Chapter 208: Master and Student Wash Feet by the River
Night descended.
Hoshikawa vaguely felt some heavy weight pressing down on him. Feeling uncomfortable, he subconsciously opened his eyes.
The first thing he saw was soft, golden hair. Hoshikawa paused, his consciousness gradually returning. He remembered listening to Tsunade tell stories about her past, and he had drifted off to sleep while listening.
But what was the current situation?
Hoshikawa turned his head slightly and took a look. He found Tsunade clinging to him like an octopus. Hoshikawa could clearly feel her body rising and falling with her breath, and the sound of her heartbeat transmitted through the thick, soft buffer of her body.
A rich, delicate fragrance continuously filled his nostrils. Hoshikawa immediately felt a little suffocated.
Just then, Tsunade opened her eyes. She froze for a moment, realizing she was using Hoshikawa 's chest as a pillow. Tsunade moved her limbs, a hint of awkwardness and embarrassment rising in her heart. Because her hands were wrapped around Hoshikawa , and her right leg was draped over him.
"What time is it?" Tsunade released Hoshikawa , sat up, tucked the hair behind her ear, and asked with an air of composure.
"I don't know." Hoshikawa felt the weight lift, followed by a sense of regret. For a volume of that size, he was willing to endure the discomfort.
Tsunade stood up and walked to the tent entrance. She opened the door and peered outside; the sky had completely darkened. In other words, she and Hoshikawa had slept together for half an afternoon. Although she had slept quite comfortably, an unusual feeling inevitably arose in her heart.
"I'm hungry." Tsunade looked back at Hoshikawa .
"It's not good to cook inside the tent. How about we go outside?" Hoshikawa thought for a moment.
"Let's go." Tsunade nodded. "I know a river not far from here."
The two put on their shoes and left the tent.
Ninja were patrolling the main camp. When they saw them, they quickly greeted them, but no one dared to ask what they were doing out in the middle of the night.
After walking for two minutes, Hoshikawa saw a river about three meters wide. They were in the Land of Rivers, which was famous for its numerous rivers and mountains.
Hoshikawa opened his storage scroll and took out all the pots and bowls.
Tsunade watched him busy himself, walked to the riverbank, and sat down. She took off her shoes and dipped her alabaster feet into the river water.
The sudden cold made her body shiver, but she quickly narrowed her eyes in pleasure.
"Master." Hoshikawa walked over and asked with a smile, "If you're washing your feet in the river, how am I supposed to cook?"
"Use the water upstream." Tsunade lifted her leg and pointed toward the upper reaches of the river.
Under the moonlight, her skin glistened with water droplets, faintly suggesting a crystalline, translucent quality. Water splashed. Tsunade lowered her left leg, and both feet moved back and forth in the water like fish.
"Master, you look like you're in a good mood." Hoshikawa noticed the smile on her face.
"We drove back Kirigakure; I'm happy," Tsunade was startled, then offered a casual reason.
In truth, she wasn't sure why she felt so good.
"Will Kirigakure fight again?" Hoshikawa used the river water to wash rice not far from her.
"Most likely," Tsunade said after some thought. "With Kirigakure's main forces largely intact, retreating like this will be difficult to explain to the Land of Water."
"True." Hoshikawa looked at her bare feet underwater. "And the new Mizukage needs to show some results after taking office."
Mei Terumī was too young, so the Fourth Mizukage would likely be Yagura Karatachi, just as in the original story. He wondered if Yagura would still be controlled by Obito Uchiha later on. But at least not for the time being.
Hoshikawa mused that he had indirectly helped Yagura Karatachi. However, whether or not Yagura was controlled didn't greatly concern him.
"That may be true, but the new Mizukage definitely won't be as aggressive as the Third Mizukage," Tsunade chuckled. "After all, he probably doesn't want to lose his life."
"Master, how long can our supplies last?" Hoshikawa paused, then explained, "I want to return to Konoha to ask the Hokage for the Flying Thunder God Technique."
Although he could wait until the war was over to learn it, it didn't look like the war would end anytime soon. Since that was the case, he might as well fight and learn simultaneously. However, before the Flying Thunder God Technique, he had to master the Lightning Release Chakra Mode. He estimated that the progress bar would fill up soon. With the Lightning Release Chakra Mode, even if he couldn't use it casually, it would add another means of self-preservation.
"The Flying Thunder God Technique?" Tsunade turned to look at him and asked, "Can you even learn it?"
"Your student is a super genius." Hoshikawa gave her a smile.
