"How did you do it? That couldn't have been a new jutsu you developed, right?"
Looking at the bells in Kurenai and Shizune's hands, Tsunade's lips twitched slightly.
She hadn't expected to be outsmarted by that brat Seiryū.
But she was also genuinely curious.
What kind of jutsu did Seiryū use that even fooled her eyes, making her completely unaware of the clone or Kurenai and Shizune's positions?
Before she knew it, the bells had been taken.
"You could say that. Bakudō #26: Kyokko, a type of sealing formation. Everything within it is hidden, invisible to the naked eye."
Seiryū answered calmly.
Bakudō #26: Kyokko manifested in this world as a sealing formation.
Everything inside the formation would have its form concealed, unable to be perceived visually.
Tsunade crossed her arms, her posture highlighting her already impressive figure, and stared at Seiryū with a smile.
"Only invisible to the eyes? I may not specialize in Sensory Ninjutsu, but I do know a little. I didn't sense anything out of the ordinary at all."
This brat was still hiding something.
Seiryū looked at her with a hint of disdain.
"You think my Genjutsu is just for show? It's enough to cause slight confusion in your perception."
His level of Genjutsu wasn't low.
Interfering slightly with Tsunade's perception was well within his ability.
He continued, "But I'm not sure if Bakudō #26: Kyokko can evade Sensory Ninjutsu. I haven't tested it. I haven't learned any Sensory Ninjutsu myself."
This was the first time he had used Kyokko in front of anyone.
Seiryū himself wasn't completely clear on its full effect.
Whether it could shield against sensory perception, he didn't know yet.
Since he hadn't learned Sensory Ninjutsu, he had no way to confirm.
That was why he used Genjutsu to interfere with Tsunade's senses as a precaution.
"Impossible!"
Tsunade refused to believe she had been affected by Seiryū's Genjutsu. That would be too humiliating.
With a stiff expression, she said, "If I had fallen for a Genjutsu, there's no way I wouldn't have noticed!"
Seiryū glanced at her and said, "I'm not a half-baked amateur like Kurenai. My level in Genjutsu is quite high. Uncle Shinku even said that if an ordinary Jōnin isn't careful, they could fall for my Genjutsu too."
"That punch wasn't for nothing. It was to lower your guard."
In terms of Genjutsu talent, Seiryū was definitely top-tier.
As a transmigrator, his spiritual energy—or more accurately, his Yin Release chakra nature—was far greater than that of ordinary people.
This gave him a huge advantage in Genjutsu.
Even an ordinary Jōnin would be affected if caught off guard.
Kurenai pouted.
If you're going to explain, then explain. Why drag her into it?
Calling her Genjutsu half-baked? How infuriating!
"You brat even accounted for that? But that was too risky. If I hadn't been holding back, that punch could've sent you to the hospital."
Tsunade admitted to herself that she had underestimated him.
In that earlier battle, she had been led along by Seiryū, walking right into the scenario he had constructed step by step.
Is this really a nine-year-old kid?
That level of combat intelligence was terrifying.
But it was still far too risky.
To lower her guard, he had used his own body to take her punch.
Seiryū replied casually, "It was just a test. There's no way you'd hit us with full force."
"Clashing with you at the start was also to gauge how much power you'd use. I even exaggerated my expression of pain, just to make you pull back the next time you attacked."
"How is that risky? You're using the wrong word."
Since it wasn't a life-or-death battle, Seiryū knew she wouldn't hit him with everything she had.
Only after confirming that, did he dare to take her punch to set her up.
If it had been a real battle, he wouldn't have been so reckless.
Tsunade: "..."
What the hell, are you even human?
Was that part of your calculation too?
Indeed, after seeing his exaggerated reaction earlier, she had subconsciously held back.
She hadn't even realized she had done so.
And now she learned it had all been part of this brat's plan.
Tsunade was completely outsmarted by a kid.
She felt more stifled than ever. This kid was way too sharp.
But then, a smug smile appeared on her lips.
Heh.
Seiryū didn't get a bell, so he still had to be punished.
Tsunade's tone became playful.
"Fine, I admit you're smart, brat. But you didn't forget, did you? You didn't get a bell, so you need to be punished!"
Seiryū subconsciously glanced at Tsunade's jade-like feet in her sandals.
Hmm.
They looked nice.
As expected of a woman with the Yin Seal, her self-care was top-tier.
How was this a punishment?
It was clearly a reward.
However, he deliberately pulled a disgusted expression, looking extremely reluctant.
"What kind of punishment is this? It's too goo—uh, I mean, too degrading. Can't we change it?"
Seeing his expression, Tsunade suddenly felt refreshed.
The frustration from earlier was immediately dispelled by ninety percent.
A victorious grin spread across her face.
"Hehe, of course not. A punishment is a punishment. I, Tsunade, always keep my word!"
Seiryū: "..."
You?
The person who, in his mind, has less credibility than the King of Understanding?
Actually claiming to keep your word?
Shizune looked at Seiryū and said gently, "Do you want me to give you a bell?"
Seiryū waved her off and replied with an air of pride, "No need. I accept my losses."
Tsunade gave him a thumbs-up.
"Not bad. You've got backbone. I admire that!"
"Don't provoke me. If I have to wash them, I'll wash them. I accept the punishment!"
Seiryū "glared" at Tsunade, looking deeply "grieved," his tone laced with "reluctance," as if he was enduring extreme humiliation.
"Hahaha!"
Tsunade burst into laughter, feeling incredibly satisfied.
She had managed to make the brat suffer without lifting a finger.
Perfect!
From now on, she would come up with more reasons to make him wash her feet.
Watching that aggrieved little expression would never get old.
Besides, she was his instructor now. Handling him would be a piece of cake.
Stare~
Kurenai, who knew Seiryū best, stared at him closely.
Something felt off.
His expression didn't look as aggrieved as it appeared. It looked a bit... fake?
But that didn't make any sense.
Why would Seiryū fake an aggrieved expression?
Weird...
Maybe he was having another one of his moments.
At this point, no matter what strange things Seiryū did, Kurenai found them reasonable and didn't think much of it.
Then she looked at Tsunade and asked, "Tsunade-sensei, since we took the bells, does that mean we've passed the mission and gained your approval?"
"Mhm."
Tsunade nodded, smiling at the three of them.
"I've accepted you. From today on, I am your instructor, and you are members of my Team Four!"
[Ding! Mission completed. Reward being distributed—]
Seiryū: "???"
(To be continued.)