The next day, Kawaki and Tsunade arrived at the hospital after breakfast.
No one mentioned the topic at all during the meal.
"You're here."
Orochimaru was already preparing when he opened the lab door.
"Good morning, Sister Tsunade, Brother-in-law."
His assistant, Misaki, worked alongside Orochimaru, as she needed to document the experiment from the beginning.
"Yeah, when are we starting?"
Kawaki seemed even more excited than Tsunade.
"What's the rush? I haven't finished preparing yet."
Orochimaru shot back. They definitely had a snarky friendship.
"Well then, take your time."
"I remember we need to do a physical check first, right?"
Kawaki recalled his own experience with integrating Hashirama's cells.
"That's right. First, we need to draw blood from Sister Tsunade."
"Just wait a moment, I'll be right over."
Misaki picked up the pace on her current task.
"Never mind, I'll do it myself."
Tsunade strode smoothly over to the cabinet and pulled out a set of blood-drawing tools.
"Fine."
Misaki nodded and left her to it.
"That might not be very convenient—let me help you."
Kawaki became interested. He'd never drawn blood from anyone before.
"You?"
Tsunade gave him a skeptical look, clearly unconvinced.
This guy might poke a hole in her arm!
"What about me?"
"This kind of small thing doesn't need Hokage-sama to handle personally."
Without waiting for Tsunade's permission, Kawaki grabbed the blood-drawing tools.
Considering Tsunade's physical condition, a few pokes wouldn't hurt her.
She'd been poked with needles countless times before, and nothing ever happened to her.
"I'll trust you just this once."
Tsunade clenched her fist warningly in front of Kawaki.
Sure, she could take a few pokes—but if Kawaki messed with her, don't say she didn't warn him.
"Trust me, no problem."
Kawaki spoke confidently.
They casually found a spot to sit down.
"Extend your hand."
Kawaki seriously instructed Tsunade.
It felt pretty good—he was usually the one receiving orders from Tsunade.
"Yes, Doctor Kawaki."
Tsunade cooperated fully, and the two began their performance, seemingly unaware of anyone else.
"Your veins are prominent—you're a great candidate for drawing blood."
Kawaki tied off Tsunade's arm while rattling off comments.
"Whatever."
"What do you mean, 'great candidate for drawing blood'?"
Tsunade rolled her eyes. What did he even mean?
"Isn't that a compliment?"
Kawaki gestured with the needle but hesitated to proceed.
"Just stick me already."
Tsunade grew impatient watching him. If she had done it herself, she would have finished by now.
"Okay, okay."
Kawaki gritted his teeth and gently inserted the needle.
Luckily, his eyesight was sharp enough. One smooth poke did the trick—saving him from a beating by Tsunade.
"How is it?"
"My technique isn't bad, huh?"
Seeing the blood flow out, Kawaki looked proud.
"Lucky guess."
Tsunade thought for a moment and realized that wasn't quite fair.
Even if Kawaki was the lucky type, she sure as hell wasn't some helpless victim.
"It's fine, I suppose."
He muttered a half-hearted response, but it was already too late.
"Haha~"
"I'm just a blind cat, and you're that dead mouse. We're perfect together."
The blood vial was now full, so Kawaki pulled out the needle.
Before he could apply a cotton swab, the tiny wound had already healed on its own.
"Who wants to be your perfect match?"
"Give it here."
Tsunade shot back and snatched the vial from his hand.
"Too late to say no, babe~"
Kawaki drew out the last word with a smug grin, looking so irritating that Tsunade couldn't help but want to punch him.
"What kind of weird nickname is that? It sounds awful."
She held back her impulse and walked toward a room holding the blood sample.
She was well-versed in analyzing blood samples like this.
"Wait for me."
Without shame, Kawaki chased after her.
"Finally gone."
Orochimaru exhaled in relief. Those two were really annoying.
"Hehe~"
"Sister and brother-in-law sure have some good chemistry."
Misaki giggled quietly, with a hint of envy.
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