Chapter 29: A Familiar Name
The backyard had fallen into a mix of laughter and groans as Kiyoshi lay sprawled on the ground, bruised and thoroughly humbled.
"That," Tsunade declared, dusting off her hands, "was a lesson."
Kiyoshi coughed, rolling onto his back. "A beating. That was a beating."
Tsunade smirked. "Same thing."
Rika was still laughing like this was the best thing she'd ever seen, while Sayaka had settled into amused silence. Shigeru, ever the mediator, simply shook his head, and Emiko? Well… she was pouting hard.
"Tsunade-nee-san, that was too much!" she huffed, stomping over to help Kiyoshi up. "He's not used to thisa kind of training!"
"If he wants to survive in this world, he better get used to it." Tsunade cracked her knuckles before glancing at Rika. "Speaking of training…"
Rika froze. "Huh?"
"You're still sloppy." Tsunade jabbed a finger at her. "Your stance is good, but your footwork's all over the place. You hesitate too much when closing in, and you waste energy on unnecessary movements."
"Rika felt a chill run down her spine, but she listened carefully as Tsunade went on, giving her a few pointers—adjusting her footing, showing her a more efficient way to dodge, and even demonstrating how to put more force behind her punches without overextending."
Kiyoshi watched, still catching his breath. It was clear that despite her teasing, Tsunade took Rika's progress seriously. There was something oddly nostalgic about seeing her in this role—not just the powerhouse, but a mentor.
Finally, as the sun began dipping lower, Tsunade clapped her hands. "Alright. That's enough for today."
Sayaka raised an eyebrow. "You're actually leaving without another fight?"
"I've done what I came for." Tsunade stretched her arms, then turned toward Kiyoshi. "But before I go…"
She gestured for him to step closer.
Kiyoshi narrowed his eyes but obeyed, still a little wary after his 'lesson.' "What?"
"You wanted something from me, didn't you?" Tsunade said, tilting her head. "An exchange."
Kiyoshi stiffened. Oh.
He had never said it outright, but Tsunade had clearly picked up on his interest. She wasn't someone who handed out favors easily—if she was bringing this up, it meant she had an offer in mind.
"…And?" he asked cautiously.
Tsunade smirked. "I'll teach you how integrate chakra enhanced strength into your taijutsu."
Silence.
Rika choked. "W-Wait, seriously? You want to train him?"
Kiyoshi, on the other hand, was already processing the implications.
Tsunade wasn't just strong—she was legendary. Learning hand-to-hand combat from her would put him in an entirely different league. It wasn't just about improving his Taijutsu; it was an opportunity.
If he trained under Tsunade, he'd be able to interfere.
The Special Event Spin wasn't just about major battles—it was about key moments in history. If he could subtly influence Tsunade's journey, shape events in ways that mattered…
Would that be enough?
Would that be enough to push him toward the Legendary Spin?
His heart pounded. This was a gamble. A huge one.
But it was also an opportunity he couldn't afford to waste.
Kiyoshi exhaled, straightening his posture.
"…Alright," he said. "I'll do it."
Tsunade's grin widened, and for a brief moment, Kiyoshi wondered if he had just made a deal with the devil.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, Tsunade cracked her neck and stretched lazily. "Be at my house by morning," she said, giving Kiyoshi a pointed look. "Don't be late."
And with that, she turned and walked off, leaving behind a slightly sore but undeniably excited Kiyoshi.
The backyard had settled into a more relaxed atmosphere now that Tsunade was gone. Shigeru, Sayaka, Rika, and Emiko gathered around, casually chatting. Sayaka had already returned to her usual warm demeanor, gently scolding Kiyoshi about taking care of himself while preparing something for him to take home.
Rika, on the other hand, leaned toward Kiyoshi with a sly grin. "So… what about your first mission? You've been back for a while, but you never told us what you did."
Kiyoshi shrugged, keeping his voice casual. "Just an escort mission. Nothing special."
Rika groaned. "Boring."
Kiyoshi simply smirked, but before the conversation could continue, he noticed Emiko standing beside him, unusually quiet. Her head was slightly lowered, her expression downcast.
Frowning, he turned to her. "What's wrong?"
Emiko hesitated before speaking softly. "I misjudged you," she murmured. "I thought… you didn't want to meet me anymore."
Kiyoshi blinked in surprise. "That's not it," he said quickly. "There's just been too much on my schedule. Training, missions… things got busy."
Emiko looked up at him, pouting slightly. "Yeah… and creating a new jutsu too."
Kiyoshi coughed, suddenly feeling guilty. Minato, forgive me.
Shifting the topic, he frowned as a thought struck him. "By the way, Emiko… is there a red-haired girl in your class? Name's Kushina Uzumaki?"
Emiko tilted her head. "Yeah, there is. She's always angry about something. And there's this blonde boy always sticking to her, trying to calm her down. Everyone in class calls her 'Red-Hot Habanero' or something."
Kiyoshi raised an eyebrow. "And you?"
Emiko shook her head. "I don't call her that. It sounds rude."
She then narrowed her eyes at him, suddenly suspicious. "Why do you ask about Kushina?"
Kiyoshi waved her off with a casual shrug. "No reason." Before she could press further, he smoothly changed the subject. "So, how's your jutsu training going?"
Emiko huffed, but she allowed the conversation to shift, launching into a discussion about her recent progress.
The conversation continued until the evening grew late. As Kiyoshi finally got up to leave, Sayaka handed him a neatly packed box of food. "Take this with you. And remember, you can come anytime."
Kiyoshi accepted it with a small smile. "Thanks."
With that, he left, making his way home as the quiet night settled around him.
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