Ryoma scratched his head and said,
"Well, I only picked it up when Grandma Mito was teaching Kushina."
"What?!"
Kushina's eyes almost popped out of her head.
Grandma Mito taught me, and I barely managed to learn anything. Meanwhile, this guy—this salted fish—just picks it up like that?!
Kushina suddenly felt a pang of frustration and disbelief.
Even Uzumaki Mito was stunned for a moment, a flicker of surprise flashing across her face.
Such comprehension… Could it even rival Tobirama's? Is the Senju clan about to produce another genius on par with a dragon?
"But you can't just treat Tsunade like that."
Mito frowned. Using vines to smack Tsunade around wasn't exactly the best idea.
Ryoma, however, ignored the matter entirely. He went back to the small courtyard and immediately prepared to take a bath.
While soaking, he suddenly remembered the hot spring near the place they'd passed earlier. It was one of the most famous bathhouses in Konoha.
Come to think of it, I've never actually gone there myself. Maybe I should try it sometime…
After washing up, Ryoma returned to his room—only for the door to suddenly swing open.
"Come in," he said instinctively.
Kushina stepped inside, her long red hair still damp, glistening with droplets. A faint fragrance lingered around her, and her fair skin held a soft blush. She looked like she'd just come straight from the bath.
Ryoma blinked in confusion. What's she doing here so late at night?
Kushina's face flushed deeper as she spoke softly,
"Ryoma, don't you think you should apologize to Sister Tsunade?"
Seeing the pleading look in her eyes, Ryoma sighed inwardly. His heart softened.
"Alright, fine. An apology isn't that big a deal…"
Just then—
[Ding! Based on the host's current situation, three choices are available!]
[Option 1: Apologize to Tsunade and admit your mistake.
Reward: A broken shuriken.
Option 2: Forgive Tsunade, showing that you were never angry.
Reward: A-rank ninjutsu – Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique.
Option 3: Get angry with Tsunade and give her a lesson.
Reward: A-rank ninjutsu – Omnidirectional Shuriken Technique.]
Well, system, you're in a generous mood today…
Ryoma cleared his throat and said,
"I don't think I was wrong. But I've already forgiven Tsunade—I'm not angry at all, as long as she doesn't provoke me again."
Kushina glared at him.
"Ryoma, that's not an apology!"
"I'm right. Why should I apologize?" he shot back.
Kushina stomped her foot in frustration—just as the door slammed open again.
Both she and Ryoma froze.
Tsunade stood there, dumbfounded. Her eyes darted between them before settling on Ryoma.
"You—what are you doing in my room?"
Kushina's face went crimson. She waved her hands frantically.
"S-Sister Tsunade, it's not what it looks like! Ryoma just wanted to apologize to you!"
Ryoma blinked in realization.
Wait… so that's why this room smelled so strongly before. I was actually sleeping in Tsunade's room…
"Apologize?" Tsunade narrowed her eyes at him.
"Eh… Sister Tsunade," Ryoma coughed awkwardly, "I've already forgiven you. I'm not angry at all about today's incident, as long as you don't cause me trouble again in the future."
Well, don't blame me. The system forced my hand.
And honestly, I went easy on her.
[Congratulations to the host for completing Choice Two: Forgive Tsunade and claim you're not angry at all.Reward: A-rank ninjutsu – Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique.]
Tsunade let out a sharp laugh, her smile tight with anger.
"Heh… brat, come outside. I won't trash this place, but let's go to the training grounds. We'll see who's laughing then."
Just then, Uzumaki Mito appeared.
She gave Tsunade a firm look and said,
"You've been gone nearly two years, and the first thing you do when you return is pick a fight?"
Kushina looked nervous and turned toward Ryoma.
Ryoma only shrugged, his expression calm.
"I told you already—I forgave her."
Mito sighed softly. She knew Ryoma well enough; he never yielded to force, only to kindness.
"Alright, Tsunade, that's enough. And you too, Ryoma. She's your sister—you should show some lenience."
"Lenience? From him?!" Tsunade's voice rose, her face dark with fury.
Today she had lost face in front of everyone. What was supposed to be a simple test had turned into humiliation. And to make matters worse—her own room had been taken over, and now even her grandmother was siding with an outsider?
Chakra surged violently from her body as her anger boiled over.
Kushina quickly stepped in, desperate to defuse the tension.
"S-Sister Tsunade, how about this—you two settle it with an arm-wrestling match!"
She spun to Ryoma, pleading.
"Ryoma, if you lose, you can apologize to Sister Tsunade. Alright?"
Kushina knew Tsunade's monstrous strength well. In all of Konoha, no one could match her in sheer power when it came to arm-wrestling. This way, Tsunade could regain some dignity, and Ryoma wouldn't be too humiliated.
Ryoma chuckled, the corner of his lips curling upward.
"An arm-wrestle? Not impossible."
He remembered the scene from the anime—Tsunade locking hands with the Raikage in a raw contest of power. The clash had shaken the ground itself.
That was a spectacle. Could be interesting to recreate it now…
Tsunade's eyes lit up, her anger shifting into excitement.
"Boy, do you dare to make it a bet? I'll tell you now—no one has ever beaten me."
"Oh really?" Ryoma's smile deepened.
So it hasn't happened yet… The match between Tsunade and the Raikage.
In the end, Raikage won—not because he was stronger, but because he was faster, slipping in a trick at the last moment. Tsunade's raw power was greater, but that didn't matter in the end. That fight hasn't happened yet in this timeline…
...
TN:
Hope you Enjoy~😊