Little Chiba and Little Tsunade

Tsunade's earlier reaction had surprised Chishima Chiba, but he found it immensely satisfying.

Tsunade held his hand until they reached the classroom door, only then letting go.

"What are you laughing at?!"

Tsunade was still angry, and quite furious at that. "Surrounded by a bunch of girls—were you proud of yourself? Did you enjoy it?"

"Not at all!" Chishima Chiba immediately denied it. "I was all arms and legs back then, with no way to resist. Thanks to you, Tsunade, I was finally pulled out of that living hell."

Tsunade gave Chishima Chiba two suspicious glances. "Really?"

"Of course! Even all of them put together aren't as cute or pretty as you, Tsunade. I'm not stupid."

Her little face reddened slightly, and Tsunade believed Chishima Chiba's nonsense. She said nothing, merely flicked her ponytail and took the lead into the classroom.

Chishima Chiba smiled and followed close behind Tsunade into the classroom he had been away from for half a year.

The previously noisy classroom immediately fell quiet. Every half-grown child's gaze kept sweeping over the two of them.

"Is that Chishima Chiba and Tsunade?"

"Yes, it's them!"

"Where... where have they been for the past half year?"

"Who knows..."

The half-grown children whispered among themselves, but Tsunade and Chishima Chiba pretended not to hear them and found an empty spot to sit.

Their former seats had long been taken, and neither intended to reclaim them. They had only come today to make an appearance anyway, so where they sat was no longer important.

As soon as they sat down, Chishima Chiba saw the sparkle in Tsunade's eyes. She clearly liked crowds and lively places too.

"Tsunade, do you think we should..."

"No!" Tsunade shook her head. "Teacher Takezawa Masahiro teaches far too slowly. I'm not wasting my time at the Ninja Academy."

Yet Chishima Chiba could plainly see the longing in her eyes. He could not help finding it amusing, but he did not try to persuade her.

After waiting a while, Chishima Chiba leaned closer to Tsunade. "Tsunade, once the exams are over, I'll take you somewhere fun."

"Where?" Tsunade was intrigued. She had not relaxed in a long time, nor had she properly enjoyed herself in ages.

"It won't be any fun if I tell you." Chishima Chiba kept her in suspense. Tsunade glared at him, then ignored him.

"Chishima Chiba, Tsunade, where have you two been for the past half year?"

At last, a classmate could not hold back any longer and came over to ask them.

Tsunade did not know how to answer. She could only put on a stern face and remain silent, hoping to make the classmate who had come to ask give up.

It was a male classmate. Tsunade's attitude made him somewhat uneasy, but he did not leave at once. Instead, he looked at Chishima Chiba, hoping to get an answer from him.

"We've been at home this whole time. Isn't there an exam today? We came to take it."

"At home? Your home?"

"Not my home. Tsunade's home."

The classmate looked at the cold-faced Tsunade, then at the smiling Chishima Chiba. In an instant, his heart turned sour.

Without another word, he returned to his seat with his head hanging low, feeling as though the sky had fallen.

Chishima Chiba was way too lucky, wasn't he?!

Very soon, the entire class learned that Tsunade and Chishima Chiba had become neighbors and were together every day.

They had given up any thoughts about Tsunade, but they had plenty to say about Chishima Chiba!

In an instant, Chishima Chiba became the public enemy of every half-grown boy in the class. Blade-sharp gazes repeatedly fell upon him.

Chishima Chiba did not say much. He merely rubbed his nose, then smirked as he took a piece of candy from his pocket, unwrapped it in front of everyone, and fed it to Tsunade.

Tsunade had long grown used to being fed by Chishima Chiba and did not think anything of it. She opened her mouth and swallowed it, leaving everyone staring wide-eyed.

Whispers and quiet condemnations immediately rose up, filling the room with buzzing voices.

At the same time, Tsunade frowned. The longing for liveliness in her eyes vanished, replaced by disgust.

"They're too noisy."

"I think so too." Chishima Chiba nodded in agreement, then added, "But the place I'm taking you isn't noisy at all. It's lively, though."

"Really?"

"Really!"

"Then tell me—where is it?"

"All right, I'll tell you..."

Chishima Chiba and Tsunade huddled together and whispered, making the half-grown boys in the classroom see red. They gritted their teeth as they stared at Chishima Chiba, wishing they could take his place.

"After more than half a year, Chishima Chiba is still as annoying as ever!"

"Exactly! What's he acting so smug about?"

"But Tsunade likes being with him. What can we do about it?" someone suddenly said. The voices condemning Chishima Chiba paused for a moment before growing even fiercer.

"What do you mean, what can we do?!"

"Make Chishima Chiba embarrass himself! Let Tsunade see his true colors!"

"He's nothing but a pretty face. During the practical sparring exam later, I'm going to beat that face of his!"

"I'll show Chishima Chiba what I'm capable of, and let Tsunade see how outstanding I am!"

"Me too."

"Same here."

Right, right, you're all right.

Chishima Chiba curled his lip. Let's see what you've got during the practical sparring exam, all right?

But then Tsunade looked over at him. "Chiba, why are they all targeting you?"

"Can't be helped. Being too outstanding makes people jealous." Chishima Chiba spread his hands. "Only someone equally outstanding like you could appreciate me."

"You really love singing your own praises..."

Tsunade muttered softly, though she was still somewhat worried about Chishima Chiba. "During the practical sparring exam later, you won't really let them teach you a lesson, will you?"

"Listen to yourself. Is that any way to talk?" Chishima Chiba shot Tsunade a glance. "You can't even wish me well?"

"Hehehe, no, that's not what I meant..." Tsunade burst out laughing. Her sense of humor was strangely unpredictable.

"You're worried about me, right?" Chishima Chiba patted his chest and promised, "Don't worry. I'm the man who's going to take care of you for the rest of your life. It's just a practical sparring exam—I'll win easily."

"Who needs you to take care of me?" Tsunade rolled her eyes. "Besides, you're not a man yet. Who knows what the future holds?"

Chishima Chiba suffered a ten-thousand-point critical hit. He opened his mouth to argue, but had no particularly convincing proof, which was incredibly irritating!

"Just you wait, Tsunade. Once I grow up, I'll show you what a real man is!"

"Talk about it once you've grown up."

Tsunade was not intimidated in the slightest. "Besides, once we grow up, it's hard to say who will be protecting whom. Right, Little Chiba?"

"You're not allowed to put 'Little' in front of my name!" Chishima Chiba strongly objected. "Grandma can call me that, but you can't."

"Why can't I?"

"A man can't be called little. It's a matter of principle."

"But you are little right now..."

"Have you seen it?"

"How have I not? Right now, you're..."

"Then you have to take responsibility for me," Chishima Chiba suddenly said.

"What are you talking about?" Tsunade looked utterly confused. "I wasn't even finished..."

"I don't care. My innocence is gone, so you have to take responsibility." Chishima Chiba stated forcefully.

Inhale, exhale...!

Taking a deep breath, Tsunade rolled her eyes helplessly. "I don't understand anything you're saying, okay? And you really are young."

"But you still can't say I'm little."

"Why not?"

"Then take responsibility for me, and you can call me whatever you want."

"You're being shameless again, aren't you, Chishima Chiba?!"

"Fine. From now on, we'll hurt each other, Little Tsunade!"

"Little Chiba!"

"Little Tsunade!"