Kitagawa stared at Tsunade, and the corner of his mouth twitched.
So having power is everything, huh.
Yeah, trash talk doesn't stand a chance against actual strength.
But if he just backed down now, wouldn't he look pathetic?
He slowly stood up. "Then let me ask Tsunade-sama to knock me down with just one finger."
"If I lose, I'll treat Tsunade-sama to drinks every day. Of course, only at times and places where Shizune won't see, and I won't let you get drunk."
"But if Tsunade-sama loses..."
Tsunade perked up at the mention of a bet and stood. "If I lose, I'll listen to your advice!"
Kitagawa wanted to push for the necklace as the stakes, but he knew you couldn't rush things. Tsunade liked to gamble, but she wouldn't casually put the necklace on the line.
Slow and steady. One step at a time.
After reassuring himself, Kitagawa said, "Then let's take this outside."
He turned and headed for the door, stopping to pay the tab on his way out.
Tsunade followed, teasing. "Already prepared to lose, are you?"
Kitagawa shot back. "Rule number one of being a ninja: never underestimate your opponent."
Tsunade snorted.
They left the bar and headed into an empty alley nearby.
But the moment they stepped in, rapid footsteps echoed. Shizune appeared at the alley entrance.
Kitagawa immediately smiled. "Shizune! Did you get the order placed?"
Shizune nodded, then looked worried at both of them. "Tsunade-sama, Teacher Kitagawa... what are you doing?"
Tsunade waved casually. "Relax. Just a friendly sparring match."
"Don't worry—I'm only using one finger. He won't get hurt."
Shizune still looked anxious. "But... isn't that still dangerous?"
Kitagawa laughed. "Don't worry. If I can't win, your teacher knows when to admit defeat."
Shizune frowned. "But still..."
Tsunade was already getting impatient. "Stop your worrying. We're starting. Shizune, stand over there and don't move."
She hooked her raised finger at Kitagawa. "Alright, brat, let's go!"
Kitagawa took a deep breath. In the next instant, air roared around him, the ground cracked and sank beneath his feet, and his form vanished.
"So fast!"
Tsunade's pupils contracted slightly. This speed was way beyond the chunin level.
Still, she tracked his trajectory. She raised her arm, channeling power to her finger.
But just as she was about to strike downward, she paused. Her eyes shifted to the left.
Kitagawa burst forward again, moving sideways. He planted his foot on the wooden wall and used Shave again, his body soaring over Tsunade's head and reappearing at her right side.
Going around the back would've been better, but Shizune was at the alley entrance. If Tsunade lost control of her strength, she might accidentally hit Shizune.
So instead, Kitagawa bounced off the right wall, circled around, and came back to face Tsunade head-on.
"Your speed is definitely surprising," Tsunade said, "but it's not enough for me!"
Her arm swung, her finger cutting horizontally.
With a deafening boom, the ground split open. The crack extended over a dozen meters, nearly cutting the entire alley in half.
He dodged it...
Tsunade was taken aback. She saw Kitagawa appear again at her left side and immediately swept her arm, slashing her finger horizontally.
"Tsunade-sama, the alcohol's slowed your reflexes by a beat."
Kitagawa crouched low and exploded with chakra again, surging forward. His arms shot up and around, passing under her armpits.
This brat...
No time!
Tsunade's eyes widened as she felt Kitagawa crash into her, wrapping his arms around hers and locking them.
Kitagawa shifted his stance, and Tsunade lost her balance.
THUD!
Tsunade crashed to the ground with Kitagawa on top of her.
Shizune's eyes went huge. Tsunade-sama... lost?
Kitagawa pinned Tsunade's arms, his breath hitting her ear. "Tsunade-sama, you lost."
The next instant, Kitagawa flew backward and CRASH—he slammed into the wall, then slid down to the ground.
Shizune gasped and ran over. "Teacher Kitagawa! Are you okay?"
Kitagawa grimaced with pain but managed a smile. "I'm fine."
Tsunade pushed herself up and dusted off her clothes. Seeing Shizune rush to Kitagawa like that, she felt a little jealous. "Don't worry. I didn't use much force."
"Shizune, come on. Let's go eat."
She'd decided: tonight, she was going to eat a ton of food at this little pervert's expense.
An hour later, in the sushi restaurant.
Tsunade was eating and drinking like her life depended on it. Shizune's jaw was on the floor. She'd never seen Tsunade's appetite like this.
Kitagawa's eye was twitching as he watched. This sushi place wasn't cheap. He was going to take a hit today.
Sure enough.
When the bill came an hour later: exactly 10,000 ryo.
For comparison, a bowl of ramen at Ichiraku ran only a few dozen ryo.
But Tsunade had gotten her frustration out. Her mood improved considerably.
Shizune looked at Kitagawa apologetically. "Thank you for treating us, Teacher Kitagawa."
Kitagawa reached over and ruffled Shizune's short hair with a smile. "Well, it did hurt the wallet a bit. But your teacher can handle it."
"Besides, I'm just a chunin, and I beat Tsunade-sama! That's worth bragging about."
Tsunade, walking ahead, stopped. She turned back slowly, enunciating each word: "You. Little. Pervert."
Shizune's face flushed red with embarrassment.
But Kitagawa wasn't bothered at all. He didn't push his luck any further though—know when to stop.
The three of them walked on, with Tsunade leading and the other two following.
"Shizune, how are your studies going lately? Everything smooth?"
"Yes, thank you, Teacher Kitagawa."
"By the way, are you planning to study medical ninjutsu with Tsunade-sama?"
"Yes, that's the plan."
"Then you'd better work hard. Tsunade-sama is the strongest medical ninja in the entire shinobi world."
"Yes, I'll do my best."
"In the future, if you need anything—school stuff, life stuff, anything—come find your teacher. Okay?"
"Okay!"
...
And so Kitagawa walked them both all the way home.
Tsunade had heard enough chatter on the way. She was annoyed. "Hey, you can go now!"
Kitagawa smiled. "Tsunade-sama, remember your promise. I'll be dropping by for home visits from time to time."
Tsunade's brows shot up. "You little pervert, if you don't leave right now, I don't mind sending you to the hospital for a few days."
Kitagawa just pretended he didn't hear. He waved at Shizune and vanished with Body Flicker.
Shizune trotted over to Tsunade's side. "Tsunade-sama, Teacher Kitagawa isn't a bad person."
Tsunade scoffed. "Bad guys don't advertise it on their faces."
"Shizune, listen to me: the prettier the man, the more careful you need to be. Especially the ones who talk smooth like that—don't let their sweet words fool you."
Shizune blinked, looking completely confused.
Seeing that look on Shizune's face, Tsunade couldn't help but smile. She reached over and ruffled Shizune's hair. "Come on, let's go get ready for bed. We'll turn in early tonight."