Chapter 181: Tsunade's Kimono
At the entrance of Tsunade's house.
Hoshikawa took out his key, ready to open the door, when he noticed Kurenai pause.
Unlike her usual cheerful and easygoing demeanor, today she seemed slightly unsettled, opening and closing her hands nervously.
"What is it?" Hoshikawa teased. "Are you worried Teacher won't feed you?"
"How could I be?" Kurenai quickly denied. "I'm just not used to spending New Year's at Lady Tsunade's house for the first time."
"What's there to get used to?"
Hoshikawa chuckled, used the key to open the door, and said, "Come on in."
"Isn't Teacher Tsunade home?" Kurenai stood in the entryway, looking towards the living room.
"She probably went to the casino."
Hoshikawa wasn't surprised at all.
For Tsunade, New Year's Day was nothing special; she would go to the casino as usual without missing a beat.
"Teacher Tsunade is really... free-spirited," Kurenai said, stunned for a moment.
"She's not here, no need to force the compliment."
Hoshikawa reached out and took the groceries from her hands.
"I was telling the truth!"
Kurenai glared at him and grumbled, "I find that you have absolutely no respect for Teacher Tsunade!"
"I respect her deeply," Hoshikawa replied with a straight face.
Kurenai clearly didn't believe him. She pouted, took off her shoes, and revealed her tabi—white split-toe socks.
She was already wearing the kimono, so according to tradition, she had to wear tabi.
"It feels more free to be barefoot," Kurenai said, still adjusting to the tabi and wooden geta.
"It certainly is," Hoshikawa looked at her and said, "And prettier, too, when you're barefoot."
"You can see that when we get home," Kurenai paused, then suddenly said with a blush.
"...?" Hoshikawa was stunned.
Being that obedient is practically a crime!
"Um... I'll help you cook..." Kurenai was flustered under his gaze.
"No need," Hoshikawa shook his head. "I can handle it alone."
"What... what should I do then?" Kurenai tilted her head, looking a little lost.
"Watch TV," Hoshikawa paused, then said, "If Teacher still hasn't returned by nightfall, go find her at the casino."
"Okay!" Kurenai suddenly thought of something. "Do you want some juice?"
"Sure." Hoshikawa nodded, then carried the groceries into the kitchen.
Kurenai secretly let out a sigh of relief.
Although she was outgoing, the bold words she'd just said still made her heart race.
Kurenai snapped out of it, skipped cheerfully, humming a tune, and opened the refrigerator.
She poured a glass of lemonade and went to the kitchen.
Hoshikawa was washing vegetables.
She stepped forward and held the lemonade to his lips.
"Thanks." Hoshikawa leaned in and took a couple of sips. "You finish the rest."
"Eh?" Kurenai was taken aback.
"What? Do you mind?" Hoshikawa glanced at her.
"N-No... I don't mind..." Kurenai registered the situation, and a blush returned to her face.
"You're so cute," Hoshikawa complimented.
"You don't need to tell me that!" Kurenai spun around and beat a hasty retreat.
She returned to the living room, sat on the sofa, and took a couple of sips of lemonade to calm her nerves.
Kurenai exhaled, then suddenly realized what had just happened. Her face flushed scarlet, even her ears turning pink.
Just then, the sound of the door opening rang out.
Tsunade walked in, carrying two bottles of sake.
"Teacher Tsunade!" Kurenai immediately stood up to greet her.
"Have you been drinking?" Tsunade glanced at her and asked casually.
"No!" Kurenai shook her head like a rattle drum.
"Then why is your face so red?" Tsunade found Kurenai quite strange today.
"I-It's from the cold!" Kurenai said, quick-wittedly. "Hoshikawa and I just went shopping. We bought kimonos and food for tonight."
"That kimono looks very nice on you," Tsunade didn't dwell on it, just looked Kurenai over and praised her.
"Teacher Tsunade, we bought a gift for you too." Kurenai pulled out a paper bag and handed it to her.
"A kimono?" Tsunade was slightly surprised. "Thank you."
Although she didn't wear kimonos often, she couldn't refuse a gift from her student.
"Hoshikawa and I picked this one out together," Kurenai said a little nervously, looking at the calm Tsunade. "I hope you like it."
"That explains it," Tsunade flipped through the kimono, a slight curve to her lips. "I like this one."
The worry in Kurenai's heart finally subsided.
"I'm going to change."
Tsunade placed the two bottles of sake on the table, hugged the kimono, and went to her room.
