Chapter 39 - Encounter with Tsunade 1

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At the entrance of Konoha Village, Mi Blade and Naka stood there, ready to embark on what they were sure would be the most chaotic adventure ever—like a ninja-themed road trip with way too much caffeine.

They waved goodbye to their friends, who looked on with a mixture of jealousy and amusement, probably imagining all the ridiculous shenanigans that would ensue.

The duo headed straight for the capital of the Land of Fire, their destination buzzing in Mi Blade’s mind like a freshly opened pack of ninja energy drinks.

He was determined to make this trip unforgettable, planning to drag Naka all over the Five Great Nations like an overzealous tour guide. Whether she liked it or not!

Now, as for how Naka became Mi Blade’s girlfriend... well, it was less of a grand romantic gesture and more of a casual

“Hey, wanna go out?” thrown out during a sparring session.

No dramatic confessions, no roses, just ninja vibes and a hint of awkwardness. And somehow, here they were, ready to take on the world.

Mi Blade was decked out in his casual “adventure gear,” which basically meant he had two swords strapped to his waist like he was some sort of dual-wielding fashion icon.

One was long and majestic, while the other was short and a bit snarky—because why stop at one blade when you can confuse everyone (and possibly yourself) by carrying two?

Naka wasn’t about to be outdone, sporting her own sword at her waist. In the ninja world, even casual meant being armed to the teeth—like walking into a tea party with a cannon.

To stay under the radar, they both ditched their Konoha forehead protectors. With Konoha’s list of enemies growing longer than a ramen line during lunch hour, it was probably a smart move to go undercover—because nothing says “I’m here to relax” like a face full of shuriken.

After about two hours of walking (and trying not to trip over each other’s enthusiasm), Naka started looking glum. She had the expression of someone who’d just realized they left the oven on—or worse, forgot to grab their favorite kunai before leaving.

Mi Blade raised an eyebrow, trying to decipher the sudden mood shift.

“Seriously? Naka-sama, already homesick? We’ve barely made it out of the village! You can’t possibly miss it yet!”

Naka puffed up indignantly, arms crossed like a sullen child.

“Who said I’m homesick? I just miss my sister!” she huffed, as if missing her sister was a completely different category of emotion than being homesick.

Mi Blade, always ready to deploy his smooth talker tactics, grabbed her hand and flashed his best smile—one that could probably charm a room full of angry ninjas.

“Don’t worry! We’ll catch up to her at Yan’s wedding. You’ll see her soon, and there will be cake! Who doesn’t love cake?”

Naka gave a reluctant nod, though she still looked like someone who’d just found out they were out of their favorite snacks. “Hmm.”

Speaking of Naka’s sister, Uchiha Yu, she was currently off dating Uchiha Yan, a top ninja from the Uchiha clan.

They were probably having a romantic dinner somewhere, free from the chaotic antics of their younger siblings, blissfully unaware of the absurd adventure Mi Blade and Naka were about to embark on.

But hey, at least they had cake to look forward to, right?

Yan was one of those guys who always wore a serious expression that could curdle milk, but deep down, he had a soft spot for sweets that was almost comically out of character.

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Watching him shove dango into his mouth while maintaining his three-tomoe Sharingan was like witnessing a solemn samurai trying to fight off a sugar rush—impressive, yet utterly ridiculous.

As a member of the neutral faction within the Uchiha clan, Yan avoided getting tangled in the clan's political mess like a cat avoiding a bath.

He was more of a “show up, do my job, and then sneak off for dessert” kind of ninja, which somehow made him even more likable. You had to admire a guy who could remain stoic while simultaneously devouring a mountain of sweets.

After a short, uneventful stay in the capital of the Land of Fire—which was basically just Konoha with slightly different scenery and fewer ramen shops—they decided to head north to the Land of Hot Water, a neutral country where the only thing less impressive than the ninja villages was the weather forecast.

Mi Blade figured that hot springs sounded like a perfect idea after all that walking—what better way to soak away the aches than to indulge in some luxurious bubbling water?

Upon arrival, they strolled through one of the quaint little towns, which was basically a postcard come to life, complete with chirping birds and overly cheerful shopkeepers trying to sell them “authentic” souvenirs that nobody needed.

Mi Blade’s eyes sparkled like a child in a candy store. “Let’s hit up the hot springs! They’re famous for a reason!” He could practically taste the relaxation.

Naka, looking mildly skeptical—like she just smelled something suspicious—shrugged.

“Sure, why not.” She was probably still pondering the decision to join Mi Blade on this wild ride.

Lately, Naka had been strictly adhering to her sister’s instructions and sleeping in separate rooms from Mi Blade.

After all, who knew what kind of ninja shenanigans might unfold in the middle of the night? Better safe than sorry, right?

Now, as Mi Blade excitedly plotted their hot springs adventure, a very crucial question popped into his mind: was it a mixed-gender bath?

Naka, fully alert and probably calculating all the ways she could defend her honor, declared with utmost seriousness,

"You can take a hot spring bath, but absolutely no mixed bathing!"

With a grin that could rival the Cheshire Cat, Mi Blade whipped out two swimsuits from his backpack, like a magician revealing his best trick.

