Candy Hidden in His Pocket

"Do my feet still stink?!"

Tsunade's fierce voice came from the woods, yet it inexplicably carried a slight tremble.

Having someone massage her feet felt way too good!

Although Tsunade had kept that thought buried in her heart without showing it, the sly Chishima Chiba had guessed everything from Tsunade's trembling eyes and flushed Little Face.

"Not bad. Keep it up."

Chishima Chiba smiled faintly. "But you specifically washed your feet today, didn't you?"

"How did you know?" Tsunade answered a little too quickly, then regretted it the moment she spoke. For some reason, she felt a little embarrassed.

"No, isn't washing your feet something you're supposed to do every day? There's nothing worth emphasizing about it, right?"

Tsunade tried to salvage things with a cold expression, but inwardly she was panicking. How could she have let that slip?

"It certainly is perfectly normal, but based on what happened yesterday, I have reason to suspect that you don't wash your feet every day."

"Nonsense, I wash my feet every day!" Tsunade kicked at Chishima Chiba, but he had a firm grip and she could not break free.

"That's hard to say." Chishima Chiba's scheme had succeeded. "To make sure you wash your feet every day, I'll see this good deed through and inspect them for you every day."

"You just want to touch my feet..."

Tsunade realized it, but her tone was somewhat weak. In truth, she did not dislike Chishima Chiba massaging her feet.

It felt so good. Who would refuse something like that?

"I'm doing a good deed by making sure you wash your feet every day and preventing them from stinking."

Chishima Chiba answered with such a serious expression that Tsunade almost believed him.

But Tsunade said nothing. She turned her head away and stopped looking at Chishima Chiba. Still, she secretly placed her left leg on his lap as well, continuously wiggling her left foot.

Chishima Chiba chuckled and naturally reached out to remove Tsunade's left wooden sandal, along with the Ninja Mesh Stockings wrapped around her left foot.

He could not massage her feet through the mesh stockings. It had to be said, that was rather regrettable.

Working with both hands, Chishima Chiba was happy. Tsunade also leaned back with an expression of enjoyment, her Bright Brown eyes narrowed.

Who knew what she had thought of, but Tsunade curled her lips into a smile, looking thoroughly delighted.

Chishima Chiba did not ask. The two remained silent, with only the faint sounds of Chishima Chiba massaging her feet and Tsunade's gradually unsteady breathing left behind.

"It's getting dark."

Only when half the setting sun had sunk below the horizon did Tsunade remind him regretfully.

"Yeah, time really flies."

Chishima Chiba sighed as well and lightly patted Tsunade's little foot.

Tsunade cooperatively drew back her legs, sat up straight, and put on her socks and shoes by herself.

"Remember to wash your feet tomorrow. I'll help you inspect them again and see whether they stink."

"Hmph!"

Tsunade raised her head and glared at Chishima Chiba, who had already stood up. After putting on her shoes and socks, she rose as well and followed him out of the woods.

"Take a piece of candy from my pocket."

Once they had left the woods, Chishima Chiba instructed Tsunade.

"Don't you have hands of your own?" Tsunade sounded reluctant, speaking without moving.

"After touching your stinky feet, how am I supposed to unwrap the candy?"

"That's true..." Tsunade nodded, then bristled the next second. "Whose feet did you say stink?!"

"Stop changing the subject. Hurry up and take out a piece of candy. I can't hold it in anymore."

"You're the one changing the subject!"

Tsunade angrily waved her little fist, but she still obediently reached into Chishima Chiba's trouser pocket and rummaged around.

"Huh?"

Along with Tsunade's soft cry, Chishima Chiba abruptly bent forward, his backside jerking far back.

"Hiss... Wrong pocket!"

"Oh."

Tsunade did not understand. She had clearly grabbed a piece of soft candy just then.

After glancing at Chishima Chiba, Tsunade pouted, displeasure in her eyes. She thought he had secretly hidden something good.

Meeting Tsunade's gaze, Chishima Chiba's expression became equally strange. He really wanted to ask whether she was an idiot. Could she not tell the difference by touch?

