A lost lamb — that was how Hayashi described himself.
Not only had he inexplicably transmigrated into this world, but now he was stuck with a system that seemed obsessed with forcing him to crossdress. And as if that wasn't enough, his life was about to encounter yet another violent incident.
Who could he even complain to?
Still, Hayashi reluctantly headed toward the Senju compound. After all, his little life was on the line. When the time came, he planned to act cute, play dumb, and hope that Tsunade-sama's heart might soften toward a mere six-year-old child.
The long street leading to the compound was filled with the Senju crest. The Senju estate stood surprisingly close to the Uchiha district. After all, the central area of Konoha wasn't that big.
Hayashi suspected this arrangement had once been meant to make meetings between Hashirama and Madara more convenient.
If the Uchiha's territory was vibrant and alive, the Senju's was the opposite. Desolate, quiet, almost forgotten. The contrast was striking.
For a clan that had once stood as one of Konoha's twin pillars, watching the Senju wither while the village thrived was nothing short of ironic.
Once, during the Warring States period, the Senju had even overshadowed the Uchiha in strength. Now, their decline was nearly absolute.
Hayashi frowned. Since when had the Senju suddenly faded from the public eye?
He had never asked Nawaki about it, but it was clear that beyond Nawaki and Tsunade, the clan's presence had all but vanished. The remaining members in the compound were insignificant, barely worth mentioning.
And if one thought further… the fate of the great clans tied to the Sage of Six Paths seemed cursed. The Uzumaki had already been wiped out. The Senju were vanishing. The Uchiha would be destroyed in just two decades. Even the Kaguya clan of the Land of Water had been slaughtered. None of them seemed destined for a good end.
With these thoughts heavy in his mind, Hayashi finally arrived at Nawaki's residence.
The Senju home was large, divided into two sections. The front was where Nawaki and Tsunade lived, while the back courtyard was forbidden — a place Hayashi had never been.
He knocked politely on the front door.
Silence.
"Is anyononly had he inexplicably transmigrated into this world, but now he was stuck with a system that seemed obsessed with forcing him to crossdress. And as if that wasn't enough, his life was about to encounter yet another violent incident.
Who could he even complain to?
Still, Hayashi reluctantly headed toward the Senju compound. After all, his little life was on the line. When the time came, he planned to act cute, play dumb, and hope that Tsunade-sama's heart might soften toward a mere six-year-old child.
The long street leading to the compound was filled with the Senju crest. The Senju estate stood surprisingly close to the Uchiha district. After all, the central area of Konoha wasn't that big.
Hayashi suspected this arrangement had once been meant to make meetings between Hashirama and Madara more convenient.
If the Uchiha's territory was vibrant and alive, the Senju's was the opposite. Desolate, quiet, almost forgotten. The contrast was striking.
For a clan that had once stood as one of Konoha's twin pillars, watching the Senju wither while the village thrived was nothing short of ironic.
Once, during the Warring States period, the Senju had even overshadowed the Uchiha in strength. Now, their decline was nearly absolute.
Hayashi frowned. Since when had the Senju suddenly faded from the public eye?
He had never asked Nawaki about it, but it was clear that beyond Nawaki and Tsunade, the clan's presence had all but vanished. The remaining members in the compound were insignificant, barely worth mentioning.
And if one thought further… the fate of the great clans tied to the Sage of Six Paths seemed cursed. The Uzumaki had already been wiped out. The Senju were vanishing. The Uchiha would be destroyed in just two decades. Even the Kaguya clan of the Land of Water had been slaughtered. None of them seemed destined for a good end.
With these thoughts heavy in his mind, Hayashi finally arrived at Nawaki's residence.
The Senju home was large, divided into two sections. The front was where Nawaki and Tsunade lived, while the back courtyard was forbidden — a place Hayashi had never been.
He knocked politely on the front door.
Silence.
"Is anyone there?" Hayashi called softly.
No response.
Could Tsunade be training?
Confused, Hayashi knocked again, this time harder. Still nothing.
But that didn't make sense. Nawaki had told him this morning that his sister would be staying in all day.
Running out of patience, Hayashi used one of his self-made tricks — the Wall Escape Technique. With a light push off his legs, he vaulted into the courtyard.
He made his way straight to Tsunade's quarters. After visiting Nawaki many times, he was familiar with the compound's layout.
Stopping before her door, he knocked politely. "Tsunade-sama, are you there?"
Still no reply. But faint sounds came from inside.
Hayashi spotted a half-open window. At his small size, he couldn't see much through it, so he quietly hopped inside.
The sight that greeted him was… not what he expected.
A spacious living room, furnished with a golden sofa, a polished coffee table, and a bookcase against the left wall. Hayashi's eyes lit up — maybe there were books about Wood Release or even notes on Sage techniques!
But no. The shelves were filled with titles like Ten Ways to Cheat and The Ten Benefits of Gambling.
His lips twitched.
Then he heard it.
Snoring.
Coming from the bedroom.
So that was it. Tsunade-sama, the legendary prodigy of the Senju, was simply sleeping in.
He felt embarrassed for even imagining she might be training. He had waited so long for nothing.
Grinding his teeth, Hayashi moved toward the bedroom — and then his foot crunched against something.
Bang, clatter, clink!
Empty sake bottles rolled across the floor like bowling pins.
His eyes twitched. Was this real?
Sixteen years old, and already gambling and drinking?
The image of the beautiful "goddess" in his mind shattered instantly.
All around him, the floor was littered with bottles, take-out boxes, and scattered trash.
"You brat, what's all this noise?"
The door slid open, and Tsunade appeared, rubbing her eyes. She wore loose pajamas, her hair a mess, clearly fresh from sleep.
"Didn't I tell you to come back tomorrow morning? What are you doing here now?" she muttered.
As expected of Tsunade. She didn't even care about her disheveled state in front of a six-year-old.
"It's already noon, Tsunade-sama," Hayashi said helplessly.
"Really? Already that late?" She yawned and stretched. "Guess I'll take another nap."
"..."
After a long, lazy delay, Tsunade finally changed and brought Hayashi out to the Senju training grounds.
She flashed him a faint smile. He returned it nervously, hoping to appeal to her softer side.
"Don't think you can act cute with me. It won't work," Tsunade said flatly.
"Tsunade-sama, I can explain—" Hayashi began, but she cut him off.
"Explain? I don't need excuses." She crossed her arms. "Listen well, brat. My medical ninjutsu is among the best in Konoha. I may not have the Byakugan, but medical training requires a deep understanding of the human body."
Hayashi shivered at the way she emphasized those last words.
"Of course, Konoha forbids killing comrades. But as long as I don't hit your vital points, I can stab you thirty times without killing you."
"…"
Tsunade's smile turned deceptively gentle.
"So bite down and endure it. As long as you can satisfy me today, I'll let you off. Otherwise…" She leaned closer, her golden eyes gleaming. "…I'll push myself further and try thirty-one."
Hayashi's knees trembled. This wasn't training. This was torture.
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