A Night at Tsunade's House

Some of the nonsense Chishima Chiba had made up sounded true when it reached Uzumaki Mito's ears.

It was not that Uzumaki Mito was easy to fool, but that Chishima Chiba's body had already proven it all.

Lies could deceive people, but the body would not—at least, in Uzumaki Mito's perception, Chishima Chiba's constitution was infinitely close to that of the Uzumaki or Senju Clan.

If his ancestors had not carried Uzumaki or Senju blood, Chishima Chiba's Physical Constitution would never have felt so familiar to Uzumaki Mito.

Her earlier questioning had merely been to confirm whether the blood flowing through Chishima Chiba came from the Senju Clan or the Uzumaki Clan.

After all, both the Senju Clan and Uzumaki Clan were inheritors of the Sage Body lineage. Their constitutions differed somewhat, but were broadly similar, making them difficult to distinguish.

As for Uzumaki blood having spread beyond the clan, Uzumaki Mito did not dwell on it, much less investigate it.

During the Warring States Period, clans migrated frequently. It was not just the Uzumaki Clan—bloodlines from even the Senju Clan could spread elsewhere during migration.

There were countless scattered bloodlines, but ones that had reached Chishima Chiba's level of bloodline concentration were exceedingly rare.

Because of that, the way Uzumaki Mito looked at Chishima Chiba changed.

If she had initially merely been curious and wanted to meet Tsunade's newly acquainted male companion, then now, Uzumaki Mito treated Chishima Chiba like half a family member.

And beyond that, Uzumaki Mito had other thoughts as well.

After chatting about household matters for a while longer, Uzumaki Mito picked up a tangled ball of yarn from beside the bed and looked at Chishima Chiba with a smile.

"Chiba, Grandma's eyesight isn't very good. I just can't untangle this mess of yarn. Could you help me?"

"Of course, Grandma."

Chishima Chiba had no objection, but Tsunade, standing nearby, spoke up.

"Grandma, how long has that ball of yarn been sitting there? You still haven't untangled it?"

Chishima Chiba looked up at Tsunade.

Before Tsunade could continue, Uzumaki Mito took over. "That's because you have no patience. If you did, would Grandma have needed to wait this long? I wouldn't have had to trouble Little Chiba either."

Uzumaki Mito shifted her gaze from Tsunade's indignant Little Face and looked again at Chishima Chiba, who was patiently lowering his head to undo the knots.

"Little Chiba, untangle it properly. Be patient. Don't be afraid of trouble," Uzumaki Mito said meaningfully.

"I will, Grandma."

Chishima Chiba answered without raising his head. He understood even more clearly that this was an opportunity, and he became even more meticulous.

Uzumaki Mito looked down at Chishima Chiba. A smile bloomed across her wrinkled face as she pulled Tsunade over, and the grandmother and granddaughter began to fool around.

Their laughter affected Chishima Chiba slightly, but that little distraction was no problem for him. He did not have much of anything, except an abundance of patience.

Nearly two hours passed. Chishima Chiba's neck had grown sore before he finally untangled the mass of yarn strand by strand and arranged the strands neatly apart.

Uzumaki Mito had stopped chatting with Tsunade by then. She looked at Chishima Chiba with smiling eyes. "Little Chiba is such a patient child, far better than Tsunade. If she weren't so impatient, this ball of yarn would have been untangled long ago."

"Grandma, you flatter me. After spending these past two days with Tsunade, I think she actually has a very good personality."

Chishima Chiba sided with Tsunade, instantly coaxing a radiant smile onto her face. She even pointed at Chishima Chiba and raised her brows at Uzumaki Mito.

Uzumaki Mito ignored Tsunade. "I know Tsunade's temperament better than anyone. Unless she suffers a few setbacks, she won't change."

"Grandma!"

"See? That's exactly the temperament I mean. It can't be held down at all." Uzumaki Mito teased her, making Tsunade stamp her feet repeatedly before burrowing into Uzumaki Mito's arms and rocking back and forth.

Watching the harmonious scene between grandmother and granddaughter, Chishima Chiba grinned as well. Every so often, he even made Eye Contact with Tsunade.

After that little interlude, Uzumaki Mito did not put away the yarn Chishima Chiba had untangled. Instead, she stood and led Tsunade and Chishima Chiba outside.

