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Genbu Akimichi coaxed Tsunade all the way home and finally returned her to the Senju residence.
He was already very familiar with this routine. Gently, he laid the sleeping Tsunade on the bed, covered her with a blanket, and placed a cup of warm water on the nightstand. Taking advantage of Shōji Senju's inattention, he playfully tweaked Tsunade's nose before quickly retreating.
Leaning against the doorframe, Senju Shōji suddenly asked, "Genbu-senpai… do you like my sister?"
Genbu was caught completely off guard and nearly tripped over the threshold.
He quickly steadied himself and defended, "What nonsense are you talking about? She's my teacher. As her student, shouldn't I be respectful toward her? You little brat, do you even know what it means to like someone?"
"Oh, I just saw how well you take care of her. I thought maybe you had feelings for her," Shōji said, unconvinced.
"You little troublemaker. Don't talk nonsense again. If your sister hears you, she'll probably hit you."
Upon hearing the word "hit," Chō Shushō felt a chill run down his spine, recalling some unpleasant memories. He warned Genbu, "Listen, Genbu-senpai. You mustn't like my sister. Aside from being beautiful, she's a mess in every other way."
"She has a violent temper, gets angry over trivial things, and is far from ladylike. She can't cook, she drinks heavily, and she loves gambling—always losing. Which family could tolerate such torment? Whoever marries her will surely be cursed with misfortune."
"Tsunade-sensei isn't as useless as you say," Genbu replied helplessly.
"The situation is even worse than I described!"
"Haha, it seems you've suffered quite a bit," Shushō commented.
"Indeed. She bullied me ever since I was a child. She even tricked me into giving her my allowance for gambling, promising to return tenfold if I won—but she always lost it all. When I asked for my money back, she wouldn't give it, and even hit me. Thinking about it now makes me want to cry."
"That Shōji really tries hard," Genbu thought. Indeed, no elder sister ever looks good in her younger brother's eyes.
Exiting the west wing, Genbu saw Mito Uzumaki lying in a rocking chair in the courtyard with her eyes closed. He approached.
"Mito-sama, having tea so late will keep you awake," he said.
"Ah, Genbu-san. Did Komatsu get drunk again tonight?" Mito opened her eyes and smiled at him.
"Yes. At tonight's banquet, Tsunade-sensei and Sakumo-senpai bet on drinking, and she ended up getting drunk again. You'll have to keep an eye on her."
Genbu sat beside Mito, poured himself some tea, and began to complain.
It seemed that Tsunade got drunk every time she drank. She would try to restrain herself before going home to stay somewhat sober—afraid of Jiraiya's lecherous attention, though Orochimaru didn't care.
Since becoming Tsunade's student, Genbu had effectively become her personal attendant. Tsunade had become even more reckless, drinking heavily on every occasion. In just a few months, Genbu had escorted her home seven or eight times. Despite the age gap, Tsunade and Mito had become good friends.
"I can scold her, but I don't know if she'll listen," Genbu said.
"She's harming herself by drinking. She's a doctor yet can't control herself. I feel powerless."
Mito then asked softly, "Genbu-kun… do you like Tsunade?"
Genbu's eyes widened as if struck by a spell, frozen in his chair. After several seconds, he stood up to defend himself.
"Mito-sama… what are you saying? I'm only fifteen, and Tsunade-sensei is four years older than me. How could I possibly love her? We're just teacher and student. Please don't think wildly."
Mito said nothing, staring at him intently, sending a chill down his spine.
Just as he was about to give up, she continued, "Fifteen isn't that young. In our time, people start thinking about marriage at fourteen. Hashirama confessed to me at twelve, and even kissed me when I wasn't looking. You haven't done anything embarrassing with Tsunade, right?"
Mito's eyes turned dangerously sharp.
"No! Absolutely not! I swear to God I've never kissed Tsunade-sensei," Genbu quickly explained, considering that tweaking her nose didn't count as a kiss.
Mito continued, "Although you're only fifteen, both physiologically and mentally, you don't act like it. Compared to you, little Tsunade seems more like a child who never grows up. So don't hide behind age and experience."
