Chapter 149: Rin Nohara: He's Too Brilliant
"A decent haul today."
Tsunade looked at the stack of money in front of her with a satisfied smile. Perhaps because she hadn't gambled in so long, her luck had improved somewhat. She had won three hundred thousand ryo in one afternoon.
"Should we head back then?" Hoshikawa glanced out the window; the sky had darkened. "Aren't you hungry yet?"
"Now that you mention it, I am." Tsunade casually shoved a handful of money at him. "We're eating a feast tonight!"
"Where are we eating?" Hoshikawa followed her out. "That chicken shop nearby? I remember you really like their food."
"No, we'll eat at home," Tsunade declared with a grand gesture. "Buy a chicken, and you'll cook it."
"Why go through all that trouble?" Hoshikawa couldn't help but complain. "Can't we just buy it pre-made?"
"I just think the way you make chicken tastes better," Tsunade explained.
"Alright then." Hoshikawa paused, then agreed.
"And buy two bottles of sake!" Tsunade's spirits lifted, and she quickened her pace.
Soon, the two returned home with a cleaned chicken and two bottles of sake.
"Call me when it's ready." Tsunade kicked off her shoes, walked to the sofa, and collapsed onto it. She closed her eyes, entering a state of rest.
Some time later, she was roused by an enticing aroma and immediately sat up.
"Is your nose that good?" Hoshikawa asked, surprised.
"It's the benefit of the Creation Rebirth seal," Tsunade said, walking over to the dining table. "It keeps your bodily functions in their optimal state."
"Does that include the five senses as well?" Hoshikawa casually handed her a pair of chopsticks.
"More than just that." Tsunade smiled, a hint of pride in her voice. "It can also magnify the five senses."
Hoshikawa was taken aback. Magnifying the five senses... doesn't that make the body more sensitive?
Cough, cough! Hoshikawa quickly banished the strange thought.
"How's your progress with the Creation Rebirth seal?" Tsunade asked casually, picking up a piece of chicken.
"Quite fast," Hoshikawa thought for a moment. "I should be able to master it within six months."
"Six months?" Tsunade glared at him. "Tell me the truth!"
"That is the truth." Hoshikawa rolled his eyes and asked, "Sensei, want to bet?"
"No bet." Tsunade was immediately decisive.
"Huh?" Hoshikawa looked astonished. Who are you? You're not Tsunade!
"Do you think I'm stupid?" Tsunade rolled her eyes and asked. In her view, Hoshikawa's luck was ridiculous, and betting with him would likely result in a loss. Moreover, while mastering the seal in six months sounded fantastical, it was highly possible given his talent. She couldn't be bothered to gamble on it.
"A shame." Hoshikawa picked up the sake flask and poured her a cup.
"Do you want some?" Tsunade swirled the cup, smiling as she asked.
"No, thank you." Hoshikawa refused.
"How boring!" Tsunade huffed, then picked up the cup and drank it in one gulp. Sake spilled onto her delicate lips, and she licked it clean with her tongue, making them look even more moist.
"What are you looking at?" Tsunade noticed Hoshikawa's gaze, smiled, and asked, "Are you sure you don't want a taste?"
"I'm fine." Hoshikawa shook his head and poured her more sake.
Tsunade stopped joking and continued drinking. In the shinobi world, only adults drank, so she was just teasing. If Hoshikawa genuinely wanted a drink, she might not have agreed.
Dinner concluded, and Tsunade sat on the sofa, her face flushed. Having only consumed two bottles of sake, she wasn't completely drunk, just tipsy.
"Sensei, any plans for tomorrow?" Hoshikawa returned to the living room after washing the dishes.
"None." Tsunade waved her hand. "Just... finished a mission. Rest... rest for two days."
Hoshikawa nodded slightly. He assessed Tsunade for a few seconds. Confirming her semi-intoxicated state, he relaxed. She didn't need him to stay and watch over her in this condition.
"Sensei, do you want to take a bath now? I can run the hot water for you," Hoshikawa asked after a moment of thought.
"Yes!" Tsunade shook her head, suddenly speaking loudly.
"Alright then." Hoshikawa turned and went to the bathroom, turned on the hot water, and quickly filled the tub.
He returned to the living room, raising his voice. "Sensei, the bath is ready!"
Tsunade opened her blurry eyes and unsteadily got up. Seeing this, Hoshikawa stepped forward and grabbed her arm.
"You... you go to my room and get my pajamas," Tsunade pulled away from him and walked toward the bathroom.
