Ranmaru tried, this time more confidently. He felt the warmth travel to his legs, and for the first time, they didn't feel as heavy. His knees felt less stiff, and his feet felt lighter.
"I can feel it," Ranmaru said, his voice filled with surprise. "It doesn't hurt anymore."
"Good. You're learning quickly. But remember, chakra control isn't just about feeling it, it's about guiding it in the right direction." Tsunade smiled and said.
Ranmaru nodded, now more at ease. "Thank you, Lady Tsunade. I think I understand now."
"You're welcome," she said, standing up. "Now, keep practicing, and in a week or two, you should be walking normally again."
Kakashi, who had been watching quietly, smiled at Ranmaru.
"Good job, kid."
Ranmaru beamed up at him, feeling proud. Tsunade patted his shoulder before walking away, leaving Ranmaru to practice more on his own.
As Tsunade left, Kakashi gave Ranmaru a playful wink. "Don't get too comfortable. We still have a lot to do before the exams."
Ranmaru nodded, his confidence growing.
Kakashi sat down at a small table in the quiet corner of the room. He pulled out a piece of paper and a pen, quickly scribbling a note to Kurenai.
He wasn't usually one for writing letters, but this felt important. Plus, it gave him a chance to tease her a little, which was always fun.
After writing for a while he stopped.
Kakashi folded the paper, sealing it with a quick, practiced motion. He felt a little lighter after writing the letter. It was always nice to share these moments with Kurenai, even in small ways.
He was about to send it off when he noticed Ranmaru sitting nearby, practicing his chakra control exercises under Tsunade's watchful eye.
"Ready to take on the exams?" Kakashi called out with a grin.
Ranmaru looked up, his face bright with determination. "I'll be ready."
Kakashi chuckled. "Good. Let's see what you've got."
Just then, Tsunade walked over, giving Kakashi a knowing look. "Sending letters to your girlfriend?" she asked with a teasing tone.
Kakashi raised an eyebrow. "I don't know what you mean."
She rolled her eyes. "I can tell when you're being playful. It's cute."
Kakashi grinned but didn't say anything more. He stood up, folding the letter into his pocket. "I'll let you get back to work, Tsunade."
Kakashi knelt down and placed the letter on the ground. He formed a few quick hand signs and summoned a small, sleek snake.
It slithered toward the letter, wrapping around it before swallowing it whole. With a soft puff of smoke, the snake vanished, the letter now safely in its belly.
"What the hell, is that one of Orochimaru's snakes?" She frowned and asked Kakashi.
Kakashi straightened up, casually brushing his hair out of his face.
"Just a little snake I contracted." He said.
Tsunade raised an eyebrow. "A snake? You've never had one of those before. How did you…"
Kakashi grinned. "Anko sent me to Ryuichi Cave to find a snake to contract. Took a while, but I found one that suited me."
….
After Ranmaru's daily treatment, Tsunade and Kakashi decided to head out for a drink. It had been a long day of healing, training, and managing their duties, and both were ready for some quiet time.
They entered a small, quiet bar on the outskirts of the town. The soft glow of lanterns and the low murmur of other patrons made it a perfect place to relax.
Kakashi settled into a seat, the familiar weight of his shoulders relaxing for the first time that day. Tsunade ordered a drink, and Kakashi followed suit, both of them leaning back and enjoying the brief calm.
"So," Tsunade said after a moment, her voice casual but with a glint of curiosity in her eyes. "I saw your letter to Kurenai earlier. You two seem… close."
Kakashi smirked, leaning back slightly, his hands resting on the table. "We are."
Tsunade's eyes narrowed, her tone teasing. "I knew something was up. You didn't seem the type to get into a relationship. Is she really your girlfriend?"
"Yeah. We've been together for a while now."Kakashi chuckled, the sound light but filled with warmth.
"I didn't even think that the moody Kakashi would get with someone." She knew about Kakashi's past and what he went through and she was surprised to see that he had walked out of his own shadows.
Though she was a little envious of him doing it while she couldn't.
"I prefer to keep things low-key. But Kurenai and I… we've got a good thing going. She gets me. And I get her." He said as he took a sip of his drink.
"Hmm. Well, that explains a lot about your mood lately. You're practically glowing." Tsunade said.
Kakashi smirked again, but before he could respond, the door to the bar opened, and Shizune walked in, looking a bit flustered.
She scanned the room, clearly searching for someone. Tsunade noticed her immediately and waved her over.
"I finally found you, Lady Tsunade!" Shizune said, walking quickly to their table.
Tsunade stood up to greet her but then froze, realizing she had completely forgotten about Shizune's presence.
"Ah, yes. I was just about to say that your old classmate from ninja school is here." Tsunade said with an awkward smile on her face.
Shizune blinked, confused for a moment. Tsunade nodded in the direction of Kakashi, who was sitting with his usual lazy grin, looking at Shizune with mild amusement. When Shizune turned to look, her eyes widened, and her face turned crimson. She stuttered, clearly caught off guard.
"K-Kakashi-san!" she blurted out, her voice trembling.
"Relax, Shizune. No need to be so formal."
Shizune, still flustered and embarrassed, hurriedly grabbed the small piglet that Tsunade had been carrying on her side and quickly stood up. She looked anywhere but at Kakashi and dashed out of the bar, her cheeks burning bright red.
Tsunade watched her go, then turned back to Kakashi, raising an eyebrow.
"You've got quite the effect on women, don't you?"
Kakashi simply shrugged.
"Guess I can't help it. I've got this lethal face." He gave her a teasing smile.
"You better watch out, or Kurenai's going to have a problem with all the attention you're getting." Tsunade laughed, shaking her head.