Naruto: Wooing Tsunade from Day One!-Chapter 379: Joking and Bantering

"I wonder if Ginji listened to what I said or if he made Grandma unhappy," Tsunade mused aloud, her thoughts shifting. "Nawaki and I were so naughty when we were kids. Every time we went out with Grandma, we'd get a beating when we got back."

The memory made her laugh. Though being on the receiving end of Mito's discipline had been painful back then, it was now something she recalled fondly.

"I'm good at taking beatings. When I was little, I couldn't beat my big brother, so I got beaten up a lot," Kawakaze said, conveniently leaving out the reasons for his frequent beatings.

"Haha, you took your revenge when you grew up, right?" Tsunade laughed even louder, easily picturing the scenario. No wonder Kawakaze had such a habit of provoking Sakumo—that seemed to be the root of it all.

"Not really. It's mainly because Big Brother is so old-fashioned," Kawakaze replied, unwilling to admit to being petty. His frequent sparring with Sakumo was, in his mind, merely an expression of their deep brotherly bond.

"Tsk, you're just too flighty," Tsunade shot back. "Big Brother is such a grounded person," she added, finally giving Sakumo some credit. To her, people like him were the most dependable and loyal.

"He's just too honest. If it weren't for me, he'd have been played to death without even realizing how it happened," Kawakaze declared with pride, as though the current strength of the Hatake Clan was entirely his doing.

"Do you see that flying pig?" Tsunade asked suddenly, tilting her head upward as if peering through the ceiling with newfound x-ray vision.

"Believe it or not, you're a woman with a short perspective," Kawakaze retorted, catching the undertone of her remark. After all, no couple could share a bed without knowing each other's quirks.

"Thank you for the compliment," Tsunade replied, her smile widening.

Just as Kawakaze was about to act on a mischievous impulse, a voice came from outside the door.

"Can I come in?" Shōta called out, his tone cautious, as though he feared walking in on something inappropriate. Normally, he wouldn't bother knocking, but this wasn't his workstation, and he knew better than to barge in.

"Come in," Tsunade said, giving Kawakaze a sly, provocative glance as his hand retreated.

"Just you wait," Kawakaze muttered under his breath as he walked past Shōta, leaving behind three sharp, silent words.

"Lord Kawakaze doesn't seem to be feeling well. Is he unwell?" Shōta asked with genuine concern as he returned to his desk.

"It's nothing," Tsunade replied casually, the corners of her mouth curling. "He just doesn't feel well a few days each month."

Shōta blinked, confused. Lord Kawakaze? The troubles of a woman? The thought was so bizarre that it scrambled his brain for a moment. But before he could dwell on it, Tsunade handed him a new mission.

Faced with the weight of authority, Shōta snapped into work mode. The thought of Kawakaze's supposed ailment faded as he busied himself with the mountain of documents before him.

One by one, the paperwork was completed. Time slipped by unnoticed, and before long, the golden hues of the setting sun began to spill through the windows.

"That's enough for today; there aren't any important documents left," Tsunade said as she stretched, ready to call it a day.

"You go ahead. I still have a few here," Shōta replied, looking up with a tired smile. His workaholic tendencies were plain to see.

"Don't work too hard. Go," Tsunade said with a laugh, shaking her head. Before he could protest, she grabbed his arm and practically dragged him out the door.

"Go home," she ordered as they stepped outside the Hokage building. She finally released his arm, which she'd gripped with more force than she realized.

"Next time, please be more gentle," Shōta said, rubbing his arm. Unlike Kawakaze, he wasn't built to endure Tsunade's strength.

"Haha, practice makes perfect. Let's go," Tsunade replied with a hearty laugh, striding off without a backward glance.

After watching her disappear into the distance, Shōta turned to glance at the Hokage building one last time before slowly heading home.

"Ginji isn't back yet?" Tsunade asked upon arriving home. She noticed Kakashi in the dojo, chasing Shiromaru around. Normally, Ginji would be glued to Kakashi's side, shadowing his every move.

"I haven't seen Ginji, but Uncle just got back a little while ago," Kakashi replied, pausing his chase to answer honestly.

"I see. You go ahead and play," Tsunade said casually, dismissing the thought. She trusted that Ginji was safe under Mito's care and didn't dwell on it further.

"Okay, Auntie," Kakashi said before resuming his game with Shiromaru.

Making her way to the dining hall, Tsunade was greeted by the sight of Kawakaze and Sakumo laughing together, their expressions full of cheer.

"What are you two talking about, laughing so happily?" she asked as she sat down next to Kawakaze, who had already passed her a cup of tea.

"Talking about that brat Minato," Kawakaze said with a grin. "I heard Nawaki is getting married, and Minato's jealous."

"Hahaha!" Sakumo burst out laughing again, clearly enjoying the idea of his juniors settling down one after the other.

"It's only a matter of time before he and Kushina get married. There's nothing to be jealous of," Tsunade said, taking a sip of tea. Her tone was flat, but her eyes sparkled with amusement.

"The kids are getting older; there's nothing we can do," Kawakaze said thoughtfully. "Looks like we'll have to put Minato's mansion on the agenda."

It wasn't just because Kawakaze had promised Minato—he genuinely wanted to do it. Over the years, Minato had come to feel more like a nephew to him than just a talented young shinobi he admired as a Naruto fan.

"That's not for you to decide. But don't skimp on it," Tsunade teased, shooting Kawakaze a knowing look. She knew how generous he was with family and had no doubt the mansion would be far from modest.

"You bet. I'm not the stingy type!" Kawakaze replied with a hearty laugh, already considering possible locations. It couldn't be too far away, as that would feel distant, nor too close, as that would be annoying. In the end, he decided to let Minato choose the location while he handled the construction and decoration.

"Fine, go call Kakashi to eat," Sakumo said. At his words, Onimaru, who had been lounging by the door, suddenly got up and trotted out of the dining room. Lately, it seemed like this was the only exercise he got, as he had grown noticeably fat.