Tsunade's Reaction

"Eiji, don't bother with that sissy! Let's go!"

Kushina hadn't forgotten that Minato had laughed at her too. She wasn't about to let Eiji hang out with him!

Sorry, but Eiji's my friend now! Go find somewhere else to be!

She grabbed Eiji's hand and tugged him toward the door.

"Sorry, Minato. I don't think I can today."

Eiji looked back at Minato apologetically.

He wasn't just apologizing for abandoning their plans. He was also apologizing for stealing Minato's future wife.

Kushina and Eiji chatted all the way from Konoha Academy to the street, trading remarks back and forth.

Kushina deliberately slowed down, and Eiji matched her pace.

Kushina had a way of lifting people's spirits. She discovered that she and Eiji had plenty in common, and their conversation flowed easily.

But their routes home eventually diverged. When it was time to part, Kushina held on to Eiji's hand, reluctant to let go.

"See you tomorrow, then!"

"Yeah. See you tomorrow."

After parting from Eiji, Kushina headed toward the Senju Ancestral Home with a spring in her step.

In the courtyard, she spotted Nawaki practicing his Shuriken throws. She waved hello and walked past him.

Nawaki found it strange. Hadn't she been reluctant to go to school that very morning?

"I'm home!"

Kushina pushed open the door to the Ancestral Home and hurried inside.

She dropped her little schoolbag on the floor, plopped into a chair, and swung her legs cheerfully.

"Well, look who's happy. Did you find money on your way home?"

Tsunade was sprawled lazily on the sofa with a bag of barbecue-flavored potato chips, popping one into her mouth now and then.

Mito Uzumaki watched her, shaking her head in disapproval.

When Tsunade saw Kushina, she sat up and looked her over.

Kushina was nothing like the reluctant girl who had left that morning. Now she looked as though she'd just eaten the most delicious candy.

"You made a good friend, didn't you, Kushina?"

Mito Uzumaki smiled warmly at Kushina, making Tsunade purse her lips.

I'm her actual granddaughter.

"Yeah! He's a really great guy. He even helped me fight when my classmates made fun of me!"

"Oh? Someone made fun of you? Want me to teach them a lesson?"

Nawaki came inside and grinned when he heard her.

"No need! Those guys were no match for Eiji and me! Eiji punched one of them straight into the wall so hard they couldn't get him out!"

"Uh... they couldn't get him out?"

Nawaki's eye twitched. He glanced instinctively at Tsunade.

Beating up classmates at her age? Isn't he just like my big sister?

"Hm? Was it an early form of the Monster Strength Fist? Has your friend already learned precise Chakra control at his age?"

Tsunade grew interested. She hadn't expected this Eiji Kushina mentioned to be a little prodigy.

"Can you tell us exactly what happened, Kushina?"

Mito Uzumaki spoke calmly. Kushina would eventually succeed her as the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, so Mito needed to know the people around her.

"Sure! His name's Ryuuzaki Eiji!"

Kushina recounted everything that had happened in class that day.

At first, when Tsunade heard how Eiji and Kushina had fought their way through the crowd, she smiled in approval. He takes after me!

But when Kushina described Eiji's eyes turning brilliant blue and the flying chair stopping in midair, Tsunade's expression turned grave.

"Hey, sis! Could those eyes be...?"

As Tsunade's younger brother, Nawaki had seen his share of extraordinary things. He knew all about Dojutsu Kekkei Genkai, but how had an entirely new Dojutsu Kekkei Genkai suddenly appeared?

"Grandma, that doesn't sound like an ordinary Ninjutsu!"

Tsunade grew serious. Whether or not he had awakened a Dojutsu Kekkei Genkai, that technique sounded an awful lot like Space-Time Ninjutsu. If he had developed Space-Time Ninjutsu at his age, just how much of a prodigy was he?

"Kushina, did you see it clearly? Ryuuzaki Eiji used a technique that stopped the chair in midair?"

"Uh, I'm not totally sure, but I did see Eiji stop the chair that jerk threw... Is something wrong? Eiji only did it to help me!"

Afraid Eiji was in trouble, Kushina tried to defend him.

"The reason for the fight doesn't matter anymore. What matters is—"

"Kushina, when you have time, invite Ryuuzaki Eiji over. Grandma would like to meet your good friend."

Mito Uzumaki cut Tsunade off. Kushina thought nothing of it and nodded.

Then she took the jar of Honey Candy Eiji had given her out of her little bag.

"Eiji gave me this!"

"Oh? Candy? It looks pretty good."

Nawaki leaned over to take a look.

"Heh, that kid's pretty interesting. He even thought to bring you a gift."

Tsunade helped herself to the jar, tipped out a piece, and popped it into her mouth.

Before long, her expression changed. She stared at the jar in surprise.

"This is really good. Which shop did he buy it from?"

Tsunade wanted to buy more once she knew where it came from.

"I want some too!"

Nawaki tried a piece and reacted just as Tsunade had.

"Hehe, no shop sells it. Eiji said he got the honey from a beehive and made it himself."

Kushina puffed out her chest proudly, as if to say, Isn't Eiji amazing?

"That's impressive. The kid's not bad."

Tsunade raised an eyebrow.

He was strong, might have developed Space-Time Ninjutsu on his own, and was good with his hands too.

"Do you know a boy named Minato Namikaze? Spiky blond hair. You can't miss him."

"Ugh, that annoying sissy!"

At Tsunade's question, Kushina immediately pictured the blond idiot who did nothing but scratch his head and smile foolishly.

She curled her lip. He'd laughed at her and interrupted her while she was making friends with Eiji!

"Uh, heh..."

Tsunade's mouth twitched. She looked at Mito Uzumaki, who said nothing, though understanding dawned on her face.

Tsunade knew a little about Kushina's situation. The Third Hokage had placed her in that class hoping she would get to know Minato Namikaze and, through him, find her place in the village.