When in Doubt, Throw a Punch First?

After polishing off enough food for three people, Tsunade collapsed onto the sofa with a satisfied groan.

Jingyi seriously suspected that this woman had deliberately skipped meals just to mooch off them and then gorge herself.

Good thing Kushina had been buying plenty of groceries lately. Otherwise, Tsunade's food expenses alone would have been a huge sum.

And this woman could never keep her hands off gambling, leaving her pockets emptier than her face.

Asking her to pay for her meals was nothing but wishful thinking.

It would already be a blessing if she did not turn around and ask to borrow gambling money from you.

Come to think of it, he had not seen the little rich girl for two days. What was she doing?

Speak of the devil, and the devil appeared.

Just after finishing the housework, Jingyi saw the little rich girl he had just been talking about arrive.

Kushina did not seem to be in a very good mood today. She looked listless, with worry written between her brows.

"Jingyi, Sister Tsunade."

Even Kushina's greeting was weak and lifeless.

"What's wrong? Who bullied you? Tell your big sister, and I'll beat them up for you!"

Seeing Kushina like this, Tsunade sprang off the sofa, wrapped her in an embrace, and comforted her. "Did that brat Nawaki make you mad again? Don't be afraid. I'll beat him up for you. I guarantee he won't dare come near you for the next ten days or half a month."

Although Nawaki liked Kushina as a little sister, boys of seven or eight were at that age when everyone found them obnoxious.

To put it bluntly, even a passing dog would get kicked.

After Kushina came to Konoha, Nawaki had made her cry more than once.

"Really?" Kushina looked up at Tsunade hopefully.

"Of course. I'm your Sister Tsunade! Whoever dares bully you, I'll make them pay."

"It's Grandma Mito."

"..."

Are you kidding me?

Tsunade instantly lost all her momentum. She decisively let go of Kushina and flopped back onto the sofa like a salted fish. With her back to Kushina, she waved her hand.

"You should find someone else. I don't dare help you. Your Grandma Mito will bully me too. Your Sister Tsunade doesn't have the ability to stand up for you."

If it were anyone else, Tsunade could still charge in without a second thought. But the one bullying Kushina was Mito Uzumaki...

Better give up on that idea now, or even I, Tsunade, won't get away unscathed.

Sister Tsunade, you went back on your word.

Kushina stared pitifully at Tsunade's back. Tsunade simply pretended to be asleep. I didn't see anything, and I didn't hear anything.

The amusing way the two sisters interacted successfully made Jingyi laugh.

Jingyi smiled, rubbed Kushina's head, and asked, "Kushina, how did Lady Mito bully you? Did she spank you because you were naughty?"

"How could that be!"

As soon as he said that, Kushina shook her head vigorously. "I'm very well-behaved. I wouldn't be naughty and make Grandma Mito angry, so Grandma Mito wouldn't spank me."

After saying that,

Kushina frowned with her little brows and sighed.

"Jingyi, Grandma Mito wants me to go to the Ninja Academy tomorrow, but I don't want to go to school."

"That won't do. You have to attend the Ninja Academy. You must."

Tsunade immediately rolled over and sat up, speaking seriously to Kushina. "Kushina, you need to understand Grandma's intentions, okay? At the Ninja Academy, you can learn lots of new things and meet lots of new friends and classmates."

Going to the Ninja Academy, learning new things, meeting more people, gaining classmates, and perhaps future companions and friends.

That would help Kushina integrate into Konoha more smoothly.

After all, Mito Uzumaki would not be able to hold on for many more years. If Kushina did not have Konoha in her heart, it could bring great trouble in the future.

"But what if the new classmates don't welcome me?" Kushina's little face crumpled.

"This..."

Tsunade scratched her head in frustration. She began trying to remember how she had gotten along with her classmates back then.

It seemed like it had been her fists?

Right. On her first day of school, she had beaten the annoying Jiraiya until he cried.

Then she had gone home and been scolded by Grandma.

Using fists to meet new classmates?

Kushina certainly had the strength for it, but would that really help her fit in smoothly?

No, no. Kushina could not be too violent.

Tsunade vigorously shook her head, tossing those messy thoughts out of her mind.

Aren't you great at talking, kid? It's your turn. Besides, you're Kushina's only friend in the village.

Tsunade signaled Jingyi with her eyes, telling him not to stand there watching the show and to hurry up and help.

"Kushina, your starting point is wrong."

Unable to keep watching the show, Jingyi cleared his throat and corrected Kushina.

"Huh?" The little rich girl froze. "My starting point is wrong?"

"Yeah."

Jingyi snapped his fingers and bent down so that Kushina was looking directly into his eyes. "Think about it. Your first priority in going to the Ninja Academy is to learn. Everything else is secondary."

"Is that so?"

Kushina felt that something about those words was off, but after thinking them over carefully, she found that they made a little sense.

"..."

Tsunade felt that Jingyi was up to no good.

"But what if my classmates don't welcome me, or even want to bully me?" Kushina asked timidly.

Having only recently arrived in Konoha, her activities were limited to the Senju ancestral residence, the market, and Jingyi's house. She only knew a handful of people. The thought of going to an unfamiliar school and meeting unfamiliar people frightened her.

Jingyi grinned, revealing two rows of white teeth, and placed his large hand on Kushina's little head.

"Remember this, Kushina. Sometimes, fists can solve a lot of problems."

I knew it.

Tsunade slapped her forehead speechlessly.

Kushina's big eyes sparkled. "Can I really do that?"

"Of course. If anyone deliberately provokes you or makes fun of you, beat them up. If anyone dares give you an insulting nickname, don't hesitate. Beat them hard—beat them half to death."

"If the teacher or their parents come looking for you, just tell them your sister is Tsunade! Tell them to go argue with Tsunade. And if some blond brat with bad intentions also..."

"Jingyi Hyuga! That's enough!"

Tsunade could not listen anymore.

How the hell could anyone teach a child like that?

When in doubt, throw a punch first?

Beat them hard, beat them half to death, then bring out your powerful backer afterward. What could they do to you?

What kind of nonsense was this?

"Cough, cough!!"

Tsunade was furious, so Jingyi reined himself in a little. He leaned close to Kushina's ear and whispered, "Back then, Tsunade met new classmates the same way..."

Dodge!

Tsunade threw a flying kick, but Jingyi had been prepared and immediately slipped away.

He left behind an enraged Tsunade and a wide-eyed Kushina. The little rich girl felt as though she had understood something.

Could fists solve every problem?

Kushina had nearly been led astray before Tsunade angrily took her away.

Standing at the doorway, Jingyi winked at Kushina and made a punching gesture. Kushina nodded with a giggle.

Hopefully, no little brats would come looking for trouble tomorrow.