NOVEL NEXT Chapter 5: Shizune
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Natsume slept deeply, his exhaustion from the previous day knocking him out the moment he hit the bed. When he awoke, he stretched, put on his clothes, and stepped out of his room.
"Natsume, are you up?" Tsunade's voice called from the kitchen.
"Yeah, I'm awake," he responded, making his way to the kitchen.
Tsunade stood there, still in her sleeveless top, but now with an apron tied around her waist.
New look unlocked: Chef Mode.
Natsume couldn't help but notice how effortlessly she made even the simplest outfits look good. In his previous life, he'd thought Tsunade's style was ordinary, but it never detracted from her aura as a powerful, confident woman. Like a ripe peach—full, mature, and alluring.
"Go wash up," Tsunade said, not bothering to turn around.
Natsume entered the nearby bathroom, finding a new toothbrush and a plastic cup neatly arranged on the counter. Tsunade must have prepared it beforehand. He glanced back toward the kitchen, feeling a warmth grow in his chest. Despite her tough exterior, she had a nurturing side.
After finishing his morning routine, Natsume returned to find that Tsunade had prepared breakfast—rice balls.
"Taste it," Tsunade said, watching him closely, her bright brown eyes eager for his reaction.
Natsume hesitated before picking up a rice ball and taking a bite. His expression froze instantly. He wanted to compliment her, but his taste buds rebelled.
Oh gods, what is this? It's salty, sweet, and… something else I can't even describe. How does she manage to mess up rice balls?
"Uh, not bad," he said, trying to keep his voice steady.
Tsunade chuckled, clearly seeing through his facade, but she didn't seem upset—in fact, she found it amusing.
Nawaki used to say the same thing, she thought, smiling wistfully. Even when her cooking was terrible, he would eat it all with a grin. The memory brought a soft warmth to her heart.
"If you like it that much, I'll cook for you every day," she teased.
Natsume froze at the thought. In his mind, the words of a certain god from his previous life echoed: What a sin!
But he couldn't refuse her.
Natsume forced a smile, nodding. "Okay."
Tsunade's smile brightened as she picked up a rice ball herself. Even she had to admit it wasn't great, but the fact that Natsume was willing to eat it anyway made her feel more connected to him—like he was family. Just like her younger brother, Nawaki.
After breakfast, they prepared to head out. Tsunade put on her familiar green jacket with the word "Gamble" boldly written on the back. It was her signature look, though her gambling luck was notorious—just not in a good way.
"I'll buy you some new clothes later," Tsunade said, glancing at Natsume.
"No need to spend money on me," Natsume quickly replied, waving his hands in refusal.
"That won't do," Tsunade said, taking his hand and leading him outside. "Your current clothes don't suit that cute face of yours."
Natsume blinked, surprised by her comment.
Good grief. You're after my looks, huh? Well, since you're being honest, I won't hold back either.
As they left the house, they walked south through the village until they arrived at Konoha Hospital. Along the way, people continuously greeted Tsunade with excitement and admiration.
"Tsunade-sama!"
Her presence commanded respect. As one of the Legendary Sannin and the greatest medical ninja, Tsunade held a godlike status in Konoha, especially at the hospital.
Finally, they reached an office door.
"Tsunade-sama!" A middle-aged woman stood up from behind her desk, her voice filled with awe and joy.
"It's been a while, Yumi," Tsunade said with a smile. "Is Shizune around?"
"She's observing a surgery right now. Please wait a moment, Tsunade-sama. I'll go call her." Yumi glanced at Natsume, intrigued by the boy's appearance but not asking any questions before quickly leaving the office.
Tsunade patted the sofa beside her. "Natsume, sit here."
He obediently sat down.
"You'll be meeting a girl named Shizune soon. She's a relative of an old friend and has great potential in medical ninjutsu. I'm planning to take her on as my apprentice. You two should get along well."
Tsunade's fingers lightly brushed through his hair as she spoke, her voice soft. Natsume nodded.
"I will, Tsunade-nee."
He already knew who Shizune was—she had played a significant role in the original story. Though quiet and low-key, she was extremely talented, especially in medical ninjutsu. Eventually, she became Tsunade's loyal assistant and bodyguard.
Not long after, Yumi returned, leading a young girl into the room. The girl had a delicate face and wore a standard nurse's uniform. The moment she saw Tsunade, her reserved demeanor melted into excitement.
"Tsunade-sama!"
Shizune, at fourteen, had been waiting for this moment for years, training at the hospital in hopes that Tsunade would one day return. Her admiration was clear in her eyes.
"I've heard about your performance," Tsunade said, her tone more serious now. "From today onward, you'll be learning medical ninjutsu from me."
Shizune inhaled sharply, trying to steady her nerves. "Yes, Tsunade-sama!" she replied earnestly.
"Good." Tsunade smiled, then gestured toward Natsume. "This is Natsume, your junior. Take care of him, and both of you should learn from each other."
Natsume gave a polite nod. "Nice to meet you, Shizune-nee."
The words came out naturally, and they had the desired effect. Shizune's heart melted instantly.
"So cute!" she murmured, unable to resist patting Natsume's head. "I'll look after you from now on."
Am I in Motou Village? Why does everyone want to touch my head? Natsume thought, mildly exasperated. Especially you, Tsunade-nee. Well, I'll let you touch something else later…
Tsunade led Natsume and Shizune to a nearby clothing store, where she bought Natsume three new outfits. Afterward, they headed back home.
When they arrived at the front door, they found a familiar figure waiting for them.
It was none other than the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen.
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