The group dinner lasted well into the evening. It was already past nine by the time they wrapped up completely. Shinku and his girlfriend had left early—clearly off to enjoy their own little world.
Jiraiya and Orochimaru, ever the inseparable duo, said their goodbyes outside the fried chicken restaurant and helped each other stagger home. In the end, only Tsunade, Hoshiyomi, Nawaki, and Lobo were left out front.
Nawaki was still only five or six years old. Despite his Senju lineage and natural stamina, the excitement and noise at the table had worn him out. After a bit of coaxing from Tsunade, he fell asleep on her back.
Out of habit, Hoshiyomi offered, "Come on, I'll walk you home."
Tsunade glanced at him, then gave a small smile and nodded. Whether it was to avoid waking Nawaki or for some other reason, the two walked in silence most of the way.
After a while, Hoshiyomi said quietly, "Want me to carry him?"
Tsunade gently jostled Nawaki's leg, making him mumble and shift in his sleep. "This kid's a light sleeper. Let's not wake him."
"How about putting him on Lobo's back instead? He's more stable."
Tsunade turned to Lobo. "Would you mind?"
Lobo rolled his eyes at Hoshiyomi. "Since that guy said so, what can I do."
Still, he obediently came to a stop and even used Transformation Jutsu to adjust his size for comfort.
Tsunade carefully placed Nawaki onto Lobo's back. His sleek, soft fur was far more comfortable than her own shoulders.
As soon as Nawaki settled in, he instinctively wrapped his arms around Lobo's neck, lying flat and nuzzling into his fur with a contented sigh.
Lobo gave a wry chuckle. "This kid certainly knows how to find a good spot."
Then he lifted his head and added, "You two go on ahead. I won't see a thing."
That made both Tsunade and Hoshiyomi freeze awkwardly for a second, but Hoshiyomi quickly recovered and kept walking like nothing had happened.
What's that? You're wondering why the self-proclaimed flirt master from his past life was performing at only 90% capacity? Well, in his past life, he never had to flirt with a girl who could literally break his legs.
You don't just casually flirt with Tsunade. Because once you start… there's no escape.
Try to run? She'll crush your knees and smash your head
So yeah, being young and alive was more important. A little patience and restraint never killed anyone.
With that in mind, Hoshiyomi recommitted to spiritual purity and simply walked on in silence.
Next to him, Tsunade had mentally cursed Hoshiyomi at least eight hundred times already. This guy was all talk—always bragging with his smooth words. But now, when it was just the two of them, he didn't say a damn thing.
And she was far too proud to make the first move herself.
The more she thought about it, the angrier she got—until finally, with a huff, she picked up the pace, throwing him a cold shoulder and storming ahead.
Hoshiyomi, for his part, was happy to lag behind. He slowed a little, walking side-by-side with Lobo. After all these years together, the man and the wolf needed no words. A glance was enough.
Lobo: You're really gonna let this golden opportunity slip by?
Hoshiyomi: With her temper? You trying to get me killed?
Lobo: Still… this is kind of pathetic.
Hoshiyomi: Better pathetic than getting locked into something I can't escape.
Lobo: Seriously?
Hoshiyomi: I'll take you to the Inuzuka compound tomorrow—find you a nice ninja dog to mate with. Then you'll understand.
Lobo: Please. Even the fiercest ninja hounds turn into cuddly lambs around me.
Damn it… why does it feel like the wolf has a better love life than I do?
Tsunade, meanwhile, was growing more annoyed with every backward glance at the silent man-and-wolf duo exchanging weird looks. She had no idea what was going on and didn't want to ask—so she just stewed in frustration alone.
Before long, they reached the Senju compound. With a grunt, Tsunade shoved open the massive wooden gate, not even caring whether the sound would wake Nawaki.
She turned to Hoshiyomi with a sharp look.
"All right. You can go home now."
Then she stomped off inside.
As she disappeared into the courtyard, Nawaki suddenly sprang down from Lobo's back and sighed heavily.
"Big Brother Hoshiyomi… you really missed your chance, didn't you? Do you know how many people chase after my sister, and she doesn't even look at them?"
Hoshiyomi and Lobo froze. Wait a minute… he was awake the whole time?!
He's the real actor here!
So this kid's been faking it all along? No wonder in the Infinite Tsukuyomi dream world he had the guts to take an adult novel from Jiraiya…
As Hoshiyomi silently cursed in his heart, Nawaki continued with a knowing look:
"Then again, I get it. People don't really know what my sister's like. Her temper's no joke. I understand why you'd hesitate.
But man… if you'd sealed the deal with her tonight, she'd stop having time to worry about me. My life would get so much easier!"
"Ahem!" (Cough cough!)
Still stuck in his little adult role-play, Nawaki was about to keep rambling when he noticed Hoshiyomi coughing and giving him side-eye. He paused.
"Big Brother Hoshiyomi, what's—"
Then it hit him.
Danger! Nawaki in danger!
To his credit, the kid had great reflexes. His acting dialed up to max as he quickly changed the subject and raised his voice.
"Big Brother Hoshiyomi, look at that moon tonight! Isn't it beautiful?
Ah… but if you're not in the mood, never mind. I'll head to bed. You should get going too. Good night!"
Smooth as ever, he turned halfway, avoided eye contact with the incoming figure in his peripheral vision, and casually tried to slip around it back into the Senju compound.
Too bad that trick didn't work.
He barely took two steps before Tsunade swooped in and locked him in a crushing arm-hold.
"I'll deal with you once we're inside," she growled.
Nawaki's face turned ghost-white. He wilted in her arms without a fight.
Then she raised her head and fixed Hoshiyomi with a dagger-eyed glare.
Hoshiyomi acted like he hadn't seen it. With a perfectly calm face, he waved at Nawaki.
"Goodnight, Little Nawaki! (ω<)★"
As he spoke, his feet were already silently sliding backward.
Just before Tsunade's rage boiled over into a chakra-powered punch, Hoshiyomi activated his Transparent Escape combined with Body Flicker and vanished with a whoosh.
Under the moonlight, a translucent figure flickered twice across the street before reappearing at the corner—still waving at Tsunade in farewell as he quickly shuffled out of sight.
In Tsunade's arms, Nawaki watched in awe.
This is the power of real ninjutsu!
One day, he was definitely going to learn that move from Big Brother Hoshiyomi.