Tsunade the Teacher Gave Lessons and Benefits

"Here."

Tsunade skillfully counted the bills, pulled out two from a handful of loose change, and handed them to Chishima Chiba.

Without counting them, Chishima Chiba stuffed them straight into his pocket.

Tsunade was excited right now, her smile almost distorted as she counted the bills in her hand over and over.

Seeing Tsunade like this, Chishima Chiba felt too embarrassed to bring up practicing Gambling Techniques. Tsunade seemed to have forgotten as well, doing nothing but repeatedly counting her money.

Neither of them spoke as they walked side by side to the outskirts of Konoha and slipped into the woods.

Having reached such a secluded place, Chishima Chiba stopped pretending and got straight to the point.

"Tsunade, I want... I want you to teach me how to refine Chakra."

"Do you even need to learn that?" Tsunade paused her counting and looked up in confusion. "Isn't it something you learn after trying it once?"

Chishima Chiba stood there awkwardly and hurriedly added, "But Teacher Masahiro said that if you aren't fully prepared the first time you refine Chakra, it can be dangerous."

"Then did you prepare?" Tsunade asked as if it were only natural.

"...I did, but I'm still a little worried." Chishima Chiba remained very cautious. After all, this was truly his first time dealing with something like Chakra.

"What's there to worry about? Just try boldly. If things feel wrong, stop immediately. As long as you don't force yourself, you won't hurt your body."

Tsunade's Little Face was utterly serious. "I was just as nervous as you the first time, but grandfather told me the same thing."

"You succeeded on your first try?"

"Yeah, I succeeded on my first try." Tsunade lifted her little head proudly. "Grandfather even praised my talent!"

But then Tsunade seemed to recall something, and her expression darkened again. "It's just..."

Tsunade did not finish her sentence, but Chishima Chiba knew exactly what knot lay in her heart at this moment.

"You're already amazing. There's no 'but.'" Chishima Chiba comforted her. "Who says women are inferior to men? Tsunade, you did wonderfully."

"Really?!" Tsunade's eyes suddenly lit up, and delight filled her heart, though she was still afraid Chishima Chiba was merely humoring her. "Are you saying nice things again?"

"No, it's the truth." Chishima Chiba pointed at himself. "Guys like me, and the other boys in our class, aren't we all inferior to you? Even among the Ninja Students in our class, there aren't many who can compare to you."

"You sure know how to talk." The gloom in Tsunade's heart vanished, and she was in an even better mood than when she had been counting money.

"Come on, sit down. I'll teach you how to refine Chakra!"

Naturally, a good mood made her enthusiastic. Under Tsunade's direction, Chishima Chiba sat cross-legged and assumed the posture for refining Chakra.

Tsunade also became much more talkative, patiently explaining various key points to Chishima Chiba. This was all based on her own experience, and he listened attentively.

"Then... I'm starting!"

As he spoke, Chishima Chiba closed his eyes. His breathing gradually slowed, his thoughts gradually emptied, and he focused his attention within his body.

Tsunade stopped moving as well. She sat quietly across from Chishima Chiba, her bright brown eyes watching his condition at all times.

Both of them were deeply absorbed, so time naturally passed quickly.

By the time Chishima Chiba opened his eyes, more than an hour had passed.

And the first thing he saw upon opening them was Tsunade's beautiful eyes and her delicate, porcelain-doll-like face.

His heart suddenly skipped a beat, and the temperature in Chishima Chiba's face rose at the same time.

"How was it, Chiba? Did you succeed?" Tsunade blinked and asked expectantly.

"I think I did. I could feel the energy called Chakra flowing through the meridians inside my body." Chishima Chiba let out a breath as he answered.

His slightly hot breath blew onto her face. Tsunade could not help leaning back, yet the warmth that had struck her face lingered there.

At a loss and somewhat flustered, Tsunade hurriedly got to her feet.

Tsunade moved steadily, without any mishaps such as her legs going numb or suddenly pitching forward. Seeing there was no show to watch, the warmth that had just risen in Chishima Chiba's heart vanished completely.

