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If other ninja focused only on daily training, they'd fall behind on their missions. After all, completing assignments is the top priority for a ninja. In Konoha, each ninja has monthly mission quotas.
But Genbu's team was special. Even their captain, Tsunade, used Shadow Clones, so naturally, the others followed suit.
Regardless of their individual strength, they were still genin-level, usually assigned D- or C-rank missions. Shadow Clones could easily handle these tasks, creating a world where only the clones got hurt.
Three months passed, and winter arrived.
Konoha winters weren't too harsh—the temperature hovered around -5 to -6°C. Ninja endurance far surpassed that of ordinary people, so even in winter, they wore the same attire as usual, maybe adding a coat or cloak for warmth.
The first snowfall had blanketed the two-story Akimichi Genbu residence overnight. The courtyard, however, had been cleared. Genbu sat with his eyes closed, focusing on the overwhelming force within him, trying to subdue it.
"Senbu-san, we're out of alcohol. I want more," a familiar voice called.
Genbu had to break from his meditation. He turned to see Tsunade leaning against the doorway, a bottle of liquor in hand.
She wore a white T-shirt and red skirt, her cheeks flushed from drinking. She stood there like a blooming white rose—breathtaking.
Genbu picked up a coat and draped it over her shoulders. "Tsundere—uh, I mean, Tsunade-sensei, we agreed you'd only drink one bottle per day. You've already had two. And put on some clothes before going out—you'll catch a cold."
To control Tsunade's drinking, Genbu had learned a method from a novel he read in a past life: he brewed white wine and fruit wine from his hometown.
His plan was simple: give her better wine to divert her from the cheap stuff outside. Once he controlled her wine source, he could gradually regulate her daily intake.
It worked flawlessly. The wine's unique aroma and silky taste were irresistible, and soon, she would visit the Genbu household just to drink. Eventually, she even joined him in training, forcing Genbu to be extra careful when heading to the basement for experiments. Nara Kiyomizu and Yamanaka Yū no longer came screaming—they moved into their own basements.
Yet, despite his sacrifices, the results were modest. Who would have guessed a twenty-year-old woman could act like a spoiled child in front of a sixteen-year-old boy?
"I still want more wine," Tsunade said, used to Genbu draping the coat over her shoulders. Her cheeks flushed, her eyes full of faux-pity, staring at him like a tiny challenge. Who could resist this test?
After a brief silence, Genbu quietly headed toward the cellar. Tsunade tried to follow, but, drunk, she stumbled into him. Genbu caught her immediately. "Tsunade-sensei, don't follow me. And no sneaking wine."
"Impossible! I'm the best," she insisted.
"You're not worthy of my trust," he muttered.
Previously, Tsunade had often snuck liquor from his cellar, forcing him into a corner and even consulting Uzumaki Mito for sealing techniques.
After hearing the story, Mito laughed and taught him the Vajra Seal—a technique that creates a protective barrier within a certain range. It can be a single-sided or multi-sided barrier, similar to the Four Purple Flames Array. It has little offensive power but incredible defense.
The cost of learning the seal? Delivering a bottle of homemade wine or liquor to Mito every three days.
Tsunade wasn't happy, but she endured for the sake of the wine. Sitting in the living room, she muttered, "I want Maotai… Maotai…"
"All right, all right. I'll get it for you—but this is the last bottle today," Genbu promised.
"I swear," Tsunade said, patting her chest.
Somehow, in just a few months, she had regained her C-cup figure—larger than before.
"Don't look, don't listen to anything inappropriate," Genbu muttered, turning to the wine cellar.
"Genbu-san, snacks! I want fried peanuts and cucumber paste!" Tsunade shouted behind him, hands over her mouth like a human megaphone.
"Senbu-kun, I want Kung Pao chicken and eggplant with minced meat!"
The voice came from a red-haired little girl upstairs: Uzumaki Kushina.
If Tsunade was a minor nuisance, this girl was a major one.
Two months ago, she had been brought to the household of Uzumaki Mito and the Third Hokage. Since then, underage Genbu had become her guardian.
Initially, Kushina was timid and wary of Genbu, always warning him away. But children are easily persuaded, and through food and dolls, she became a good "older sister" to him.
"Genbu-senpai, I want braised pork, hehe."
The rough voice belonged to Senju Shigemoku, usually carefree and indulgent. He had been practicing shuriken and now joined in the requests.
"Hmm, Genbu-kun, I want stir-fried pork and red bean soup. Is that okay?"
Even Namikaze Minato, weak from training with Shadow Clones, asked for his share.
"How can I continue training? Eh, it's almost dinner. According to Genbu's orders, the clones stopped practicing and started cooking."
The four adult men, aside from Tsunagi, offered no help.
At the dinner table, Namikaze Tsunagi suddenly said, "Genbu, I think I can feel the overwhelming power you mentioned."
"Good. I'll focus on training next," Genbu replied.
Before he could react, he stuffed a mouthful of food and slammed his hands on the table, yelling at Minato across from him: "What did you say?!"
Rice almost flew onto Tsunagi.
"It's just… a little overwhelming. Three months in and I still can't feel it fully—is it too slow?"
Minato dodged the "hidden weapon" in Genbu's mouth and scratched his head awkwardly.
Of course—he was subtly showing off. The protagonist of this story, whom I searched for three years, achieved in three months what others could not.
Seeing everyone stare, Genbu realized he misspoke and returned to his seat. "Good. Keep it up, brother."
Shigemoku exclaimed, "So this is the overwhelming force Genbu mentioned! I trained for a month and felt nothing, but Minato, you're amazing!"
Genbu calmly said, "Tsunagi, we haven't sparred for three months. After dinner, we'll test your performance."
The little girl was showing off. Wait until I deal with you.
"Genbu-kun, can you guide me? I'll give my best," Minato said, unaware of the stakes.
Drunk, Tsunade got excited, wobbling to her feet. "Want to fight? I'll bet!"
"I bet Genbu-kun will win," Kushina immediately placed her pocket money on the table, sticking her tongue out at Minato.
Poor Minato felt crushed. Even Kushina bet against him—psychological trauma inflicted.
Tsunade sipped her wine. "You don't believe in Minato? My intuition says he can win. I bet two."
Only Tsunade was fair—Minato was touched.