She took off her clothes, put on the kimono, and finally tied the obi belt firmly.
"This fits quite well."
Tsunade turned around once, then suddenly remembered something and took out a light gold hairpin and a red cord.
She lifted her golden hair, setting it high and securing it with the hairpin.
Her previous hairstyle wasn't quite suitable for wearing a kimono.
It was worth noting that both the hairpin and the cord were bought by Hoshikawa .
Tsunade walked out of the room.
Kurenai heard the footsteps, instinctively looked up, and gasped.
The current Tsunade, shedding her usual fierce demeanor, was incredibly mature, radiating the air of a noble lady.
Kurenai looked at her full figure, which even the kimono couldn't completely conceal, and felt a pang of envy.
She silently told herself that she was still young; her figure might be similar someday.
"Teacher Tsunade, you look absolutely beautiful!" Kurenai said, snapping out of her daze.
"What made you two decide to spend New Year's here this year?" Tsunade asked casually, smiling faintly as she sat down on the sofa.
"It was Hoshikawa 's idea," Kurenai answered honestly.
Tsunade raised an eyebrow at that.
So it was the little brat's idea after all?
"You don't have to be so tense," Tsunade smiled, clearly in a good mood.
"Yes!" Kurenai unconsciously pressed her knees together, sitting very primly.
Tsunade shook her head, said no more, and casually turned on the television.
Just then, a knock sounded at the door.
"I'll get it!" Kurenai quickly jumped up and jogged to the door.
With Tsunade out of sight, she immediately felt less pressure.
Just as Hoshikawa suspected, she viewed this New Year's gathering as meeting his family, or elder.
Kurenai opened the door and looked at the masked ANBU ninja outside, slightly confused.
"Please hand this scroll to Lady Tsunade," Haru recognized Kurenai and, without unnecessary talk, handed her the scroll.
"You—" Kurenai had only managed one word before Haru vanished instantly.
She came to her senses and closed the door.
"Teacher Tsunade, it was an ANBU ninja," Kurenai walked up to Tsunade. "This is for you."
"Hn," Tsunade put down the remote control and opened the scroll.
Predictably, it was an intelligence report from the Kumogakure battlefield.
She read for a moment, an expression of surprise on her face.
The report detailed an event from the previous day: Hatake Sakumo's squad was ambushed while on a mission by Kumogakure.
But the four of them managed to counter-ambush, killing forty-two Kumogakure ninja and severely injuring Yugito Nii, the Two-Tails Jinchūriki.
This was an unbelievably huge victory.
Tsunade was perplexed.
Sakumo Hatake was certainly strong, but he was an assassin-type ninja. He shouldn't have achieved such results against a Jinchūriki.
Especially when facing a fully Tailed Beast-transformed Yugito Nii.
What shocked her most was that their squad sustained no major casualties.
Even if her own squad had been ambushed, Tsunade wouldn't be able to guarantee Rin or Kurenai's safety.
"Here."
Tsunade noticed Kurenai's curious gaze and casually handed her the scroll.
"Incredible!" Kurenai read it, her face filled with disbelief.
Tsunade decided not to dwell on it.
It was good news for Konoha, after all.
However, Danzō Shimura and Orochimaru would undoubtedly be quite annoyed.
Although Tsunade didn't micromanage Konoha's affairs, she was well aware of their motives for conspiring together.
She suddenly felt a headache coming on.
If things continued this way, she was the most likely candidate for the next Hokage.
Unless she explicitly refused.
But when Tsunade thought of Hoshikawa , a flicker of hesitation crossed her mind.
The boy wished for her to become Hokage every year on his birthday; he would be very disappointed if she truly refused.
Tsunade sighed internally.
She would have to take things one step at a time and decide when the moment came.
Tsunade and Kurenai watched TV and chatted.
The sky outside gradually darkened, and the last hint of twilight disappeared.
"Dinner's ready!"
Hoshikawa appeared in the living room, carrying tableware.
He instinctively glanced at Tsunade and felt a slight jolt.
That kimono truly suited her.
The traditional elegance combined with her tempting figure created a unique and captivating aura.
"I'll help bring the dishes," Kurenai quickly ran to the kitchen.
In a moment, five dishes were laid out on the dining table.
In addition, there were the two bottles of sake Tsunade had bought.
"What's this scroll?" Hoshikawa noticed the scroll Tsunade had set aside.
"Haru gave it to me," Tsunade picked up her sake cup.
Kurenai automatically poured her a drink.
Hoshikawa opened the scroll and read it.
