Uchiha Tatsumi followed closely behind Mikoto, occasionally glancing at the translucent system panel floating in front of his eyes.
> [System Update]
Current Balance: 3,600 Ninja Points
"As expected, missions are the real jackpot," Tatsumi mused internally. "That saying about windfalls making you rich? Applies in every world, I guess."
During the match, he had defeated Mizumon (Minato) for the first time in actual combat—earning a cool 1,000 points. And upon defeating him again, the system awarded a whopping 2,000 points.
Clearly, the system valued ranked wins more. Normally, beating Minato would yield just 400-ish points.
"Is Minato really that undervalued usually…?" Tatsumi thought, half-serious.
Back when he had zero points, he used to tell himself that having too many would make decision-making stressful. If you had nothing to spend, you had no choices to stress over. Now?
Now he knew how wrong he'd been.
"More ninja points make you unhappy? Please. You can't even imagine how happy I am right now."
I really am just a poor guy at heart, Tatsumi sighed inwardly.
---
Meanwhile, Mikoto had already pulled him by the arm.
"Lady Tsunade! My friend's hurt! Please take a look at him!" Mikoto said anxiously.
"Hm?" Tsunade turned her head, having just sent off a lightly injured student. Her eyes landed on Mikoto and Tatsumi.
"The Uchiha kid, huh? What's the issue?"
"Look! That's a pretty big wound, isn't it?"
Tsunade blinked and leaned in. "You call this—what? A one-centimeter scratch?—a big wound?"
She gave Tatsumi a confused look.
He awkwardly averted his gaze.
Tsunade sighed. "Well, I've got a needle and thread. Want me to sew up your shirt while I'm at it?"
"I mean… sure. Why not?" Tatsumi shrugged, taking off his jacket and handing it to her.
Tsunade actually pulled out a small sewing kit and started stitching.
"…You carry this with you?" Tatsumi asked.
Tsunade smirked. "Missions can last for months, kid. You end up in the middle of nowhere, tear your uniform in a scuffle—it helps to be prepared. I'm actually pretty skilled at this. Not something I tell just anyone."
She winked.
Tatsumi rolled his eyes. Yeah, sure, you don't.
"Tsunade-sama, I can sew clothes too. But can you please check his wound properly?" Mikoto pressed again, voice uncharacteristically forceful.
Tatsumi chuckled lightly. "Honestly, it's already healed. Just some dried blood left."
"…!!"
Mikoto froze. Her concern had betrayed her again. Her face flushed bright red.
Tsunade grinned, watching Mikoto squirm. "Young love. So dramatic."
---
"Sis! I'm injured too!"
From across the field, Rope Tree (Senju Nawaki) dashed over dramatically.
Of course, he had no real injuries. But seeing Tatsumi getting so much attention from his sister made something flare up inside him.
Why's he getting his clothes mended? I've never gotten that kind of service!
Maybe this Uchiha brat was serious about courting his sister…
"She's only sixteen! That punk!"
Fueled by suspicion, Rope Tree rushed forward, almost ready to swing a kunai at Tatsumi again.
Tsunade raised an eyebrow. "Where're you injured?"
She scanned him. His clothes were spotless. His chakra levels were stable. Not even a scuff mark.
"…Um… I think… I have a cold?" Rope Tree said lamely.
Tsunade gave him a long, deadpan stare.
He tried to save face. "So… I came to ask if you have any cold medicine."
Liar, she thought instantly. Her brother was a terrible actor.
She had only agreed to visit the Academy because the Third Hokage insisted she "help the injured." Nothing about babysitting hyperactive kids or teaching anything.
She looked at Rope Tree. You too, huh? Just like the others—causing trouble and dragging me into this.
All I wanted was to get paid and go roll some dice…
"Well," she said sweetly, her voice shifting like a predator playing nice. "It's true. There's been a cold front lately. You really should take better care of yourself."
She smiled warmly.
Tatsumi narrowed his eyes. Cold front? It's May! What forecast is she watching?
Tsunade formed a series of hand seals, and with a puff of chakra, summoned two squishy, blue slugs onto the table.
The creatures wriggled, oozing goo.
"…You're kidding me." Rope Tree froze in horror.
He knew what those were. Slugs. Her summons. Not medicine—punishment.
Jiraiya had told him tales of the horror. Tales that lived in nightmares.
"Rope Tree," Tsunade said sweetly, her golden hair bouncing as she turned toward him, "I've got a remedy for everything."
"My adorable little Otouto."