Chapter 109: Tsunade’s Steaming Tea

After the scorching heat of the day, as the sun had set, a cool breeze swept in from the southeast of the Shinobi World continent, finally bringing a refreshing chill back to Konoha Village.

Tonight’s starry sky was breathtakingly beautiful; the deep blue heavens were dotted with scattered clouds and sprinkled with countless diamond-like stars. The moon hung like a slender, curved boat, drifting gently along a vast silver river.

On the rooftop terrace of the Tsunade household in Konoha Village, Gato Mikaze was accompanying Tsunade, enjoying the evening breeze to dispel the lingering heat.

Last night, Tsunade had gambled recklessly at the casino, leaving her drained and listless throughout the day. While working at the Konoha Hospital, she nearly made a serious mistake.

But now, under the night’s embrace, Tsunade’s spirit seemed to revive. To put it in modern terms, she was a classic night owl.

Gato Mikaze and Tsunade had just finished dinner and returned home. Gato had initially planned for them to watch a movie together after their meal, but Tsunade had been so exhausted that she drifted off mid-meal.

So Gato had no choice but to escort her home first. Yet once they were at his place, Tsunade no longer felt sleepy and resisted going straight to bed.

Going out again didn’t seem right either—what if Tsunade got drowsy once more?

Seizing the opportunity of such a beautiful night, the two of them settled on the rooftop terrace to romantically gaze at the stars.

“Ah… open wide… mmm…”

“Ah-woo…”

Gato was peeling grapes for Tsunade, simultaneously training his wind chakra nature transformation. By manipulating the wind chakra to control airflow and temperature, he cooled the grapes into icy treats before feeding them to Tsunade.

“*Munch munch, slurp slurp.*”

“So cold, so tart, so sweet, so delicious! And so refreshing!”

Tsunade savored the chilled grapes Gato fed her while sipping on iced tea through a straw. Her fair cheeks glowed with a satisfied smile. Her usually large eyes were now narrowed into crescent shapes, resembling a greedy little golden-furred cat.

“Mikaze, hey, don’t just feed me. You should eat some too.”

“Ice grapes with iced tea—tangy and sweet, with the fresh aroma of tea leaves—it really tastes amazing.”

“All right, I’ll have some too. Ah…”

After lovingly feeding Tsunade another chilled grape, Gato bit the straw at her lips, taking a sip of the cold tea.

“Hey, you still have a cup of tea there. Why are you snatching mine? We bought them from the same shop; they taste the same.”

Tsunade noticed Gato biting the straw she had just used and trying to grab her cold tea. Embarrassed, she reminded him he still held a cup from the same place.

“Ah… open wide.”

“My cup is hot tea. With Konoha’s weather this hot every day, only a fool drinks hot tea.”

This shameless fellow had completely forgotten that earlier that day he had told his subordinate only fools drank herbal tea in this sweltering heat.

Hot tea or iced tea, this was Tsunade’s choice. As his beloved wife, whatever tea she said to drink, that was what he drank!

Absolutely no objections!

“...Well, you could just use your wind chakra to cool the hot tea. You’re just snatching my iced tea because you want to…”

Tsunade glanced at the straw in her hand and then at the shameless man beside her but ultimately held back from voicing her thoughts.

She lowered her head obediently and continued eating the chilled grapes Gato fed her, while he took another sip from the same straw.

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“Lately, I’ve been researching Grandpa’s cells at the Spring Base. It’s starting to bear fruit. Maybe someday, I’ll inherit Grandpa’s Wood Release jutsu,”

After careful consideration, Gato Mikaze decided to reveal to Tsunade that in the near future, he might inherit the Wood Release techniques of the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama.

If Gato truly mastered Wood Release someday, regardless of whether he could reach Hashirama’s level, it would be impossible to keep it a secret from Tsunade, his closest confidante. It was better to confess early and avoid future resentment.

The obedient little cat immediately looked startled.

“Gato Mikaze! You promised me you wouldn’t recklessly try transplanting Grandpa’s cells. That’s too dangerous. Many in our family have suffered because of that.”

Hearing Gato mention her grandfather’s Wood Release, Tsunade’s first reaction was worry for his safety.

Her beautifully arched brows furrowed deeply. Her fair fingers gripping the iced tea tightened unconsciously, exerting such force that the plastic cup slightly deformed with a faint cracking sound.

“Ah… open wide.”

“Don’t worry. When have I ever broken a promise to you?”

Tsunade’s expression and actions could not fool Gato, who was right beside her. Hearing her concern, he felt both pleased and reassured.

Feeding her another chilled grape, Gato slid his finger into Tsunade’s cherry-red lips, signaling her to lick the grape juice off.

Then, he gently smoothed the crease in her brow with his hand, gazing tenderly into her large eyes with his starry gaze, as bright as the night sky.

“Girls shouldn’t frown too much. It causes wrinkles when you get older.”

Tsunade let Gato’s fingers smooth her brow but said nothing, instead stubbornly holding his light blue starry eyes with her own large, glistening ones, waiting for further explanation.

“I promised I wouldn’t recklessly try transplanting Grandpa’s cells—and I mean it,”

Gato looked deeply into Tsunade’s bright eyes, which differed from his own pale blue star-like gaze by being more moist, yet equally beautiful.

From her expression, he could read her worry. He reaffirmed his promise once more.

“It’s the Life Cultivation Technique. I’ve told you before, Tsunade. I’m training in the secret art of the Gato clan—the Spirit Transformation Technique, which mutated into the Life Cultivation Technique.”

“From this Life Cultivation Technique, I see a chance to inherit Grandpa’s Wood Release.”

Then, Gato explained in terms Tsunade could understand, beyond the ninja system jargon, detailing how it related to inheriting the Wood Release.

Tsunade listened attentively.

“Is it safe?”

“Absolutely.”

“Are you sure it won’t endanger you?”

“Absolutely sure.”

“One hundred percent?”

“One hundred percent.”

“You promise?”

“I promise.”

Tsunade quietly fixed her gaze on Gato’s eyes, asking a string of questions about his safety.

Gato met her gaze steadily, answering each question with a firm and affirmative tone.

Under Konoha’s stunning starry night, witnessed by the bright moon and countless stars, Gato Mikaze once again made a solemn promise to Tsunade.

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