Fortunately, after switching pockets, Tsunade finally made no mistake. She took out two hard candies, ate one herself, and unwrapped the other before putting it into Chishima Chiba's mouth.

At that point, Chishima Chiba straightened up, showing no further odd reaction. Taking Tsunade's hand, he set off for home.

They were not exactly chatting and laughing along the way, but they exchanged quite a bit. Mostly, Chishima Chiba asked questions while Tsunade answered them.

The questions Chishima Chiba asked were all specialized knowledge related to Ninjutsu. Tsunade quickly slipped into the role of a teacher and told him everything she knew.

The journey had originally been fairly long, but Chishima Chiba felt it had been too short. Before he had asked many questions, they had reached Tsunade's front door.

"Goodbye, Tsunade."

"Goodbye, Chiba."

The two bid each other farewell, and Chishima Chiba continued onward.

But after walking less than thirty meters, Tsunade returned and poked her head out from her doorway.

"Chiba!" Tsunade shouted with her hands cupped around her mouth. "Come over here for a moment. My grandmother wants to see you!"

Tsunade's grandmother?

Chishima Chiba stopped in his tracks. Wasn't that Uzumaki Mito, Senju Hashirama's wife?

His head immediately began to ache. Chishima Chiba wanted to run, but he felt uneasy about it.

After dawdling for a while, Chishima Chiba took a deep breath, turned around, and retraced his steps.

"This Tsunade... What does Grandma want with me?"

"I don't know either." Tsunade shook her head. "Grandma doesn't usually meet outsiders, but you're an exception."

I'd rather not be that exception!

Chishima Chiba felt helpless, but he still followed Tsunade into her home.

The instant he stepped through the door, Chishima Chiba felt uncomfortable all over. Though he could not see anyone, he felt as if needles were pricking his back, and cold sweat broke out at once.

"Chiba, what's wrong?"

"Nothing. It's just that your family is too hospitable... I'm a little overwhelmed."

"Uncles are very hospitable, and they treat me very well." Tsunade nodded, not sensing anything wrong.

But upon hearing Tsunade's words, Chishima Chiba's heart sank even further.

The little princess of the Senju Clan... He had really stirred up a hornet's nest!

The more her uncles liked Tsunade, the more they probably wanted to kill him...

This was hard!

Ignoring Chishima Chiba's thoughts, Tsunade skipped ahead and led him to Uzumaki Mito's room.

"Grandma, Chiba is here."

"Don't leave a guest standing at the door. Bring him in so I can have a look."

Uzumaki Mito's kindly voice came from inside, and Chishima Chiba's tightly clenched heart gradually settled.

"Hello, Grandma!"

Chishima Chiba wore a serious expression on his Little Face and did not neglect his manners. The moment he entered, he gave a ninety-degree bow.

"Good, good. Chiba is good too."

Uzumaki Mito truly had no airs. Once Chishima Chiba straightened up, she raised a hand and beckoned for him to come closer.

When Chishima Chiba approached, Uzumaki Mito looked him over twice, and her somewhat cloudy eyes brightened slightly.

"Good child, you're quite handsome."

After offering a small compliment, Uzumaki Mito took Chishima Chiba's hand. Just as she was about to say something else, her expression suddenly froze.

The delight in her eyes slowly faded, replaced by a hint of scrutiny.

"Chiba, your surname is Chishima. What was your mother's maiden name?"

Although Uzumaki Mito looked as though she were merely making casual conversation, Chishima Chiba realized things were not so simple. His heart skipped a beat.

"Grandma, my mother passed away early, so I don't know the details."

That was all Chishima Chiba could say, but Uzumaki Mito had no intention of leaving it there.

"Were there any particularly famous people among your ancestors?"

"I'm not too sure either. When I was little, I often heard my father mention an ancestor."

"Who?!"

"I don't remember..." Chishima Chiba's Little Face crumpled. "I only remember my father saying it would have been nice if my hair were red..."