Chapter 20: Complaints
The next morning, the silence was broken.
Ruofeng let out a bitter smile. "Didn't sleep well at all. Looks like last night's news really got me too excited."
His eyes drifted toward the corner of the room. It looked ordinary, yet hidden within it was something far from simple.
"Ha… no point thinking about it now. I'll check again tonight. Right now, I need to get to the academy. I wonder if Kushina is already waiting for me."
As he spoke, a faint smile appeared on his face.
Yesterday, spending time with Kushina had made him her first true friend in Konoha—and not just an ordinary one.
When he stepped out of his bedroom, a maid who had been waiting bowed slightly. "Master has already gone out to manage the family business. Young master, are you heading to the Ninja Academy now?"
Ruofeng nodded. "Yes. You don't need to follow me."
After washing up and hastily eating a few bites, he set out toward the academy, still looking tired.
The second visit always felt easier. With yesterday's experience, he arrived quickly.
Just as he caught sight of the school gates, an arm suddenly draped over his shoulder, followed by a familiar voice.
"Ruofeng! You're up pretty early today, but you look exhausted!"
Ruofeng turned his head. "Couldn't fall asleep last night. By the way, Nawaki—have you seen Tsunade?"
The one speaking was Nawaki, his senior at the academy. Nawaki was already in his third year, while Ruofeng had just enrolled as a first-year student.
Nawaki shook his head. "I saw her last night. She was in a great mood. Left early this morning—probably on a mission. That's how jōnin are. And my sister isn't just any jōnin—she's a medical-nin."
At those words, a flash of anger lit up in Ruofeng's eyes.
"Yeah… for a medical-nin to reach the rank of jōnin is rare even in Konoha. Her strength is unquestionable. But her character? That's another matter."
His voice carried deep resentment. He still couldn't forget about his Kirin Sap. That was Kirin Sap—yet Tsunade had stolen it without hesitation.
Nawaki twitched slightly. "Wait, seriously? Yesterday she even told me to look after you at school. She wanted me to teach you some of the Senju clan's special techniques. I thought she really valued you… but now it sounds like she definitely did something to you."
Nawaki knew his sister far too well.
Ruofeng's faint dark circles slowly faded as his cheeks flushed with anger. "She stole my things and thinks a few jutsu can make up for it? What she took from me can't be repaid even in a lifetime!"
Nawaki swallowed nervously. "Uh… that sounds pretty serious."
Ruofeng continued coldly, "A medicinal herb preserved for three thousand years, filled with terrifying vitality. Even an ordinary person could instantly recover from fatal injuries after consuming it. If Tsunade takes it, the effect is downright absurd. That life force will awaken her bloodline, flood her cells with vitality, and supercharge her chakra. At that point, she'd practically be unable to die. I only had three pieces, and your sister took two. Looks like she didn't just inherit the First Hokage's habits of eating, drinking, and gambling—she's surpassed him by learning how to cheat and swindle as well."
The deep grievance in his voice made Nawaki smile awkwardly. "Uh… I'm sorry, really. I'll make her apologize when she gets back. But you seem to know my sister really well."
Ruofeng paused briefly, then nodded. "Apologize? That's unrealistic. Forget it—call it my bad luck. After all, I know her too well. Not only have I seen everything, I even understand her physical condition inside and out."
The moment those words left his mouth, Nawaki froze in shock.
"W-What?!"
Ruofeng ignored him.
From a distance came a clear, lively voice.
"Ruofeng! I'm here!"
He turned to see Kushina Uzumaki waving excitedly as she ran toward him, her face glowing with happiness.
Nawaki stared at the scene, completely stunned. "This is insane… First you saw my sister naked, now you're already charming girls. That's way too much!"
Before long, Ruofeng entered the academy grounds.
Unbeknownst to him, the same scene was being displayed inside the Hokage's office.
The Third Hokage looked at his students and sighed helplessly. "Well… what exactly should I say?"
Tsunade slammed her fist against the table, fury blazing in her eyes. "That little brat! What do you mean 'saw everything,' 'understood completely,' 'eating, drinking, gambling,' 'cheating and swindling'? All I took were two herbs—and I didn't even know their effects! Was all this really necessary?!"
Recalling what she had just seen through the crystal ball, she felt an overwhelming urge to punch someone.
Jiraiya, meanwhile, was still stuck on Ruofeng's earlier words, muttering dreamily, "Saw everything… understood completely… that's amazing…"
Orochimaru remained expressionless. "That red-haired girl… is she the future jinchūriki?"
The Third Hokage nodded slowly. "Yes. She is one of Konoha's future jinchūriki. Both girls are from the Uzumaki clan. One of them will become the host—but for now, it's not yet decided which. Today's mission is directly related to this matter."
At those words, even the furious Tsunade fell silent.
She understood the importance of jinchūriki better than anyone. After all, Mito Uzumaki, the Nine-Tails' previous host, was her grandmother.
The Third Hokage continued, "This mission not only concerns the jinchūriki, but also the Uzumaki clan itself."
As he spoke, Tsunade gradually calmed down, listening carefully.
Back at the academy, Ruofeng's eyes flickered thoughtfully.
"The surveillance is gone. That strange spiritual fluctuation earlier… it must've come from the Hokage's crystal ball."
The moment he encountered Nawaki, he had sensed something off—especially a faint disturbance in his mental perception, as if someone were watching him.
Remembering his grandfather's words about his inherited sensory abilities, Ruofeng trusted his instincts.
Once Kushina appeared and they entered the academy, that presence vanished.
Though puzzled, he didn't dwell on it.
Kushina looked at him curiously. "What's wrong? Were you so excited last night that you couldn't sleep?"
Ruofeng smiled lightly. "Something like that. It's fine now. Let's wait for the class arrangements. I'm really curious about our new classmates—who knows, maybe there'll be someone interesting."
As he spoke, he saw Yamaki-sensei walking toward them.