Chapter 195: The Morning After
A new day dawned.
Hoshikawa opened his eyes, rising from his sleep.
He sat up, stretched, and felt immensely refreshed.
While they had pitched tents on the battlefield in the Land of Grass, they had slept in sleeping bags, fully clothed, for the sake of combat readiness. It was naturally nowhere near as relaxing as sleeping at home.
But today, he was not at Kurenai Yūhi's house; he was at Tsunade's.
Tsunade had had too much to drink last night.
By the time dinner was over, it was late, and since he was meant to accompany her to the casino the next day anyway, he simply stayed the night at her house.
Hoshikawa dressed and went to the kitchen to prepare a glass of hot milk. Drinking milk on the day after getting drunk helps alleviate the symptoms.
"Master!"
Hoshikawa called out a few times at her bedroom door, but received no reply. He decided to open the door directly. Since he had carried Tsunade back to her room last night, the door wasn't locked, and he had only removed her moss-green outer jacket.
However, the moment he opened the door, his eyes widened sharply.
Tsunade was lying asleep on the bed, but... perhaps she had been uncomfortable while sleeping, for her clothes had been pulled open.
Hoshikawa froze for a few seconds, then backed out of the room and closed the door.
He shook his head, but his mind was flooded with images of 'snowy mountains and red plums'—a common metaphor for a magnificent sight.
"Master!"
Calming himself, Hoshikawa knocked harder on the door.
"I heard you! Stop making noise!"
Startled awake, Tsunade instinctively opened her eyes. She frowned and pressed her hand to her forehead. The after-effects of the alcohol still lingered subconsciously. Using the Strength of a Hundred Seal (Infuin), she quickly purged the lingering aches.
Tsunade looked down and was instantly stunned. She strained her memory and realized she must have ripped open the chest bindings herself in her sleep.
"I knew that brat wouldn't have the guts," Tsunade muttered.
She got out of bed, picked up the black bindings, and tightened her sleeveless top. As she walked to the door and grasped the handle, her expression suddenly froze.
She remembered: while she was half-asleep moments ago, she thought she'd heard someone call her and then open the door. But the sound vanished quickly.
Only two people were in the entire house—herself and Hoshikawa .
The thought sent a rare wave of shame flooding over Tsunade. If this had happened years ago, she could have dismissed it by saying Hoshikawa was just a boy. But now, he was taller than she was.
Tsunade took a deep breath, suppressing her emotions, and slowly opened the door.
"Good morning, Master."
Hoshikawa held out the milk. Just looking at her still brought back the memory of the magnificent scene from moments ago.
"Mm."
Tsunade took the milk and drank a few sips, then headed to the bathroom. Seeing the toothbrush he had prepared, she felt a slight disorder in her heart.
Normally, she should have decisively refused and maintained distance, but she hadn't. She couldn't bring herself to make a firm decision regarding Hoshikawa .
Tsunade gave up trying to figure it out after a moment. I'll just take things one step at a time. While her personality was decisive and swift, she became hesitant when it came to the matters of the Hokage position and Hoshikawa . The root cause was that she cared too much about both.
After Tsunade finished washing up, Hoshikawa waited a moment before bringing two bowls of ramen.
"Master, which flavor do you want?" Hoshikawa asked with a smile.
"Beef," Tsunade glanced over and replied casually.
"Then I'll have the Tonkotsu ramen."
Hoshikawa sat down opposite her and handed her a pair of chopsticks.
"After breakfast, you should go home and rest," Tsunade said as she flipped the ramen noodles.
"I'm coming with you to the casino," Hoshikawa pointed to his forehead. "After all, Master has already paid the reward."
Tsunade was taken aback. She quickly remembered what he was referring to: the kiss on the forehead from before.
"Oh."
Tsunade answered indifferently, but her heart definitely fluttered. She had never felt this way before—it was subtle and indescribable.
Breakfast ended.
Hoshikawa took the dishes to the kitchen.
Tsunade returned to her room and put on her moss-green jacket embroidered with the kanji for 'Gambling' (Kake).
After Hoshikawa finished cleaning, the two of them left the house together.
But they quickly ran into trouble. They were simply too famous now. Yesterday, they returned late, and the streets were mostly empty. But today, with many people out, they were instantly surrounded the moment they reached the main street.
Tsunade and Hoshikawa couldn't simply push through and had to greet everyone individually.
A trip that should have taken a few minutes took half an hour to reach the casino.
"Lady Tsunade, you may be the hero of Konoha, but don't blame us for winning your money at the gambling table!" a gambler suddenly called out near the table.
Tsunade had always been famous, but now she was even more so—a true Konoha hero.
