On the large bed in the master bedroom, Tsunade was gently laid down.
Her entire body sank into the soft bedding, her eyes half-closed, the blush on her cheeks spreading all the way down her slender neck.
She was completely defenseless.
Naruto sat on the edge of the bed, his gaze falling on her gently rising and falling chest as his Adam's apple bobbed.
It was as if two little people were fighting in his mind.
The one driven by desire clamored wildly, while the rational one kept dousing him with cold water, repeating the same sentence over and over—she was the First Hokage's granddaughter.
Besides, he had already promised to pursue her properly.
If he truly took advantage of her, even he would despise himself.
Naruto shifted to the other side of the bed and lay down with his back to Tsunade.
The moment his back touched the sheets, a pair of arms wrapped around him from behind.
In her sleep, Tsunade buried her face against the back of his neck, her arms locked tightly around him like a drowning person clinging to the only piece of driftwood.
"Nawaki..."
A muffled murmur came from behind him, thick with a nasal tone.
Naruto's body stiffened, but he did not turn around.
After several seconds of silence, he reached out and covered the arm around his waist, gently patting it.
"I'll protect you."
His voice was soft, as though he were speaking to a little girl who had yet to grow up.
The chest pressed against his back began to tremble faintly.
Warm liquid quickly soaked through the fabric on his back.
Tsunade did not wake up, yet her tears kept spilling out. She had mistaken him for the younger brother who had never returned.
She cried quietly. Only her tears