Hoshikawa was about to turn when his eyes suddenly widened.
"Hmm?" Tsunade, having just removed her top, felt a chill and instantly sobered up. She realized she had forgotten to close the door.
A rush of chakra wind slammed the door shut. Tsunade pressed her hand to her forehead, feeling a surge of embarrassment and shame.
She sat in the tub and let out a breath. Thank goodness it was only my back. But even so, it was enough to ripple the tranquility of her long-calm heart.
Tsunade realized a problem. She had come to take Hoshikawa's presence for granted, which was why such a thing had happened.
"Sensei." Hoshikawa's voice rang out.
"W-What is it?" Tsunade's heart jumped, and she instinctively asked.
"Your pajamas," Hoshikawa replied.
"Just leave them outside the door," Tsunade cleared her throat. "Go home now. See you tomorrow."
"Okay." Hoshikawa placed the pajamas down. "Goodbye."
Not a total loss tonight. Hoshikawa walked under the streetlights, his mind still replaying the glimpse he'd just had. Her figure, voluptuous yet graceful, was indeed deeply impressive. To use the vernacular of his past life, that back is suitable for cupping.
Arriving home, Hoshikawa raised his hand and knocked on the door.
"Hoshikawa-kun!" The door opened, revealing a smiling Kurenai Yūhi.
"Sensei said we have the next two days off," Hoshikawa said, walking in and taking off his shoes.
"I was just thinking of visiting Old Man Kosuke. Do you want to come?" Kurenai asked, tilting her head.
"You go ahead," Hoshikawa mused. "I'll let Rin know after checking in with Sensei."
"Okay!" Kurenai nodded firmly.
"You seem to be in a good mood," Hoshikawa raised an eyebrow and asked. "Did something happen?"
"No," Kurenai whispered. "Maybe it's just not so boring now that you're back."
"Isn't Shinku-ossan home?" Hoshikawa suddenly remembered and asked.
"I am home!" Shinku Yūhi's cold voice replied abruptly.
"...?" Hoshikawa instinctively looked at Kurenai.
"I... I'm going to take a bath!" Kurenai turned and ran.
Hoshikawa met Shinku Yūhi's gaze and was instantly drenched in cold sweat.
The next day.
After making breakfast for Tsunade, Hoshikawa headed to Rin Nohara's house. He had been there once before; it was quite humble. Rin was a typical civilian ninja, without any inherited secret jutsu or kekkei genkai.
But before he reached her house, Hoshikawa saw her.
"Hoshikawa-kun?" Rin asked, surprised. "Is there an urgent mission?"
"No," Hoshikawa shook his head. "I just came to tell you that you have the next two days off. You don't need to go to Sensei's house."
"Is that so?" Rin looked hesitant. While having a vacation was nice, she wanted to train more.
"How about the Konoha Hospital?" Hoshikawa could roughly guess her thoughts.
"Huh?" Rin didn't react immediately.
"The best place to learn medical ninjutsu is the Konoha Hospital," Hoshikawa smiled and explained. "I happen to need an assistant."
"Thank you, Hoshikawa-kun!" Rin was stunned for a moment, then said with delight. She knew Hoshikawa was already a certified primary doctor at the Konoha Hospital and was qualified to choose his own assistant. But for him to choose her must be purely out of their team bond, not because her medical ninjutsu was particularly advanced.
"It's nothing," Hoshikawa said dismissively.
The two quickly arrived at the Konoha Hospital.
"Lord Hoshikawa!" People greeted him along the way. The rules of the shinobi world were simple: respect the strong. This was especially true in a place like the Konoha Hospital. The ninja with the highest medical ninjutsu skill received the most respect. Currently, Hoshikawa was the top medical ninja, second only to Tsunade and Nonō Yakushi.
Rin followed behind him, a little reserved. She looked up at Hoshikawa, her mind wandering. Confident and powerful, he was simply too brilliant.
Hoshikawa stopped. The next second, she felt a soft body collide with him.
"I'm... I'm sorry!" Rin quickly stepped back half a pace, her small face turning visibly red. She hadn't expected Hoshikawa to suddenly stop, nor had she expected to be so lost in thought.
"It's alright." Hoshikawa looked at her cute and flustered expression and couldn't help but reach out and gently pat her head.
Rin pursed her lips, afraid to look at him.
"Come in," Hoshikawa opened the door. "This is my office." He used to share an office with Nonō Yakushi, but as his reputation grew, he was given his own private office.
