After finishing the meal for three people, Tsunade fell onto the sofa and let out a satisfied sound.

Shigeru seriously suspected that this girl didn't eat anything elsewhere and was just waiting for this meal, then devoured a feast. Fortunately, Kushina had bought a lot of food recently; otherwise, Tsunade's food expenses would have been sky-high.

But this woman couldn't control her spending, and her pockets were cleaner than her face.

Asking her to chip in for food expenses was simply wishful thinking. It would be a miracle if she didn't come back to borrow gambling money.

Speaking of which, he hadn't seen the little rich woman for two days. What could she be up to?

Speak of the devil, and she shall appear. Just as Shigeru finished tidying up the house, the little rich woman he had been thinking of showed up. Kushina seemed to be in a bad mood today, looking listless, with a hint of sadness on her face.

"Shigeru, Sister Tsunade," Kushina greeted weakly.

"What's wrong? Who bullied you? Tell your sister, and she'll help you teach them a lesson!" Seeing Kushina like this, Tsunade rolled over, jumped up from the sofa, and pulled her into a comforting hug. "Did that brat Nawaki make you angry again? Don't worry. I'll give him a beating that'll keep him away for ten days at least."

Although Nawaki adored his sister Kushina, boys around seven or eight are always up to mischief. It wouldn't be a surprise if he had done something annoying. After Kushina came to Konoha, Nawaki would often make her cry.

"Really?" Kushina looked up at Tsunade expectantly.

"Of course! I'm your sister Tsunade! Who dares to bully you? I'll make sure they regret it."

"It's Grandma Mito."

"…"

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You've got to be kidding.

All of Tsunade's energy drained in an instant, and she let go of Kushina decisively, flopping back onto the sofa like a salted fish. She waved her hand dismissively, "You should find someone else for that. I wouldn't dare help. Your Grandma Mito can bully me too. Sorry, but even Sister Tsunade can't vent your frustration this time."

If it were anyone else, Tsunade would've acted boldly. But if Kushina's issue was with Uzumaki Mito… it was better to drop the idea altogether. Even Tsunade wouldn't be spared from her wrath.

Kushina stared at Tsunade's back, feeling aggrieved. Tsunade, pretending to be asleep, avoided any further responsibility.

Their funny interaction made Shigeru chuckle. He walked over, smiling, and ruffled Kushina's hair. "Kushina, why did Mito-sama 'bully' you? Did you get spanked for being naughty?"

"How could that be!" Kushina shook her head vigorously. "I'm the best behaved. I wouldn't make Grandma Mito angry by being naughty, so she wouldn't spank me."

She sighed and frowned. "Shigeru, Grandma Mito wants me to go to ninja school tomorrow, but I don't want to go."

"That won't do. You have to go to ninja school. It's important," Tsunade said, sitting up and looking serious. "Kushina, you need to understand Grandma's intentions. By going to the academy, you'll learn new things, meet new friends, and form bonds with your future companions."

The academy would help Kushina integrate more smoothly into Konoha. After all, Uzumaki Mito couldn't protect her forever, and if Kushina didn't build relationships in the village, it could lead to serious problems down the road.

"But what if my new classmates don't welcome me?" Kushina's face fell.

"Uh…" Tsunade scratched her head, trying to recall how she dealt with her classmates. It seemed like… fists? Yes, on the first day, she had made Jiraiya cry. Grandma had scolded her afterward.

Use fists to meet new classmates? Kushina was strong enough, but would that help her fit in? No, no—Kushina couldn't be too violent.

Tsunade shook her head vigorously, trying to clear her mind of such thoughts. She glanced at Shigeru, silently telling him it was his turn to help out.

"Kushina, you're focusing on the wrong thing," Shigeru said, breaking his silence.

"Eh? The wrong thing?" Kushina blinked in confusion.

"Yep." Shigeru snapped his fingers and bent down so that they were at eye level. "Your main goal in going to ninja school is to learn. Everything else is secondary."

"Really?" Kushina thought about it and slowly nodded.

Tsunade, meanwhile, couldn't believe what she was hearing.

"But… what if my classmates don't welcome me or try to bully me?" Kushina asked softly. Since coming to Konoha, she had only been around a few people, and the thought of entering a new, unfamiliar environment scared her.

Shigeru grinned, showing two rows of white teeth, and put his hand on Kushina's head. "Remember, sometimes fists solve many problems."

I knew it.

Tsunade facepalmed in disbelief.

"Really?" Kushina's eyes sparkled.

"Of course. If someone deliberately picks on you or mocks you, just beat them up. If anyone gives you a rude nickname, don't hesitate—teach them a lesson."

"And if the teachers or their parents come to complain, just tell them that your sister is Tsunade-hime! They'll think twice before messing with you again."

"Hyuga Shigeru!! That's enough!" Tsunade snapped, unable to listen anymore. "How can you teach a kid that violence solves everything?"

Shigeru coughed and toned it down a bit. He whispered in Kushina's ear, "That's how Tsunade-hime handled her classmates back in the day…"

"Shigeru!" Tsunade kicked him, but he dodged just in time and ran away, leaving behind an angry Tsunade and a wide-eyed Kushina. The little rich girl felt enlightened—could fists really solve everything?

Tsunade dragged Kushina off angrily, but as they left, Shigeru winked at her and made a fist. Kushina smiled and nodded in return.

He just hoped no kid would be foolish enough to test her tomorrow.