Naruto: Starting with Tsunade-san

Tōshirō shrugged his shoulders and spread his hands. "I didn't say anything. Fine, I'll just find another place to train."

Right now, he needed to stay as far away from Tsunade as possible.

He knew Tsunade had feelings for him, but he decided to feign ignorance and act oblivious. Judging by Tsunade's level of tsundere behavior, she probably wouldn't directly confess.

But what if her patience ran out and she just attacked him head-on?

The thought made Tōshirō resolve to limit their interactions, especially in public.

Wait, this isn't the response I wanted... Tsunade screamed internally, though her face remained calm. She called out casually, "Wait, wait."

Tōshirō paused, turned around, and looked at her with a puzzled expression. "What is it?"

Tsunade smiled slyly, subtly drawing attention to her white thigh-high socks. She deliberately placed her hands behind her back, swaying her slender waist and walking gracefully toward him.

A breeze blew through, lifting her golden hair into a shimmering dance in the morning light.

The floral fragrance of her presence wafted over, tickling Tōshirō's nose.

Catching the faint scent emanating from her hair and body, Tōshirō resisted the urge to take a deeper sniff. He maintained a composed expression. "What is it?"

Damn it! He's completely unfazed… Tsunade puffed her lips slightly before reaching into the pouch hanging from her hip and pulling out a scroll. She handed it to him. "Here's what I promised you."

Tōshirō's eyes lit up as he recalled their previous discussion. He happily took the scroll, thanked her, and eagerly unrolled it to examine the contents.

Hmm…

Tōshirō frowned. This wasn't what he expected.

Where's the Adamantine Chains technique?

Instead, it was an obscure jutsu he didn't recognize.

Does she think I can't read or something?

Before he could complain, Tsunade spoke first, "I know what you're thinking, but the Adamantine Chains sealing technique isn't something you can master overnight. Besides, you don't know the first thing about sealing jutsu, and you're not even from the Uzumaki clan. If I gave it to you now, you wouldn't understand a thing."

Her explanation was half-true. Tsunade had no intention of giving Tōshirō the Adamantine Chains technique right away. If she did, how would she use this opportunity to impress him, make him notice her, and eventually depend on her—leading to a confession?

"Fine."

Hearing her reasoning, Tōshirō begrudgingly admitted she had a point. Mastering ninjutsu wasn't as simple as mimicking hand signs; it required a deep understanding of the underlying principles.

To comprehend the Adamantine Chains and integrate it with his Ice Release, he would need to start with the basics of sealing jutsu.

"You've put a lot of thought into this," he said sincerely.

"I-I haven't! It's not like I'm doing this for you or anything!"

Tsunade turned her face away, trying to sound indifferent while suppressing the joy bubbling inside her. Gently coaxing, she added, "Now, how about calling me 'Tsunade-sensei'? Just for practice."

Tōshirō froze. "Tsunade-sensei?"

Raising her eyebrows sternly, Tsunade glared at him. "What? Got a problem with that?"

Tōshirō flinched slightly. "No, nothing."

Tsunade placed one hand on her hip, deliberately posing with her snow-white thigh-high socks on full display. "Don't get the wrong idea. It's not like I want to teach you or anything. I'm just repaying a debt. I figured you wouldn't understand the sealing techniques otherwise, so I'm reluctantly teaching you."

Tōshirō muttered under his breath, "You say that like you actually know sealing techniques."

In both the original storyline and his current experience, Tsunade had always struck him as a fists-first kind of person. Sealing techniques? Never heard of her using them.

Pretending not to hear him, Tsunade pouted slightly. "True, I don't know sealing techniques. But don't forget—my grandmother is the strongest sealing ninja alive. I can teach you through her knowledge. Makes sense now, doesn't it?"

Tōshirō clicked his tongue. "What a hassle…"

Tsunade smirked. "You think it's a hassle? I think it's a hassle too!"

"If it's such a bother, I can just study on my own."

"Excuse me? Are you kidding? Do you think sealing techniques are that easy to learn? Without guidance, you'd never master them! If you hadn't saved me, I wouldn't even bother teaching you!"

