The Proper Way to Use Princess Tsunade

Clap, clap, clap!

Senju Tobirama could not help rising to his feet and applauding. The same went for all the Konoha Ninja watching the match.

Amid the applause around him, Chishima Chiba smiled and waved. After bowing in all four directions, he approached Hatake Sakumo and removed the Sealing Jutsu on him.

"You're really shameless." Hatake Sakumo was still angry. "When I got close to you the first time, I shouldn't have believed your nonsense!"

"All's fair in war." Chishima Chiba grinned, taking none of Hatake Sakumo's words to heart.

He tapped his head. "Charging in headfirst is important, sure, but this needs to work too. Put the two together, and you'll be unstoppable."

"Next time, next time I definitely won't fall for it again!"

"You think I'll use the same trick next time?" Chishima Chiba gave him a sidelong glance and patted Hatake Sakumo's shoulder. "You're still green. Learn more from your big brother."

"I'm older than you!"

"The path has no order; those who excel are teachers." Chishima Chiba shook his head wisely. "I won't take advantage of you. Call me big brother, and I'll teach you a killer move. I guarantee it'll serve you well for life."

If Tsunade had been there, she would definitely have known Chishima Chiba was spouting nonsense again. But Hatake Sakumo was half-convinced, unable to make up his mind.

"Well, I'm leaving. But don't say I didn't warn you—this offer expires."

Chishima Chiba turned and left, while Hatake Sakumo lowered his eyes, seemingly lost in thought.

After a moment, Hatake Sakumo suddenly looked up. "Big Brother Chiba..."

"Yes!" Chishima Chiba dragged out his response, smiling happily. "Little Brother Sakumo, come to the Senju Compound tomorrow and give them my name. That's it. Bye!"

He turned and waved, leaving Hatake Sakumo with a dashing yet thoroughly punchable back.

Shifting his gaze, Chishima Chiba swept his eyes across Senju Tobirama and the others in the stands before finally settling on Tsunade.

Seeing her crescent-shaped eyes and the cute smile on her delicate little face, his entire heart melted.

He could not help quickening his pace, but before he had taken more than a few steps, Takezawa Masahiro called out to him.

"What is it, Teacher?" Chishima Chiba spoke quickly. "I have something urgent to do. I'm in a hurry to get down there."

If he delayed any longer, Tsunade's arms would not hurt anymore. Then how was he supposed to take advantage of her... pfft, how was he supposed to ease her pain?

"No matter how urgent it is, could it possibly be more important than meeting the Hokage?"

"I see Grandpa Tobirama every day."

"..." Takezawa Masahiro felt stifled, but quickly recovered. "This is procedure, and it builds your reputation. This is your chance to become known throughout the village. You need to seize it."

Building a reputation could happen anytime, but chances with Tsunade did not come around whenever he wanted!

"I..."

Ahem!

Chishima Chiba, who had been about to speak anxiously, was abruptly interrupted by a cough behind him. He immediately spun around. "I'm immensely grateful to Teacher Masahiro for giving me this opportunity to meet the esteemed Hokage at close range!"

"Hokage-sama, you are the goal I will strive toward for my entire life. I've decided that in the future, I will definitely become Hokage's man!"

After saying that, Chishima Chiba prepared to slip away. But just as he moved, Shimura Danzō stopped him.

"Is the Hokage meeting you, or are you meeting the Hokage? You're leaving right after saying some polite words?"

Looking up at Shimura Danzō's sunny smile, Chishima Chiba could not help curling his lips. Why was Shimura Danzō so handsome when he was young?

He was almost as handsome as him, damn it!

Lowering his eyes, Chishima Chiba sighed inwardly. Just like that, all the good things had been ruined.

"Chiba."

"Grandpa Tobirama, please speak." Chishima Chiba instantly turned into a well-behaved child, his blinking eyes exceptionally clear.

Seeing Chishima Chiba like this, Senju Tobirama felt a nameless fire rise in his chest. This brat's skill at playing dumb had improved again.

There were too many people around for him to act out, so Senju Tobirama decided to deal with him when he got home that night.

"You performed well. Among this year's students, you are unquestionably first place. Don't grow complacent in the future."

