"Now..." While in the bathtub together, Tsunade asked quite seriously, "Are you going to tell me what happened to you, young man?"
"Sis, I'll be honest." Sitting opposite her and looking into her eyes, he replied, "I don't know exactly what happened, I still have a lot to process, but you have my word. As soon as I know the answer, you'll be the first to know, okay?"
Surprised, her mouth opened, but no words emerged. Then she burst into laughter, patted her thigh, and said, "Okay, I'll wait for that moment. Just don't do anything that risky anymore, okay? I was worried sick."
"I know, I'm sorry." His apology was heartfelt.
"It's okay, it's okay," she reassured him with a smile.
He mirrored her smile, pondering, 'I still don't understand why I ended up in that strange place, nor do I know if I can return. Maybe, having been killed, I missed a rare opportunity... Well, whatever the case, only time will reveal the answer.'
For the next few minutes, he continued chatting with his beloved older sister, occasionally unable to resist glancing at her buoyant form.
"Sis, do you have a boyfriend?" He asked, lacking any memories of her having a partner but knowing she was old enough to have had one or two. After all, it seemed impossible for her not to have admirers, unless the world was blind to her beauty.
A hint of shyness colored her face upon hearing his question, causing Nawaki's heart to race. 'Does she have one?'
"No, not right now," she replied with a slight smile. "You know, I'm not short of suitors," she said, causing a ripple in the tub as she subtly moved, her smile widening as she continued, "But at the moment, I don't have time for that nonsense with the war going on."
"Oh, right." A sincere smile spread across his face.
Tsunade giggled, observing her little brother's cute expression with interest. She was curious about the sudden changes in him but realized that her sweet and adorable little brother was maturing and beginning to show interest in the opposite sex.
'Well, he still has some growing to do, I guess.' She thought, sneaking a quick glance downwards before meeting Nawaki's eyes again. 'What could have caused such a transformation?'
She had noticed not only an increase in her little brother's strength but also an improvement in his skin, now healthier and perhaps even softer than a baby's. If she had already found him adorable, she now considered his cuteness enough to make many girls swoon.
'However, I think he should work out more and build some muscle, or he might be mistaken for a girl!' Despite her teasing thoughts, she laughed internally, careful not to show her amusement.
- -
"Are you sure you want to go to the gym?" Tsunade asked again. "You didn't sleep all night. If you want, you can stay another day and rest. I'll let your sensei know you'll be back tomorrow."
"Thank you, sis. But I am fine," he assured her with a smile. "I don't feel tired or sleepy. I think it's you who needs some rest after all you've done for me."
"Okay, but if you feel unwell, let your sensei know," she advised, worry evident in her tone. "Don't push yourself too hard."
"I know." He waved his hand as he walked to the door. "Goodbye, sis."
"Mm, see you later," she replied, kissing his forehead as they parted.
-
-
Upon arriving at the ninja academy, the first question he faced was why he had been absent for so many days. He simply replied that he hadn't been feeling well, which wasn't entirely a lie.
Nawaki glanced toward a student who was nudging another with a dark, spiky ponytail, saying, "Shikaku, wake up, the sensei is coming."
"Already? How troublesome," Shikaku mumbled, sleepily rubbing his eyes and looking around. His gaze landed on Nawaki, and he commented, seemingly uninterested yet surprised, "Oh, you're back."
"Mm." Nawaki simply nodded in response.
A boy with bright blue eyes and spiky blond hair glanced over at him several times. Nawaki frowned, recognizing him from his memories. He wasn't exactly a rival, but they weren't close either.
Having no ill will, he asked, "Do you need something, Minato?"
"Oh, that..." Minato averted his gaze, seeming a bit awkward.
Then, barely a second later, he looked back at Nawaki and remarked, "You look different," before looking away again.
'Seriously, what's with him?' Nawaki shook his head, not wanting to dwell on it further.
In reality, Minato wasn't the only one who noticed a change in Nawaki; other students also cast occasional glances his way. Being from the Senju Clan, not everyone felt bold enough to approach him. Despite his cheerful and good-natured demeanor, it didn't mean that those from ordinary families felt at ease interacting with him.
His closest acquaintances were primarily from the main houses. Shikaku Nara, for instance, was a good example. Although not fond of engaging in trivial conversations, he maintained a close relationship with Nawaki.
Chōza Akimichi and Inoichi Yamanaka were also among his close friends.
Unperturbed by the fact that others felt uncomfortable approaching him, Nawaki noticed an increase in attention from many girls. 'Mm, could this be because my skin has become more radiant?'
Being a member of the Senju Clan, he was used to receiving attention, but as far as he could recall, it had never been to this extent before.
Nawaki acknowledged that there were girls who caught his eye, one of them being Mikoto Uchiha. Her appeal lay not only in her beauty but also in her gentle and kind nature.
Of course, she wasn't the only one. His gaze met that of another girl, who quickly looked away, blushing.
