If only she had known boys could also...

Seeing Yūto freeze, Tsunade felt considerably happier.

It seemed her charm had not diminished at all; she held boundless appeal for an adolescent boy like Yūto.

Yūto stood rooted to the spot, nearly dropping the medical kit on his feet.

He opened his mouth, but all that emerged was a dry, halting sound. "Tsunade, you..."

Tsunade quickly straightened, casually wiped the corner of her mouth with her fingertips, and cleared her throat with an air of composure. "Just a medical ninja's blessing ritual. Don't overthink it."

She turned her back to Yūto. "Wounded soldiers who survive the battlefield all get this treatment. You just never noticed before."

Yūto touched the lingering warmth on his forehead, feeling that something was off.

I don't think I ever saw anything like this in the original. Could it be that, because Naruto was a hot-blooded manga, it expressed this sort of thing very subtly?

Tsunade was already striding toward the forest path when her voice interrupted Yūto's thoughts. "Keep dawdling and it'll be dawn."

"Huh? Oh!" Yūto jogged after her. Catching sight of her tense profile, he swallowed his questions.

Maybe... medical ninjas really do have some strange professional habits?

As they walked along the forest path, Tsunade's pace was faster than usual, as though she were trying to shake something off.

But no matter how quickly she walked, that strange fluttering lingered in her heart, refusing to go away.

What am I doing... I actually kissed that brat of my own accord!

Tsunade's fingertips unconsciously rose to her lips, where the soft sensation of that brief moment seemed to linger.

She had never imagined she would do something so impulsive. That medical ninja's blessing ritual was nothing but a flimsy excuse she had made up on the spot.

What damned ritual was there on a battlefield?

At most, there was mouth-to-mouth resuscitation!

The image of Kakuzu piercing Yūto's chest surfaced in Tsunade's mind. At that moment, her blood had nearly frozen.

The dizziness of hemophobia had surged over her like a tide, yet the boy's hoarse cry of "Run!" had stabbed into her nerves like a thorn.

-Then, something had shattered.

He was clearly just an Uchiha brat who liked playing clever little tricks...

Tsunade clenched her fists.

She should have been wary of this lecherous brat, yet the sight of Yūto risking his life to protect her had overlapped with her memories of Nawaki and Dan.

Even more absurdly, when he lay in her lap, she had actually thought he was... cute.

It must be because he saved my life!

Yes, this is just repaying him!

An unfamiliar, tight ache filled her chest, and Tsunade abruptly stopped.

A pair of nightingales were nuzzling against each other's necks on a treetop ahead. She sharply turned her face away, only to meet Yūto's puzzled gaze behind her.

"Tsunade?" Yūto tilted his head, holding the medical kit. "Your face is so red. You don't have a fever, do you?"

"Quit your babbling!"

Tsunade strode into the depths of the woods, leaving a bewildered Yūto far behind.

It'll be fine once dawn comes... Once the sun rises, everything will go back to normal.

She thought this in self-deception, completely unaware of her own flushed cheeks.

As the night deepened, the two finally reached a town.

Scattered lights still burned along the streets. Most shops had closed, and only one shabby inn still had a wooden sign hanging outside saying it was open.

"Only one room left?" Tsunade frowned, a trace of impatience in her voice.

The innkeeper shrank back. He did not recognize Tsunade, but he recognized Konoha's ninja flak jacket.

A woman who could have a jonin as her attendant was either extraordinarily powerful, extremely high-ranking, or both.

None of those possibilities was someone a mere innkeeper like him could afford to offend. He could only smile apologetically. "My lady, there have been a lot of merchant caravans lately. Rooms really are scarce."

"Look, this room is fairly spacious, and the bed is large enough..."

Tsunade glanced at Yūto beside her. The boy was holding the medical kit, his eyelids half lowered, clearly struggling to stay awake.

She sighed and tossed over a few banknotes. "Fine. We'll take it."

The room was cleaner than expected, but there was indeed only one bed.

Yūto rubbed his eyes and, without another word, pulled bedding from the closet and spread it on the floor. "Tsunade, you take the bed. I'll sleep on the floor."

Tsunade folded her arms and looked down at him. "A brat is a brat. The floor is so cold. What if your wound opens up again?"

Yūto yawned and mumbled, "It's fine. I'm tough..."

Before he could finish, Tsunade grabbed him by the back of his collar and tossed him onto the bed like a kitten. "Enough nonsense. Lie down!"

Yūto struggled to get up. "B-but!"

"What?" Tsunade raised an eyebrow, deliberately adopting a scornful tone. "Afraid I'll do something to you? What's there to care about in a mere brat?"

Yūto was speechless. In the end, sleepiness won, and he obediently burrowed under the covers.

Before long, his breathing became slow and even.

Tsunade sat at the bedside, studying his sleeping face in the moonlight from the window.

The boy's eyelashes cast delicate shadows on his face, and a little blood remained at the corner of his mouth.

She instinctively reached out, gently brushing the corner of his lips with her fingertip.

What am I doing?!

Tsunade abruptly withdrew her hand, her heart suddenly racing.

She took a deep breath, trying to convince herself.

I'm just checking his injuries... Yes, it's simply a medical ninja's duty.

But the next second, her gaze fell uncontrollably on Yūto's lips again.

He's asleep anyway. He won't know...

The instant that thought surfaced, Tsunade's ears burned.

She clenched the bedsheet, a fierce battle raging within her.

"Just think of it as... a thank-you gift," she murmured, her voice almost inaudible. "A thank-you for saving my life. Just once will be enough..."

As though she had finally found a reason, Tsunade leaned down and carefully pressed her lips to Yūto's forehead.

But this time, the instant she touched his skin, some long-suppressed impulse suddenly burst free.

No... I can't stop here...

Her kisses trailed downward, finally coming to rest on the boy's lips.

Their warm breaths mingled. With her eyes closed, Tsunade deceived herself. This is just practice for mouth-to-mouth resuscitation... Yes, medical ninjas need to master this technique...

Yūto unconsciously murmured in his sleep. Tsunade sprang back as though waking from a dream, nearly tumbling off the bed.

Clutching her wildly pounding chest, she fled awkwardly to the window and pretended to admire the night view.

Only after waiting a long while did Tsunade slowly turn her head to look toward Yūto.

She sighed in relief. Yūto had merely mumbled unconsciously just now; he had not woken up.

Let's leave it at that. I've kissed him now. I should get a good night's rest...

Tsunade lay down at the other end, watching Yūto's sleeping face...

One last time!

Tsunade closed her eyes and kissed him more deeply than before.

Chakra coated her palm, ready at any moment to strike the back of Yūto's neck.

If he catches me, I'll knock him out!