"Stop the chatter!" Tsunade was too impatient to start gambling.
Fortunately, the gamblers in the casino were only interested in money, unlike the ordinary villagers who crowded around outside.
Hoshikawa 's lips twitched. A famous person gets ridiculed; a strong pig gets slaughtered. That old saying certainly holds true.
He snapped out of his thoughts, sat next to Tsunade, and pulled out a Ninjutsu scroll. It wasn't the Five Elements Great Bomb Jutsu (Goton: Dairendan no Jutsu) given by Hiruzen Sarutobi yesterday, but Wind Release: Great Vacuum Orb (Fūton: Shinkū Daigyoku).
In the original story, Danzō Shimura had used this Wind Release Ninjutsu. It was an enhanced version of Wind Release: Vacuum Sphere (Fūton: Shinkūgyoku), with a B-rank learning difficulty.
Hoshikawa wasn't studying the Five Elements Great Bomb Jutsu because his elemental skill level wasn't high enough—specifically, his Wind Release skill. His Fire, Lightning, Earth, and Water Release skills had all earned the 'Special Jōnin' perk, but his Wind Release was still stuck at the 'Chūnin' perk. Hoshikawa planned to obtain 'Wind Release Special Jōnin' before attempting the Five Elements Great Bomb Jutsu.
The morning quickly passed.
Hoshikawa closed the scroll. He had memorized the entire cultivation method for Wind Release: Great Vacuum Orb and only needed practical application. With the enhancement from his various perks, Ninjutsu below A-rank posed no difficulty for him. He could master them in one or two days if he was fast, or within a week if he was slow. Only S-rank and A-rank Ninjutsu required him to spend significantly more time.
Hoshikawa turned his head to look at Tsunade. Excitement was plastered across her face as she intently focused on the gambling table.
Truly, everything beautiful women do is beautiful.
After admiring her for a while, Hoshikawa leaned close to her and whispered, "I'm going back quickly to grab a bento box for you."
Tsunade instinctively turned her head. Seeing his handsome face so close, her heart suddenly skipped a beat. She quickly averted her gaze and said, "Go ahead."
Hoshikawa stood up and left the casino.
"Hoshikawa ?"
A familiar voice rang out from his left.
"Eichiro-sensei, long time no see," Hoshikawa stopped, a little surprised.
"It really is you!" Eichirō said with a big smile. "Our Konoha Village's great hero!"
"Eichirō-sensei, please don't be so formal," Hoshikawa shook his head. "No matter what, I'm still your student."
"It is my honor to have been your teacher!" Eichirō said with great emotion.
In fact, it was true. He had a happy kind of trouble at the Academy. Hoshikawa had become the idol of most students. As his former teacher, Eichirō had become the only means for the students to learn about their idol. Furthermore, thanks to Hoshikawa , his promotion at the Academy had been smooth and easy.
"Did you just finish classes?" Hoshikawa asked with a smile.
"Yes, I just finished the morning session," Eichirō nodded. "I never expected to run into you right outside the school. My students would be so envious if they knew."
"Isn't that a bit exaggerated?" Hoshikawa said humbly.
"You graduated from the Academy, and you're young. To those kids, it's practically lethal," Eichirō chuckled. "What they love most now is hearing me tell them stories about you."
"What stories? About me sleeping in class?" Hoshikawa blinked.
"Stories about you listening attentively in class," Eichirō couldn't help but laugh. "They don't have your talent, so I can only promote your hard work. Please don't be upset."
"Why would I be upset?" Hoshikawa was quite familiar with this type of maneuver. After all, the autobiographies of many business tycoons in his previous life were full of such exaggerated claims.
"Oh, right. How long are you staying this time? Are you free next month?" Eichirō suddenly remembered something. "If you're free, I'd like to invite you to give a speech at the graduation ceremony."
"Huh? Me?" Hoshikawa was taken aback. "Isn't the Hokage-sama giving the speech?"
"The frequent wars lately have kept him very busy, so he's stepped down from giving the speech," Eichirō explained. "I think you'd be perfect. You have both the strength and the fame, and the students all adore you."
Hoshikawa felt that something was a little off. Is this what they call 'returning home in glory'?
"I'm not sure how long I can stay," Hoshikawa pondered. "If I'm still in Konoha in March, I'll give the speech."
"It's a deal then!" Eichirō said excitedly. Inviting Hoshikawa would undoubtedly give him prestige at the Academy. Most importantly, it would let people know about his connection to Hoshikawa . This would have a very positive influence on him. For example, some colleagues or leaders who held grudges against him might change their attitude, considering Hoshikawa 's face.