His reaction was similar to Tsunade's. Under normal circumstances, it would be impossible for Sakumo Hatake's squad to achieve such a result.
But there was one special condition that could make it possible: Shisui Uchiha awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan.
The original story didn't detail the exact circumstances of his awakening, but it most likely happened during the Third Great Shinobi War.
Given that their squad had been ambushed, it made sense that Shisui might have awakened his Mangekyō out of desperation to save them.
He wondered if it was the Kotoamatsukami.
"Let's eat," Tsunade handed him a pair of chopsticks.
"Right." Hoshikawa put the scroll away.
Shisui Uchiha awakening his Sharingan was good, and Sakumo Hatake's squad counter-ambushing was also good.
In any case, Danzō Shimura was definitely not having a comfortable New Year.
"Cheers!" Tsunade raised her sake cup. "Happy New Year!"
Hoshikawa and Kurenai raised their glasses of juice.
The glasses clinked, and the atmosphere at the table quickly relaxed.
Kurenai gradually reverted to her usual cheerful style.
Tsunade looked at the two of them and suddenly felt a sense of home.
She had spent previous New Years alone, which was quite lonely.
When Hoshikawa was present, it at least felt lively.
Now, with Kurenai, it was even more bustling.
After dinner, the three sat on the sofa watching TV.
It was New Year's Eve, and they were performing joya-no-kane (watching the year out).
"Teacher, do you want to rest for a bit?" Hoshikawa asked, concerned, looking at Tsunade's flushed face from drinking.
"What's a little bit of sake?" Tsunade snorted, sounding displeased. "I can drink more!"
"No more sake. Have some lemonade." Hoshikawa handed her a glass of lemonade.
Tsunade rolled her eyes but took two sips.
She shook her head, feeling slightly dizzy.
Tsunade instinctively embraced Hoshikawa 's arm, leaning her head on his shoulder, her eyes still on the TV.
Kurenai turned her head, saw this, and looked like she wanted to say something, but hesitated.
Considering Tsunade was drunk, this behavior was excusable.
Her eyes lit up. She sat on Hoshikawa 's left side and hugged his other arm.
"...?" Hoshikawa was completely bewildered by the sudden turn of events.
What is going on?
He felt like he accidentally hit the skip button in a video game.
Hoshikawa looked left and right.
His right arm was clearly bearing a greater burden; the soft weight made him secretly groan.
His left arm was comparatively uneventful, as Kurenai was still young and had room for growth.
The living room grew quiet, save for the sound of the television.
After an unknown amount of time, a bell suddenly began to chime outside the door.
"The New Year has arrived," Tsunade released his arm, sat up, and said expressionlessly.
She was completely sober now.
"Is it time to eat Soba noodles?" Kurenai perked up, asking excitedly.
"Wait here. I bought Soba noodles earlier today," Hoshikawa walked towards the kitchen.
It was the custom in the ninja world to eat Soba noodles while watching the year transition.
"Here you go!"
Not long after, Hoshikawa came out with three bowls of Soba noodles.
"We can make New Year's wishes now!" Kurenai suddenly remembered, saying excitedly.
"What are you wishing for?" Hoshikawa asked curiously.
"I wish for the war to end soon!" Kurenai thought for a moment and said.
"As for me, I wish for a Hokage Teacher," Hoshikawa coughed lightly.
"Then go apprentice yourself to the Old Man," Tsunade glared at him, lifting her leg to step on his foot hard.
"I only have one teacher," Hoshikawa said without changing his expression.
"I think Hoshikawa is right!" Kurenai didn't notice their secret interaction and stated matter-of-factly, "Teacher Tsunade is the most qualified for the next Hokage!"
"Eat your noodles," Tsunade deflected, picking up her chopsticks and focusing on the Soba.
The three bowls of noodles were quickly finished.
"It's late. You two will sleep here tonight," Tsunade put down her chopsticks. "Hoshikawa , tidy up the room next to yours."
Hoshikawa had a fixed room in the house.
Tsunade had one.
The remaining rooms could be used as guest rooms.
"Got it."
Hoshikawa looked at Kurenai and said with a smile, "The task of washing the dishes falls to you."
"No problem!" Kurenai said with a beaming smile.
But the joy of the New Year could not dispel the shadow of war.
Early the next morning, Haru the ANBU ninja reappeared.
She delivered a command from Hiruzen Sarutobi, ordering Tsunade and Hoshikawa to attend a meeting.
Iwagakure had made its move.
....
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