Naruto: Starting with Tsunade-san

The voice of the young man behind her carried a tone of sincerity. Tsunade's shoulders trembled slightly as she stopped in place, her back facing him. She bit her lip and asked, "Why do you want me to stay?"

Tōshirō, staring at her back, hesitated before speaking, "Tsunade… does what you said before still hold true?"

"..."

The response was a heavy silence.

Love...

Such a simple word, yet at this moment, it felt impossible to voice. Even when he mustered all his courage, the words would retreat back into his throat the moment they were about to escape his lips.

Tōshirō closed his eyes, as if gathering every ounce of his bravery, took a deep breath, and said hesitantly, "Tsunade, we've always been like partners, right?"

"Mm..."

"But now, I want to tell you… I don't want to remain just partners anymore. The feelings in my heart are urging me to take a step closer, Tsunade…"

"Is that... even possible for me? I'm probably not your type. I have a bad temper, I snap easily, and I'm nothing like the ideal, graceful woman you must have in mind. More importantly... I'm flat-chested."

Tsunade turned to face him, looking him in the eyes.

"Feelings are... complicated things, aren't they?"

Tōshirō met her gaze with determination. "I… I like you. I like you in the way a man likes a woman."

Tsunade's eyes widened slightly, and she remained silent.

"I want us to officially be in a relationship—a relationship with marriage as the goal. Even if our families object, I'll fight to be with you."

Tsunade: ...

After a long pause, Tsunade, who had been staring at Tōshirō, exhaled softly, her cheeks flushed. "You're really this bold to say it out loud, huh..."

"There are things that a man should be brave enough to say."

Tsunade lowered her head, burying it in her chest, muttering softly.

"And... what's your answer?"

"...I like you. I like you the most."

Having said it all in one breath, Tsunade's shyness overtook her. Her face turned bright red, the blush spreading to her ears. "Ugh, I can't believe I just blurted it out like that."

"Then, from now on, please take care of me... my girlfriend. I like you as much as you like me."

Tsunade gazed at him tenderly. "Mm, okay. I'm willing to be your girlfriend. Please take care of me from now on..."

The two exchanged smiles, leaning on each other.

While they poured their hearts out to one another, neither noticed the eye peeking through the crack in the door. The blonde woman, munching on a metaphorical serving of "dog food" as she witnessed their lovey-dovey interaction, was utterly bewildered.

What's going on!?

When had she ever had a boyfriend like this?

Just then, a voice dripping with resentment sounded behind her. "Lady Tsunade…"

The blonde woman was so engrossed in spying that she didn't respond, even when her name was called.

The person behind her frowned in annoyance and poked her shoulder.

"What is it? Can't you see I'm busy?"

The blonde woman turned around, grumbling, only to see a delicate face framed by short black hair. The figure wore fishnet undergarments, a kimono-like top, and held a small pig in her hands.

Realizing it was the disciple she had abandoned earlier, the blonde woman's guilt showed in her awkward smile.

"Oh, Shizune..."

The young woman named Shizune looked at her with deep resentment.

"Lady Tsunade, how could you abandon me like that?"

Before Shizune could voice her complaints, the blonde woman quickly covered her mouth with one hand and raised a finger to her lips with the other, signaling for silence.

"If you understand, nod," the blonde Tsunade whispered.

"Mm-hmm..."

Shizune, with her mouth covered and her eyes wide, reluctantly nodded.

"Good."

The blonde Tsunade slowly released her hand.

This Tsunade was the older version of the younger Tsunade inside the room—the same person, but from a different timeline or world.

"Lady Tsunade, what's going on here?"

Shizune, still confused, glanced around cautiously and lowered her voice.

"Just look for yourself."

The elder Tsunade gestured toward the door crack, prompting Shizune to lean in.

Peeking through, Shizune saw a girl nestled against a boy's chest, her face filled with happiness.

Uh...

As a nearly 30-year-old single woman, Shizune was force-fed a hefty dose of "dog food." She instantly felt miserable and cast a resentful glare at her master.

Lady Tsunade, abandoning me is bad enough, but now you're feeding me this display of romance? Have you no conscience!?

But then she remembered that her master was over fifty and still single, and she felt a little better.

"Lady Tsunade, why are you showing me this?"

The elder Tsunade lowered her voice further. "Shizune, don't you think that girl looks a lot like me?"

Shizune froze. Is my master… finally interested in men?

However, through the crack, observing the younger Tsunade in secret, one had to admit that the two looked quite similar. If someone said they were mother and daughter, it wouldn't be surprising.

"Who is she? Your relative?"

"Uh… how should I put this…" The older Tsunade scratched her cheek awkwardly. "That girl… seems to be the past version of me."

"I see… your past self…" Shizune started to respond, but then her eyes widened in disbelief. "Lady Tsunade, are you joking?"

