Hoshiyomi was teasing Lobo with a drumstick when he looked up and saw his mom entering the room—with Tsunade right behind her. He blinked in surprise and instinctively asked:
"You came yourself? I thought Grandma Mito would've just sent someone over with the scroll."
"I didn't have anything going on. Got bored at home, so I figured I'd drop by," Tsunade replied casually.
Rie, standing to the side, was internally panicking. Come on, kid, you're usually smart—why are you acting like a blockhead at the most crucial moment?!
Gold-tier wingwoman Rie Gekkō—activated.
She shot her son a pointed look, which Hoshiyomi returned with a blank stare. Then she gently pulled Tsunade over to the table and pulled out a chair for her.
"Tsunade, dear, come try the food. See if Auntie's cooking suits your taste."
The moment Tsunade sat down, a bowl of freshly scooped rice was handed to her. Even Hoshiyomi was shocked by the speed.
That fast? You sure you don't have ninja training, Mom?
Tsunade had no choice but to accept—she couldn't be rude. With a shy smile, she thanked Rie and sat down beside Hoshiyomi.
Rie beamed, wearing the proud smile of a matchmaker who'd just pulled off a miracle. Look at them—what a perfect pair. If this girl marries into the Gekkō family, I'll be smiling in my sleep for the rest of my life.
Dinner was lively and warm. Hoshiyomi barely said a word—Tsunade had already been completely disarmed by Rie's subtle charm offensive.
By the end of the meal, Tsunade had shed her dignified heiress manners and returned to her naturally energetic self.
She and Rie ended up having a delightful back-and-forth centered entirely around Hoshiyomi. Rie even started wondering if she could adopt Tsunade as her goddaughter.
Tonight's dinner was undeniable proof: when it came to flirting, having a top-tier female ally was a game changer.
It also proved something else—when a woman is working to win over another woman, men don't even get a say in the matter.
After dinner, Rie—knowing the importance of pacing—decided not to drag things out. She glanced at the clock and feigned surprise.
"Oh my, it's gotten so late already!"
Then she put on a regretful expression and said to Tsunade:
"I still had so many things I wanted to talk to you about. But it's not safe for a young girl to be out alone this late. We'll have to chat more next time."
Tsunade hadn't noticed how much time had passed. She was enjoying herself—especially all the cute stories Rie had been sharing about Hoshiyomi's childhood.
Still, she replied, "It's okay, Auntie. I'm a ninja too, you know—there's nothing to worry about."
"No, no—even if it's safe, it's still not good to worry your family. Be a good girl. You know the way here now, right? Come visit Auntie whenever you want to talk."
Tsunade nodded, accepting Rie's reasoning, and got up to leave.
Just then, Rie nudged Hoshiyomi—who had just returned from placing the Eight Gates scroll in his room.
"Really now, Tsunade's heading out and you're not even walking her home? Don't come back until you've seen her to her door, you hear me?"
Hoshiyomi stared at her, dumbfounded. Damn. She's pulling every classic move—creating a reason to be alone, falsely scolding me, even dropping subtle hints about the next visit.
(No need to explain if you know, you know.)
If I'd had a wingwoman like this in my past life, I wouldn't have needed good looks to get girls.
———
On the walk home, the atmosphere between the two remained lighthearted and friendly. Hoshiyomi didn't try anything out of place. They simply laughed and chatted until they reached her house.
As always, he kept things proper—no weird behavior. After all, this wasn't a romantic comedy, and he wasn't interested in anything until they were older.
Let good morals start with Gekkō Hoshiyomi. (Fellow readers—am I doing it right?)
———
The moment Hoshiyomi got home, Rie was waiting at the bottom of the stairs, blocking his way.
"Well? Did you memorize how to get to her house?"
Hoshiyomi was a little confused. Wait—was that the real reason I was supposed to walk her home? You mean this whole thing was a strategy?
"I've been there before, Mom."
That made Rie smile in satisfaction. Good. My boy's not as clueless as I thought. Already one step ahead of your father.
Feigning annoyance, she scolded him:
"Didn't I always tell you? If you like a girl, bring her home so Mom can take a look. And you had such a great girl by your side all this time without telling me?"
Hoshiyomi: _…
"You don't think I'm a little young to be dating right now?"
"Childhood bonds are the strongest of all! Don't change the subject. Be honest—do you like her?"
"…No. At least, not yet."
"Don't lie to me. You might not be interested, but I sure am. From the moment I saw that girl, I decided—this one's the daughter-in-law I want!"
"And what if she doesn't like me?"
"Don't be dense. With the way she acted, you're telling me she has no feelings for you?"
"Even if she does, I'm waiting until we're adults. Okay?"
"Fine, you can wait—but don't slack off. A girl's patience isn't infinite. Let her wait too long, and you'll regret it."
"Aghhh, I get it, I get it."
Seeing Hoshiyomi finally relent, Rie let it go. But a moment later, her curiosity got the better of her.
"Hey… you've been to her house, right? Where does she live? What's her family like? You mentioned a 'Grandma Mito' before... that name sounds familiar."
Hoshiyomi, noticing her skeptical look, suddenly got playful.
"She lives in the Senju compound. Her grandma's name is Uzumaki Mito. Her family's probably way better off than ours. Want more details?"
Rie froze at the name. "Senju compound… Mito-sama? You mean… she's the First Hokage's granddaughter?!"
Watching his mom's stunned expression, Hoshiyomi felt an evil little thrill. He nodded smugly.
Now what, Mom? Still gonna nag me?
But instead of backing off, Rie spent a long moment deep in thought. Then she looked up, deadly serious.
"Hoshiyomi, you better hold onto this opportunity. As long as you don't marry into her family—I'll support you with everything I've got.
Just one thing: once you're together, treat her right.
Because if you mess this up, even I won't be able to protect you."
Gekkō Hoshiyomi: "???"
Wow. Raised by this woman for years and I still didn't turn out as a scumbag. That must mean my moral compass is ridiculously strong.
PS: Read Advance Chapters at https://www.patreon.com/c/ReadJin