Araki was not doing this entirely for Nawaki.
He had his own selfish reasons, too.
Leaving aside what Nawaki might achieve if he survived, even simply building a good relationship with the siblings, Tsunade and Nawaki, would give him invaluable connections and support.
"Of course!"
Nawaki answered firmly. At his age, he was full of youthful spirit. Making friends did not involve so many worldly constraints; if they got along and felt they clicked, it was easy to hit it off.
"You're a very good friend of mine!"
Nawaki patted his chest as he spoke, as though displaying his heart, his eyes utterly certain.
"Then... then... cut the crap!"
Araki spoke fiercely. He knew the gentle approach would not work, so he could only take a hard line. Nawaki looked warm and sunny, but deep down, he was extremely stubborn, rather like Tsunade.
Sometimes, the more you tried to persuade someone, the less it worked.
Being direct and forceful was more effective instead!
However...
He could not take that forceful approach right from the start.
To be able to say something like that, Araki had spent an entire afternoon laying the groundwork with Nawaki. Only when he felt their relationship could almost support such harsh words did he say it that way.
"Uh..."
Nawaki froze on the spot. He stared blankly at Araki, never having expected this easygoing-looking younger boy to suddenly display such an imposing presence.
A moment later.
Nawaki could not help letting out a breath.
"All right."
Nawaki relented. He vaguely felt that Araki's words just now had put their friendship on the line.
Did Araki really have something going on?
For a moment.
Nawaki could not figure it out.
Instead, he grew even more curious.
"Take me to see Lady Tsunade!"
Araki suddenly stood up and delivered the sentence smoothly, without a pause in his calm voice.
"Okay..."
Nawaki froze again. Even the way he looked at Araki changed somewhat. It felt as though Araki had become a different person, with a completely different presence from before. He was not even stuttering anymore.
Nawaki found it increasingly strange. He vaguely felt that Araki was very mysterious, but did not know how to express it, so he could only lead him onward.
The two left the tricolor dango shop and headed toward the center of Konoha.
Before long.
Nawaki led Araki to the door of Tsunade's home.
Knock, knock, knock...
Nawaki immediately knocked.
"Sis, open up. It's me."
Before the person inside could ask, Nawaki announced himself first. Clearly, this was their particular way of talking.
Creak...
Within a few breaths, Tsunade's door opened, and an attractive figure stood quite openly before Nawaki and Araki.
At that moment.
Tsunade had already changed into her loungewear.
She wore a pale yellow camisole that reached just past her navel and tight white shorts, perfectly displaying her stunning figure.
"This..."
Araki's pupils contracted sharply in that instant. His keen eyes swept over that deep cleavage before settling on the two prominent points that provided the perfect finishing touch.
Clearly...
She was wearing nothing underneath!
Araki had never expected to encounter such a sight. He stood frozen in the doorway, unable to react for a moment.
"What do you need me for?"
Tsunade looked listlessly at Nawaki. After a day of interviews, she was already exhausted and had just been about to rest.
Then.
She noticed Araki beside Nawaki.
"Araki, you're here too!"
Tsunade immediately reacted, her sleepy expression becoming much more alert, and she stepped out of the doorway.
"Come on in."
Tsunade walked straight into the house, her shapely figure looking extremely feminine from behind.
Only then.
Did Araki realize that although Tsunade did not possess the mature allure she had when she appeared in the anime, she was already in the prime of her twenties.
Her straight legs were fair, supple, and firm.
Her beautifully rounded bottom swayed with each step.
It was extremely eye-catching.
"Gulp..."
Araki could not help swallowing. In the three years since he had arrived in the ninja world, he had immersed himself in training day and night, rarely seeing any women at all.
He had more contact with cute girls like Kushina, but she was still only eight years old, after all.
So now, when he saw Tsunade, especially in this rarely seen state, an indescribable stirring welled up inside him.
Chapter 46: I Saw the Future
Tsunade, however, did not pay any attention to her appearance. She had always been carefree. In front of others, she would maintain a basic level of propriety, but in her own home, she would naturally do whatever felt most comfortable.
At present, Nawaki was the only person who would come to her home looking for her.
Araki's visit today was an exception.
However...
Tsunade did not pay Araki any particular mind.
In her eyes, Araki was still just a child. What could a child understand?
Nawaki and Araki entered Tsunade's home together.
There was an indescribable, delicate fragrance inside, though it was impossible to identify exactly what it smelled like. The place looked fairly neat overall, as though it had received some basic attention, but was not tidied regularly.
"What do you two need?"
Tsunade poured Nawaki and Araki a glass of water each, then sat casually on the floor, stretching her clear, fair feet straight out in front of Araki.
The sight.
Made Araki's attention wander a little.
It was not that he lacked self-control.
He really had been in this world for quite a long time without seeing many people, especially this young version of Tsunade, whose figure and looks were both at the very pinnacle of Konoha.
"Araki insisted on coming to see you. I couldn't do anything about it. Just ask him!"
Nawaki tossed the question straight to Araki. He really had no choice. He had not wanted to come here at all, much less offer any further explanation on the matter.
There was no way he would learn medical ninjutsu!
Absolutely not!
He had to learn abilities related to power!
Strength was the only thing that truly mattered!
Nawaki had a very thorough understanding of power. He knew that strength was the most important thing if he wanted to stand out in Konoha.
If he wanted Konoha to reign supreme over the ninja world, strength would still be what mattered.
His grandfather was his best example!
"Araki, what is it?"
Tsunade turned her attention to Araki and asked in a rather gentle voice. At the same time, she was filled with confusion and curiosity, having no idea what this disciple she had just accepted was thinking.
"Y-yes... there... there is..."
Araki hurriedly shook his head, reined in his slightly stirred feelings, drew a sharp, deep breath, and slowly let it out to calm himself.
Immediately afterward.
Araki looked into Tsunade's eyes, meeting her gaze.
He tried hard not to look down.
After all...
That expanse of fair skin was far too eye-catching.
"The thing... um... it's like... it's like this..."
Araki had originally planned to stop maintaining his stutter when he spoke to Tsunade here, passing it off as his mind having been healed by that peculiar phenomenon.
But now...