"It's getting late. You two must be hungry."

"Little Chiba, there's no need to rush home. Stay for dinner tonight. It won't be too late to leave afterward."

"I'll listen to Grandma."

Chishima Chiba did not refuse and obediently nodded in agreement.

"Good, good. Since Little Chiba is so well-behaved, come visit Grandma more often when you have time. Keep Grandma company and chat with me."

"Mm, I will, Grandma. I just hope you won't find me bothersome."

Chishima Chiba was unusually serious, completely unlike how he usually acted around Tsunade. Tsunade watched in amazement.

Tsunade circled to Chishima Chiba's side and walked around him once. "Chiba, you aren't usually like this, are you?"

"I've always been like this, all right?"

"No, you are not." Tsunade exposed him. "You're usually... um... usually..."

She racked her brain for ages but could not find the right words. Her Little Face puffed up with frustration as she glared fiercely at Chishima Chiba.

Uzumaki Mito watched happily from the side, her eyes gleaming with wisdom.

Having accompanied Senju Hashirama through half a lifetime of war, Uzumaki Mito was no ordinary person. Tsunade did not need to expose him—she could see Chishima Chiba's true nature at a glance.

He was sly, but not bad. He was smart and had his own little schemes, but he used them in the right places. Even when he occasionally crossed the line, it was harmless.

Most importantly, Uzumaki Mito could tell that Chishima Chiba genuinely adored this girl, Tsunade.

"Tsunade, Little Chiba is our guest today. Mind yourself a little."

Uzumaki Mito spoke, calling Tsunade back from Chishima Chiba's side before continuing toward the dining area with them.

Uzumaki Mito did not even need to give orders. The Senju clansmen responsible for caring for her daily needs had already prepared the meal.

Adding another pair of chopsticks was a trivial matter. There was even less reason to make things difficult for Chishima Chiba.

The meal was enjoyed by host and guest alike. Chishima Chiba chatted with Uzumaki Mito for a while longer before finally standing to take his leave.

"Grandma, it's very late, and I still have school tomorrow, so... I should head home first."

Chishima Chiba stood and bowed, but Uzumaki Mito did not want to let him leave.

The main reason was that Chishima Chiba was simply too good at talking. He had delighted Uzumaki Mito so much that she seemed unable to get enough of chatting with him.

"It's so late, and it isn't safe for you to go back alone. Stay here tonight."

"Huh?" Chishima Chiba was startled.

"Little Chiba, you don't want to?" Uzumaki Mito put on a stern face. "It seems this old woman was worrying for nothing. Since you're unwilling..."

"Grandma, you must be joking. How could I be unwilling? I'm just so happy that I'm... a little overwhelmed by the honor."

Chishima Chiba scratched his head. "I love talking with you, Grandma, especially when you tell me those stories. I could listen to them forever."

He promptly sat back down and opened up the conversation again. "Grandma, please continue the last story. I haven't heard enough."

"Good, good, I'll tell you. I'll tell you."

Chishima Chiba was a very good listener and an excellent straight man. He did not speak much, but every sentence struck right at Uzumaki Mito's heart.

This was something else entirely...

Uzumaki Mito kept talking and had no desire to stop, while Tsunade grew so sleepy that she kept nodding off.

"Grandma..." Tsunade truly could not hold on any longer. "Let's sleep. You and Chiba can talk again tomorrow. I'll bring him over again tomorrow."

Smacking her lips with lingering reluctance, Uzumaki Mito finally called it a night. "When people get old, they become talkative. We'll stop here today. Tsunade, take Chiba to rest."

"Okay." Tsunade nodded drowsily, but as she climbed down from Uzumaki Mito's arms, she suddenly came to her senses.

"I take him?" Tsunade pointed at Chiba, then at herself. "Take him to my room?"

"What nonsense are you thinking, silly girl?"

Uzumaki Mito lightly smacked Tsunade. "Isn't there an empty room next to yours? Take Chiba over so he can familiarize himself with it. From now on, that room will be his."

Tsunade immediately relaxed, while the dimness in Chishima Chiba's eyes flashed away in an instant. Still, he was more than satisfied.

He had not expected to become Tsunade's neighbor so quickly.

What was this?

Childhood sweethearts! (tactically leans back)