"Rest assured, I absolutely won't!"

"Mm. But you should change that personality of yours. If you act too much like a scoundrel, you'll get beaten." Senju Tobirama patted Chishima Chiba's shoulder, then led his disciples, who were holding back laughter, toward Hatake Sakumo.

Seeing that he was no longer needed, Chishima Chiba vanished in a flash. Tsunade disappeared along with him.

After encouraging Hatake Sakumo, Senju Tobirama turned back and froze for two or three seconds.

"Where is Chishima Chiba?!"

"He ran off with Tsunade." Sarutobi Hiruzen immediately answered. "And they've already been gone for a while..."

"Bastard!"

The expressionless look on Senju Tobirama's face nearly broke, but in the end, he could only flick his sleeve and leave, abandoning everyone to their awkwardness.

"There's something going on between Chiba and Tsunade."

Only after Senju Tobirama left did Kagami Uchiha chime in.

"Anyone can tell something's going on, can't they?" Shimura Danzō touched his cheek. "I faced this problem back then too. It's just..."

"Oh, give it a rest, Danzo!" Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at Shimura Danzō's handsome face and felt sour inside. "You've never even held a girl's hand. What a waste of good looks."

"And you still have the nerve to say that? If you hadn't dragged Kagami and me into sparring every day, I would've made my move long ago!"

"I'm not taking the blame." Kagami Uchiha smiled and waved a hand. "But that little brat Chiba really moved too fast. Danzo is genuinely hopeless at this sort of thing."

"Hmph. Teacher will definitely deal with that brat Chiba and make him suffer properly."

"Ha, preferably on Chiba's face," Sarutobi Hiruzen added with a wicked grin.

"I think spanking suits Chiba better. That child is so sly it makes you want to punish him. Knocking him down a peg would be perfect."

"Come on. With Chiba's personality, would something like that even count as losing face?"

The three chatted as they walked, their atmosphere exceptionally harmonious. The earlier bit of unpleasantness had vanished without a trace.

Meanwhile, at the Konoha Shopping District.

Chishima Chiba pulled Tsunade along, and the two darted into the crowd like a pair of happy little birds.

"Tsunade, are you sure your arms don't hurt anymore?" Chishima Chiba still refused to give up.

"You've asked five times on the way here. They don't hurt, they don't hurt!" Tsunade replied impatiently.

"Ahem, I'm just concerned about you." Chishima Chiba stopped bringing it up and pointed at a stall in the distance. "Tsunade, let's go take a look over there."

"Okay!"

Tsunade nodded sharply, her ponytail swaying as Chishima Chiba pulled her forward at a run.

"Boss, how much are these hairpins and hair ties?"

Chishima Chiba crouched down and picked up a hair tie from the stall, examining it from top to bottom.

Tsunade crouched down as well, tilting her head as she stared fixedly at the pale blue hair tie in Chishima Chiba's hand. Her sparkling eyes would not look away.

The vendor noticed the fondness in Tsunade's eyes and blurted out, "Ten ryō."

"That expensive?!" Chishima Chiba raised a brow. "Five ryō!"

"Deal!" The vendor immediately agreed.

"..."

Damn it, that was careless.

Chishima Chiba smacked his lips, pulled out a banknote, and handed it over. Just as he was about to stand and leave, he suddenly added—

"Tsunade, Hokage Grandpa was wrong when he told us about this. Why is it so much more expensive? When we get back, we need to have a proper talk with him."

"Tsunade? Princess Tsunade, you're Princess Tsunade?"

The vendor trembled and hurriedly changed his words. "I misspoke just now. Ten ryō is the price for ten hair ties. Pick another four."

"That's not right. Hokage Grandpa said there were freebies too."

"There are freebies. You'll get one hairpin as an extra gift." The vendor's heart bled, though he would not actually lose money—he just would not make much.

"Come on, let's keep picking." Chishima Chiba pulled Tsunade back down into a crouch.

Tsunade froze for a moment, then her eyes lit up. She grinned, revealing her sparkling little canine teeth.

So my name is this useful in the village?!

We're sweeping the streets. We have to sweep the streets!