Yet Fang Xu merely nodded.
"Oh."
Tsunade waited for ages, but nothing followed.
Her brow twitched.
"Oh?"
Fang Xu remained calm.
"Mm, oh."
The smile vanished from Tsunade's face on the spot.
She reached out, pinched Fang Xu's cheek, and tugged it outward.
"Brat, what kind of reaction is that?"
Fang Xu's face was pulled somewhat out of shape, but his voice remained fairly steady.
"Lady Tsunade, you never intended to take on a student, did you?"
Tsunade's fingers paused.
Fang Xu continued, "If you really wanted to, you wouldn't have sneaked my snacks the moment you came in, or talked in circles for so long."
"Besides, I've already become Teacher Sakumo's student to study swordsmanship. If you were to take me on, it would most likely be the Third Hokage's idea, not your own."
Tsunade narrowed her eyes.
"What makes you so sure?"
Fang Xu said, "Ever since I found the Thousand Hands Swordsmanship Insights at home, I've suspected my family had ties to the Senju."
Tsunade released his cheek.
Fang Xu rubbed his cheek and continued, "Later, I went to the library and looked through some public records. Many branches of the Senju integrated into Konoha and stopped using the Senju surname."
"The things my parents left behind included the Thousand Hands Swordsmanship Insights. That means my ancestors were most likely from a side branch of the Senju."
Tsunade regarded him more seriously.
"You already knew you were a Senju descendant?"
"It was just a deduction."
Fang Xu said, "But I'm fairly sure."
Tsunade asked, "What else did you look into?"
Fang Xu thought for a moment and answered honestly, "The First Hokage, the Second Hokage, and some records about the Senju."
He paused, then added something else.
"Of course, I looked into you, too."
Tsunade raised a brow.
"Me?"
"Mm."
Fang Xu sounded very sincere.
"There wasn't much information, but I could tell you'd never taken a student before and didn't much like trouble."
Tsunade stared at him.
Fang Xu's expression remained unchanged.
"To put it bluntly, you're rather laid-back."
Tsunade's temple twitched.
"Brat, you're calling me laid-back to my face?"
Fang Xu immediately said, "That's the impression the records and rumors gave me. It doesn't represent my personal position."
Tsunade nearly laughed in exasperation.
This brat's words were as slippery as an eel.
He backed down when he should, but didn't give an inch when it was time to push back.
She really hadn't been interested in taking on a student, but seeing how clearheaded Fang Xu was, she now understood why the old man had his eye on him.
Six years old.
A Senju descendant.
Able to fight Kakashi to a draw.
And not some stupid brat who got fired up after a little sweet talk.
Tsunade dropped her teasing expression and said plainly, "You guessed right. I don't intend to take a student."
Fang Xu nodded.
"I could tell."
"But I won't turn a blind eye to a descendant of the Senju, either."
Tsunade took two scrolls from inside her clothes and placed them on the table.
Fang Xu's gaze immediately fell on them.
A few words were written on the outside of the first scroll.
Shadow Clone Technique.
On the second scroll were the words-
Water Release: Water Wave Technique.
Fang Xu's breathing noticeably caught.
Tsunade caught his reaction, and only then did the corners of her mouth ease a little.
"I was starting to think you didn't care about anything."
Fang Xu made no pretense.
"These two scrolls will be very useful to me."
"Good that you know."
Tsunade pointed at the Shadow Clone scroll.
"The Shadow Clone Technique isn't an ordinary Clone Technique. The clones are physical, and they take a share of your chakra. Once they're dispelled, their memories and fatigue return to the original body."
"You're smart, and you're willing to train. This technique really does suit you."
"But don't misuse it."
Her tone grew sterner.
"Your chakra reserves aren't enormous right now. Making too many shadow clones isn't training. It's getting yourself killed."
Fang Xu nodded seriously.
"I understand."
Tsunade tapped the other scroll.
"Water Release: Water Wave Technique is good for building your foundation in water nature."
"You have water nature. It would be a waste not to train it."
"Consider these two scrolls a meeting gift."
Fang Xu looked at the scrolls on the table, warmth stirring in his heart.
The Shadow Clone Technique.
This was something he had wanted all along.
With it, his learning speed could take another huge leap.
Water Release: Water Wave Technique was very practical, too.
Although his lightning nature was the strongest, he also possessed water and earth natures.
If he wanted steady progress in the future, he couldn't rely solely on the Rumble-Rumble Fruit and Lightning Release.
Tsunade looked at him, her voice less casual than before.
"Fang Xu, the Shinobi World isn't peaceful."
"Since you have talent and you're a descendant of the Senju, don't waste it."
"Work hard to become stronger."
"And do your best to stay alive."
Fang Xu looked up at her.
At that moment, he could feel that Tsunade wasn't merely saying what sounded nice.
She truly wanted him to live.
Fang Xu stood and bowed solemnly.
"Thank you, Lady Tsunade."
Tsunade waved a hand, rose, and headed toward the door.
When she reached it, she stopped again.
"If you ever run into trouble you can't handle, you can come find me at the Senju Residence."
She thought for a moment, then added something else.
"Or at the Ninja Hospital."
"But don't come for no reason. I don't like being bothered over little things."
Fang Xu accompanied her to the door.
"I'll remember. Thank you for tonight, Lady Tsunade."
Tsunade looked back at him.
"Call me something else."
Fang Xu froze.
"What?"
Tsunade folded her arms.
"Aren't you a Senju descendant? Doesn't calling me Lady Tsunade over and over feel distant?"
Fang Xu immediately caught on.
"Big Sis Tsunade."
Only then did Tsunade nod in satisfaction.
"That's more like it."
She was just about to leave when her gaze lingered on Fang Xu's face.
Light spilled out from the room, falling across his short hair and features.
For an instant, Tsunade froze.
Fang Xu's face was certainly not Tobirama Senju's.
But his short hair, the cool lines of his brows and eyes, and the contours of his nose and jaw all reminded her of the second grandfather in her memories.
Especially when he stood quietly.
So alike.
Tsunade fell silent for half a second, then quickly recovered and waved.
"Go back inside."
With that, she turned and left.
Fang Xu stood at the door, watching Tsunade's figure disappear into the night, feeling a little more grateful.
Tsunade had said she wouldn't take a student, but there was nothing perfunctory about what she'd given him.
The Shadow Clone Technique.
Water Release: Water Wave Technique.
And those words telling him he could seek her out if he ran into trouble.
He would definitely repay this kindness someday.
Fang Xu closed the door and returned to the table.
In front of Tsunade, he had still been able to keep his composure.
Now that he was alone in the house, he could no longer suppress his smile.
He picked up the Shadow Clone Technique scroll, growing more excited the longer he looked at it.
"Now this is a real training accelerator."
The greatest value of shadow clones wasn't merely combat, but learning.
Once a clone was dispelled, its experience and memories returned to the original body.
That meant he could have shadow clones help read scrolls, practice the basics, and organize his thoughts.
Swordsmanship, ninjutsu, chakra control, and even improvements to Lightning Mode could all progress faster with shadow clones.
Of course, that depended on whether his chakra could hold out.