It had been half an hour since Nawaki's sparring session with Mikoto.
Mikoto lay on the floor, panting. Her body was drenched in sweat, and her shorts and T-shirt clung tightly to her.
Her exhaustion was not solely due to the sparring match against Nawaki, but it was the primary cause of her fatigue.
"Oh, you are very strong," Mikoto thought. She had believed she was getting stronger from training with Nawaki, but he had improved even more. The progress wasn't just hers, after all.
Nawaki just smiled. His smile was slightly more mature, yet still cute as his dimples deepened in his slightly flushed cheeks.
-
-
In his room, in front of the big mirror, Nawaki could hardly believe how much he had changed in just a few days.
Although he hadn't gained much muscle, his body was more defined, and he had gained a little weight. He was now 151 cm tall.
He was now the second tallest in his class, with only one boy being 3 cm taller.
His changes were visible, but no one seemed to believe them.
Suddenly, a cold wind entered through his window, which he had opened earlier to air out his room.
It was March 3, late in the winter. There were only six months left until Nawaki's birthday, and a few months after that, it would be time for the ninja academy graduation.
'Sis says I already have the strength of an elite Chunin,' Nawaki contemplated.
In the ninja academy, not even the sensei was stronger than him. Due to the strength displayed by Nawaki, he no longer had any challengers. Even the proud Uchiha had stopped challenging him.
However, Nawaki was not satisfied. He thought the feeling of foreboding would diminish as he grew stronger, but although it was lessening, it hadn't completely disappeared. This was the same sensation he had felt in his previous life a month before his wife's death.
He had experienced this kind of premonition many times before; whether good or bad, something always seemed to happen when he had this feeling.
He thought, 'For the next few months, I need to work harder to attain the strength of a Jonin.'
The likelihood of him facing danger within the village was low. He had his sister to protect him while he stayed in the village.
Tsunade's strength had reached a frightening level over the past week.
She hadn't explicitly stated it, but Nawaki had no doubt that if Tsunade fought the Third Hokage, she would stand a good chance of emerging victorious.
Tsunade's exceptional ability lay in her incredible strength, which allowed her to perform feats like launching targets several meters away with a simple flick of her finger or creating fissures in the ground with a single touch.
An opponent struck by her attacks could suffer a range of injuries, from broken bones and damaged organs to even death.
The 'rebirth' of her body had transformed her into a lethal weapon. Her already formidable strength was amplified to such an extent that a direct hit could injure even someone of Kage-level.
Nawaki's life had been going smoothly so far, but once he graduated from the academy and became a Genin, he would have to undertake missions outside the village. In these times of war, he knew he could lose his life at any moment.
His thoughts were interrupted by two knocks on the door, followed by it opening.
"Sis?" Nawaki knew who it was without turning around. He asked, "Do you need me?"
"Yes, Granny Mito is back," Tsunade announced as she observed Nawaki.
He was dressed in a dark blue T-shirt with a gray vest over it and dark blue pants. His hair was a bit longer but still unruly.
"I understand. I'm coming," Nawaki responded, walking towards her.
Tsunade was wearing a tight fishnet blouse with a light gray V-neck T-shirt, paired with fishnet shorts and a blue skirt over the top.
To say she looked attractive would be an understatement.
"How was the training?" Tsunade inquired.
As they began walking, Nawaki replied, "Mm, Mikoto is improving faster than I expected. And thanks to her, I'm learning to control my strength better."
"Umu, that girl is quite special," Tsunade remarked with a deeper meaning.
Nawaki noticed her tone but didn't comment. They had already reached the main room.
Upon arriving, he saw two red-haired individuals, including an elderly woman who appeared almost as old as he was.
The elderly woman had two buns in her bright red hair and pale eyes. She was dressed in a simple, loose kimono secured with a dark-colored obi and wore dark lipstick with a diamond mark on her forehead.
"Grandma, it's great to see you," Nawaki greeted her with his classic smile.
Mito, seeing her grandson smiling at her, returned the smile on her slightly wrinkled face, radiating gentleness and love.
