Shihui Aburame let out a breath.
He looked at the revived carp and shook his head.
"You've already done well."
Tsunade looked it over and spoke.
"A little slow."
Shihui Aburame sounded dissatisfied.
"You annoying little brat."
Tsunade reached out and flicked his forehead with a slender finger.
At Shihui Aburame's current pace, he would master it completely within a week at most.
That speed already far surpassed hers back then.
She suddenly understood Jiraiya.
Back when they had studied ninjutsu together, Orochimaru had always been the first to learn, infuriating him.
"That's enough for today."
Tsunade stood and stretched.
She opened the wardrobe, casually took out a sleeping kimono, and left the room.
Shihui Aburame wasted no time.
While Tsunade bathed, he made the carp bounce back and forth across death's doorstep several more times.
"I've run a hot bath for you."
Tsunade reappeared, carrying a fresh fragrance.
"Thank you, Teacher."
Noticing that her blond hair was soaking wet, Shihui Aburame picked up the hair dryer on the table and handed it to her.
Tsunade paused slightly, staring at the hair dryer in a daze.
Shihui Aburame walked into the bathroom, his eyes widening despite himself.
The clothes Tsunade had taken off were simply piled together.
Black.
Shihui Aburame withdrew his gaze, undressed, and bathed.
After washing, he changed into fresh clothes and left the bathroom.
In the living room.
Tsunade sat on the sofa.
She held the hair dryer, but her hair was already dry, falling loosely and softly over her shoulders.
Compared to her daytime twin ponytails, it gave her a more mature, composed air.
"Come here."
Tsunade scooted backward and lifted her legs, leaving plenty of room.
What was going on?
Shihui Aburame was rather puzzled.
"Sit down."
Tsunade urged him.
Shihui Aburame could only sit in front of her.
Tsunade reached out, ruffled his hair, and switched on the hair dryer.
Warm air blew over him.
Shihui Aburame lowered his head.
Tsunade's long, fair legs lay on either side of him.
Her ankles marked the boundary: the sleeping kimono above, bare feet below.
Because the sofa was only so long, her thighs were slightly bent, her rounded toes curled and gripping the sofa.
Having just bathed, her nail polish looked a little dull.
"Don't fidget."
Tsunade pressed her fingers against his face, stopping his wandering gaze.
Shihui Aburame obediently sat still and stopped looking around, a faint fragrance lingering at his nose.
"All done."
Tsunade ruffled his hair again, making sure it was dry enough, then said, "Go to bed."
It was Shihui Aburame's first time seeing her gentle side, and he was still a little unaccustomed to it.
What she had just done was much like an older sister or a mother.
Probably the former.
Shihui Aburame grew thoughtful.
Perhaps it had something to do with Nawaki.
"Teacher."
Shihui Aburame decided to give it a try.
Going all in was a kind of wisdom.
If he won, the children wouldn't go hungry; if he lost, he would only get scolded a little.
Either way, he wouldn't lose out.
"What else is it?"
Tsunade put down the hair dryer and asked.
"Do you remember our bet last time?"
Shihui Aburame was referring to memorizing fifteen medical books in a single day.
Though he had given himself a little unfair advantage, using the Bookworm to cheat.
"Of course I haven't forgotten."
Tsunade folded her arms and asked, "Go on. What do you want?"
"Can I call you Big Sister?"
Shihui Aburame raised his head and asked.
"Big Sister?"
Tsunade's heart suddenly clenched. "Why?"
There was a saying she did not yet understand.
Calling a teacher "Big Sister" instead of "Teacher"-that meant ulterior motives.
"A feeling."
Shihui Aburame paused, then said, "I feel like you'd make a very good big sister, Teacher." Tsunade fell silent.
Shihui Aburame's age was very misleading.
She did not think he was lying.
Big sister?
She had once been a big sister too.
Just not a very good one.
Tsunade bent down and picked him up.
Shihui Aburame quite naturally wrapped his arms around her neck.
Her embrace was soft, full of plush flesh and warmth.
And her snow-white skin felt like the finest silk.
Shihui Aburame rested his cheek against hers, thinking, Even if I didn't get her to agree, this was a huge win.
Once they reached the room, Tsunade set him down on the bed.
She leaned over and looked at Shihui Aburame.
Seeing his expectant gaze, she suddenly smiled. "Brat, becoming my little brother won't be that easy."
Tsunade waved, turned, and left the room.
How... mischievous!
Shihui Aburame blinked.
Although he had not succeeded, the two of them had grown considerably closer.
A new day.
The knock on the door came right on time.
"Shiki, get up and eat."
Shizune's voice followed.
"Good morning, Big Sister Shizune."
Shihui Aburame changed his clothes, opened the door, and spoke.
Shizune looked him over, reached out, and smoothed down the strands sticking up on his head.
When she finished, she took the opportunity to pat his head.
"..."
Shihui Aburame had not expected someone to pat his head first thing in the morning.
Absolutely outrageous!
"Go wash up."
Shizune left, satisfied.
Shihui Aburame went to the bathroom.
The door was already open.
Tsunade stood in front of the mirror holding a toothbrush, her lips covered in white foam.
"Big Sister."
After a moment's thought, Shihui Aburame suddenly called out.
Tsunade instinctively turned her head, the pupils of her beautiful eyes briefly slipping out of control.
It had been so long since she had heard that form of address.
"Call me Teacher."
Tsunade corrected him while shifting a little to the right.
But it was still very cramped.
Shihui Aburame leaned against her thigh, occasionally brushing against her fair, tender leg.
Tsunade did not mind.
She waited until he finished brushing his teeth, then left with him.
"Eat."
Tsunade picked up a rice ball and held it out to Shihui Aburame as she spoke.
"Thank you, Teacher."
Shihui Aburame took the rice ball.
Shizune stared blankly at the two of them.
Was there no place left for me in this home?
Why had she never enjoyed the treatment Shiki was getting?
Breakfast ended.
Shihui Aburame picked up his schoolbag, ready to leave for school.
But just then, an uninvited guest arrived.
"Lady Tsunade..."
Before he could say anything more, Tsunade clenched her right fist and sent him flying with a single punch.
Shizune's eyes brightened slightly.
Sure enough, the same familiar formula, the same familiar feeling.
She must have been hallucinating just now.
How could Lady Tsunade be so gentle?
To think I would have a dream like that.
"It's a noble from the Land of Fire. He wants Lady Tsunade to go perform surgery."
Shizune explained, "He's already come several times."
No wonder.
Shihui Aburame understood.
Because of her fear of blood, Tsunade no longer performed surgery, nor could she.
Forcing herself to agree would only expose her weakness.
"Teacher."
Shihui Aburame smiled and said, "And Big Sister Shizune, I'm off to school."
Tsunade quietly watched him leave.
"Big Sister, I'm off to school!"
"Do you need me to take you, Nawaki?"
"Not at all! I'm going to become Hokage!"
Tsunade instinctively closed her eyes as memories came flooding back.