Chapter 201: Tsunade's Tsundere Dinner
[Inorin's Note: Tsundere (ツンデレ) is a Japanese term for a character development process that depicts a person who is initially cold, standoffish, or even hostile before gradually showing a warmer, softer side over time. Tsunade's behavior in this chapter is a classic example.]
The group arrived at Uchiha Akira's mansion. It was less a house and more a sprawling, traditional estate, the new center of power for the revitalized Uchiha clan.
Inside the courtyard, water gurgled from a shishi-odoshi (bamboo fountain), and the maple leaves were a fiery red, creating a pleasant, tranquil scenery.
Before they even entered the main house, Naruto's characteristic loud voice could be heard from the dining room.
"Hinata-chan! Another bowl! Please!"
The dining table, a massive, dark wood slab, was already laden with a dazzling array of dishes. Steam rose from plates of perfectly grilled fish, glistening Wagyu beef, colorful sushi, and various side dishes.
Naruto was diligently, and ferociously, eating. His mouth was greasy, and he was already on his fourth bowl of rice.
Hinata, sitting beside him, gently refilled his rice, her expression one of fond exasperation. She would occasionally pick up a small piece of sushi for herself, eating elegantly and gracefully, a stark contrast to her teammate.
This warm, lively, and normal scene made the knot of frustration and failure in Tsunade's heart—left over from her kitchen disaster—dissipate, little by little.
It felt... nice.
"Yo, Granny Tsunade! You're here to freeload a meal!" Naruto looked up, his cheeks full, greeting her indistinctly.
THWACK!
Tsunade unceremoniously, and with pinpoint accuracy, gave him a sharp rap on the head.
"How many times have I told you, brat! Call me Lady Tsunade!"
"Ow! But you are old..."
THWACK!
"Shut up and eat!"
Uchiha Akira, who had been watching from the head of the table, smiled and shook his head. He gesta to the seat beside him, pulling out the chair for Tsunade.
"Sit, Tsunade. Try it. I promise, this isn't some dark cuisine."
"Hmph!"
Tsunade's eye twitched at the reminder of her failure. She sat down heavily, picked up her chopsticks, and with a somewhat critical, haughty air, picked up a piece of sizzling Wagyu beef.
She put it into her mouth, fully intending to critique it.
The next second, Tsunade's eyes subtly lit up.
The beef... it was perfect. Tender, flavorful, melting on her tongue.
This… this taste…
It was, in fact, ten thousand times better than that black-purple, unidentified, explosive concoction she had... created.
"How is it? To your liking?" Uchiha Akira asked, his voice laced with a knowing amusement.
"So… so-so!" Tsunade retorted stubbornly, her pride forcing the words out.
She tossed her hair back. "It's... it's still a tiny bit lacking compared to what I make myself!"
Shizune, standing nearby, broke out in a cold sweat.
[Lady Tsunade, please stop talking…] she begged internally, her hands clasped in prayer.
[If you keep talking, I'm afraid he won't let us eat dinner tonight… He'll make you cook!]
The meal was lively, filled with Naruto's ravenous eating, Hinata's quiet giggles, and Tsunade's feigned disdain as she, nonetheless, ate her fill of everything on the table.
After they had eaten and drunk their fill, the servants—Uchiha clan members, all—cleared the dishes and brought out fragrant, steaming green tea.
Uchiha Akira took a sip of tea, looked at Tsunade, and his smile faded slightly. His expression became serious. The social part of the evening was over.
"Let's talk business. How is the reform of the Medical Department progressing?"
Hearing the mention of work, Tsunade's entire demeanor shifted. The gambler, the glutton, the tsundere... they all vanished.
She immediately got into character.
She straightened her back, her chin slightly raised. The confidence and pride belonging to one of the Legendary Sannin, the world's greatest medical-nin, returned to her face.
"Hmph. Don't underestimate me, Hokage," she said, her voice crisp and professional. "I, Tsunade, keep my word!"
"Currently, I have thoroughly reformed the Konoha Medical Department according to my standards. All medical equipment, from scalpels to chakra-infusion beds, and all drug reserves have been updated."
"Most importantly," she said, her eyes gleaming with a fierce, burning confidence, "is the training system for Medical-nin."
"I abolished the old, inefficient, 'apprentice-only' teaching model. I've introduced a brand-new, tiered training and assessment system."
"From basic battlefield first aid and triage, to high-difficulty, chakra-intensive surgical procedures, there are specialized courses and instructors responsible."
"In these past few months, thirty-seven Genin have passed the assessment for junior Medical-nin. They can now accompany teams on low-risk, C-rank missions."
She leaned forward, her voice filled with absolute conviction.
"Give me one or two more years, Akira! I guarantee that Konoha's medical system, both in scale and in quality, will far surpass any period in Shinobi World history!"
"The death rate of shinobi on missions... I will reduce it by at least thirty percent!"
These words, this raw passion, made Akira feel her strong confidence. This was the real Tsunade.