"Come here, let grandma give you a hug," she said warmly, beckoning him over.
Nawaki approached. She was slightly taller than Tsunade, nearly 170 cm. When he hugged her, his head rested at the level of her chest.
Mito had a mild lavender scent, which Nawaki found pleasant. After they pulled away from the hug, Mito kissed his forehead.
"You've grown up a lot while I was away," she said with the same gentle smile.
"Isn't it?" Nawaki responded rhetorically, smiling and showing his white teeth.
After exchanging a few more words, Mito gestured to the young woman beside her.
The red-haired girl immediately stood out, taking a step forward.
Her eyes lit up upon seeing Nawaki's smile. She almost jumped in front of him with a vibrant smile and extended her thin, pale hand: "Hello Nawaki, I'm Kushina Uzumaki, let's be friends?"
Nawaki took a good look at the girl.
She had a round face, which, framed by her red hair on both sides, gave her a resemblance to a tomato. She wore a sleeveless, kimono-style yellow blouse held closed with a green obi over a short-sleeved mesh shirt, along with dark blue shorts and brown shinobi sandals.
Hearing her question and seeing her hand extended, Nawaki grasped her hand and smiled, "Yes, let's be friends."
"Wah, amazing!" Kushina's excitement was palpable as she shook the hand holding Nawaki's. "I got my first friend dattebane!"
Arriving in a strange place filled with uncertainties, she felt genuinely happy for the first time since her arrival.
Nawaki noticed her nervousness, feeling her hand shaking and slightly sweaty.
Mito, standing nearby, laughed. "Haha, good for you, Kushina. I told you my grandson was kind and could be your friend."
"Oh yes." Only when Mito mentioned it did Kushina realize what she was doing. She felt a bit embarrassed for blurting out 'dattebane,' a habit that emerged whenever her emotions were heightened.
She gave a shy smile, glancing at Mito as she released Nawaki's hand, "Mito-sama was right."
Kushina spoke to Mito with considerable respect. Despite her initial shyness, she held a lot of regard for Mito.
It had been half an hour since Nawaki's sparring session with Mikoto.
Mikoto lay on the floor, panting. Her body was drenched in sweat, and her shorts and T-shirt clung tightly to her.
Her exhaustion was not solely due to the sparring match against Nawaki, but it was the primary cause of her fatigue.
"Oh, you are very strong," Mikoto thought. She had believed she was getting stronger from training with Nawaki, but he had improved even more. The progress wasn't just hers, after all.
Nawaki just smiled. His smile was slightly more mature, yet still cute as his dimples deepened in his slightly flushed cheeks.
-
-
In his room, in front of the big mirror, Nawaki could hardly believe how much he had changed in just a few days.
Although he hadn't gained much muscle, his body was more defined, and he had gained a little weight. He was now 151 cm tall.
He was now the second tallest in his class, with only one boy being 3 cm taller.
His changes were visible, but no one seemed to believe them.
Suddenly, a cold wind entered through his window, which he had opened earlier to air out his room.
It was March 3, late in the winter. There were only six months left until Nawaki's birthday, and a few months after that, it would be time for the ninja academy graduation.
'Sis says I already have the strength of an elite Chunin,' Nawaki contemplated.
In the ninja academy, not even the sensei was stronger than him. Due to the strength displayed by Nawaki, he no longer had any challengers. Even the proud Uchiha had stopped challenging him.
However, Nawaki was not satisfied. He thought the feeling of foreboding would diminish as he grew stronger, but although it was lessening, it hadn't completely disappeared. This was the same sensation he had felt in his previous life a month before his wife's death.
He had experienced this kind of premonition many times before; whether good or bad, something always seemed to happen when he had this feeling.
He thought, 'For the next few months, I need to work harder to attain the strength of a Jonin.'
The likelihood of him facing danger within the village was low. He had his sister to protect him while he stayed in the village.
Tsunade's strength had reached a frightening level over the past week.
She hadn't explicitly stated it, but Nawaki had no doubt that if Tsunade fought the Third Hokage, she would stand a good chance of emerging victorious.