"I'm not joking…"

Tsunade shook her head with a bitter smile and gave Shizune a brief explanation.

In recent days, the older Tsunade had exchanged conversations with the younger Tsunade and gained some understanding of her situation.

It seemed that due to the powerful chakra from the Dragon Vein beneath Roran, the younger Tsunade had been transported through time to the future.

Given her experience, Tsunade knew that certain jutsu defied logic. So, a time-traveling jutsu, while rare, wasn't entirely impossible.

Shizune's mind was in chaos, but she forced herself to accept it. "Then that boy is your past lover? He's quite handsome. I didn't expect Lady Tsunade to have had such a relationship." She glanced at the boy cuddling with the younger Tsunade and made her assumptions.

Tsunade smiled bitterly and shook her head. "I really don't know."

Shizune looked confused, her expression suggesting disbelief. "Huh? You don't know? Isn't he your lover? How could you not know?"

"I really don't know!"

Tsunade wasn't lying—she truly had no idea.

In her memory, there was no impression of someone like Tōshirō . Let alone the possibility of him developing a romantic relationship with her past self.

Inside the room, the younger Tsunade blinked her wide, sparkling eyes as she leaned against Tōshirō's chest. Her slender fingers traced circles on his chest. Suddenly, as if a thought crossed her mind, she mischievously squinted her eyes and touched his chest muscles.

"What are you doing?"

Tōshirō, caught off guard by her touch during their intimate moment, was baffled by her action. "Are you… taking advantage of me?"

Tsunade grinned mischievously. "Oh, nothing. I was just curious."

"???"

"So, this is what a man's chest feels like—firm and solid. Unlike a woman's, which feels soft and comforting to touch."

Tsunade's gaze softened as a small smile played on her lips.

Tōshirō blinked, then teased her, "Tsunade, yours isn't bad either—it even helps save fabric for Konoha."

"Uh…"

By the time Tōshirō realized his words were inappropriate, it was too late. His bad habit of being overly blunt struck again.

Sure enough, as the words left his mouth, Tsunade's face darkened instantly. She shoved him away and glared. "So, it's true! You don't really like me. You must prefer those women with... with big chests!"

"I don't!"

Admittedly, she wasn't wrong, but Tōshirō knew that admitting it would be a death sentence.

In the past, he might have dared to argue back with her, but now the situation was different, and he didn't dare to push his luck.

"Yes, you do!"

"I really don't!"

Tōshirō looked utterly helpless.

When a woman started being unreasonable, logic seemed to vanish entirely.

"Then explain why, when you saw Rangiku, especially her chest, you looked like your eyes were about to pop out."

At this, the older Tsunade: …

Shizune secretly glanced at her master and thought, As expected of lovers—they even share the same preferences.

Tōshirō was momentarily speechless. Am I really that obvious? he wondered.

Seeing his hesitation, Tsunade grew even more upset, mocking coldly, "Hah, you say you like me, but it's all lies, isn't it?"

"I swear to the heavens, Tsunade is the one I like the most!" Tōshirō vowed. "Look at the sky outside—"

"The sky?"

"The vast, endless horizon is my love for you!"

Tsunade sneered. "It's nighttime."

Tōshirō : …

He decided to just go all in. "What do I have to do for you to believe that I'm loyal to you?"

"It's simple…" Tsunade gritted her teeth. "Just put your hand on my heart and swear."

"Alright, just on your heart—wait, what?" Tōshirō blinked, thinking he must have misheard.

"What? Is there a problem?"

"No, it's just… isn't that a bit… inappropriate?"

Tsunade's heart… doesn't that mean…

Oh crap, is Tsunade this bold?

I'm not ready for this!!!

Tsunade's tone turned sarcastic. "See, you still prefer big chests, don't you? You're not interested in my 'washboard,' are you?"

"I really don't—"

Tōshirō smiled bitterly, unable to understand how the situation had spiraled out of control. "I'm just worried about… passing the censors."

"Censors? What the heck does that mean?"

"Uh…"

Tōshirō was at a loss, unsure how to explain.

"Stop making up random excuses to brush me off," Tsunade snapped, losing patience.

"I—"

"'I' what? If you don't even dare touch the chest of the person you claim to like, how can you say you love me?"

Oh, come on…

Tōshirō felt like he was learning something new every day. Was this even logical?

"Fine, fine! I'll do it, alright?"

"Hmph, that's more like it."

Forced to prove his sincerity, Tōshirō reached out cautiously. "Okay, here I go~~"

"If I told you to do it, just do it! Why so much hesitation?"

On the surface, Tsunade appeared strong, but internally, she was in complete panic.

Ahhh!

Tsunade, you're such an idiot! Why would you say something so shameless?

I just want to die right now.

It's all Tōshirō's fault for always teasing me about my small chest!

But… what if he actually touched her? She wasn't ready for that!

(End of Chapter)

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