Sasuke Uchiha watched Uchiha Mikoto and Shihui Aburame walk into the room.
He turned back and found that only he and Tsunade remained in the living room.
For a moment, silence settled over them.
He did not know what to talk about.
Fortunately, Tsunade ignored him and turned on the television herself.
The sound eased the atmosphere.
Tsunade had no interest in Sasuke Uchiha, or rather, she did not want anything to do with Konoha's ninja right now.
If not for Shihui Aburame, she would probably have been playing the legendary big sucker at some casino by now.
As for Uchiha Mikoto, after two consecutive visits, Tsunade could roughly guess what she had in mind.
Besides helping her son, she also wanted to build a closer relationship.
But the Uchiha Clan was mired in trouble.
Tsunade could not resolve it.
Because she was not the Hokage. Her teacher, Hiruzen Sarutobi, was.
After entering Shihui Aburame's room, Uchiha Mikoto closed the door behind her.
"Aunt Mikoto."
Shihui Aburame raised his head, looked at her, and asked, "Did you want to see me because of Sasuke?"
"What a clever child."
Uchiha Mikoto crouched down, gave him a gentle smile, and said, "I was hoping you could help him with his studies."
"Sasuke does well in his studies."
Shihui Aburame paused, then asked, "Do you mean ninjutsu and taijutsu, Aunt Mikoto?"
"That's right."
With a look of approval, Uchiha Mikoto said, "I just saw how capable you are. You can definitely help Sasuke."
"Doesn't Sasuke's older brother teach him?"
Shihui Aburame was a little puzzled.
Uchiha Itachi cared about Konoha first, and Sasuke Uchiha second.
He had no reason not to teach him.
"It's not that he won't teach him. He's just too busy."
Uchiha Mikoto sighed, but soon showed a little pride again. "He's a member of the Anbu now."
The Anbu, whose full name was the Special Assassination and Tactical Squad, was under the Hokage's direct command, and its members were all exceptionally skilled ninja selected with great care.
Uchiha Itachi had been granted special permission to join the Anbu at eleven. He truly was a genius among geniuses.
What Uchiha Mikoto did not know was that the star of death was already flickering overhead.
"I see."
Shihui Aburame nodded and said, "I can give Sasuke some pointers when I have time."
Sasuke Uchiha's new active achievement had not refreshed yet.
He wanted to see whether he could interfere with this thing manually.
If his actions could influence Sasuke's active achievements, there would be room to play around.
"Thank you."
Uchiha Mikoto reached out and rubbed his head as she spoke.
Another head rub!
The corner of Shihui Aburame's mouth twitched slightly.
"Shiki, you've helped me so much. I can't let you do it all for nothing."
Uchiha Mikoto withdrew her hand, felt around at her waist, and took out a scroll.
She came prepared.
Shihui Aburame grew a little interested.
Uchiha Mikoto opened the storage scroll.
She fed chakra into it.
A piece of dark metal the size of a fingernail appeared on the scroll.
"Chakra metal."
Uchiha Mikoto explained, "Adding it to ninja tools improves chakra conduction and increases their power."
No wonder it's so small.
In the original story, the two Chakra Blades Asuma Sarutobi wielded had cost as much as ten million ryo.
One word summed it up: expensive.
Of course, being expensive was not its fault.
Chakra metal blades really were worth their price. They could be called capable of cutting through anything.
Shihui Aburame frowned slightly.
Is this a bribe?
You're testing an official with this?
"Take it, Shiki."
Uchiha Mikoto gave him a deeply maternal smile and said, "No matter how precious it is, it can't compare to Sasuke."
"Thank you, Aunt Mikoto."
Shihui Aburame thought it over. There was no reason not to take it.
At worst, he could rescue Uchiha Mikoto on the night of the massacre.
The two left the room.
Sasuke Uchiha instinctively raised his head. Seeing Uchiha Mikoto looking so cheerful, he immediately let out a sigh of relief.
It must be settled.
That's Mom for you.
"Lady Tsunade, sorry for imposing. We'll visit again another day."
Uchiha Mikoto walked over to Sasuke Uchiha, took his hand, and looked toward Tsunade.
Her goal had been achieved. Continuing the conversation would seem too deliberate.
Tsunade nodded.
Uchiha Mikoto knew her boundaries well.
After they left, Shihui Aburame took out the chakra metal.
One glance was enough for Tsunade to understand what had happened.
Given how precious chakra metal was, only a major ninja clan like the Uchiha could afford to give it away.
"Do you want your teacher to keep it safe for you?"
Tsunade smiled and asked.
"No."
Shihui Aburame shook his head and said, "I'm worried you'll sell it to gamble."
"You rotten brat!"
Tsunade immediately bristled.
Even her golden hair floated up under her powerful aura.
But Shihui Aburame had already figured out her personality and was not afraid at all.
He said unhurriedly, "I want to make a gauntlet."
He had no use for classic ninja tools like kunai, shuriken, or blades.
As a Gu master, his ninja tools were Gu.
After thinking it over, only a gauntlet seemed suitable. He could use it with Superhuman Strength.
When enemies got close, he would show them what a surprise was.
"Give it to me."
Tsunade regained her composure, narrowed her eyes slightly, and held out her hand as she spoke.
Suspecting nothing, Shihui Aburame stepped forward.
But he immediately realized he had been tricked.
Tsunade pounced on him like an eagle.
Before Shihui Aburame could dodge, her strong, fleshy thighs clamped around his waist.
He instantly found himself unable to move.
With a sinister grin, Tsunade reached out with her wicked hands and turned his hair into a bird's nest in a few strokes.
Shihui Aburame hurriedly struggled and pushed against her.
He unconsciously patted the basketballs twice, but the next second, she seized his wrists.
Three minutes later, Tsunade looked at the utterly despondent Shihui Aburame and gave a smug smile.
After spending so much time together, she had also figured out his personality and knew how to make him angry.
This was her revenge.
Satisfied, Tsunade released Shihui Aburame.
She picked up the piece of chakra metal and asked, "Are you staying home to rest, or coming along?"
"Coming along."
Shihui Aburame raised his hand like he was applying hair gel and restored his hairstyle with a few strokes.
"You can count the craftsmen in Konoha who can forge chakra ninja tools on one hand."
Tsunade said with a faint smile, "Rejoice. You found a teacher like me. Otherwise, even with chakra metal in your hands, you'd have nowhere to use it."
"Teacher, you're amazing."
Shihui Aburame said casually.
"Just like before. Not a shred of sincerity."
Tsunade glanced at him, then suddenly frowned.
Shihui Aburame was unsteady on his feet and looked as though he might fall at any moment.
It was because he had used Superhuman Strength several times in succession earlier and still had not fully recovered.
He really is pushing himself.
Tsunade thought of Nawaki again.
No matter when it was, he had always refused to give up.
"Walk faster."
Tsunade took his small hand as she spoke.
But she slowed her own pace considerably.
Shihui Aburame felt her soft, warm hand.
He blinked and said nothing.
Soon, the two arrived at a ninja tool shop on the street.
The sign read Yamamoto Sage Ninja Tool Shop.
There's still one chapter I haven't finished writing. I'll post it at noon.
(End of chapter)