'Well, whatever.' He dismissed these thoughts as the sensei entered the classroom.
Upon entering, the sensei seemed to recognize him and greeted with a smile, "Senju-sama, glad you have recovered. Welcome back!"
"Thanks," Nawaki replied politely.
Simultaneously, he heard the sound of someone sneering with a 'tsk!'. However, he didn't pay it much attention.
Some hours later...
Nawaki arrived home.
'Home sweet home~,' he hummed to himself.
Classes had been more tedious than he anticipated. Even the practical class was a disappointment. Really, he mused, even a white rabbit would be stronger than many of those students...
Reflecting on the boy who came to tease him with such arrogance, Nawaki was amazed. Lacking resilience, yet possessing such a big ego, where did he find that confidence?
Nonetheless, Nawaki ceased to dwell on the academy the moment he stepped through the gates of the Senju complex.
The sight of the familiar lake and wooden houses instilled a sense of belonging in him. It might be one of the few, if not the only place, where he felt completely at ease.
"Nawaki-sama, welcome!" Employees at the Senju complex greeted him wherever he went.
'It would be nice if they could drop the formalities, but I guess that's difficult,' he thought, stretching out on his bed with arms wide open.
He half-expected to encounter his sweet and dear older sister, but she wasn't there. 'Did she leave?'
It wasn't out of the question. The second ninja war, although seemingly calm, was ongoing. She might have been called away for some mission requiring her presence.
"If I were stronger..." Nawaki murmured to himself.
Though he had grown stronger thanks to the red orbs, it was still not sufficient. He might be as powerful as some elite chuunin, but without a direct confrontation, he couldn't be certain.
Time passed slowly, and gradually the sky darkened.
The fact that he hadn't slept earlier made him feel sleepy now. With nothing to do and no one to train with in his sister's absence, Nawaki tried to get some rest.
-
-
Upon waking, the familiar scent of grass and earth prompted him to sit up.
'I'm back here!' A spark of anticipation shone in his grey-green eyes.
Surveying his surroundings, he noticed no rabbits or other animals.
'It seems like last time; I appeared here as soon as I fell asleep.' Nawaki didn't believe it was mere coincidence.
Standing up and dusting off his clothes, he employed a sensory technique.
Sensing something, Nawaki performed a hand sign and declared, "Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Two clones, identical to him, appeared on either side. Without needing instructions, they moved ahead while he remained vigilant.
Even now, he was on high alert, not wanting to meet the same fate as last time, dying without understanding the situation.
"Now..." While in the bathtub together, Tsunade asked quite seriously, "Are you going to tell me what happened to you, young man?"
"Sis, I'll be honest." Sitting opposite her and looking into her eyes, he replied, "I don't know exactly what happened, I still have a lot to process, but you have my word. As soon as I know the answer, you'll be the first to know, okay?"
Surprised, her mouth opened, but no words emerged. Then she burst into laughter, patted her thigh, and said, "Okay, I'll wait for that moment. Just don't do anything that risky anymore, okay? I was worried sick."
"I know, I'm sorry." His apology was heartfelt.
"It's okay, it's okay," she reassured him with a smile.
He mirrored her smile, pondering, 'I still don't understand why I ended up in that strange place, nor do I know if I can return. Maybe, having been killed, I missed a rare opportunity... Well, whatever the case, only time will reveal the answer.'
For the next few minutes, he continued chatting with his beloved older sister, occasionally unable to resist glancing at her buoyant form.
"Sis, do you have a boyfriend?" He asked, lacking any memories of her having a partner but knowing she was old enough to have had one or two. After all, it seemed impossible for her not to have admirers, unless the world was blind to her beauty.
A hint of shyness colored her face upon hearing his question, causing Nawaki's heart to race. 'Does she have one?'
"No, not right now," she replied with a slight smile. "You know, I'm not short of suitors," she said, causing a ripple in the tub as she subtly moved, her smile widening as she continued, "But at the moment, I don't have time for that nonsense with the war going on."
"Oh, right." A sincere smile spread across his face.
Tsunade giggled, observing her little brother's cute expression with interest. She was curious about the sudden changes in him but realized that her sweet and adorable little brother was maturing and beginning to show interest in the opposite sex.
'Well, he still has some growing to do, I guess.' She thought, sneaking a quick glance downwards before meeting Nawaki's eyes again. 'What could have caused such a transformation?'
She had noticed not only an increase in her little brother's strength but also an improvement in his skin, now healthier and perhaps even softer than a baby's. If she had already found him adorable, she now considered his cuteness enough to make many girls swoon.
'However, I think he should work out more and build some muscle, or he might be mistaken for a girl!' Despite her teasing thoughts, she laughed internally, careful not to show her amusement.
- -
"Are you sure you want to go to the gym?" Tsunade asked again. "You didn't sleep all night. If you want, you can stay another day and rest. I'll let your sensei know you'll be back tomorrow."