“We’re totally doing mixed bathing, and I’m all set with the gear!”

Naka’s jaw dropped. “Uh... you...!”

Her face turned a shade of crimson that could rival a tomato, but she still reluctantly took the swimsuit from Mi Blade's hand. It was revealing enough to make even the sunburn blush.

Mi Blade scrutinized her, trying to sound comforting.

“Don’t worry! There’s nothing to show right now anyway! Even if you see something, it’s not like you’d be interested!”

Honestly, they were still kids! Mi Blade’s “weapons” hadn’t exactly seen an upgrade yet, if you catch my drift. Even if he wanted to show off, he’d probably end up looking like a confused turtle.

“Give it three more years,” he thought, “and then maybe I’ll finally get all this.”

But Naka, clearly annoyed by his comment, tossed the swimsuit back at him like it was a dangerous shuriken and shot back, “Well then, who are you interested in? Let’s hear it!”

Mi Blade sighed dramatically, like a Shakespearean hero grappling with his tragic fate. What had started as a fun day at the hot springs was quickly devolving into an awkward interrogation.

“Can’t a guy just enjoy the hot springs without being put on the spot?” he thought, realizing that maybe the only thing more challenging than ninja training was dealing with the complexities of teenage emotions.

"You’re only ten years old! Why are you getting worked up over something like that?" Mi Blade said, adopting the kind of tone adults use when they want to sound like they have it all figured out.

"It’s perfectly fine if you’re not interested in anyone right now," he continued, leaning in like a ninja sage revealing some ancient secret, "but you should be thinking about the future!"

Naka huffed, rolling her eyes like a seasoned teenager caught in the throes of dramatic angst. Finally, she gave in and picked up the swimsuit again, but only after glaring at it like it had just insulted her fashion sense.

Just then, they spotted two massive "mountains" coming their way, swaying majestically like they were on some sort of royal catwalk. A long robe billowed behind them, making the scene look like it had been ripped straight from a B-movie starring ninjas.

"Move aside!" Tsunade bellowed, stomping down the road with all the grace of a charging rhino.

"Get out of the way, you little brats!"

Naka’s eyes went wide, practically popping out of her head like she’d just seen a giant frog in a tutu.

“Is that Lady Tsunade?!” she squeaked.

Tsunade had left the village shortly after the Second Great Ninja War, but Naka had seen her picture in the Shinobi Academy, where the other girls had debated whether the camera angle was just a sneaky way to make things look exaggerated.

But seeing the real deal in all her glory made Naka realize: nope, that’s just the real deal!

Mi Blade, trying to maintain his serious demeanor and failing miserably, turned to Naka and said, “See? That’s what you can aspire to... as long as you don’t get crushed under the weight of those 'mountains!'”

He chuckled, but it was more of a nervous laugh, like someone who just dodged a giant boulder.

After Tsunade stomped past Mi Blade and the others, they noticed she was being tailed by a group of villains who looked like they had just stepped off the set of an action film—complete with cheesy costumes and menacing expressions.

Naka, not having time to ponder the ridiculousness of the situation, quickly drew her sword with a flourish that would make any action movie star proud. She was ready for battle like a knight of old, just without the armor and maybe a little more stylish.

How could Naka, a huge fan of Tsunade, stay calm knowing that the princess of Konoha, one of the Legendary Three Ninjas, was being chased by a bunch of wannabe villains who looked like they couldn’t even pass the entry exam for a ninja academy?

“Stop!” Naka shouted, channeling all her inner ninja as she prepared to face off against the oncoming bad guys, fully aware that she was about to leap headfirst into a chaotic adventure that could only be described as hilariously absurd.

The big man in front abruptly halted, causing the entire mob of pursuers behind him to crash into one another like a poorly executed game of musical chairs. He stood there, clearly unsure how to handle a ten-year-old girl with a sword, as if he’d just discovered a lion wearing a tutu at the local circus.

This is the world of ninjas, after all; kids aren’t to be trifled with. Who knows if this pint-sized warrior is secretly a ninja in disguise?

As if on cue, Tsunade, who had been sprinting for her life moments before, suddenly paused and turned to watch the unfolding drama with an expression that screamed,

“What kind of circus did I just stumble into?” Silent, who had rushed over like he was late to the hottest party in town, was just as bewildered.

Naka, channeling her inner hero, pointed her sword at the big man with all the confidence of a tiny warrior ready to conquer the world.

“What are you going to do?” she demanded, her voice steady as a ninja who had just taken her first lesson in intimidation.

Mi Blade slapped his forehead in exasperation, regretting the ridiculous antics of his “son-in-law.” He cursed himself for not sharing the secret of the Legendary Sannin with Naka—who knew it could come in handy during a showdown with a giant?

The big man blinked at Naka, eyes wide with surprise, and stammered, “Are you a ninja?”

Naka’s small face transformed into an expression of utmost seriousness. She proclaimed every word clearly, enunciating like a true professional: “Konoha Shinobi, Uchiha Naka, at your service!”

The big man listened, his mind racing with disbelief. What? A Konoha ninja!Not afraid? Instead of bolting in terror, he looked utterly shocked, as if he’d just witnessed a unicorn doing a backflip while reciting Shakespeare.