Uchiha Akira nodded in satisfaction. "You've worked hard."
It was simple, direct praise.
Tsunade's heart... it warmed. Just a little.
It had been a long time since anyone had simply acknowledged her work.
"Hmph. It's nothing," Tsunade said, picking up her teacup to hide the small, pleased smile at the corner of her mouth.
Tsunade, her mind still on her work, seemed to remember something. She changed the subject.
"Speaking of which, there are indeed a few promising, gifted talents among this batch of newcomers."
"Especially," she added, her tone sharpening with genuine interest, "that child you recommended to me. The one from the orphanage."
"Oh?" Uchiha Akira raised an eyebrow. "Yakushi Kabuto?"
"Exactly. It's him."
When Tsunade mentioned his name, her tone was filled with undisguised, professional praise.
"That child is practically a born Medical-nin! His chakra control, his precision... it's among the top few I've ever seen! It's almost... perfect."
Shizune, who had been standing by quietly, also added, "Yes, Hokage-sama! Lady Tsunade praises him endlessly."
"Kabuto... he's somewhat introverted and doesn't talk much. But his learning ability is incredible! And he's extremely diligent."
"He can grasp the essence of many complex medical subjects, things that take others weeks, almost after just one look."
"Lady Tsunade has already started teaching him directly," Shizune said, her voice filled with awe.
"Kabuto has currently mastered the A-rank Medical Ninjutsu, Shōsen Jutsu."
[Inorin's Note: Shōsen Jutsu (Mystical Palm Technique) is the A-rank, all-purpose medical ninjutsu that allows the user to heal wounds and perform surgery by sending chakra from their hands.]
"This talent… this genius... it truly gave me a great surprise," Tsunade finished, nodding.
Uchiha Akira smiled.
[Indeed. Gold shines wherever it is.]
[However, in this life, your light will shine for me.]
In the previous timeline, Yakushi Kabuto's talent was a seed planted in toxic soil. It was led into the abyss of darkness by the schemers, Danzō and Orochimaru.
He was twisted, broken, and reforged, eventually turning him into a cold super-spy and a mad scientist. A tragic, wasted potential.
But now, Akira had pulled him out of that quagmire of fate early.
He had placed him beside Tsunade—the pinnacle of Medical Ninjutsu in the Shinobi World. He had given him a purpose.
In this life, Yakushi Kabuto would only be loyal to Konoha.
He would be loyal to him, Uchiha Akira.
"That child is indeed a rare talent," Akira commented, taking a sip of tea.
"Since he has this talent, then train him well. Nurture him. If the Medical Department needs any resources—funding, equipment, anything—they can apply directly to me. I will give them the green light all the way."
"Of course!" Tsunade said unceremoniously, as if it were obvious. "I wouldn't waste such a good seedling! I'm making him my personal apprentice, alongside Shizune."
She looked at Akira, a hint of genuine curiosity in her eyes.
"But I'm very curious. You've never met him before that day. How did you spot his talent from that orphanage, at just a glance?"
Uchiha Akira picked up his teacup, gently blowing on the floating tea leaves. The steam veiled his expression.
"My eyes can see many things that you cannot."
He smiled faintly.
"For example, a person's future."
Uchiha Akira said it half-jokingly. But there was no humor in his eyes.
Tsunade, hearing this, put down her teacup. The clinking sound was loud in the quiet room.
She looked up, her gaze suddenly intense, gazing at Uchiha Akira.
"Oh?"
"Then tell me."
Tsunade leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table. She intertwined her fingers, propped her chin on the back of her hands, and fixed her gaze intently on Akira.
"What will my future be like?"
Shizune, standing nearby, nervously held her breath.
Naruto and Hinata, sensing the sudden, sharp change in atmosphere, stopped their own quiet conversation and looked curiously at the two adults.
Uchiha Akira's smile remained unchanged.
Her future? he thought, amused. Godaime Hokage. Senju Tsunade.
If not for me, this woman would be the one to bear the future of the entire Village. She would have taken this position after the Sandaime's death, working until she exhausted herself, until she was a shell of her former self.
Of course, he couldn't tell Tsunade this.
She wouldn't believe it if he did.
Uchiha Akira took a sip of tea. And in the end, he just smiled, saying nothing.
This silent, enigmatic answer, in Tsunade's eyes, was the best evasion. It was a refusal to play her game.
The curiosity in Tsunade's eyes turned into an undisguised, tsundere disdain.
"Heh. Playing the mystic. How boring."
She stood up abruptly. "Shizune, let's go."
"Yes, Lady Tsunade!" Shizune quickly stood up, bowed to Akira, and hurried to catch up.
As the two reached the door, Uchiha Akira's unhurried, amused voice came from behind them.
"You're welcome to come over again next time you're hungry."
Tsunade's steps abruptly halted.
Her back, which was facing him, tensed.
She didn't turn back. She only tilted her face, leaving a sharply defined, angry, and slightly flushed jawline.
"Hmph! Who cares!"
And with that, she stormed out.
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