"Sensei, did you sleep well last night?"
Meeting Namikaze Kirito's meaningful gaze, Tsunade clenched her fists. Her beautiful amber eyes practically sparked with fire.
"Sleep… slept well."
"That's good."
Kirito completely ignored Tsunade's murderous expression and turned toward Shizune instead.
"Kirito-kun, Tsunade-sama still doesn't want to leave."
"I know." Kirito nodded calmly. "Sensei already told me. I respect her decision, so I'll head out first and take care of what I need to do. When Sensei has made up her mind… I'll come back to pick you up."
"That's good…"
Shizune let out a quiet sigh of relief. She'd been worried Kirito might complain.
The three of them had breakfast together.
At the table, Shizune kept glancing up from time to time.
Something was wrong. Very wrong.
The atmosphere was strange — so strange that even the food tasted off. She had no idea what had happened between Tsunade and Kirito… and she didn't dare ask.
After hastily finishing a few bites, Shizune stood up almost immediately.
"I—I'll go back to my room!"
She fled.
The room was left with just Tsunade and Kirito again.
"You… what are you staring at?"
Under Kirito's scorching gaze, Tsunade felt her body weaken slightly.
"I'm leaving soon," Kirito said casually. "Can't a student look at his Sensei a little longer?"
"You—! You are not allowed to call me Sensei!"
Seeing Kirito's smug expression, Tsunade snapped. When had she ever been bullied like this?!
Kirito, meanwhile, looked completely innocent.
"But you are my Sensei. If I don't call you that, what should I call you?"
Every time that word left his mouth, last night's absurd memories surfaced in Tsunade's mind.
He's my student…
What was I thinking last night…?!
Her hands still felt sore just remembering it.
And now he was standing there acting shamelessly satisfied.
Just thinking about it made her furious.
"Sensei," Kirito said, his tone turning serious, "after this meal, I'll be leaving."
Tsunade fell silent for a moment.
A trace of reluctance flickered across her face before she masked it and spoke firmly.
"Oh? Then go. I've already gotten used to you, brat. Always leaving whenever you want. Go! Don't come back if you don't want to!"
Swish.
Kirito suddenly stood up and then sat down right beside her.
"You—! What are you doing?!"
Tsunade panicked, her eyes instinctively flicking toward Shizune's room, afraid someone might come out and see this scene.
"Sensei," Kirito asked softly, leaning closer, "why are you avoiding me?"
"I'm not avoiding you!" Tsunade snapped. "You little brat, I— mm…!"
Her words were cut off.
Kirito kissed her.
Tsunade instinctively pressed both hands against his chest as if to push him away but after a moment, her strength melted away. Her body softened, sinking helplessly into his arms.
After a long moment, their lips finally parted.
"Sensei," Kirito murmured, "i will take this as a parting gift."
Tsunade stared at him dazedly for half a second — then snapped back to her senses.
"You—! Don't do this again! I'm your Sensei! And Shizune is still here!"
"Oh?" Kirito raised an eyebrow. "So I can do it when Shizune-senpai isn't around?"
"Y-You—!"
Tsunade struggled to pull away, but Kirito held her firmly. Her voice dropped unconsciously, almost like surrender.
"What are you trying to do…? I told you, Shizune is still here. And—and wasn't last night enough?!"
"Sensei."
Kirito's tone suddenly turned solemn.
Tsunade looked up and met eyes filled not with teasing, but tenderness.
"Sensei," he said quietly, "I know you haven't made up your mind yet. I can wait. But when we meet next time… you're not allowed to run away."
"I… I wouldn't… run…"
Her voice grew softer under his gaze.
If anyone who knew Tsunade saw this scene, their jaws would hit the floor.
When had Tsunade ever looked like this?
Normally, if someone annoyed her, she punched first and talked later.
Yet in Kirito's arms, she had no resistance at all.
"…No more."
She whispered it.
Kirito lowered his head again.
This time, Tsunade didn't dodge.
Their lips met once more.
Crash!
At that exact moment, Shizune walked out of her room.
The things in her hands fell to the floor.
Kirito had sensed her presence long ago, but he didn't warn Tsunade. There was nothing shameful between them.
But Tsunade reacted instantly.
She shoved Kirito away and turned toward Shizune.
Shizune's face went from pale… to bright red in seconds.
Steam practically rose from her head.
"I—I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! Tsunade-sama! Kirito-kun! I didn't mean to see that! Please, go on!"
She spun around and bolted back into her room, slamming the door shut.
"Sensei, why hide—"
"Bastard… bastard… damn brat!"
Tsunade's veins bulged as she roared, each word bitten out through clenched teeth.
"I was just—"
Boom!
Before Kirito could finish, Tsunade's fist smashed into his chest. With a dull explosion, he was sent flying, crashing through the hall door and embedding straight into the yard wall.
Just like the first day he'd arrived.
Then — his body turned into black smoke and dispersed.
Dark Body Replacement Technique.
A newly developed ninjutsu. Kirito's Dark-Dark Fruit and Tremor-Tremor Fruit abilities had already fused seamlessly with ninjutsu.
"Sensei," Kirito's amused voice echoed from outside, "I'll be going now. See you next time."
Tsunade stared at the empty doorway.
There was no anger left in her eyes — only lingering warmth.
Then the headache hit.
Kirito could leave whenever he wanted.
But Shizune was still here.
How am I supposed to explain this…?
What kind of Sensei does this to her student…?!
The thing she feared most… was facing her other student.
"…Every time you come back," Tsunade muttered, rubbing her temples, "you have to cause trouble, you nasty brat…"
Kirito boarded the ship leaving Yunokuni (the Land of Hot Water) with a warm smile on his face.
Returning to his base this time marked the true beginning of his plan.
His relationship with Tsunade had already crossed an invisible line.
What could make him happier than that?
Things he never had in his previous life…
This time, he would protect them with everything he had.
That was the meaning of his existence here.
He would leave behind no regrets.
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