"That's... so amazing!" Rin couldn't help but exclaim.
"Your talent isn't bad," Hoshikawa poured her a cup of water. "You'll definitely be more than capable of becoming a primary doctor someday."
"Thank you," Rin was stunned for a moment. "I'll work hard."
"I've already notified the duty nurse. We should have patients coming soon," Hoshikawa said, sitting across from her. "Now we just wait."
"What... what should I do?" Rin asked nervously. "I've never assisted in surgery before."
"I'll tell you then," Hoshikawa waved his hand. "They're just simple medical ninjutsu, like the Mystical Palm Technique, Anesthesia Jutsu, and Hemostasis Jutsu."
"I see." Rin secretly breathed a sigh of relief. She knew all these basic medical ninjutsu; she just rarely got to use them. Her two teammates were so strong that she hadn't found the opportunity. Now she finally had a chance.
Rin's face was filled with determination. She knew she got this assistant opportunity through her connection to Hoshikawa, so she absolutely couldn't embarrass him.
"Lord Hoshikawa." Not long after, a nurse appeared at the door. "You have a patient."
"Let's go," Hoshikawa stood up.
Rin quickly followed.
Time flew by, and soon it was dusk.
"How was your day?" Hoshikawa asked, looking out the office window.
"A very novel experience," Rin said earnestly. "I feel like I've learned a lot."
"Then let's call it a day." Hoshikawa stood up and stretched.
"Ha... Hoshikawa-kun." Rin asked a bit shyly, "I wanted to treat you to dinner. Would that be alright?"
"No need to waste money," Hoshikawa shook his head. "We'll go eat at Sensei's house. I'll cook."
"..." Rin hesitated, then finally agreed. But for some reason, she felt a slight twinge of disappointment.
Two days passed quickly. After the break, Tsunade chose another A-Rank mission for them. This time, there were no accidents, no encounters with a large group of Hidden Rain ninja, and the mission was completed smoothly.
With the mission complete, the timeline moved into February. Hoshikawa finished his Mind's Eye training, gaining a new A-Rank Trait. With his sensing needs temporarily met, he shifted his focus to training his Water Release jutsu.
The condition for the B-Rank Trait: Water Release Special Jōnin was to master nine Water Release jutsu. He currently had five. He predicted he could successfully acquire the B-Rank Trait within two months. After all, Water Release was the element he used most frequently.
In the open space outside Tsunade's house.
"Water Release: Water Fang Bullet!" Hoshikawa weaved seals with both hands, firing a continuous stream of water bullets from his hand. The bullets plunged into the tree trunk like actual projectiles.
"Who's there?" Hoshikawa asked, his mind stirred. After successfully mastering the Mind's Eye, even without actively using it, his basic sensory abilities had improved.
The next second, a figure wearing a frog mask appeared.
"Orders from the Hokage-sama: Lady Tsunade is requested to come to the Hokage Tower for a Jōnin meeting," the Anbu ninja said.
Hoshikawa raised an eyebrow. Did something major happen? A Jōnin meeting, involving all Special Jōnin and Jōnin, was usually not called lightly. After all, Jōnin were very busy.
"I will inform Sensei immediately," Hoshikawa nodded slightly.
"Thank you." The Anbu ninja instantly vanished.
"Sensei." Hoshikawa walked into the living room. "There's a Jōnin meeting. You need to go right now."
"A Jōnin meeting?" Tsunade was surprised. "Has the Cloud Village finally made a move?"
"I don't know." Hoshikawa didn't think it was the Cloud Village. He hadn't received any notification from Tōdai. Could it be the Third Kazekage? No, where is my reward?! As a spy, Hoshikawa felt a sense of outrage.
"Let's go," Tsunade stood up.
"Huh?" Hoshikawa was surprised. "I'm going too?"
"You're my student. Why shouldn't you go?" Tsunade chuckled. "And with your strength, you are completely qualified to attend a Jōnin meeting."
"Alright." Hoshikawa was eager to find out what was happening. If it was indeed the Third Kazekage as he suspected, he needed to talk to Tōdai about his reward.
Tsunade and Hoshikawa arrived at the conference room in the Hokage Tower. They were quite late, and the room was already half full.
"Lady Tsunade." The Jōnin greeted her one after another.
Hoshikawa, on the other hand, was ignored, but no one bothered him or questioned his presence at the Jōnin meeting.
A few minutes later, Hiruzen Sarutobi walked into the conference room. He glanced at Hoshikawa and said, "The meeting will now begin."
.........
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