Looking into Mito's slightly clouded but piercing eyes, Genbu fell silent, leaning back in his chair and lowering his head.
"Senbu-sama has already agreed."
"When did Mito-sama find out?"
Genbu thought he had hidden everything well. Everyone else assumed that taking care of a reckless teacher was the student's duty, and they envied Tsunade for having such a good student. He was very curious how Mito had seen through it.
"Simple. Look at Tsunade's gaze—it's identical to Hashirama's gaze toward me. You've tried to hide it from others, but you can't hide it from me. You care for Tsunade more than for a teacher—she's like a princess to you. If I couldn't see it, something would be wrong."
"You don't object? You know my identity. Half of my bloodline is tainted with evil."
Mito smiled. "If I cared, I wouldn't let you get so close to Tsunade. Besides, you hate her, don't you? You know her grandfather Tobirama killed your grandfather. If it weren't for that, your mother wouldn't have suffered either."
"Mito-sama, if we continue to cling to past hatred, Konoha wouldn't exist today. Moreover, my mother's tragedy wasn't caused by the Senju, but by her own clan. If I took my anger out on Tsunade, how would I differ from the Uchiha who oppressed my mother? If I can't endure this, how can I even claim to like her?"
Sigh… if only Tobirama were still alive, he would know that not all Uchiha are suspicious and cruel. Hashirama and Tobirama debated this many times.
Mito stopped lamenting the past and asked, "Genbu-kun, can I ask you a favor?"
"Mito-sama, please speak freely," he replied.
"You've already awakened the Sharingan, right? No need to hide. I'm of the Uzumaki clan. I can sense your strong mental power and chakra."
"It seems I can't hide anything from you," Genbu said, removing his goggles to reveal his cursed eyes.
"Then you must already know the secret of my body."
"I can sense a tremendously strong chakra—stronger than the Third Hokage's—and extremely evil. It's dormant in your abdomen, and you've used nearly all your chakra to suppress it."
Genbu stayed silent.
"That's the Nine-Tails," Mito said.
"What? You mean my chakra contains the Nine-Tails? How is that possible?" Genbu feigned surprise.
"Nothing is impossible. After the Battle of the Valley of the End, it was sealed inside me. Over twenty years have passed."
"Frankly, from what I observe, your condition isn't stable. The Nine-Tails could break free anytime."
"Don't worry. As long as I live, there will be no problem. I will never let it destroy Hashirama's lifelong efforts."
Mito placed her right hand over her abdomen, her gaze firm, radiating the youthful strength and charm she once had.
"But my life is nearing its end. The Third Hokage has found a new vessel for the Nine-Tails and will soon bring her to Konoha."
"She is, like me, of the Uzumaki clan. I hope you will take good care of her after I'm gone. I'll inform the Third Hokage. She will live with you, and I hope you will become her family, filling the love she lacks. Can you do that?"
"But she is a Nine-Tails Jinchūriki, and I have Uchiha blood. Will the Third Hokage approve?"
"He cannot object. And if that kid misbehaves, she'll get punished."
Mito's presence was commanding, yet far away in the Hokage building, the Third Hokage shivered, muttering, "Hmm, it's cold. I better wear more clothes."
"You trust me so much, Mito-sama? Leaving the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki with me… isn't that a bit reckless?"
"I trust my eyes and judgment."
Genbu pondered for a long time. Taking care of the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki had many benefits, but also risks. He would be under surveillance, and any abnormality would attract the attention of Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo.
After careful consideration, he could not resist the temptation to study the Nine-Tails and finally nodded. "I promise I will take good care of her. You've given me quite a challenge."
"Then it's settled." Mito was visibly delighted.
"Oh, I thought you'd ask me to take care of Tsunade and Shōji as well."
"I don't need to ask. I trust you'll do well. Isn't that your responsibility anyway?" Mito said with a sly smile.
"You really are cunning, Mito-sama," Genbu said, smiling helplessly. "But I promise I'll take good care of Tsunade and protect Shōji too."