Who am I? Where am I? What's happening?
Inside the Konoha Orphanage, Chiba was drenched in cold sweat. He didn't dare speak a word. The temperature in the room seemed to drop twenty degrees.
Tsunade and Nonō were locked in a death glare. Their eyes occasionally flicked to him… no, it was more like they were using him as a battleground, their gazes clashing across the space he occupied.
This shouldn't be happening. Lady Tsunade and Nonō shouldn't have any real overlap. Why do they look ready to kill each other?
Trapped between their icy stares, Chiba shivered—no, trembled—feeling his very soul begin to freeze.
"Hmph!"
Tsunade broke the stare first. Looked at Chiba. Snorted. "I'm here to discuss business with Director Nonō. What are you doing here, kid?!"
Before Chiba could answer, Nonō offered a gentle smile. "Chiba is here to help me look after the children. We had a prior arrangement. Isn't that right, Chiba?"
Clueless and terrified, Chiba just nodded. He began inching backward. A slow, subtle retreat.
After speaking for him, Nonō smiled at Tsunade again. To Chiba, it looked like a gesture of goodwill.
???
To Tsunade, it was a blatant provocation. The anger she'd barely suppressed roared back to life.
"You return to the village and don't even come report to me first? Just run around wherever you please?"
As she scolded him, Tsunade's eyes suddenly sharpened. "Wait. That necklace I gave you. Why aren't you wearing it?!"
"I… I…"
Watching the furious Tsunade advance, Chiba's entire short life flashed before his eyes.
Then, Nonō stepped in front of him. Shook her head.
"Lady Tsunade, Chiba is his own person. He's free to act on his own will, make his own choices. Why must you interfere?"
"I'm interfering?" Tsunade's rage exploded. "Because we're family! Because I'm his… sister! How I discipline him is none of your business, outsider!"
"Oh? Was that really spoken from the position of an older sister?"
Facing down one of the legendary Sannin in her full fury, Nonō didn't yield an inch. Beneath that gentle exterior was a spine of steel.
"If that's truly the case, then as Chiba's peer, I support you disciplining your younger brother. Tsunade… dear sister."
"You… You…!!"
Tsunade was speechless with fury. A mix of humiliation and anger made her magnificent chest heave—a sight that left Chiba dumbstruck.
What's going on? Why does it feel like they're both speaking in code? Did I miss twenty episodes of plot?
Chiba felt an itch in his brain. Like it was trying to grow a new lobe.
They're acting like… like they're… jealous? Over me?! Wait. Are they actually jealous over me?!
Chiba glanced at the overwhelmingly-endowed Tsunade, then at the refined, mature Nonō. His mind went blank. He couldn't believe his own conclusion.
This scene… he wouldn't dare dream it. Two beautiful, incredible older women, both potentially interested in him, a "little brat"?
Chiba decided he must have gotten up too fast. Or he was still asleep. Or maybe he was still back on the day of the Chūnin Exams, trapped in some evil Uchiha's genjutsu!
"You're good."
Tsunade gave Nonō a long, deep look, mentally labeling her a Class-A Threat. This woman was as dangerous as Nawaki!
She turned back to Chiba. "Come with me. I need to talk to you."
"Ah, okay…"
Just as Chiba was about to agree, Nonō's soft, melodic voice floated from behind him. "Chiba? But you promised you'd stay with me today."
"Ah… uh…"
Chiba was wedged between two beautiful older women, his head pounding. Stuck between a rock and a hard place.
Choosing against Tsunade meant death. But abandoning Nonō after a promise? He couldn't do that.
"What if… I made a clone?"
Chiba tentatively offered a perfect, ninja-world solution. This was the shinobi world, after all. It offered options his previous life couldn't unlock… ahem, methods to solve problems.
"Sure."
Nonō nodded, her smile sweet as honey. "So, which one of us gets the real you?"
Tsunade didn't speak, but her eyes narrowed dangerously. Waiting.
Saved… my ass!
Cold sweat poured down Chiba's back again.
Weren't adults supposed to be able to have it all? Why did the rules change when it came to him?
This… is hell.
