"If the pressure isn't right, Sister, remember to let me know."
Natsume reached out his hands and placed them on Tsunade's soft shoulders, saying.
"Yeah."
Tsunade closed her eyes.
The continuous warm touch on her shoulders made her body tremble slightly and go a bit weak.
It seems the technique has improved a lot compared to before.
Tsunade's mood wasn't as calm as she thought.
Although it was just a simple massage, for her, it was undoubtedly the first proactive step.
"Ah~"
Suddenly, Tsunade shivered and made an unclear sound. "Don't... touch my ears."
"Got it."
Natsume remembered that her ears were her weak point, then asked, "Do you need a foot massage? Sister, you must be tired from walking."
"They're dirty."
Tsunade patted his hand and said, "I'll go take a shower first."
Natsume obediently stopped the massage and watched her go to the Bathroom with her change of clothes.
If it were Ena Uzumaki, he would definitely ask, "Do you need a back scrubber?"
But for Tsunade, he didn't dare.
Natsume sat on the Sofa, picked up the water cup she had drunk from, and gulped it down.
Well, it's a bit sweet.
After about half an hour, the door of the Bathroom opened.
Natsume instinctively turned to look.
Tsunade had just finished showering, with a slightly red face and damp blond hair draped over her shoulders.
She was wearing white pajamas, and her front was so bulging that it looked like a balloon on the verge of bursting.
Her arms and legs were exposed, and she was wearing Slippers on her feet. Her toes were glistening with water droplets, quite dainty.
"Give Sister a massage."
Tsunade sat on the Sofa, stretched out her feet, and placed them in his palms.
They were soft and warm.
He kept kneading.
Natsume massaged quite seriously for half an hour.
Tsunade gently bit her lips and let out a sigh of relief after it was over.
Her face became even redder.
It was like the gentle drunkenness after having a drink, exuding a ripe charm.
Natsume stared blankly.
"I'll go cook."
Feeling his burning gaze, Tsunade quickly got up and rushed into the kitchen.
Cook?
Natsume came to his senses.
No! Sister!
That's not your thing, Sister!
Natsume immediately pulled a pained face.
At this moment, he was extremely looking forward to Shizune making a grand entrance.
But it didn't happen.
"Eat."
Tsunade propped up her chin and looked at Natsume's expression with great interest.
It's been a long time since she last saw such an expression. It felt quite familiar.
Natsume picked up a grilled fish, took a bite, and instinctively frowned.
Weird! What the heck is this taste? It's kinda fishy and a bit salty.
The way the fish was handled must be seriously wrong.
But Natsume still ate them all.
Just because he loved her deeply.
Tsunade was very satisfied. She stroked Natsume's hair and said, "Be a good boy."
She picked up the bowls and chopsticks and turned to enter the kitchen.
The sound of the door opening rang out.
Shizune saw Natsume lying listlessly on the Sofa and asked, "Is Lady Tsunade back?"
Without waiting for an answer, she changed her shoes and rushed to the kitchen.
"Lady Tsunade!"
"Shizune."
While washing the dishes, Tsunade asked, "Have you had your meal? If not, I'll heat it up for you."
"Yes, I have."
Shizune quickly waved her hand and, by the way, showed sympathy for Natsume.
She stepped forward to help Tsunade wash the dishes.
Not long after, the two walked out together.
"How's your training in Sage Mode going?"
Tsunade sat beside Natsume and asked.
"I guess it's almost done?"
Natsume looked uncertain and a bit guilty. He immediately stood up and said, "I'm going to train now."
Tsunade raised an eyebrow and a faint smile played on her lips.
Previously, she quite trusted Katsuyu Sage. But this time, after her whereabouts were exposed, it made her doubt Katsuyu Sage's words about Natsume's Sage Mode, considering that he hadn't mastered it after three years of training.
Just now, she carefully observed his micro - expressions and indeed detected something wrong.
Unexpectedly, even Katsuyu Sage had betrayed her.
Tsunade let out a soft sigh, but there was no anger or fury after being deceived.
Natsume stood in the courtyard, not training Sage Mode, but Flying Thunder God Technique.
He planned to master it this month. Otherwise, it would be quite difficult for him to meet Mei Terumī and Ena Uzumaki.
A new day.
Early in the morning.
"Get up. Let's go to see Katsuyu Sage."
Tsunade didn't dare to look at him. She picked up her coat and left the room.
At the door, she leaned against the wall, her face slightly flushed.
After all, he was a grown - up.
Natsume got up, scratched his head. After breakfast, he and Tsunade appeared in Shikkotsu Forest.
"Little Tsunade, you're back."
The gentle voice of Katsuyu Sage showed a bit of joy.
"I'm still in trouble with you today."
Tsunade pointed at Natsume and asked, "Is there something wrong with his Sage Mode?"
"..."
Katsuyu Sage was silent for two seconds. She quickly exchanged glances with Natsume and said, "There's no problem. He can enter the next stage and train the unique Sage Art of Shikkotsu Forest."
"You mean he has successfully mastered Sage Mode?"
Tsunade was slightly stunned.
What's going on?
She just wanted to test if Katsuyu Sage was really lying to her.
But she didn't expect such an answer.
In this way, she no longer had a reason to sleep in the same bed with Natsume.
For a moment, she felt like she had lifted a rock only to drop it on her own foot.
Oh!
"Mostly successful."
Katsuyu Sage's tone became serious and she said, "Little Tsunade, your next task is very important."
Tsunade showed a confused expression.
"There's only one unique Sage Art in Shikkotsu Forest, Seal - less Healing."
Katsuyu Sage explained, "This is a passive Sage Art that can greatly increase self - healing ability, but it's extremely difficult to train."
Natsume had a bad feeling and quickly asked, "How to train it?"
"Tongue Tooth Sticky Acid."
Katsuyu Sage said something terrifying in a gentle voice, "Natsume will bathe in this corrosive liquid for a rebirth of flesh and blood, and finally turn it into an instinctive reaction."
"Is this the only way to train?"
Hearing this, Tsunade's heart skipped a beat and she quickly asked.
After a moment of horror, Natsume suddenly understood why Hashirama Senju had such terrifying self-healing abilities.
Surely, his Sage Body was a factor, but it was also inseparable from his training in Shikkotsu Forest.
However, this was just far too painful.
Natsume wondered if he could bear it.
Suddenly, he noticed Tsunade's expression and immediately made up his mind.
The more pain he endured, the more he could gain her heart.
Their relationship could also take a step forward.
Of course, this was based on the premise that Tsunade really cared about him.
Only then would it work.
No cross, no crown!
Damn it all!
"I can make it," Natsume said. "With Sister around, I won't kick the bucket anyway."
"No, you can't," Tsunade glared at him and said firmly. "I won't allow it! It's too dangerous! That kind of pain is beyond what you can bear right now!"
She didn't want to see Natsume melt into a skeleton.
If that were to happen, her heart would be shattered.
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