"The Flying Thunder God Technique isn't something just any genius can learn," Tsunade frowned slightly. "Its requirements are very strict."
"What are the requirements?" Hoshikawa asked curiously.
"I heard Minato mention it; there are three conditions," Tsunade slowly held up three fingers. "First, a massive amount of chakra is required. Second, one must possess outstanding Space-Time talent. Third, one must have superior dynamic vision and motor reaction nerves."
The Flying Thunder God Technique is a Space-Time ninjutsu. The distance it can teleport and the size of the objects it can transfer are determined by the user's chakra. Without a massive amount of chakra, learning the Flying Thunder God Technique would be pointless.
Space-Time talent speaks for itself. Since it's a Space-Time ninjutsu, you can't learn it without the talent.
The dynamic vision and motor reaction nerves are also easy to understand. Because the Flying Thunder God Technique is too fast, if the user cannot adapt to its speed, they cannot fully utilize its effects. Vision and reaction time are crucial at that point.
Hoshikawa considered the points and realized he met all three conditions.
The A-rank title 'All-Powerful Jōnin' gave him a 300% bonus to his chakra reserves. Coupled with the Creation Rebirth seal, his chakra was already terrifyingly vast.
The S-rank title 'Kamui Can't Hide the Tears' gave him a 300% bonus to his Space-Time talent.
The B-rank title 'Hentai Master' gave him a 100% bonus to his eyesight.
As for his motor reaction nerves, he had been continuously training them while learning the Lightning Release Chakra Mode. After all, once activated, that mode's speed was comparable to the Flying Thunder God Technique.
"I think I can learn it." Hoshikawa blinked.
"I'm just wasting my breath." Tsunade rolled her eyes at him. "The supply convoy will return to Konoha next Monday. You will lead the team then."
"Thank you, Master." Hoshikawa smiled broadly.
"It's nothing," Tsunade said dismissively. "It's good to be eager to learn. I have no reason to stop you."
Although she said that, if it were anyone else, learning the Flying Thunder God Technique wouldn't be so simple.
"I'll go cook the dinner." Hoshikawa left the riverside after finishing washing the rice.
Tsunade continued to soak her feet.
With the aid of Fire Release, Hoshikawa finished making dinner in about twenty minutes.
Tsunade sat up, put on her shoes, and came to the table.
"Master, are you going to wash your feet again later?" Hoshikawa handed her a pair of chopsticks and asked.
"Why do you ask?" Tsunade looked puzzled.
"I meant we could wash our feet together," Hoshikawa cleared his throat and said.
Tsunade narrowed her eyes and stared at him. Hoshikawa 's heart tightened; he felt very nervous under her gaze.
"Fine." Tsunade looked at him for several seconds, then finally looked away and said softly, "I don't have anything else to do anyway."
Hoshikawa immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
After dinner, the two went to the riverbank, took off their shoes, sat together, and put their feet into the river water.
Hoshikawa 's heart moved, and he extended his right leg, touching Tsunade's foot.
"What are you doing?" Tsunade glared at him. "Are you a child?"
"I think this is the first time I've washed my feet by the river with Master," Hoshikawa said without changing his expression.
"It is the first time." Tsunade's gaze was slightly evasive, looking down at the river surface that constantly rippled from their feet. She felt as though those ripples were forming in her heart.
"This is really nice," Hoshikawa sighed. "To have a moment of respite like this from our busy lives."
"Mmm." Tsunade was slightly lost in thought. She hadn't had such a relaxing day in a very long time. Both the heart-to-heart in the afternoon and washing her feet now brought her great peace.
Hoshikawa glanced at her and said nothing more. The master and student simply sat soaking their feet by the river.
"Let's go." Tsunade stretched, stood up, and put on her shoes.
"Good night, Master." Hoshikawa watched her walk into her tent.
But since he had slept all afternoon, he was still energetic, so he began training his Sensing Ninjutsu. If his Sensing Ninjutsu could detect White Zetsu, coupled with the Flying Thunder God Technique and the Lightning Release Chakra Mode, he would truly have nothing to worry about.
A New Day
After breakfast, Hoshikawa went to the main tent for a meeting.
"Kirigakure has made new movements," Tsunade said directly after everyone was present. "A Hyūga clan ninja squad discovered their traces in the southern part of the Land of Rivers this morning."
"How many people?" Maki raised an eyebrow and asked.
"About a thousand Kirigakure ninja," Tsunade paused. "There may be more we haven't found yet, so the exact number is unknown."