"Thank you, sis. But I am fine," he assured her with a smile. "I don't feel tired or sleepy. I think it's you who needs some rest after all you've done for me."
"Okay, but if you feel unwell, let your sensei know," she advised, worry evident in her tone. "Don't push yourself too hard."
"I know." He waved his hand as he walked to the door. "Goodbye, sis."
"Mm, see you later," she replied, kissing his forehead as they parted.
-
-
Upon arriving at the ninja academy, the first question he faced was why he had been absent for so many days. He simply replied that he hadn't been feeling well, which wasn't entirely a lie.
Nawaki glanced toward a student who was nudging another with a dark, spiky ponytail, saying, "Shikaku, wake up, the sensei is coming."
"Already? How troublesome," Shikaku mumbled, sleepily rubbing his eyes and looking around. His gaze landed on Nawaki, and he commented, seemingly uninterested yet surprised, "Oh, you're back."
"Mm." Nawaki simply nodded in response.
A boy with bright blue eyes and spiky blond hair glanced over at him several times. Nawaki frowned, recognizing him from his memories. He wasn't exactly a rival, but they weren't close either.
Having no ill will, he asked, "Do you need something, Minato?"
"Oh, that..." Minato averted his gaze, seeming a bit awkward.
Then, barely a second later, he looked back at Nawaki and remarked, "You look different," before looking away again.
'Seriously, what's with him?' Nawaki shook his head, not wanting to dwell on it further.
In reality, Minato wasn't the only one who noticed a change in Nawaki; other students also cast occasional glances his way. Being from the Senju Clan, not everyone felt bold enough to approach him. Despite his cheerful and good-natured demeanor, it didn't mean that those from ordinary families felt at ease interacting with him.
His closest acquaintances were primarily from the main houses. Shikaku Nara, for instance, was a good example. Although not fond of engaging in trivial conversations, he maintained a close relationship with Nawaki.
Chōza Akimichi and Inoichi Yamanaka were also among his close friends.
Unperturbed by the fact that others felt uncomfortable approaching him, Nawaki noticed an increase in attention from many girls. 'Mm, could this be because my skin has become more radiant?'
Being a member of the Senju Clan, he was used to receiving attention, but as far as he could recall, it had never been to this extent before.
Nawaki acknowledged that there were girls who caught his eye, one of them being Mikoto Uchiha. Her appeal lay not only in her beauty but also in her gentle and kind nature.
Of course, she wasn't the only one. His gaze met that of another girl, who quickly looked away, blushing.
'Well, whatever.' He dismissed these thoughts as the sensei entered the classroom.
Upon entering, the sensei seemed to recognize him and greeted with a smile, "Senju-sama, glad you have recovered. Welcome back!"
"Thanks," Nawaki replied politely.
Simultaneously, he heard the sound of someone sneering with a 'tsk!'. However, he didn't pay it much attention.
Some hours later...
Nawaki arrived home.
'Home sweet home~,' he hummed to himself.
Classes had been more tedious than he anticipated. Even the practical class was a disappointment. Really, he mused, even a white rabbit would be stronger than many of those students...
Reflecting on the boy who came to tease him with such arrogance, Nawaki was amazed. Lacking resilience, yet possessing such a big ego, where did he find that confidence?
Nonetheless, Nawaki ceased to dwell on the academy the moment he stepped through the gates of the Senju complex.
The sight of the familiar lake and wooden houses instilled a sense of belonging in him. It might be one of the few, if not the only place, where he felt completely at ease.
"Nawaki-sama, welcome!" Employees at the Senju complex greeted him wherever he went.
'It would be nice if they could drop the formalities, but I guess that's difficult,' he thought, stretching out on his bed with arms wide open.
He half-expected to encounter his sweet and dear older sister, but she wasn't there. 'Did she leave?'
It wasn't out of the question. The second ninja war, although seemingly calm, was ongoing. She might have been called away for some mission requiring her presence.
"If I were stronger..." Nawaki murmured to himself.
Though he had grown stronger thanks to the red orbs, it was still not sufficient. He might be as powerful as some elite chuunin, but without a direct confrontation, he couldn't be certain.
Time passed slowly, and gradually the sky darkened.
The fact that he hadn't slept earlier made him feel sleepy now. With nothing to do and no one to train with in his sister's absence, Nawaki tried to get some rest.
-
-
Upon waking, the familiar scent of grass and earth prompted him to sit up.
'I'm back here!' A spark of anticipation shone in his grey-green eyes.
Surveying his surroundings, he noticed no rabbits or other animals.
'It seems like last time; I appeared here as soon as I fell asleep.' Nawaki didn't believe it was mere coincidence.
Standing up and dusting off his clothes, he employed a sensory technique.
Sensing something, Nawaki performed a hand sign and declared, "Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Two clones, identical to him, appeared on either side. Without needing instructions, they moved ahead while he remained vigilant.
Even now, he was on high alert, not wanting to meet the same fate as last time, dying without understanding the situation.
