Tsunade looked at Nobuhiko's tightly shut bedroom door and, thinking back on his earlier behavior, figured he had gone out to train and would not be back anytime soon.
So Tsunade took a bath first, then sat on the sofa drinking by herself, easing the exhaustion the war had brought.
At noon, hunger finally woke Nobuhiko.
Feeling refreshed, he got ready to go out and find something to eat.
When he opened the door, Nobuhiko's eyes nearly popped out again.
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Nobuhiko decided he must have gotten out of bed the wrong way. He promptly shut the door and buried his head in the sand.
What was going on? Why was Tsunade back?!
Nobuhiko felt a little excited, but also a little timid.
He could see Tsunade just by opening the door, yet he hesitated.
He began fretting over what he stood to gain or lose.
After thinking for a long time, Nobuhiko realized he was stupid enough to deserve a portrait on the wall.
He hadn't even confessed to Tsunade. In her eyes, he was just a little brother. What the hell was he fretting about?!
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Why did that little brat hide as soon as he saw me?!
Was I that scary?
Nobuhiko opened the door, saw Tsunade's already clenched fist, and inwardly thought he was in trouble.
He hurried over to Tsunade with a fawning air and began massaging her delicate, fragrant shoulders.
"Sister Tsunade, why did you come back so suddenly without even letting me know?"
Tsunade turned to look at his lackey-like behavior and finally realized what was wrong.
"You little brat, shouldn't you be out training right now? Why are you still sleeping in at home?"
Seeing Tsunade's brows furrow slightly and her gaze sharpen, Nobuhiko had thought she was going to scold him. He had not expected that question.
Nobuhiko immediately stopped worrying.
"Hehehe, Sister Tsunade, to tell you the truth, I've already finished the entire training plan you left me!"
Nobuhiko said proudly.
"???"
Tsunade truly had not expected that answer from Nobuhiko.
"Looks like your talent is even better than I imagined, you little brat!"
Tsunade looked at Nobuhiko with amusement in her eyes as she spoke.
"Let's go a few rounds at the training ground this afternoon!"
The first half of Tsunade's words had left Nobuhiko feeling a little smug.
Before he could show it, the second half made his face fall.
"Sister Tsunade, you've only just returned from the battlefield. I think you should get some proper rest first. There's no rush over something as trivial as testing my strength. We can't let that interfere with your rest!"
Nobuhiko spoke earnestly while diligently massaging Tsunade.
Watching Nobuhiko put on an act, Tsunade felt like laughing, but after a moment's thought, she held it in.
"It's settled!"
Tsunade stood up and flicked Nobuhiko on the forehead, then picked up her bottle and sauntered away.
That afternoon, at Konoha Training Ground 3.
Nobuhiko and Tsunade returned to this familiar place.
"Sister Tsunade, are you ready?"
As she watched Nobuhiko say something so presumptuous with that smug look on his face, Tsunade's fist clenched involuntarily.
She felt she could hardly hold back anymore. This time, she would give the kid a proper beating!
Seeing Tsunade grit her teeth, Nobuhiko knew she was ready.
So he made the first move, charging toward Tsunade.
With the Wind Body Flicker Technique, Nobuhiko appeared in front of Tsunade in an instant.
He clenched his right fist, gathered his strength, and swung at Tsunade's abdomen.
Tsunade raised an eyebrow, not expecting Nobuhiko's Body Flicker Technique to have improved so quickly, then abruptly raised a hand and blocked his fist.
With his fist blocked, Nobuhiko pulled it back and ducked down, bracing one hand against the ground. He planted the toes of his right foot and swept his left leg at Tsunade's calves.
The combination flowed smoothly, all in one breath.
Her fair calf felt wonderful against him, but Tsunade did not budge an inch.
Nobuhiko looked up at Tsunade resentfully and found a hint of laughter glimmering in her eyes, the corners of her lips curving into a lovely smile.
Feeling a little awkward, he instinctively wanted to scratch his head.
Before he could, he caught sight out of the corner of his eye of Tsunade's left foot, adorned with glossy red nail polish and clad in a high-heeled sandal, already kicking toward him.
Startled, Nobuhiko hurriedly crossed his arms in front of his chest to block, then was sent flying by Tsunade's kick.
Seeing Nobuhiko's sorry state as he went flying, Tsunade finally could not help laughing.
"Hahaha, not bad, kid. Keep going."
With that, Tsunade raised her left hand and beckoned Nobuhiko to come at her.
Although Tsunade had praised him, Nobuhiko felt no happiness at all. Instead, he felt a little embarrassed.
At this rate, when would he, Kihara Nobuhiko, ever turn the tables and take charge?!
He really did have to make full use of his current age advantage to 'please' Tsunade and deepen their bond.
Having figured that out, Nobuhiko decided to work even harder to please Tsunade.
No, to put even more effort into showing off his strength.
Nobuhiko formed the Ox hand seal.
"Water Release: Water Shockwave."
A waterspout nearly eight meters tall appeared out of thin air. Under Nobuhiko's control, it poured down like a waterfall and surged toward Tsunade.
Seeing Nobuhiko unleash such a powerful Water Shockwave with just one seal, Tsunade realized he really had not slacked off in practicing this technique. But it still was not enough.
Tsunade pushed off with her feet, leaped onto the waves, and charged toward Nobuhiko.
At the sight, Nobuhiko clapped his hands together.
"Water Release: Water Trumpet."
Water gushed from Nobuhiko's mouth like a waterfall, forming a jet that shot toward Tsunade.
Bang.
Water splashed everywhere.
The sight of Tsunade swinging a fist and smashing the jet apart gave Nobuhiko a fright.
Finding it a little hard to believe, he formed hand seals again.
Rat-Dragon-Rabbit-Tiger.
"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet."
Nobuhiko spat out a great volume of water, forming a ferocious water dragon over ten meters long that charged toward Tsunade.
This time, Tsunade was truly shocked by Nobuhiko's talent.
Just as the water dragon was about to strike her, Tsunade formed hand seals and summoned a massive, imposing water dragon from the water beneath her feet.
It bit straight into the neck of Nobuhiko's summoned water dragon, then dragged it up into the sky.
Finally, with a thunderous boom, both water dragons exploded at once, turning into countless crystalline raindrops that showered down.
As Nobuhiko watched the smile on Tsunade's face grow wider, he had an ominous feeling.
Before Nobuhiko could think any further, he saw Tsunade form half of the Yang Water seal with one hand.
Then a whirlpool appeared in front of her.
Nobuhiko instantly understood which ninjutsu Tsunade was about to unleash.
His hands rapidly formed seals.
Tiger-Snake-Tiger-Snake-Tiger-Snake.
"Water Release: Water Formation Wall."
Nobuhiko spat out a waterfall-like torrent, forming a wall of water in front of himself.
Sure enough, he had even learned the four-seal Water Dragon Bullet. There was no reason he couldn't learn the Water Formation Wall.
Looking at the wall of water before her, Tsunade felt her efforts had not been wasted. She was very satisfied with the results of Nobuhiko's recent training.
But satisfaction was one thing. Children still needed a little more teasing!