Naruto: Wooing Tsunade from Day One!

"You'll fight my clone," Kawakaze said, pointing to the duplicate standing next to him. It had only a small amount of chakra infused. "If you win, I'll agree to your terms. The same goes for you."

"Sensei, what do you have to agree to if you lose?" Yahiko asked hesitantly. He couldn't even imagine winning—the shadow of Kawakaze's strength loomed too large in his mind. He still remembered witnessing Kawakaze kill Hanzō firsthand.

"Have some ambition, and stop thinking about losing," Konan snapped, clearly annoyed.

Kawakaze nodded approvingly at Konan's words. He admired her resolve—after all, this was the same spirit that allowed her to dare to face Obito alone. However, before he could praise her, Konan suddenly switched gears, flashing a smile that was all too ingratiating.

"Sensei, I'm not hard to beat, so go easy on me," she said sweetly.

For a moment, Kawakaze was taken aback. Where did she learn to change her expression like that?

"Take this sword," Konan said, snapping him out of his thoughts. She formed a paper sword in her hand, disappearing in a flash of light.

The clone didn't dodge but raised its hand to block.

Bang!

Konan's paper sword collided with the clone's hand, triggering a violent explosion. She had incorporated Explosive Tags into her Paper Clone Technique, creating an effect similar to the Exploding Blade: Shibuki. This innovation was thanks to the Kenjutsu Kawakaze had taught her, which had enhanced her close-combat skills.

Kawakaze's lips curled into a small smile. Konan's surprise attack was well-executed. Using the Body Flicker Technique, he moved to observe the fight from the sidelines.

Yahiko seized the opportunity, forming a hand seal with both hands. A massive water dragon surged toward the clone. Its size showed just how much Yahiko's chakra reserves had grown since the last time.

"Not bad teamwork," Kawakaze remarked as he watched.

The clone blocked Konan's explosive attack, almost sustaining a wound on its arm. It quickly lifted its right foot, forcing Konan to retreat with a sharp kick. Immediately after, the clone unleashed a Lightning Release that obliterated Yahiko's water dragon.

Yahiko and Konan launched simultaneous attacks from the left and right. The clone, calm and composed, enveloped its entire body in lightning chakra, countering their moves with ease.

Despite their efforts, Yahiko and Konan's Taijutsu proved ineffective against the clone. It was a close-range fighter by nature, and their techniques, while improved, still felt like child's play.

"You should have changed your slash to a parry just now."

"And you should've aimed higher with that kick."

...

While battling the two, the clone continued to point out their weaknesses. Kawakaze was genuinely teaching, his demeanor taking on the seriousness of a proper Sensei.

"You can't win with this level of cooperation," the clone remarked as it exploited a flaw in their coordination, sending Yahiko and Konan flying with a single punch and kick.

"You still need to work on your teamwork," Kawakaze added firmly.

Yahiko and Konan landed hard but quickly exchanged determined glances. Their competitive spirits were ignited. Konan's wings unfolded behind her, while Yahiko strategically increased the distance between them and the clone.

"Interesting," the clone muttered with a smile before taking the initiative to attack.

In an instant, it disappeared from Konan's sight. When it reappeared, it was directly in front of Yahiko.

"Be careful!" Konan shouted, summoning a paper spear and hurling it with all her might at the clone.

"Water Release: Water Wall!" Yahiko reacted quickly, erecting a barrier to defend himself.

The clone kicked through the Water Wall with ease just as Konan's spear reached him. It dodged the spear, and Yahiko managed to evade as well. The moment the spear hit the ground, it detonated with tremendous force, creating a massive crater. If the clone had taken the hit directly, the damage would have been severe.

As the clone landed, it launched a bolt of lightning from its palm aimed at Konan. Her body instantly disintegrated into countless paper fragments, rendering the lightning ineffective.

The scattered papers quickly reassembled next to Yahiko. It was clear that one person alone wouldn't be enough to handle Kawakaze's clone.

