Under the shade of the trees, Uchiha Hayashi stood with his arms crossed, a faint breeze swirling around him as he casually used Wind Release to cool the summer air.
"You must climb it," Hayashi said calmly, his eyes fixed on the tall tree before them.
Kushina blinked at him. "…And if I can't?"
"Then I'll cancel our dinner," Hayashi replied with mock regret.
Kushina pursed her lips. "You're so mean."
Still, she stepped forward. Following his earlier explanation, she gathered chakra into the soles of her feet, letting it cling to the bark with an adhesive force. Step by step, she began to ascend.
The first foot held firmly, giving her confidence. She lifted her other foot, finding it surprisingly stable.
This isn't so bad.
Her second step was steady too, and Kushina encouraged herself silently, determined not to make a fool of herself in front of Hayashi.
But then—
A slip, a sudden loss of balance.
With a not-so-graceful tumble, she landed flat on the ground in a pose that would've made any bird proud.
"…It hurts…" Kushina groaned, rubbing her backside. Her face turned crimson. "How embarrassing."
Hayashi pressed his lips together, fighting back laughter. But Kushina turned to him with a smile so sweet that it made the hair on the back of his neck stand up.
Nope. If I laugh now, she'll murder me.
Clearing his throat, Hayashi tried to focus. "Listen, Kushina. When your first foot is attached and you lift the second, you need to increase your chakra output. Otherwise, you lose your center of gravity and the adhesive force won't hold. That's why you slipped just now."
He tapped lightly on the board beside him, pointing to his earlier notes. "Tree climbing is simple in theory, but it requires constant adjustment of chakra output with every movement. That balance is the essence of chakra control."
Kushina listened intently, brushing dust off her red hair. Then, narrowing her eyes, she smirked.
"…You explain it so well. But Hayashi, doesn't that make you the pervert Tsunade-sensei said peeked at the women's bathhouse?"
Hayashi nearly tripped over his own feet. "Oi, don't pin Jiraiya's nonsense on me." He looked up at the sky in exasperation.
With a giggle, Kushina ran back to the tree to try again.
Hayashi stretched out on the grass, letting the leaves above shield him from the sun. He hadn't slept much the night before, thanks to the swarm of mosquitoes that had pestered him.
Still, he kept half an eye open, watching her progress. From his experience, girls often had better chakra control than boys. Tsunade versus Nawaki was proof enough—the difference between them was night and day.
Sure enough, within hours, Kushina stood proudly at the top of the tree, waving down at him with a bright smile.
"It's so beautiful up here!" she shouted, startling a flock of small birds into flight.
The village of Konoha lay in the distance, Hokage Rock towering protectively over it. The sounds of the village didn't reach this far. For Kushina, who had grown up surrounded by war and loss in the Land of Whirlpools, this peace felt almost unreal—like a dream.
She leapt down, landing lightly beside Hayashi. "I've done it! So, what's next? Hurry and teach me some powerful ninjutsu!"
She crouched down, brushing leaves off his face, and shook him impatiently. Her wide violet eyes sparkled with excitement, her voice soft with a rare gentleness.
Hayashi frowned. Stop being so cute, Kushina. That's not supposed to be your thing.
"You want to learn strong ninjutsu just to beat up the guys who mocked you, right?" he asked dryly.
"Exactly! They're unforgivable!" Kushina huffed. "Who told them to put me on that stupid list—'Top Ten People You Don't Want as a Girlfriend'?!"
She balled her fists, cheeks puffed out in anger. "Tsunade-sensei said stuff like that deserves at least a few broken bones!"
"…That sounds exactly like something she'd say," Hayashi muttered with a strained laugh.
Kushina crossed her arms. "If I suddenly master some incredible jutsu, they'll have no choice but to acknowledge me!"
Hayashi reached out and ruffled her hair. His tone softened. "Listen, Kushina. A wise shinobi once told me: It's not that you're acknowledged when you become Hokage. Those who are acknowledged by everyone can become Hokage. If you want recognition, a few flashy jutsu won't cut it."
She paused, staring up at him. Slowly, she nodded. "…Then, who was that shinobi? They sound amazing."
Hayashi smiled faintly, his eyes shadowed. "They were. But they're gone now."
The moment turned quiet.
Then Hayashi straightened. "As for kunai throwing, I can teach you the form, but the rest is up to practice. Still, there's no need to rely only on that. You've got something no one else has."
Kushina's eyes lit up. "You mean my chakra?"
He nodded. "Exactly. Since your technique isn't refined yet, don't fight like us. Use your strength—your massive chakra reserves. And there's a jutsu perfect for you. It was developed by the Second Hokage himself, before he passed."
Kushina leaned forward eagerly. "Really? What is it?"
Hayashi smirked. "Excited? Surprised? Shocked?"
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