Tsunade's exceptional ability lay in her incredible strength, which allowed her to perform feats like launching targets several meters away with a simple flick of her finger or creating fissures in the ground with a single touch.
An opponent struck by her attacks could suffer a range of injuries, from broken bones and damaged organs to even death.
The 'rebirth' of her body had transformed her into a lethal weapon. Her already formidable strength was amplified to such an extent that a direct hit could injure even someone of Kage-level.
Nawaki's life had been going smoothly so far, but once he graduated from the academy and became a Genin, he would have to undertake missions outside the village. In these times of war, he knew he could lose his life at any moment.
His thoughts were interrupted by two knocks on the door, followed by it opening.
"Sis?" Nawaki knew who it was without turning around. He asked, "Do you need me?"
"Yes, Granny Mito is back," Tsunade announced as she observed Nawaki.
He was dressed in a dark blue T-shirt with a gray vest over it and dark blue pants. His hair was a bit longer but still unruly.
"I understand. I'm coming," Nawaki responded, walking towards her.
Tsunade was wearing a tight fishnet blouse with a light gray V-neck T-shirt, paired with fishnet shorts and a blue skirt over the top.
To say she looked attractive would be an understatement.
"How was the training?" Tsunade inquired.
As they began walking, Nawaki replied, "Mm, Mikoto is improving faster than I expected. And thanks to her, I'm learning to control my strength better."
"Umu, that girl is quite special," Tsunade remarked with a deeper meaning.
Nawaki noticed her tone but didn't comment. They had already reached the main room.
Upon arriving, he saw two red-haired individuals, including an elderly woman who appeared almost as old as he was.
The elderly woman had two buns in her bright red hair and pale eyes. She was dressed in a simple, loose kimono secured with a dark-colored obi and wore dark lipstick with a diamond mark on her forehead.
"Grandma, it's great to see you," Nawaki greeted her with his classic smile.
Mito, seeing her grandson smiling at her, returned the smile on her slightly wrinkled face, radiating gentleness and love.
"Come here, let grandma give you a hug," she said warmly, beckoning him over.
Nawaki approached. She was slightly taller than Tsunade, nearly 170 cm. When he hugged her, his head rested at the level of her chest.
Mito had a mild lavender scent, which Nawaki found pleasant. After they pulled away from the hug, Mito kissed his forehead.
"You've grown up a lot while I was away," she said with the same gentle smile.
"Isn't it?" Nawaki responded rhetorically, smiling and showing his white teeth.
After exchanging a few more words, Mito gestured to the young woman beside her.
The red-haired girl immediately stood out, taking a step forward.
Her eyes lit up upon seeing Nawaki's smile. She almost jumped in front of him with a vibrant smile and extended her thin, pale hand: "Hello Nawaki, I'm Kushina Uzumaki, let's be friends?"
Nawaki took a good look at the girl.
She had a round face, which, framed by her red hair on both sides, gave her a resemblance to a tomato. She wore a sleeveless, kimono-style yellow blouse held closed with a green obi over a short-sleeved mesh shirt, along with dark blue shorts and brown shinobi sandals.
Hearing her question and seeing her hand extended, Nawaki grasped her hand and smiled, "Yes, let's be friends."
"Wah, amazing!" Kushina's excitement was palpable as she shook the hand holding Nawaki's. "I got my first friend dattebane!"
Arriving in a strange place filled with uncertainties, she felt genuinely happy for the first time since her arrival.
Nawaki noticed her nervousness, feeling her hand shaking and slightly sweaty.
Mito, standing nearby, laughed. "Haha, good for you, Kushina. I told you my grandson was kind and could be your friend."
"Oh yes." Only when Mito mentioned it did Kushina realize what she was doing. She felt a bit embarrassed for blurting out 'dattebane,' a habit that emerged whenever her emotions were heightened.
She gave a shy smile, glancing at Mito as she released Nawaki's hand, "Mito-sama was right."
Kushina spoke to Mito with considerable respect. Despite her initial shyness, she held a lot of regard for Mito.
