By the time Kabuto Yakushi arrived on the sixth floor of the research base under Orochimaru's orders, all he found was an empty laboratory...
Pushing up his nonprescription glasses, the same kind worn by that schoolboy grim reaper, Kabuto Yakushi did some simple deduction and began to feel a headache coming on. For some reason, Naoki Senju, the Wood Release inheritor whom Lord Orochimaru valued so highly, always seemed to dislike him. This was probably another attempt to put him in his place...
"Still, perhaps this is an opportunity..."
The eyes hidden behind Kabuto Yakushi's round glasses gradually brightened. After tidying up the cluttered laboratory benches, he left the research base and headed toward the small wooden courtyard halfway up the mountain.
"Wood Release: Four Pillars House Technique."
Naoki Senju used Wood Release to expand the courtyard again. Although the original wooden house had plenty of spare rooms, there was no way Tsunade would agree to let Guren, a stranger, move in. Even this arrangement had taken Naoki a long time to coax her into accepting.
"Guren, this will be your home from now on."
Looking at the wooden house before her, unfamiliar yet reassuring, Guren found her feelings difficult to describe. In the end, she said gratefully:
"Thank you."
Seeing that she wasn't in particularly high spirits, Naoki Senju said nothing more. After all, Tsunade was still waiting for him inside...
"There are still some spare bedding and daily necessities from what you delivered last time. Just get yourself a set in a bit. I'll be going now."
Naoki Senju said his goodbyes impatiently. Before Guren could say anything, he dashed into the other wooden house like a gust of wind.
Guren stopped just as she was about to call out to Naoki. After looking around outside the wooden house, she stepped inside with anticipation.
From now on, this was her home...
"Lady Tsunade! Don't..."
"What's the big deal, Shizune? You need to massage these to make them bigger. Don't you want that?"
"No, it's so embarrassing..."
Accompanied by splashing water, snatches of conversation that would leave anyone blushing drifted outside.
Although Naoki Senju badly wanted to push open the door and enter right then, the thought of Tsunade's terrifying strength forced him to calm down.
Just as he was about to knock, he heard knocking from outside the courtyard.
Damn it, who would come at a time like this?
Naoki Senju cursed inwardly. Thinking of Tsunade's alluring appearance after her bath only worsened his mood.
When he opened the courtyard gate, familiar white hair and glasses came into view.
Kabuto Yakushi?
"Lord Naoki, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Kabuto Yakushi. Lord Orochimaru has ordered me to come assist with your research."
Kabuto Yakushi introduced himself politely and humbly. In his view, even if Naoki Senju was hostile toward him, surely he couldn't lash out under these circumstances.
Bang!
The gate slammed shut with a resounding noise. The gust raised by the closing wooden gate swept up Kabuto Yakushi's bangs, leaving him standing alone, disheveled in the wind.
Who am I?
Where am I?
What did I come here for?
After closing the courtyard gate, Naoki Senju continued grumbling curses.
"I thought it was something important, but that was it?"
The sound of the gate closing also alerted the people inside the courtyard. Guren poked her head out of a second-floor window in the wooden house and looked curiously at Naoki Senju below.
Tsunade's voice also came from inside.
"Naoki, what happened out there?"
"Nothing. Just a rat that showed up."
"A rat? Remember to ask Orochimaru for a few snakes later."
"Got it."
A rat???
Kabuto Yakushi, who had raised a foot to leave, froze where he stood. He had been humiliated and rebuffed three times in a row. Although Naoki Senju's methods were hardly sophisticated, he didn't have the slightest courage to retaliate.
It wasn't just the gap in status and strength. Naoki Senju's decisive, ruthless way of doing things, refusing to stop until he achieved his goal, frightened Kabuto Yakushi even more.
In truth, Kabuto Yakushi had simply been unlucky these past few times. The first time, Orochimaru's orders had set him up for trouble, making him actually attempt to stop Naoki Senju from meeting Tsunade. The second time was bad luck. And this time, with something good interrupted, it would have been strange if Naoki Senju hadn't been angry.
After Kabuto Yakushi left, Naoki Senju finally got his wish and saw Tsunade and Shizune in their yukata.
Tsunade wore a rather fashionable pink yukata with a wide-open neckline, brazenly displaying her overpowering figure. The pale skin below her neckline nearly blinded Naoki Senju.
By comparison, Shizune was much more conservative. A blue-green yukata tightly wrapped her delicate young body without revealing the slightest glimpse of anything. When Naoki Senju's intensely aggressive gaze swept over her, she shyly looked away.
"Brat, how long are you going to keep staring?"
With a swaying gait, Tsunade walked over to the small wooden table on the tatami and sat down, utterly casual and unconcerned about the lovely view of her exposed legs. She instructed:
"As payment for that eyeful, go make me a few dishes, then join me for a few drinks."
Naoki Senju took several long, hard looks at the enticing view at Tsunade's neckline, as though determined to get his money's worth, before finally going to prepare the food.
A plate of roasted young chicken, a plate of boiled edamame, and some casually grilled sea fish-these were Tsunade's favorite dishes to go with alcohol. For Naoki Senju's tastes, barbecue was definitely best. Unfortunately, Orochimaru's place didn't have much in the way of spices.
Although Naoki Senju was only fourteen that year, still a few months short of fifteen and nowhere near drinking age, in Tsunade's words, what was the point of living if you didn't drink?
So Tsunade forced Naoki Senju to have a few cups. Not only did Shizune fail to stop her, she was made to drink a few herself.
Although this was his first time drinking in this world, his tolerance was surprisingly good. After Shizune was drunk under the table, Tsunade also passed out with her face flushed red.
The drunken Tsunade was still mumbling, "Naoki... you really are... very different from Nawaki. But... that's good. Don't ever go becoming some Hokage, understand!"
"I know, I know."
Naoki Senju answered helplessly, slipped an arm beneath Tsunade's knees, and lifted her voluptuous body into a princess carry. He put her in the bedroom and tucked her in.
Then he carried Shizune over to Tsunade's side. Compared with Tsunade's terrible sleeping posture, Shizune was much better behaved. Even drunk, she didn't shout and make a fuss like Tsunade, instead lying quietly in Naoki Senju's arms, her rosy little mouth slightly open.
Seeing her young mistress being picked up, Tonton anxiously circled Naoki Senju's feet, squealing "oink, oink" without stopping.
After setting Shizune down, Naoki Senju impatiently picked up the endlessly noisy Tonton, taking the opportunity to check something important.
"Oh, a little sow. That's fine, then. Otherwise, we'd be having pork tonight."
Oink!!
Understanding his words, Tonton scurried on her four short little legs and hid trembling inside a wooden cabinet, cautiously watching Naoki Senju through a crack. She had never seen such a terrifying human!