"I'll go up and distract him. You find a chance," Yahiko said resolutely, gripping his kunai as he charged forward.

Konan spread her wings, slowly ascending into the air.

"Water Release: Watercutting Sword," Yahiko called out, coating his kunai in water chakra. Leaping high, he aimed a downward strike at the clone.

The clone didn't move to dodge. Instead, his right hand began to glow brightly as he countered Yahiko's attack with a powerful punch against the kunai.

"Now is the time!" Yahiko shouted. Konan acted instantly, her wings transforming into countless sharp paper thorns that shot toward the clone.

"This is for your flaws," the clone said with a smirk. In the next moment, it vanished from Yahiko's sight.

Konan, mid-attack in the air, suddenly became the target. The clone reappeared and delivered a swift kick, knocking her from the sky.

"Ah!" Konan cried out as she crashed to the ground.

"Konan!" Yahiko shouted, rushing over and catching her just in time. The two barely had a moment of relief before Yahiko felt a powerful force slam into his side, sending him flying.

"If you're this soft and sentimental, how will you go to war in the future?" the clone asked, stopping its movement as it held Konan by the collar. Her legs dangled in the air, kicking lightly in protest.

"Sensei, is Yahiko okay?" Konan asked, her tone filled with concern despite her position.

"What a pair of idiots," the clone muttered, releasing Konan and shaking its head with a mix of amusement and exasperation. They really are innocent, it thought. Without the tragedies of the original story, these two lacked a certain edge—but perhaps that wasn't such a bad thing.

Once on the ground, Konan hurried over to Yahiko and helped him up. "Yahiko, are you okay?" she asked, her voice filled with worry.

"It's nothing. Sensei held back," Yahiko replied, touching his side where he'd been hit. Despite the pain, he forced a smile to reassure her.

Bang! The shadow clone vanished, and Kawakaze stepped out from the sidelines, walking toward Yahiko and Konan.

"What can I say about you two?" he began. "Your strength is okay, but your adaptability needs work. If I'd been the enemy just now, you both would've died when Yahiko tried to save Konan."

Kawakaze shook his head, clearly dissatisfied with their performance. However, he didn't think Yahiko's instinct to save Konan was entirely wrong.

"I was just worried," Yahiko said, scratching his head awkwardly.

"i just kicked her, and she didn't die—but you did," Kawakaze retorted. "Are you trying to save her or kill yourself?"

His tone conveyed frustration, as though lamenting a failed plan. Clearly, this needs adjustment, he thought. Staying in Konoha and practicing behind closed doors wasn't enough—they lacked real combat experience.

"Sensei, it's my fault for not reacting fast enough," Konan admitted, lowering her gaze. "I didn't put enough power into my attack." She knew she hadn't used her full strength, which might have allowed her to dodge the clone's counter.

"This isn't a criticism session," Kawakaze replied. "As long as you recognize your mistakes, that's fine. Yahiko, what would you do if you were in the same situation again?"

"I... I would still save Konan," Yahiko said, his voice faltering. He wasn't lying; it was the truest answer in his heart.

"Haha, okay," Kawakaze laughed. "Then Konan will have to carry you back as punishment."

Yahiko was hopeless, Kawakaze thought with amusement. These love-struck teenagers must've gotten it from their Sensei.

"I don't think that's a good idea," Konan muttered, blushing as she fidgeted with the hem of her shirt.

"Sensei..." Yahiko began, but Kawakaze cut him off.

"What, are you unhappy? Hurry up," Kawakaze snapped. Startled, Konan scooped Yahiko up in a princess carry.

"Haha, that's a good look," Kawakaze said with a smirk before vanishing, leaving the two of them behind.

"Sensei~" the two groaned, wanting to protest but not daring to.

Konan, still carrying Yahiko, began walking step by step toward the Hatake Clan compound. The air between them grew quiet, almost unbearably so, as they made their way in silence.