Trapped between their deceptively gentle, murderously sharp gazes, Chiba wanted to cry.
Compared to this, all his previous life-and-death battles were nothing. This was the true battlefield.
To be honest, both Tsunade and Nonō were nearly perfect in Chiba's eyes. Having even one would make this whole transmigration worth it.
After all, aside from being handsome, what else did he really have going for him?
But both at once? He couldn't handle that blessing. It's not like he could split his 40 centimeters in half.
"I… I… How about…"
Chiba struggled, unable to produce a single coherent word. The atmosphere grew razor-sharp. Even the children sensed it, scattering from the room.
Tsunade started rolling up her sleeves. Ready to throw down. Nonō's gaze turned predatory. Even the gentlest cat will bite when provoked.
And Chiba, trapped and unable to escape, was in agony.
He felt like he was sitting on a ticking bomb. Any second now, he'd be blown to pieces.
How he wished a red-haired girl would crash through the wall in a Ferrari and drag him out of this nightmare!
"Hey, Sis, why'd you run off so fast?"
Just as Chiba was drafting his will, a figure stumbled in, panting. Instantly, all eyes snapped to him.
In that moment, Chiba almost wept with joy. He suddenly understood what it felt like to be rescued by a goddess!
"Sis, why are you looking at me like you wanna beat me up?"
The newcomer was Nawaki. He scratched his head, confused. "And Chiba, Nonō… why's everyone staring? You're making me blush…"
"Nawaki! My dear, dear friend!"
Chiba practically teleported in front of him. Grabbed his hand. Refused to let go.
"What are you doing, Chiba? My sister's right there…"
Nawaki's face flushed red, but Chiba gave him no chance to speak, dragging him toward the door.
"Nawaki! Didn't you say you wanted to go boating on the lake? Let's go! Right now!"
"Hey, wait, Chiba, I—"
Nawaki's brain was buzzing. Before he could process anything, he was already dozens of meters away, pulled along by Chiba.
But… he remembered I wanted to go boating. He really does care about our friendship! Nawaki thought, feeling oddly touched.
"Hmph! That brat!"
Back in the orphanage, Tsunade and Nonō snorted in unison, watching Chiba's fleeing back.
Realizing their synchronization, they quickly looked away from each other.
But in their hearts, they both marked the other as a formidable rival. And they were not happy with Chiba's escape.
"Director Nonō, let's forget that and return to business."
Tsunade compartmentalized instantly, her professional mask sliding into place. "I wish to adopt some talented children from here. Train a new generation of medical ninja. Do you approve?"
Nonō gave a slight nod. "Of course. Let me show you the children."
…
On a small boat in Konoha's inner lake.
Nawaki rowed happily, a dumb grin on his face. Chiba sat brooding.
"Nawaki… do you think Lady Tsunade… likes me?" Chiba blurted out.
"Pfft—!"
Chiba expected anger. He got laughter. Hysterical laughter.
"I'm serious, Nawaki!"
Chiba's face was grave. "If one day, I become your brother-in-law… it won't affect our bond, right? We can just address each other separately?"
"Hahaha! You're gonna kill me!"
Nawaki laughed harder, clutching his sides.
"Chiba, don't think just because you're handsome, my sister will fall for you. She's not some shallow girl."
Nawaki stopped rowing. Looked at Chiba. "Besides, with her sky-high standards, I don't think she'll ever like anyone. Especially not someone so much younger."
"Chiba, to my sister, we're just kids who never grew up. Listen to your bro. Don't overthink it. I'm not worried about your broken heart. I'm worried she'll beat you to death!"
After Nawaki's "heartfelt advice," Chiba's confidence dimmed… but not completely.
Recalling all their past interactions… he really felt Tsunade might have some interest. And Nonō, too!
He finally understood "the agony of choice." When forced to pick between two wonderful things, the torment was real.
"Ah… is there no perfect path, to keep both the mature lady and the gentle one…"
"Chiba, you're actually picking and choosing now? I'm telling you, impossible! Absolutely impossible! No girl will ever like you!"
"Just you watch, Nawaki. If I want to, I'll get a girlfriend before you."
"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"
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