Nobuhiko still did not understand what Tsunade was trying to say.
"By then, Kushina will be thirteen or fourteen, still just a little girl. I'll feel more at ease with you by her side during that time."
"Once the war is over, I'll come back and supervise you myself!"
"That way, I'll still be the only person who knows you're a little pervert. As long as I keep a strict eye on you from now until you get married and stop you from showing your lecherous side to outsiders, my job will be done!"
Tsunade explained to Nobuhiko, looking rather pleased with herself.
Heh, silly woman.
After I get married, you'll only be more exhausted than you are now!
Listening to Tsunade's explanation, Nobuhiko felt both touched and a little helpless.
"All right, all right, Sister Tsunade. I'll leave my public image in your hands from now on!"
"Glad you understand."
Tsunade shifted into a more comfortable position.
"Oh, right, Sister Tsunade. Sister Kushina asked me to apologize to you for her."
"I know, I know."
Tsunade waved a hand indifferently.
"I'll probably be heading to the battlefield the day after tomorrow. Once I'm gone, help Kushina out a bit more. Don't let someone sell her off."
"Okay, Sister Tsunade. I'll take good care of Sister Kushina."
"Also, you can keep using that routine you used on the old man today. I really didn't expect him to fall for it, even as Hokage."
Tsunade sounded rather reflective.
"What do you mean, a routine I used on Lord Hokage, Sister Tsunade?"
"Everything I showed Lord Hokage today was a genuine expression of my feelings. Every word came from the bottom of my heart!"
Nobuhiko grew impassioned again, only to wilt the moment he caught Tsunade's slightly disdainful gaze.
"Fine, Sister Tsunade. Just make sure you don't let it slip in front of anyone else."
"Aren't you the clever one!"
Tsunade chuckled and tapped Nobuhiko on the forehead.
"All right, the water's almost cold. Get some rest early. You must be pretty tired after putting on such an enthusiastic performance for the old man today!"
Whenever she thought of how Nobuhiko had moved the old man to tears that afternoon, Tsunade wanted to laugh.
"Okay. You get some rest early too, Sister Tsunade."
Reluctantly, Nobuhiko carried the basin away.
Early the next morning, Nobuhiko got up and discovered that Tsunade and Kushina's relationship had already returned to normal.
"Nobuhiko, Kushina has some basic sealing jutsu scrolls at her house. Go with her today and bring some back to read at home. If there's anything you don't understand, ask her about it."
"Can't Sister Kushina stay here all the time?"
Nobuhiko regretted the question as soon as he asked it.
Of course she could, but then everything I did would be exposed to the Third Hokage and that old bastard Danzo.
Neither Tsunade nor Kushina wanted that.
"Well, it's fine if you don't live here, Sister Kushina. I'll come visit you often!"
Realizing he had said the wrong thing, Nobuhiko hurried to make up for it.
"I'll come visit you often too, little brother Nobuhiko."
Hearing Nobuhiko's promise made Kushina happy too.
"You two can spend more time learning from each other wherever you are. Nobuhiko, learn sealing jutsu from Kushina. Kushina, you should learn more from Nobuhiko about casting ninjutsu too. Work hard together and improve together!"
"Yes, Sister Tsunade!"
The two answered in unison.
"All right, Nobuhiko, go buy breakfast. Once we've eaten, go with Kushina. I'll go ask the old man for some more ninjutsu for you!"
"Okay, Sister Tsunade!"
Hearing that Tsunade was going to get him more benefits, Nobuhiko was utterly touched and eagerly trotted off to buy breakfast.
After breakfast, Nobuhiko went home with Kushina, picked up a pile of sealing jutsu scrolls, and prepared to return home to study them.
As for Kushina, after Nobuhiko, Tsunade, and the Third Hokage's combined smooth-talking yesterday, she had gained a profound understanding of her shortcomings and went to the village mission center to take on more D-rank missions.
When Nobuhiko returned home, he found that Tsunade was already back with a pile of scrolls.
"Perfect timing. I got a few more ninjutsu from the old man that are suitable for you to practice now."
"Thanks for the effort, Sister Tsunade."
Looking at all those ninjutsu scrolls, Nobuhiko was once again touched by Tsunade.
"Practice this Water Trumpet Jutsu first. Somehow, the ninjutsu scrolls my second grandfather left me didn't include it. I almost forgot about it."
Tsunade tossed the scroll to Nobuhiko as she complained.
"Don't underestimate it just because it's only a C-rank ninjutsu. Once you've developed it far enough, it'll give you some inspiration for practicing Water Release: Heavenly Weeping."
"I understand, Sister Tsunade. Just like Water Trumpet."
Hearing Nobuhiko's answer, Tsunade nodded in satisfaction.
"Exactly. Once you've learned the Water Trumpet Jutsu, practice Exploding Water Colliding Wave and Water Fang Bullet. I already gave you the scrolls for those two."
"Okay, Sister Tsunade. I'll practice diligently."
"Then there's wind release ninjutsu. Learn those three water release ninjutsu before practicing these wind release ninjutsu."
"I got you three in total, all B-rank ninjutsu."
"They're Wind Release: Pressure Damage, Wind Release: Wind Cutter, and Wind Release: Vacuum Sphere."
"Add in Wind Release: Vacuum Wave, which Uncle Yusuke left you before."
"That makes four B-rank wind release ninjutsu in total, enough to keep you practicing for a year or two."
"Sister Tsunade, I can already cast that Wind Release: Vacuum Wave, though I'm still very clumsy with it."
Nobuhiko told Tsunade with some pride.
"Really? Your talent has already exceeded my expectations."
Hearing Tsunade praise him, Nobuhiko began to feel rather full of himself.
"If only you could put all that energy you spend being lecherous into training!"
Tsunade sighed in exasperation at his failure to live up to his potential.
"Uh, I'll try, Sister Tsunade."
Nobuhiko, who had just begun feeling full of himself, felt as though Tsunade had pinned him to the ground and rubbed his face in the dirt again.
"I don't have wind release chakra, so I can't teach you much about practicing these wind release ninjutsu."
"But didn't the old man promise you yesterday? Whenever you run into problems with your training, you can go to his office and ask for advice. He's known throughout the shinobi world as the Professor of Ninjutsu and has mastered the Five Basic Nature Transformations. You need to make the most of such a good opportunity."
"I'll remember, Sister Tsunade."
"And not just when you have trouble with your training. If you sense any danger, or feel that someone is following or watching you, don't hesitate. Go straight to the old man's office and embellish your complaint a little. He'll take care of it."
"Don't worry, Sister Tsunade. I'll make sure to take good care of myself."
Feeling Tsunade's care and concern for him, Nobuhiko grew even more determined in his dark thought-Dan Katō had to die. Not even the Sage of Six Paths could save him!
If he doesn't die, I won't be able to take proper care of Tsunade in the future.
The grief his death brings Tsunade will be temporary, but the happiness I bring her in the future will last!
"As for the sealing jutsu scrolls Kushina gave you, you can ask her about anything you don't understand too. You have a teacher right there, so I won't say any more."
"Yes, I understand, Sister Tsunade."
"All right, I've said everything I needed to say. After I leave for the battlefield, just practice in the order I told you."