar hung slightly loose, rising and falling gently with her breathing.

Chiba wrapped an arm around her slender, supple waist.

Even through the thin fabric, he could clearly feel the warmth of her skin.

"Let go... brat..."

Though Tsunade said so, she did not struggle with any real force. She merely rubbed her forehead against his shoulder.

"Not letting go."

Chiba lowered his head and looked at her red lips, so close at hand.

"Then, Lady Tsunade, as both creditor and clan head, shouldn't I collect a little overtime interest for today?"

Tsunade opened her drunken eyes and looked into Chiba's, a hint of unease in her gaze.

"Interest... what interest..."

Chiba's fingers slowly traced up along her waistline, finally stopping at the edge of her kimono collar, three inches away from that patch of fair skin.

[System Notification: A major change has been detected in first confidante Tsunade's state of mind. Favorability has increased.]

[Tsunade's current favorability: 90.]

The system's voice rang out in his mind.

Chiba smiled and did not go any further. He merely brushed the mole on her ear with his fingertip.

"For example, accompany me to the hot springs in the back mountain tomorrow."

"What are we going to the hot springs for..."

Tsunade closed her eyes, her voice growing softer and softer.

"I'll build you a private open-air bath, so you can stop complaining every day that this estate doesn't have hot springs."

Chiba whispered into her ear.

"Mmm... whatever..."

Tsunade mumbled, then completely collapsed into Chiba's embrace and fell asleep.

Chiba looked at the woman in his arms, a smile on his lips.

"Tomorrow, we're going to the back mountain hot springs. Don't tell me you can't get up."

"Quit talking... I get up earlier than you..."