Facing this situation, Tsunade found it rather strange.
"That's odd. Given your talent for Medical Ninjutsu, learning Super Strength should have been easy for you. Why are you struggling like this?"
Hayato Ren could only stare helplessly at the ground as he responded.
"Perhaps I only have talent for Medical Ninjutsu. Right now, besides the Medical Ninjutsu you taught me, I only know the Three Body Technique."
Hearing this, Tsunade was momentarily speechless.
Only then did she realize that Hayato Ren had never actually used any other ninjutsu.
In daily battles, Charmander usually fought on Hayato's behalf, and when Hayato did fight personally, he would just wield a kunai for close combat.
Thinking of this, Tsunade raised her hand to rub her temples, showing a troubled expression.
After a long while, Tsunade suddenly thought of a method.
She placed Hayato Ren's hands on her wrists and activated her Super Strength.
"Can you feel anything?"
Facing Tsunade's expectant expression, Hayato's eyes suddenly became evasive before he responded in an uncertain tone.
"Well... I only feel that your wrists are soft and smooth, Teacher. The texture is quite pleasant."
With a "thump," Hayato Ren successfully earned a knuckle rap from Tsunade.
"I meant whether you can feel the flow of my chakra! Who told you to think about those things?"
After being hit, Hayato finally understood Tsunade's intention and focused entirely on sensing the chakra movement in her wrists.
After Tsunade demonstrated several times, Hayato finally grasped a bit of the trick.
Hayato Ren raised his right hand, showing a thoughtful expression.
After a long while, Hayato suddenly punched a nearby tree.
The previously straight tree began shaking violently, with countless leaves and branches falling from it.
Seeing this scene, Hayato revealed an ecstatic expression.
He immediately jumped onto Tsunade, wrapping his arms around her waist while shouting excitedly.
"I did it! Did you see that, Teacher? I really learned Super Strength!"
Tsunade also looked excited, even more so than when she first developed the technique herself.
She had almost begun doubting her teaching methods, but fortunately Hayato had finally learned Super Strength.
After a long while, when Hayato still hadn't gotten off her, Tsunade had to speak somewhat impatiently.
"I'm warning you not to push your luck."
Hearing this, Hayato reluctantly got down from Tsunade.
While he had initially hugged her out of excitement, later he was simply reluctant to let go of the feeling of holding her soft form.
Though he felt somewhat guilty toward Kushina, the sensation of holding Tsunade was indeed much better than holding Kushina.
Of course, this was also related to Kushina not yet reaching her full potential. After all, Tsunade was currently at her peak, while Kushina still needed time to mature.
Facing Tsunade's skeptical gaze, Hayato Ren explained somewhat sheepishly.
"I was just too excited…"
"Forget it, I'll let it slide this time. But if I catch you trying to take advantage of me again, I won't go easy on you. Here are my notes on Super Strength. Take them home and study them carefully. If you have any questions, come to my house and ask me. If I'm not home, look for me at the gambling den in the eastern part of the village."
Hayato Ren nodded and took the rather thick notebook from Tsunade's hand. The handwriting inside was delicate and elegant, completely unlike her personality.
"? Why did you hit me for no reason?"
Hayato Ren rubbed his forehead and looked at Tsunade in confusion.
"I don't know why, but I felt like you were silently criticizing me just now."
Tsunade explained it that way.
Does she really have instincts like a wild beast? Hachikyō... you. Hayato Ren silently grumbled in his heart.
Seeing that Tsunade was about to take action again, Hayato Ren immediately chose the best of the thirty-six stratagems: running away.
...
Hayato Ren handed a cup of barley tea to Kushina and asked,
"What's wrong?"
Kushina stared at her fingers for a long time without replying. Hayato Ren didn't rush her and simply stayed quietly by her side.
After what felt like an eternity, Kushina suddenly looked up and responded in a hoarse voice,
"Ren... if I turn into a monster... will you look down on me?"
Hearing this, Hayato Ren let out a deep sigh.
It seemed that Uzumaki Mito's condition must have taken a turn for the worse recently, and Kushina was about to succeed her as the new Nine-Tailed Jinchuriki.
Otherwise, Kushina wouldn't be showing such a vulnerable side.
And what made matters worse was that with Uzumaki Mito's passing, the Second Great Shinobi War was about to begin.
Although, as Tsunade's student, it was unlikely he would become cannon fodder.
But even someone like Nawaki, a top-tier second-generation shinobi under Orochimaru's protection, could be killed by an Exploding Tag.
This alone showed just how perilous the Shinobi World War could be.
However, now was not the time to discuss such things.
Faced with a disheartened Kushina, Hayato Ren knew that ordinary actions wouldn't suffice. He had to take a bold, unprecedented step to lift her spirits.
Hayato Ren raised both hands and slapped Kushina's cheeks firmly.
A loud smack echoed through the room.
Kushina's cheeks immediately turned red at a visible speed.
This time, however, it wasn't due to emotion but rather the impact of Hayato Ren's hands.
The pain on her face finally snapped Kushina out of her self-pity, if only slightly.
Still, she couldn't help but worry about becoming the Nine-Tailed Jinchuriki.
If she turned into a monster,
what right would she have to stand by Hayato Ren's side?
Seeing that Kushina was still somewhat dazed, Hayato Ren spoke with a serious expression.
"No matter what you become, Kushina, my love for you will never change. It was true in the past, it is true now, and it will remain true in the future."
Facing Hayato Ren's earnest expression, Kushina finally reacted belatedly. Her face instantly flushed bright red, as if steaming with heat.
Under Hayato Ren's astonished gaze, Kushina vanished from his sight in an instant.