Naruto: Starting with Tsunade-san

Tsunade nodded politely. "What is it you want to say to me?"

"May I call you Tsunade?"

"Sure."

Tsunade was fairly well-known in the village. While she might not know everyone, most people knew her.

"Tsunade, are you currently liking anyone?"

Dan's blunt question caught Tsunade completely off guard, leaving her wide-eyed and speechless.

"Uh, no, I'm not liking anyone."

"Ha! That's great news—it means I have a chance."

Dan Kato flashed a bright, cheerful smile. Despite the boldness of his statement, there was something about his sincerity that made it hard to dislike him.

Tsunade paused. "A chance? You mean… that kind of thing?"

As if confirming her suspicion, Dan nodded.

"We barely know each other, right? For you to say something like that, you must've looked into me a bit. You should know my temper isn't exactly friendly like most girls'."

Since Dan looked like an earnest and decent person, Tsunade didn't immediately lash out.

"Well, how should I put it... Part of it is love at first sight. But mainly, I've noticed how serious you are when treating patients. You're an incredibly dedicated person.

"People around you also say that while your temper is different from most girls—more outspoken—you're actually someone who genuinely helps others. A kind-hearted girl."

"I want to get to know you better, Tsunade. That's why I want to give this a try and see if we can date."

Dan had a younger sister, three years his junior, who was Tsunade's classmate. She admired Tsunade greatly and often talked about her. As a result, Dan had paid more attention to Tsunade and gradually developed feelings for her.

Initially, his interest alone wasn't enough to push him to confess.

However, his sister had recently died on a mission, and this tragedy caused a shift in his perspective. Life was fragile and fleeting, as delicate as glass. He realized he might also fall victim to fate someday, so he decided to act on his feelings now to avoid future regrets.

Meanwhile, Jiraiya, Tōshirō, and Orochimaru, who were secretly spying, were stunned.

Dan's understanding of Tsunade was surprisingly accurate. As he described, Tsunade might seem hot-headed on the surface, but she was actually a kind and gentle soul. Not to mention, she was stunningly beautiful.

From this perspective, his motivation seemed reasonable enough.

The issue, however, was… who was this guy, and where did he come from?

Great. They hadn't found the person stealing Tsunade's heart yet, but here they were stumbling upon someone else planning to steal it.

"Ha! Love at first sight? More like lust at first sight," Jiraiya muttered with disdain. "What a beast."

"Of all people, you're the least qualified to say that," Orochimaru and Tōshirō muttered in unison, throwing him unimpressed looks.

Still, Tōshirō couldn't help but think, Is this Dan Kato the same one from the original story?

Didn't he confess to Tsunade after her brother's death?

Or maybe he tried earlier, got rejected, and then decided to bide his time, waiting for the right opportunity to strike again.

As Tōshirōguessed, Tsunade didn't overthink it and rejected Dan outright.

Faced with Dan Kato's enthusiastic confession, Tsunade rejected him calmly. It was only natural—who would accept a confession from a stranger? Not to mention, she already had someone in her heart, leaving no room for anyone else.

Dan wasn't surprised by the outcome; he had expected it. His threshold for rejection was high, so he wasn't too discouraged. "Haha, that makes sense. In hindsight, I should've started by suggesting we become friends first. I guess I was too hasty."

"Even if we started as friends, I still wouldn't accept your confession," Tsunade added firmly to ensure he gave up.

Like many rejected people, Dan couldn't help but ask, "Why? Do you already have someone you like? For example... Tōshirō?"

"Huh?!"

Caught off guard, Tsunade's eyes widened in shock.

Meanwhile, among the three eavesdroppers, two pairs of eyes were glaring at someone in disbelief.

"You guys know me—I'm a chest guy!"

Tōshirō frantically shook his head, trying to clear his name.

This was absurd. He couldn't believe he'd been dragged into the conversation.

Damn it, how did Dan figure out that Tsunade might like him?

Jiraiya took a deep breath, forcing himself to stay calm and continue listening to the conversation.

Tsunade was stunned but tried to maintain her composure. "Why… Why would you bring up Tōshirō? Do you know him?"

"Of course. Tōshirōis famous in the village—a genius from the Uchiha clan. Even though he doesn't have the Sharingan, he's still the strongest of their younger generation. His unique personality also makes him stand out. It'd be strange not to know him.

"As for why I thought of him, it's because you're often seen together, and your relationship seems pretty close. That's why I assumed."

Tsunade sighed in relief. It seemed like Dan was just speculating. "If closeness counts, then Jiraiya and Orochimaru should qualify too."

Dan shook his head and replied thoughtfully, "Jiraiya is too outgoing, and Orochimaru is too reserved. Tōshirō falls perfectly in the middle, making him the most likely candidate based on probability."

Tsunade nodded. "If you look at it that way, it does make sense. But I don't like him. Besides, I'm not interested in dating anyone right now."

Yeah, right.

Tsunade added this thought to herself.

Dan chuckled. He hadn't expected much anyway. "Tsunade, let's make a bet."

"A bet?"

Hearing the word bet, Tsunade perked up immediately.

"Yeah, a bet. I bet that you'll have a boyfriend within six years. How about it?"

Tsunade scoffed, unwilling to admit defeat. "Fine! A bet it is. Who's afraid of you?"

Knowing her tendency to lose bets, she felt confident she'd win this time.

"What are we betting?"

Dan rubbed his chin and smiled. "If I win, you'll agree to be my friend."

"And if you lose?"

"I'll give you half of the earnings from all my missions over the next six years. How about that?"

Dan figured he'd likely become a Jōnin within a few years, which would significantly boost his mission rewards. Since his household only consisted of his father, he didn't have much to spend his money on anyway.

Tsunade was taken aback. "That's it?"

"Yeah, that's it."

Puzzled, Tsunade asked, "Why six years? And why just friendship?"

Dan explained, "First, six years because by then, we'll both be adults with fully matured perspectives. As for friendship, isn't that the foundation for any romantic relationship?"

Tsunade raised an eyebrow. "If you're not giving up, why bet on me having a boyfriend within six years?"

Dan grinned. "Because the person I'm betting on is myself."

Tsunade was speechless. This guy's confidence was off the charts.

Still, she didn't dislike it.

Not because she had feelings for Dan, but because his confession reminded her of her own charm. It was flattering to realize she still had it.

Hmph, Tōshirō, are you seeing this? This girl still has plenty of admirers!

Better act fast, or I might just run off with someone else!

Hehe.

As Tsunade basked in her inner triumph, a familiar and irritated voice called out from a distance, "Hey! Don't push your luck! How long are you planning to hang around Tsunade?!"

(End of Chapter)

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