Gradually, Nonou had practically leaned entirely against Nagato.
"Fine, I admit I was wrong."
"You can definitely do it."
Nagato reached out and took Nonou's hand. Facing each other, barely an arm's length apart.
"Hmph～ That's more like it."
"This time, I'll spare you."
Nonou tried to act composed while pulling her hand free, though her face was already flushed red.
"Thank you, Lady Nonou, for showing mercy!"
Nagato cracked a playful joke, easing some of Nonou's awkwardness.
After locking eyes, both burst into cheerful laughter.
Tonight had been a lot of fun for both of them!!
...
"No need to walk me further. My apartment is just ahead."
Nonou pointed toward the apartment building not far ahead. It was a perk from Anbu, acknowledging her role as a medical ninja.
She couldn't afford to buy her own place yet.
"Alright then, I'll head back."
Nagato didn't try to follow her inside.
It was already pretty late. He could already imagine the nosy questions waiting if he got back too late.
"Yeah, see you next time."
Nonou waved goodbye to Nagato.
"Sure, see you next time."
Nagato waved as he watched Nonou leave.
He didn't turn around until Nonou entered the apartment building.
Unknown to him, no sooner had he turned away than someone with a grin so wide their eyes nearly vanished reappeared near the entrance.
It didn't take long before Nagato returned to the Hatake household.
The moment he stepped inside, laughter echoed from the living room.
Normally at this hour, who would be in the living room?
Tonight was unusually lively!!
Curious, Nagato headed toward the living room.
"Long time no see."
No sooner had he showed his face than he heard Konan's excited voice.
Everyone's gaze instantly focused on Nagato. At that moment, how could he *not* realize he was walking straight into enemy territory?
Indeed, curiosity kills the cat.
Apparently, *he* was the reason everyone had gathered in the living room.
"Welcome back. How did the date go?"
Kawaki cut straight to the chase, his eyes blazing with gossip fever.
"It, uh...went reasonably well."
At this point, Nagato had given up arguing. If calling it a date made everyone happy, so be it.
Actually, it didn't sound all that bad.
"What do you mean 'reasonably well'?"
"Why are you back so late? Where exactly did you go?"
To Nagato's surprise, even the teacher's wife was this curious.
Sure enough, birds of a feather flock together.
"Nowhere special."
"Just wandered around."
Nagato attempted to play it off casually.
If Tsunade ever found out he'd taken Nonou up to the Hokage Rock for moon-viewing, it wouldn't end well.
"Confess everything now, and we'll go easy on you."
"You've been warned."
Minato had also returned, wearing a broad grin.
"I didn't do anything bad. What is there to confess?"
"I'm kind of tired. I think I'll go to bed."
Realizing everyone looked ready to team up for an interrogation, Nagato decided it was time to make a quick exit.
"Stick around a little longer! Everyone's having fun!"
Yahiko stepped forward and wrapped an arm around Nagato's shoulders, guiding him toward the center of the living room.
"I..."
There was an "MMP" he wanted to blurt out but couldn't bring himself to say.
You're all getting your kicks at the expense of my privacy. How is that even polite?
"Did you hold hands? Did you kiss?"
Konan closed in with a sly grin and fired off the juicy question.
She waggled her eyebrows, clearly trying to be as playful and teasing as possible.
"Of course not. Don't make things up."
Nagato's face flushed instantly as he remembered Nonou standing right in front of him.
"If you're saying no, then why is your face turning red?"
Konan first looked incredulous, then raised her tone.
She jabbed a finger at Nagato, shocked that her friend could be capable of such things.
This was moving way too fast.
"Oh come on, really nothing happened."
Nagato waved Konan's hand away with a helpless expression.
"We just had dinner, watched the moon together, and then I walked her home."
"Seriously, I swear."
Fearing no one would believe him, Nagato quickly added more to his defense.
"Alright, I believe Little Nagato isn't like that."
Natsuki came to Nagato's rescue. Given how shy he is, there's no way he'd go that far.
After all, it was only their first date.
"Exactly, Mother knows me best."
Letting out a deep sigh of relief, Nagato finally felt like someone had his back.
"No plans for another meeting?"
Kawaki wasn't about to drop it, clearly hungry for some real gossip.
"Not yet."
Nagato firmly shook his head. Better not stir up any extra trouble.
Truthfully, he wasn't exactly lying—he and Nonou hadn't actually made any plans yet.
"Why not strike while the iron's still hot?"
"And you didn't even make any plans?"
Kawaki gave him a look full of disappointment, as if an iron that refused to be shaped properly.
"Oh well, it's fine."
"I'll make sure to assign them more missions later."
Sakumo finally spoke after listening for so long.
As long as Nonou remained in Anbu, she would always be under his command.
That wouldn't even count as favoritism—nobody could possibly object.
"That's actually a good idea."
Kawaki nodded in agreement, feeling Big Bro had finally come up with something reliable.
"No need. Just assign regular missions."
Nagato felt slightly embarrassed and politely declined.
"Just stick to regular mission assignments."
"I make the decisions in Anbu."
This chapter isn't over yet!
Naruto: Starting from Pursuing Tsunade – Don't forget to bookmark us: (m.
Sakumo glared, causing Nagato to quickly back down.
"Haha, can't fight fate."
"Just accept it quietly."
"Besides, it's all for your own good."
Tsunade chuckled at Nagato's flinching stance—it was just so amusing watching this kid squirm.
"I understand."
"By the way, Teacher's wife, I have a question to ask you."
Now that the danger seemed to have passed, Nagato momentarily forgot about heading back to his room.
"Go ahead."
Seeing Nagato speaking seriously, Tsunade swallowed the snack in her hand and listened carefully.
She even brushed away the crumbs stuck on Kawaki's clothes.
"Is there any effective treatment for nearsightedness?"
Nagato suddenly remembered the promise he'd made to Nonou.
It would be best if Tsunade had a solution.
"I thought this was a bigger issue," Nagato said.
"Just replace the eyes," Tsunade replied offhandedly. She'd performed countless eye replacement surgeries before.
"The problem is, Nonou doesn't want to use someone else's eyes."
Nagato didn't bother hiding his intentions; everyone in the room was sharp enough to understand.
Everyone clearly understood who he was asking about, and no one was confused.
"So you're not replacing the eyes, huh?"
"Well then, I'll have to think carefully about this."
Tsunade rubbed her temples—Nagato had truly given her a tough problem.
"Is it really that difficult?"
Konan was completely unfamiliar with Medical Ninjutsu. Seeing even Tsunade hesitate, she couldn't help but feel disbelieving.
"Nearsightedness isn't caused by damaged or missing eyeballs."
"To be precise, it's due to the deformation of the eyeball."
"All our current Medical Ninjutsu focuses primarily on regeneration."
"Without replacing the eyes, we're pretty much at a loss."
Tsunade rubbed her temples; Nagato had really given her a difficult problem.
Please bookmark: Naruto: Starting from Pursuing Tsunade (m.