"Just come find me then," Hoshikawa didn't know what Eichirō was thinking, and even if he did, he wouldn't care. After all, the Shinobi World was governed by strength. These superficial connections meant nothing to him. As for helping Eichirō, he genuinely thought his former teacher was decent and had been dedicated in teaching him back then.
Hoshikawa bid him farewell and returned to Tsunade's house. He prepared two bento boxes and headed back to the casino.
"Here." Hoshikawa casually handed a bento box to Tsunade.
"Thanks."
Tsunade accepted the bento box and continued to place bets while eating. In fact, she wasn't the only one so focused; most of the other gamblers were similar, with some not even bothering to eat lunch.
Gambling is a curse.
Hoshikawa shook his head. When I become Hokage, I'll shut down the casino. If Tsunade wanted to gamble, he'd use the 'carrot and stick' approach.
Hoshikawa finished eating, put away his bento, and was about to take out a new Wind Release Ninjutsu to study when he suddenly focused.
Thanks to the A-rank perk 'Mount Huaguo' (Huaguoshan), he now possessed Lava Release (Yōton), but he lacked corresponding Ninjutsu. However, one came to mind: the Rasengan.
In the original story, Naruto Uzumaki had used the Sage Art: Lava Release Rasenshuriken. Hoshikawa didn't know Sage Art or Rasenshuriken, but he could combine Lava Release chakra with the Rasengan to create a Lava Release: Rasengan. Combining a Kekkei Genkai with the Rasengan was undoubtedly feasible, as the original story featured the Magnet Release: Rasengan.
As Hoshikawa 's strength increased, the non-elemental Rasengan was becoming less effective. But by incorporating Lava Release, the Rasengan could once again become a powerful technique for him.
It's worth a try. After all, in principle, it was simple: just replace the non-elemental chakra with Lava Release chakra to form the Rasengan.
Hoshikawa suppressed the idea and continued to study the Wind Release Ninjutsu scroll. As for the Lava Release: Rasengan, he planned to experiment with it once he returned home.
Time moved toward dusk.
After a day of gambling, Tsunade finally felt satisfied. She looked at the money she had won on the table, a pleased smile on her face.
"Hoshikawa , shall we—"
Tsunade was about to suggest they go drinking, but suddenly remembered what happened that morning, and stopped abruptly.
"What is it, Master?" Hoshikawa looked up, confused.
"We're done gambling. Time to head back," Tsunade collected her money and walked out of the casino.
After dinner, Hoshikawa returned home. He was slightly surprised that Tsunade hadn't gone drinking tonight.
"I'm hungry, Hoshikawa ." Kurenai Yūhi looked at him with puppy-dog eyes. Only the four of them were back in the village; Shinku Yūhi was still stationed in the Land of Grass.
"I bought you some Takoyaki," Hoshikawa produced the octopus balls from behind his back. "Eat these to tide you over, and I'll go make dinner right away."
"Hoshikawa , you're the best!" Kurenai Yūhi took the Takoyaki, her face excited.
Since only one person was eating, Hoshikawa didn't make anything complicated, opting for a simple Tempura.
"Did you buy a newspaper?" Hoshikawa saw a newspaper on the table—the same one he had bought earlier today.
"Yeah," Kurenai Yūhi nodded slightly. "I had lunch with Rin-chan, and I bought a copy on the way to her house."
"What did you think after reading it?" Hoshikawa asked with a smile.
"I'm going to participate next time too!" Kurenai Yūhi clenched her fist. The newspaper had only advertised Tsunade and Hoshikawa , omitting Rin Nohara and her. That was normal, considering they hadn't been directly involved in the main fight.
"You'll get your chance," Hoshikawa comforted her. "Just get your Water Release up to my level."
"That feels like a lost cause," Kurenai Yūhi deadpanned. Although both she and Hoshikawa had learned the Water Release techniques of the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, the difference in their talent naturally led to different results.
"It's fine. I'll help you train," Hoshikawa reached out and stroked her head.
"Mm!" Kurenai Yūhi's spirits lifted, and she returned to her cheerful self.
After eating, the two went to the open ground outside the house. Kurenai Yūhi began practicing her Water Release. Hoshikawa , meanwhile, started experimenting with the Lava Release: Rasengan.
He held out his hand, manipulated his chakra, transformed it into Lava Release chakra, and gathered it in his palm.
A scorching heat surged.
His palm felt as though it held a constantly spinning ball of molten rock.
Hoshikawa suddenly frowned and quickly backed away.
The molten rock scattered completely, corroding the ground and causing smoke to rise.
Evidently, his first attempt had failed.
Hoshikawa wasn't discouraged. It was a Kekkei Genkai, after all; it wouldn't succeed on the first try.
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