Shihui Aburame heard the door open and stopped cultivating.
The sight that greeted him was Tsunade's voluptuous figure.
Full hips, a slender waist, a perfectly curved top, and skin as smooth and warm as white jade.
She was like a ripe peach that would spill sweet juice with a single bite.
"Did you buy this liquor?"
Tsunade spotted the liquor on the table at first glance, interest appearing on her exquisitely beautiful face.
"Yes."
Shihui Aburame answered, "It's for you."
Tsunade uncapped the flask, and a fragrance mingled with the scent of flowers immediately spread through the air.
She inhaled deeply and couldn't help sticking out her pink tongue to lick the corner of her mouth.
It smells wonderful.
She had tasted countless kinds of liquor, but the one before her was quite unfamiliar.
Shihui Aburame blinked.
He sat on the sofa, directly facing Tsunade's waist and belly.
The visual impact was tremendous.
Tsunade picked up the flask and took a swig.
Her eyes lit up.
"Good liquor!"
Tsunade took several more swigs.
Her face flushed visibly.
"Where did you buy it?"
Tsunade plopped down beside Shihui Aburame and wrapped an arm around his head.
"It was... brewed at home."
Caught off guard, Shihui Aburame's vision went dark, his entire face enveloped in softness and warmth.
His breathing grew somewhat labored, and he instinctively inhaled deeply, drawing a flood of fragrance into his nose.
This was a literal meatball impact.
"Your family brewed it?"
Tsunade lowered her head, pressing her cheek against his head as she asked with fragrant breath, "Is there more?"
Held even tighter, Shihui Aburame instinctively wrapped his arms around her waist.
Soft flesh surrounded him on every side.
"Yes."
Held hostage by her lethal weapons, Shihui Aburame nodded with difficulty and said, "I'll bring you some every day from now on."
In theory, as long as there was enough primeval essence, the Wine Sack Flower Gu could keep producing nectar wine.
Using nectar wine to grow closer to Tsunade was a worthwhile trade.
Helping her overcome her fear of blood would require a very close relationship, after all.
"That's my good student."
Satisfied, Tsunade released him and ruffled his hair.
Freed from that heavy burden, Shihui Aburame exhaled.
"Lady Tsunade."
Shizune couldn't help reminding her, "You still have a lesson to teach tonight. Don't drink too much."
She knew Tsunade. Whenever she first encountered good liquor, she would most likely get completely drunk.
"It's fine."
Tsunade said airily, "I've already decided. You'll be his teacher tonight."
"Me?"
The sudden appointment left Shizune dumbfounded.
"He's just a kid."
Tsunade waved a hand and said, "I'm hungry. Go make dinner."
Shizune glanced at Shihui Aburame and, seeing no reaction from him, agreed.
She set down Tonton, whom she had been holding, and headed into the kitchen.
Tsunade swirled the flask but resisted taking another drink.
Drinking was only enjoyable with food to go with it.
"Kid."
Tsunade crossed her legs, her fair foot swaying slightly and her rounded toes stretching out. "You can ask me anything about ninjutsu."
The nectar wine had put her in a good mood.
"I want to learn Superhuman Strength."
Shihui Aburame spoke after a moment's thought.
"Superhuman Strength?"
Tsunade set down the flask and folded her arms across her chest. "Superhuman Strength isn't ninjutsu. It's a special technique for controlling and using chakra."
"Then can I learn it?"
Shihui Aburame asked.
"Yes."
Tsunade nodded and said, "You're pretty strong."
Shihui Aburame felt somewhat reassured.
"Wait here."
Tsunade got up and went upstairs.
She took out a key and unlocked the third room.
It was too early for Shihui Aburame to learn Superhuman Strength, but considering his photographic memory, she could let him study the theory first.
Geniuses always received special treatment.
Tsunade looked around and fell silent.
Nawaki had once lived here. His smile surfaced in her mind again.
Tsunade reached up and clasped the necklace at her chest.
A moment later, she let go, allowing it to disappear into her cleavage.
"It must be because I drank today."
Tsunade put aside her unsettled thoughts.
She opened a drawer, took out a book, and left the room.
"A detailed guide to Superhuman Strength techniques."
After wiping the dust off the cover, Shihui Aburame could make out the title.
"Read through it when you have time."
Tsunade glanced at him and said, "I'll teach you once you've learned the basics of Medical Ninjutsu."
"All right."
Shihui Aburame nodded and said, "I'll go get the fish."
Thanks to the Rejuvenation Gu, he possessed unimaginable talent as a medical ninja.
Sakura Haruno had studied for three years.
But Shihui Aburame didn't think he would need that long.
"He certainly is diligent."
Watching him, Tsunade thought of Nawaki again.
He had been just as diligent, all so he could become Hokage sooner.
Tsunade shook her head, picked up the flask, and took a hefty swig.
Droplets spilled from the corner of her mouth and slid into the pale abyss below.
Shihui Aburame returned to the living room.
He paused briefly.
Tsunade looked even more dazed than before.
Does nectar wine really have such a strong delayed kick?
Shihui Aburame knocked the carp unconscious with a knife-hand strike and began his practice.
Tsunade watched quietly.
She had to admit that his talent was truly frightening.
Even someone as experienced and knowledgeable as her was astonished.
In just two days, his improvement in chakra control was already noticeable.
Perhaps he would surpass her.
Tsunade breathed a sigh of relief.
In that case, she could leave Konoha with greater peace of mind.
"Dinner's ready."
Half an hour later, Shizune appeared with tempura.
Shihui Aburame withdrew his primeval essence and knocked the carp unconscious with another knife-hand strike.
After practicing on fish for so long, his heart had grown as cold as a blade.
"All gone."
Tsunade raised the flask, tipped back her head, and opened her mouth to catch the last drop.
Shihui Aburame swallowed.
The sight was indescribably alluring.
It perfectly illustrated what it meant to be a feast for the eyes.
But the next second, Tsunade put down the flask, slumped over the dining table, and fell asleep like a baby.
Shizune set down her bowl, helped Tsunade up, and headed toward her room.
The entire sequence flowed smoothly, practiced to perfection.
In the original story, Shizune had followed Tsunade ever since graduating from the Ninja Academy, right up to the ending.
They were both like teacher and student and like mother and daughter.
After dinner, Shihui Aburame continued tormenting the carp.
A thought suddenly occurred to him.
Would dying over and over like this make it taste better?
Once I've squeezed the last bit of value out of it, I have to try it.
Shizune watched from the side, occasionally offering pointers.
Having followed Tsunade for years, she surpassed most medical ninja in both knowledge and skill.
Though she hadn't realized it herself.
Night fell.
"Drink this and go to bed."
Shizune brought over a glass of milk and handed it to Shihui Aburame.
"Thank you, Shizune."
Shihui Aburame took the glass and gulped it down.
Shizune watched him with a smile.
Talented, polite, and good-looking, too.
She hardly dared imagine how many girls would fall for him in a few more years.
"See you tomorrow."
Shizune patted Shihui Aburame's head as she spoke.
"..."
Shihui Aburame silently noted it down in his little book.
Today, Tsunade and Shizune patted my head.
I'll have to return the favor someday.
Tomorrow was Saturday, so he wouldn't have to go to school, but he still had to practice Medical Ninjutsu.
Shihui Aburame cultivated his primeval essence until ten that night, then drifted off to sleep.
(End of chapter)