"Lady Tsunade, you've come?"
Tanaka was known for his steadiness. Even when training at the Hyūga clan's residence, he still sent out a shadow clone, using his Byakugan to scan the surroundings from time to time.
Because of this, he noticed her arrival even before she reached the training ground.
Rather than being startled, he was pleased.
After all, he was just about to set off to find her, but she had come to him instead.
"What's wrong? Do you think I came at a bad time?"
Tsunade instantly appeared in front of him, first glancing at the scroll in his hands.
Sure enough, it was about the Eight Gates Release Formation.
Confirming that she hadn't wronged this kid, she reached out like an eagle catching a chick, grabbing Tanaka by the back of his neck. Before he could protest, she pulled him into her chest, forcing him to experience firsthand the unique bloodline limit possessed only by her.
Breast Release.
Tanaka had intended to reply, "No, you came at the perfect time," but before he could get the words out, her bloodline ability "Breast Shield: Cleansing Face Technique" landed on his face.
Taking the full brunt of the attack, he could neither speak nor breathe.
"I'm pretty sure I told you before—You can train in the Eight Gates, but only if I'm around."
"And yet, what do you do? I just told you that a moment ago, and you immediately threw my words out the window."
"You clearly don't take me seriously."
Tsunade was both furious and anxious.
As the strongest medical-nin in the ninja world, her understanding of the human body was second to none—even Orochimaru wouldn't dare claim otherwise.
So, she knew better than anyone how dangerous the technique was.
The Eight Gates were natural chakra limiters placed in the body. Unlocking them one by one granted strength dozens of times beyond one's normal capabilities.
But where did that chakra come from?
It was simple: from the body's physical and spiritual energy.
In other words, opening the gates meant forcibly squeezing every last drop of energy from the body and mind, continuously converting it into chakra—until both the body and spirit collapsed entirely.
"No, I didn't."
Tanaka struggled desperately, using both hands and mouth, finally managing to free himself from Tsunade's grasp.
"Caught red-handed, and you still dare to deny it?"
Seeing that he had the nerve to argue despite being caught in the act, Tsunade used her bloodline limit again—this time, without even forming seals.
Breast Shield: Continuous Cleansing Face Technique.
Tanaka's Byakugan grew even whiter, his face looking utterly drained, as if he had been completely exhausted and overworked. Only then did Tsunade release her technique.
"Huff… huff… huff…!"
Tanaka didn't waste time explaining. He first took several deep breaths, recovering from the "torturous bliss" he had just endured, then quickly spoke at the fastest speed possible, "Lady Tsunade, I wasn't trying to train in the Eight Gates."
"I just suddenly thought of a good method—one that might let me train in this forbidden technique more safely."
"I was going to test it first, but then I remembered your warnings, so I was just about to come find you."
His words came out fast, but they were clear.
"Really?"
Tsunade narrowed her eyes, still skeptical. She reached out and released a wave of green medical chakra, letting it seep into Tanaka's body.
He knew this was how medical-nin checked the body, so he neither resisted nor avoided it.
"He really didn't train."
Tsunade carefully examined each of his chakra points, from the First Gate to the Gate of Death. After thoroughly checking his chakra pathway and pressure points, she found no signs of any gate having been opened. Only then did she start to believe him.
At the same time, now that she had calmed down, she noticed a detail she had previously overlooked.
Hizashi had only said that Tanaka held a scroll—he hadn't actually said that the boy was training in it.
Thinking about it now, she realized she had let her anxiety cloud her judgment.
Something's off.
This kid has always been calm and composed, never acting recklessly.
And I shouldn't have lost my cool just because he seemed like he was training in the Eight Gates.
Tsunade frowned slightly, reflecting on her own actions.
As a war veteran who had survived the Second Great Ninja War, she was no ordinary woman.
After a brief moment of contemplation, she understood.
The problem wasn't with Hizashi.
Nor was it with Tanaka.
The problem was with herself.
It's me… I haven't been cared for in too long.
It's me… I haven't had anyone to support me in too long.
It's me… I haven't cared for anyone in too long.
She felt sorrow.
After replaying everything in her mind, she finally understood.
Ever since Nawaki's death, she had lost all close family in the shinobi world, leaving her heart feeling empty.
There was no one left to care about her, and no one for her to care about.
That was why the sudden appearance of Tanaka had stirred up a strong but fleeting wave of emotions within her. The situation was further complicated by Hizashi, who brought half of the Hyūga clan's wealth and a hundred clansmen to her doorstep.
And ultimately, that was why she had lost her composure.
"Lady Tsunade."
At that moment, Tanaka's voice reached her ears.
Her slightly dazed eyes refocused, and she saw that he had extended his hand toward her. In his palm was a transparent cup filled with a purple liquid, plump grapes floating inside, and a layer of what looked like milk foam on top.
"When you're feeling down, have something sweet. It'll make you feel better."
Tanaka noticed the sudden sadness in Tsunade's expression. Instead of asking why, he simply handed her a ninja-world version of a grape smoothie topped with whipped cream.
Although fancy coffee shops didn't exist in the ninja world, as the Hyūga heir, he certainly wouldn't deprive himself of life's small comforts.
All he had to do was describe the drink in detail, and Natsu, along with the clan's chefs, had perfectly recreated it using local ingredients.
Compared to the additive-laden versions from his previous life, the one made by Natsu was pure and authentic—far more delicious.
"What is this?"
Tsunade took the cup, finding it visually appealing. As a top-tier medical-nin, she had no need to worry about whether the drink was safe. She took a sip through the straw.
"Mmm! It's really good."
The lingering sadness on her face brightened instantly.
Even the corners of her lips, still wrapped around the straw, curved into a slight smile—a smile so stunning that it could put all flowers to shame.
"It's called grape smoothie." Tanaka revealed the name of the drink.
"Who seals drinks inside a scroll?"
Tsunade glanced at another scroll in his hand while sipping from the straw.
It was obvious that this drink had just been taken out from that scroll.
"Better to be prepared. If I stock up in advance, I'll always have one ready whenever I want a drink."
After saying that, Tanaka pulled out a second cup from the scroll.
This one had a more strawberry-like color.
"And this one?"
Having tasted the grape slush, Tsunade now looked at the new drink in his hand with clear anticipation.
"It's called strawberry cream."
Tanaka took a sip through the straw.
As the owner of a space-time portal, frequently traveling between the One Piece and Naruto worlds, it only made sense that his scrolls were packed with food and drinks.
"Let me try it."
Tsunade reached out and took it.
"I already drank from it."
Tanaka quickly pointed out that he had just taken a sip, hoping she would reconsider.
"Oh? And here I was, not even minding it, yet you're the one fussing?"
Tsunade shot him a playful, sultry glance before ignoring the fact that he had already used the straw. Instead of switching to a new one, she bit down on the very same straw he had just used and happily started drinking.
"My strawberry cream..."