"They all retreated from the Land of Rivers yesterday, only to return today." Chiyo said thoughtfully. "It seems they have elected a new Mizukage."
"Whatever Kirigakure's strategy is, ours is only one: to drive them out!" Tsunade said seriously. "Assigning missions now!"
"Yes!" everyone responded in unison.
Two hours later, the Jōnin who received their missions quickly departed.
"Here you go." Tsunade casually tossed a scroll to Hoshikawa .
"A healing mission?" Hoshikawa opened the scroll and was surprised. He thought it would be a mission to fight Kirigakure ninja, but it instructed him to stay at the main camp to treat the wounded.
"Besides me, your Medical Ninjutsu is the most skilled here," Tsunade explained. "The Three-Tails' rampage injured many ninja. Although we provided emergency treatment yesterday, it's far from enough."
"Understood." Hoshikawa nodded in agreement. A healing mission was fine too. It would allow him to steal some time and have more hours to practice ninjutsu.
Time passed slowly, and soon it was the next week. During this week, the two sides reached a stalemate, engaging in back-and-forth attrition, but without any major casualties. Whenever Konoha and Sunagakure made a significant move, Kirigakure cautiously retreated, fighting very defensively.
Hoshikawa , for his part, was happy to take it easy. He spent his days treating the wounded at the main camp with Rin Nohara. When he had free time, he practiced the Lightning Release Chakra Mode or his Water and Earth Release.
Hoshikawa left the Konoha main camp under the reluctant gazes of Kurenai Yūhi and Rin Nohara. Outside the camp, two ninja squads were already waiting.
Hoshikawa was slightly surprised when he saw them. The Jōnin leader of one squad was Hizashi Hyūga.
But the Jōnin leader of the other squad also looked vaguely familiar to him. He was wearing a yellow tracksuit and tight pants, like a low-budget Bruce Lee.
"Hello, my name is Chen Rōshi." The middle-aged man introduced himself actively.
"Teacher Chen, I've heard of your great reputation." Hoshikawa realized with a look of recognition. "Everyone calls you Konoha's strongest in Taijutsu."
Of course, he had heard this in his previous life. His biggest impression of Chen Rōshi was his Taijutsu technique, Konoha Dragon God, which was incredibly powerful.
"That's just past vanity," Chen Rōshi waved his hand and smiled. "The strongest in Konoha now is that guy Might Duy."
Hoshikawa keenly noticed a hint of resentment in his tone. His mind stirred, and he had an idea. Although this was an accidental encounter, he was very interested in Konoha Dragon God.
Of course, he could also learn Konoha Dragon God through Hiruzen Sarutobi. But there was no need; the original master was right here.
As for the reason for learning it, it was simple. If he learned Konoha Dragon God and then defeated Might Guy, he could help Chen Rōshi reclaim the title of Konoha's strongest in Taijutsu.
"Uncle Hizashi." Hoshikawa didn't rush to discuss this with Chen Rōshi and turned to greet Hizashi Hyūga.
"Hoshikawa ." Hizashi Hyūga responded with a warm smile. He looked more sunny and cheerful now than in the original story. After all, Neji Hyūga hadn't been born yet, and the contradiction between the Main and Branch Houses hadn't arisen between him and Hiashi Hyūga.
Thinking of this, Hoshikawa really wanted to ask him if his wife was pregnant. But asking in such a strange and abrupt way would be inappropriate, so he had to suppress his curiosity.
"Should we depart now?" Hizashi Hyūga asked after exchanging pleasantries. This mission to return to Konoha with the supplies was led by Hoshikawa , as appointed by Tsunade. Although he was only a Chūnin and young, they all had to follow his orders. If it were anyone else, Hizashi Hyūga and Chen Rōshi would find it absurd. But for a Chūnin who had captured the Four-Tails alive and killed the Third Mizukage, there was absolutely no issue.
"Yes." Hoshikawa nodded.
The group hurried toward the Land of Fire. By evening, Hoshikawa personally cooked, and his cooking skills greatly impressed Hizashi Hyūga, Chen Rōshi, and the others. After dinner, he went to talk to Chen Rōshi.
The matter went even more smoothly than he had imagined. Chen Rōshi agreed without hesitation. In addition to the reason Hoshikawa mentioned, there were two other reasons: first, he wanted a student with genius potential, and second, Hoshikawa 's current status and prestige made him worth befriending. Moreover, the method for cultivating Konoha Dragon God was available in Konoha anyway; if he didn't teach it, Hoshikawa could still learn it. It was better to establish a good relationship.
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