Big Brother Leaf Dragon had seemed like this not too long ago.
Dan Katō swallowed, feeling every hair on his body stand on end.
This oppressive feeling is so familiar. The last time I talked back to Big Brother Leaf Dragon, he had the same tone and expression, but he reined it in so quickly that none of us noticed.
So, cold, controlling, imposing, and sharp-edged...
Is this what Big Brother Leaf Dragon is really like without his disguise?
Thinking about it now, the gentle face he usually shows everyone really is like Teacher Yilong's.
Teacher Hiruzen was right. Big Brother Leaf Dragon really is imitating Teacher Yilong's words and actions.
The expressionless face of Big Brother Leaf Dragon before him overlapped with Teacher Yilong's, then separated again into two utterly different faces.
"B-Big Brother Leaf Dragon..."
He meekly surrendered, obediently pressing the vulnerable part of his neck into Watanabe Ichiro's palm to show that he meant no harm, then looked up at him pitifully.
Tsunade, meanwhile, pressed both palms against Watanabe Ichiro's wrist bones. An unmistakable edge crept into her eyes as she readied herself to fight back at any moment.
Beneath Watanabe Ichiro's fingertips, Tsunade's pulse grew faster and faster. She seemed to be gathering her strength. Dan Katō's, on the other hand, had slowed almost to normal. Apparently, he was betting that Watanabe Ichiro would not actually hurt him.
Two strikingly different, interesting reactions.
Watanabe Ichiro stopped teasing them, released his grip, and returned to normal.
His expression shifted back with seamless ease, as though everything that had just happened had been a momentary glitch in the workings of the world.
Had the lingering sensation of pressure not remained on their necks, the two might truly have believed none of it had happened.
"Ah, that's exactly it."