"Alright, alright, I get it. Why are you so worked up?" Tōshirō sighed reluctantly. "Tsunade-sensei, happy now?"

If it weren't for wanting to improve his skills, he wouldn't have called her that.

Hearing the word sensei, Tsunade felt so elated she nearly floated away, losing all sense of direction. Her face turned red as steam seemed to rise from her head, and she collapsed weakly to the ground.

Seeing this, Tōshirō thought something had happened to her and stepped forward to help her up.

Slap!

Panicking when she saw his outstretched hand, Tsunade instinctively slapped it away with all her strength.

Tōshirō silently looked at his now-red, swollen palm.

Tsunade clasped her hands over her chest, her slender eyebrows slightly drooping as a guilty expression spread across her face.

He was just trying to help me... she thought, feeling bad about her reaction. Her lips parted slightly, and she muttered weakly, "Are you okay...?"

Tōshirō shook his head with a light laugh. "Don't worry about it. I was just thinking how strong you are, Tsunade. That slap made it feel like my hand was about to crack. It's like being hit by a gorilla."

As he finished speaking, a fist suddenly filled his vision.

"Wait, I was just jok—"

Before he could finish, Tsunade's punch sent him flying backward. He only stopped when he crashed into a rock wall and crumpled to the ground, a massive bump forming on his head.

....

"You ungrateful jerk! Is this how you repay your savior?!"

After using Mystical Palm Technique to heal him, Tsunade puffed out her cheeks angrily. "If you dare call me something like that again, I swear you won't live to see tomorrow's sunrise."

Seeing her sharp, threatening gaze, Tōshirō didn't dare say a word and stayed silent.

Afterward, Tsunade began teaching Tōshirō everything she had learned from Mito.

Before they knew it, the sky and earth were bathed in the orange hues of twilight. Seeing that it was getting late, Tōshirō stopped training and called out to the person swinging her white-socked legs from a tree branch.

"It's getting late. I'm heading back to sleep."

It's over already? Sitting in the tree, Tsunade felt the happy moments had flown by too quickly.

"Time sure does fly. Well, now it's all up to you. Don't embarrass me as your teacher."

She jumped down from the tree, landing without making a sound, showcasing her mastery of taijutsu.

If it weren't for his Sharingan, Tōshirō admitted Tsunade's pure taijutsu skills might actually surpass his own by a small margin.

"Alright, I'm off."

"Mm, see you."

Without any hesitation, the two turned and walked in opposite directions, their stoic faces lit by the glow of the setting sun.

However, as they passed each other, their expressions faltered for just a moment.

.....

What an idiot! Tsunade fumed internally, her mind a chaotic mess.

She had dressed up carefully today to get his attention, even wearing white lace-trimmed thigh-high socks to make sure he couldn't take his eyes off her, hoping he'd finally fall for her and confess.

But to her dismay, Tōshirō, the lazy fool, had shown no reaction the entire time, as if he were blind.

Aren't you an Uchiha?

Where are your eyes? Where is your Sharingan?

Couldn't you at least say something? Acknowledge me, you idiot!

Or... was it that she had no feminine charm at all?

She remembered how Tōshirō used to mock her as a tomboy when they were younger.

Tsunade unconsciously touched her less-than-impressive chest and sank into depression once more.

Should I just be straightforward and ask for his opinion?

The thought surfaced briefly before Tsunade shook her head violently.

No, no, no, that won't work!

That would just make it seem like she had worn the white stockings specifically for him.

Besides, he's not even my...

"Hoho, so you like me, Tsunade? You should've just said so. I wouldn't mind granting you a spot among my future wives."

Imagining that scene made Tsunade grind her teeth in frustration. She decided to swallow this loss for now.

Damn it, Tōshirō. You'd better remember this.

One day, I'll make you realize my charm and have you fall head over heels for me.

Just like your ancestor, Uchiha Madara, lost to my grandfather in battle, in this war of love and confessions, you, an Uchiha, will lose to me, a Senju. It's fate!

With her determination reignited, Tsunade's eyes sparkled with resolve. She decided to go home and carefully plan her next steps.

Meanwhile, Tōshirō's face remained composed, but inside, his heart was pounding wildly.

(End of Chapter)

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