…
…
Bang!
"Ah—!!"
Tsunade let out a sharp cry, then lifted her legs and slammed them down hard onto the surface of the pool.
An overwhelming force crashed into the water.
In an instant, towering waves exploded outward like charging cavalry, completely blotting out Uchiha Ran's appreciative line of sight.
Clenching her teeth, Tsunade snarled,
"You brat—don't you know where to put your eyes?!"
Her voice dripped with menace. The water rippled violently, mirroring the storm raging in her heart.
A chill ran straight down Ran's spine.
"Don't even think about running, brat," Tsunade said coldly. "I'll come find you in a moment—and we'll settle this properly."
Taking advantage of the curtain of splashing water, she shot toward the opposite end of the pool at blinding speed.
Once she got dressed, she fully intended to teach this brat a lesson—to make him understand that a woman's body was not something to be stared at freely.
—
Only then did Ran finally snap back to his senses.
"So this is Lady Tsunade…" he muttered inwardly. "Same generation as Orochimaru-sensei… damn, she's beautiful. And fierce too. But wait—she wants to settle accounts with me? She saw me too, didn't she? If this were my old world, how would this even be judged? Minor Protection Act versus Women's Rights Act?!"
He hurriedly scrambled back to shore, threw on his clothes, and strapped his Zanpakutō back at his waist.
"I'm not like Jiraiya-sensei—I won't just stand there and take it," Ran thought, gripping the hilt. "If she really attacks, don't blame me for fighting back. Even if it clashes badly with my usual image…"
—
Not long after, Tsunade appeared before him, fully dressed.
A long tea-green coat trimmed in black, a loose sleeveless top underneath, a black sash at her waist, and dark-blue cropped pants.
She looked like a completely different person compared to moments ago.
You look nothing alike once you're dressed…
Ran very much wanted to say that—but he chose the path of survival instead.
"Judging by this… you must be Orochimaru-sensei's classmate," he said obediently. "The Princess of Konoha—Lady Tsunade."
"Hm? You recognized me?" Tsunade frowned slightly, then relaxed again. "If you know who I am, how dare you look at me like that? …Wait. You called Orochimaru your teacher?"
She stepped closer, one step at a time.
The sheer pressure radiating from her made Ran feel as if a mountain were bearing down on him.
"Orochimaru's disciple, huh?" Tsunade said coolly. "So tell me, brat—was it good?"
"…It was," Ran replied instantly, pure honesty overriding his brain.
"…Good?" Tsunade's voice dropped. "So you saw everything?"
Her tone turned dangerously calm. Even the loose robe couldn't fully suppress certain… aggressive movements.
Ran's eyes betrayed him again.
Completely.
Oblivious to the shift in her voice, he answered without thinking:
"Yes! I saw everything!"
The moment the words left his mouth, alarm bells exploded in his head.
Wait—why am I speaking without my brain's approval again?!
Crack—pop.
Tsunade's fingers clenched, joints snapping audibly. A dazzling smile bloomed on her face—
A smile overflowing with danger.
"Brat," she said sweetly. "What's your name? Orochimaru's disciple has eyes even more aggressive than Jiraiya's. Staring at a woman's body without restraint… looks like I'll have to discipline you on Orochimaru's behalf."
Ran briefly considered saying his name was Namikaze Minato—but that wouldn't work. Tsunade definitely knew Minato, and the Uchiha crest on his clothes wasn't exactly subtle.
"My name is Uchiha Ran," he said quickly. "Lady Tsunade, please allow me to explain—"
"Uchiha?" Tsunade cut him off instantly. "A naturally evil Uchiha brat. There's nothing to explain."
Her eyes hardened.
"No matter what happened today, nothing will stop me. I will teach you a harsh lesson—so you learn that staring at a woman's body comes with a price!"
She stomped into the pool.
Boom!
Water exploded skyward as Tsunade lunged forward like a cannonball, intent on personally delivering that lesson.
Ran's pupils shrank.
This wasn't a joke.
"Lady Tsunade, you've misunderstood! P-please, at least let me explain—!"
He dodged frantically, trying to talk while evading.
But Tsunade wasn't listening.
She only wanted to hit first—and talk later.
Ran's movements were agile and precise, even in water. But Tsunade's attacks were faster, heavier, and far more brutal.
Boom—!
A fist came crashing toward him.
There was no time to dodge.
Ran drew his Zanpakutō in a flash.
Bang!!
Fist and blade collided violently, a thunderous impact shaking the air.
At the instant of contact—at the very moment he triggered Life Is But a Dream—Ran felt an overwhelming surge of power explode from Tsunade's punch. The force traveled through the blade and tore through his entire body, launching him away.
Whoosh—whoosh—whoosh!
He skipped across the surface of the pool like a stone, the sound of shattered air trailing behind him.
Crash!
With chakra and water flow barely stabilizing his body, Ran still slammed into the mangrove trees at the pool's edge. The trees exploded apart, smoke and debris filling the air.
He staggered to his feet, coughing up blood.
"Damn it… the Uchiha body really is too fragile," he spat. "Alright—don't blame me for fighting back now."
Should I seal her five senses and teach her a lesson?
The thought crossed his mind—
And he rejected it immediately.
He had principles. He could still restrain the beast in his heart.
"Lady Tsunade," Ran shouted, wiping blood from his mouth. "Yes, it was an accident that I saw you naked—an accident—but you saw me naked too! Don't worry—I'm only thirteen. You're the one who got the better deal!"
He was trying to explain.
Unfortunately, his explanation was infuriating.
"Good. Very good," Tsunade said coldly. "With a mouth like that, your teacher must be Jiraiya."
Her anger, which had just begun to subside, instantly flared again.
Thirteen, my ass.
What kind of thirteen-year-old develops like that? Emphasizing his age—was he mocking her?!
Fine. Very well.
This naturally evil Uchiha brat had chosen death.
She'd wanted to hold back before—but now? Ten broken bones sounded about right.
Seeing the danger in her eyes intensify, Ran somehow managed to dig himself even deeper:
"Lady Tsunade, please rest assured. Even though I'm young, I have a strong sense of responsibility. I'll definitely take responsibility."
"…You little bastard," Tsunade growled. "What kind of nonsense are you talking about?!"
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