"Am I supposed to believe that?"
Yuzuru suddenly inherited Kakashi's dead-fish eyes.
"You still smell of alcohol."
Tsunade: ...
"Children really shouldn't be this clever."
"You forgot I was coming this afternoon!"
Yuzuru exposed her lie outright.
Seeing this, Tsunade simply stopped pretending. "Fine, I admit it. I did forget, but you can't blame me for that. I suddenly have an apprentice. I'm still getting used to it."
Yuzuru was so annoyed by this that he laughed.
"So you're saying it's my fault?"
"I never said that."
Tsunade blinked.
"Heh."
Not bothering to argue with her, Yuzuru held out his hand. "Teacher, I accept your apology, but I want compensation!"
"No! I don't have any money!"
Tsunade plopped onto the sofa, looking as though she would sooner give up her life than hand over money.
"I don't want money. Besides, my gambling addict of a teacher probably doesn't have any. I want ninjutsu. You can't justify not teaching me anything, right? At least give me one technique so I can study it myself when I have nothing to do."
Yuzuru looked at Tsunade, who was reclining on the sofa with her shapely figure on display. Even though he wanted to stay serious, his automatic target lock still couldn't help activating a few times.
He really couldn't be blamed for that. It was simply instinct.
Seemingly feeling a pang of conscience, Tsunade didn't refuse.
"What ninjutsu do you want?"
"I'm not picky, but preferably something A-rank or above. Water Release would be best. Of course, I could reluctantly accept Wind Release too."
"You really dare to dream, brat. Asking for A-rank ninjutsu right off the bat."
Tsunade rolled her eyes in exasperation.
"But with your talent... tsk, fine. Wait here. I'll find you a couple of suitable water release ninjutsu."
Hearing this, Yuzuru grew expectant.
Tsunade was loaded, after all, and any Water Release she brought out was bound to have been used by the evil Tobirama Senju.
Tsunade got up and went into one of the rooms. After a while, she came out with two scrolls and tossed them straight to Yuzuru.
Yuzuru caught them and eagerly opened them to take a look.
B-rank, Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!
A-rank, Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique!
Most importantly, this Water Dragon Bullet Technique was the version Tobirama had improved, with the same six hand seals Kosuke used!
Yuzuru's eyes lit up at once.
A Water Dragon Bullet Technique with six hand seals was completely different from one with dozens.
Being a step faster meant always having the initiative!
Tsunade really was well-endowed, in every respect.
Seeing how happy Yuzuru was, Tsunade couldn't help rolling her eyes. "Off you go. Come see me once you've learned them."
"?"
Wait, you're really leaving me to my own devices?
Yuzuru stared at Tsunade in shock. Kushina couldn't take it either and quickly tugged on Tsunade's clothes.
"What's wrong?"
Tsunade, on the other hand, saw nothing strange about it and looked at Kushina in confusion.
"Um, Tsunade, this is A-rank ninjutsu. You're really making Yuzuru learn it on his own?"
Kushina explained.
"Oh, that. This brat is more capable than you think. The fact that he can develop ninjutsu himself already shows how precise his chakra control is. As for A-rank ninjutsu, although it requires mastery of chakra nature transformation, that shouldn't be difficult for him."
After saying this, Tsunade suddenly thought of something and looked at Yuzuru. "If you really get stuck on nature transformation, you can come ask me anytime."
"Really anytime?"
Yuzuru looked at her doubtfully.
"I'm generally here around this time."
Tsunade also felt that wasn't quite right and quickly added another sentence.
"This time?"
Yuzuru glanced outside. Yes, the moon was certainly big.
Looking at his doubtful expression, Tsunade immediately clenched her fist.
"It's getting late. Kushina, Teacher, I'll head home now."
Yuzuru quit while he was ahead and fled with a Body Flicker Technique.
"What a practiced Body Flicker Technique."
Seeing how fast Yuzuru's Body Flicker Technique was, a trace of surprise crossed Kushina's face.
Tsunade raised her eyebrows, then got up and headed toward her room.
"I'm going to bed."
"Oh."
After returning home, Yuzuru put away the scrolls and dispelled his two shadow clones.
The familiar headache struck, and Yuzuru promptly fell into bed and went to sleep.
The next day, in a rare departure from his routine, he didn't attend class himself, sending a shadow clone to school instead.
Once he reached the classroom, Kurenai was as lively as ever. However, when she saw today's "Yuzuru," she noticed something different.
"I'm a shadow clone. The original is learning new ninjutsu."
"Yuzuru" explained to Kurenai.
"Oh, I see."
Kurenai thumped her right fist into her left palm with a look of understanding, but a second later, her whole mood soured.
"So that means I won't get to see Xiao Xian today! Ugh."
Seeing Kurenai lose all her energy, "Yuzuru" smiled slightly and said nothing more.
Kurenai soon perked up again and looked at "Yuzuru."
"Could you attend class for me too?"
"Me?"
"Yuzuru" looked at her in surprise.
"Yes, yes! Make a clone, then use the Transformation Technique. That way, I can sneak out. I need to hurry up and learn the Shadow Clone Technique so I can practice ninjutsu with Xiao Xian!"
"It's doable."
Without wasting words, "Yuzuru" created another copy of himself, then used the Transformation Technique to turn himself into Kurenai.
This shadow clone had too little chakra to use the Shadow Clone Technique, so he could only use the simplest Clone Technique. Although it had flaws, it was enough for the moment-at least, it was more than enough to fool this bunch of children and the chunin and genin teachers teaching their classes.
"Hehe, I'm off, then!"
With that, Kurenai also used the Transformation Technique and slipped out of the classroom through a window. She walked openly out of the school and headed straight for the Hatake Clan's home.
At that moment, Yuzuru himself was studying the Water Dragon Bullet Technique, while the shadow clone beside him continued studying Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals.
Kakashi and Sakumo were still absent, both having gone out on missions.
After familiarizing himself with the Water Dragon Bullet Technique's hand seals and chakra flow, Yuzuru made his first attempt.
Rat-Ox-Tiger-Snake-Horse-Rooster!
"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!"
As a large amount of chakra gathered in his mouth, Yuzuru spat out a thick, long water dragon that charged toward his shadow clone.
"Yuzuru" glanced at the incoming Water Dragon Bullet Technique, not even bothering to turn his head. A huge ice wall suddenly dropped out of the air and blocked its path in front of him. Just before the Water Dragon Bullet Technique touched the ice wall, it began to slowly freeze from the terrifying cold the wall emitted. However, with too little time and insufficiently low temperature, it shattered with a crisp crack when it struck the ice wall.
This was because the ice wall's temperature was lower, around minus eighty degrees, and its hardness was far beyond that of the water dragon, which had only just reached a subzero temperature and frozen.
"Sure enough, I need to keep working hard on chakra control. It makes learning ninjutsu twice as effective for half the effort."
Yuzuru was thoroughly satisfied as he looked at the water dragon he had spat out.
As for the shadow clone, he continued trying to enter the ice mirror.
By now, he had gradually begun to get the hang of it and could already move half his body into the ice mirror's space. He estimated that he would fully master this secret technique in a month at most.