He said seriously, "Tsunade, what do I do after refining Chakra?"

"Of course, you learn how to use Chakra!"

After her brief panic, Tsunade quickly regained her composure. "First, you need to get used to Chakra. The next step is controlling it, making Chakra circulate along the meridians in your body."

"I don't understand anything about meridians..."

"Come on, I'll teach you to recognize the meridians in your body."

It was Tsunade's first time being someone else's teacher. The novelty filled her with motivation, and she naturally taught Chishima Chiba with great dedication.

She grabbed Chishima Chiba's hand, her slender fingers touching the back of his hand and slowly moving along a specific path—from his elbow to his shoulder, chest, and finally his navel.

"This meridian is the Hand Shaoyang Sanjiao Meridian. It's safe for Chakra to travel through this meridian, and you'll need it when using Ninjutsu as well."

Tsunade explained in great detail while guiding him with her hand, but Chishima Chiba was beginning to squirm uneasily.

The places her fingers brushed over felt ticklish, making it impossible for Chishima Chiba to settle down.

Smack.

Tsunade suddenly slapped the back of Chishima Chiba's hand. "Hey, pay attention! This is something I spent a long time learning from grandfather!"

"Yes, Teacher Tsunade."

"Be serious!"

Rolling her beautiful eyes, Tsunade smacked the back of Chishima Chiba's hand again. This time, though, she used very little force, making it more like a caress.

"I'll tell you one more time. The last time!" Tsunade deliberately put on a stern face, but the more she thought about how Chishima Chiba addressed her, the less she could stop herself from laughing. "Haha... can you stop making me laugh..."

"Okay, Teacher Tsunade. I won't make you laugh."

"Ha, hahaha! You're so annoying, Chiba. Are you ever going to stop?!"

Tsunade laughed until she was out of breath, inadvertently revealing a girlish side of herself.

Her laughter abruptly stopped. Tsunade froze, and so did Chishima Chiba.

The atmosphere between them turned awkward for a moment, but Chishima Chiba cleverly changed the subject.

"Tsunade, besides this meridian, are there others?"

"Yes. The human body has twelve meridians. Besides the Hand Shaoyang Sanjiao Meridian, there are also..."

Tsunade immediately got back into the swing of things, taking Chishima Chiba's hand and explaining the body's meridians and the paths Chakra took through the body.

Her explanation was very detailed. Chishima Chiba no longer had any distracting thoughts, listening and learning with complete focus.

And it had to be said: Tsunade's Talent and Tsunade's Physique, which Chishima Chiba had received from opening the treasure chest, were incredibly useful. He learned things related to Ninjutsu very quickly, and putting them into practice was effortless.

In just one afternoon, Chishima Chiba became familiar with the process of refining Chakra and the twelve meridians through which Chakra circulated.

The talent Chishima Chiba displayed also made Tsunade feel a little sour.

"Your talent is almost catching up to mine..." Tsunade pouted, somewhat unconvinced.

It was more than catching up—they were practically identical!

Chishima Chiba secretly felt pleased, but he said, "It's all because Teacher Tsunade taught me so well."

"Hmph."

Tsunade crossed her arms and turned her head away, but as she did, a smile abruptly bloomed in her eyes.

After a little while, Tsunade suddenly remembered something.

She turned back and glared fiercely at Chishima Chiba, placing her straight right leg across his lap and even giving the soft flesh of his thigh a kick.

"I remember you said my feet smelled yesterday. I'm giving you another chance today. Think carefully before you answer!"

Was this Teacher Tsunade's reward?

Chishima Chiba pursed his lips, looked at Tsunade's swinging little foot, then at her fierce expression. Following his heart, he held Tsunade's "smelly foot" and painfully peeled off the Ninja Mesh Stockings wrapped around it.

He examined it carefully twice as if admiring a work of art, one hand gripping her ankle and the other grasping her five mischievous toes.

Such a beautiful foot would be wasted if he did not give it a massage.