Chapter 9 — S-Rank! Sword Dance!
"System, perform this month's check-in."
[Checking in for the host…]
[Congratulations, host! Check-in successful: Sword Dance!]
[Sword Dance: S-Rank. Consumes a small amount of chakra. By following specific swing rhythms or postures, greatly enhances physical attack.]
Uchiha Tendō was very pleased with this month's reward. After all, in the early days of the ninja world, combat between ninjas relied heavily on intelligence!
A skill like Sword Dance, which boosts one's combat capabilities, could completely turn the tide of a fight!
Imagine this: your opponent is almost equal in strength. The battle is a deadlock.
At this moment, all you need is to spend a small amount of chakra, and your physical attacks surge dramatically, giving your power an explosive spike. The outcome of the battle becomes obvious!
What makes it truly terrifying, however, is its ceiling.
The physical attack boost from Sword Dance scales based on your base stats. In other words, the higher your base stats, the more insanely powerful this skill becomes!
Although the chakra cost grows geometrically as the skill scales, Uchiha Tendō was far from lacking in chakra!
Just then, a clear female voice interrupted his thoughts.
"Hey! Tendō, what are you doing?"
Uchiha Tendō's gaze calmly shifted toward Uzumaki Kushina.
"Kushina, do you need something?"
Kushina pouted, annoyed. She didn't understand why this guy, after knowing her for over a month, was acting even colder than on the first day.
"Tendō, why are you dodging my question again? You're driving me crazy!"
"Am I?"
"Not really?!"
Uchiha Tendō looked at the long-haired Kushina in front of him and nervously scratched his nose.
Better not provoke Kushina for now. Otherwise, if she refused to help change diapers for little Akihō later, where would he find such free labor again?
"Come on, don't be so worked up, Kushina."
"You were the one who came to find me, right? Why don't you start by telling me what you need?"
Hearing this, Kushina stopped dwelling on her previous irritation. Her cheeks flushed red as she twirled a strand of hair around her fingers, her posture shy and hesitant.
"Well… I was thinking… um… maybe after school… we could go shopping together."
Uchiha Tendō didn't refuse. They were running low on food at home anyway, so a shopping trip made sense.
"Alright. After school, we'll go together."
"Yes! That's awesome!"
Kushina pumped her fist in excitement, a radiant smile spreading across her face.
"Tendō, Tendō, I want to go too!"
Minato Namikaze also joined in, his face full of anticipation.
Kushina's forehead immediately darkened. Seriously? Her hard-won "two-person world" was being invaded. Sure, Akihō was still a child, but…
And now this little blond-haired guy just had to be a third wheel?
Her gaze at Minato turned dangerous. With her bold personality, she really had no patience for Minato's polite, gentlemanly charm.
In the original timeline, their relationship was strained until Kushina was kidnapped by ninjas from the Cloud Village and Minato saved her under the moonlight. Only then did things start to improve.
But right now, they were just ordinary friends, and even that was only because Uchiha Tendō was a mutual friend.
"No, Minato! Tendō has already agreed to go shopping with me."
Kushina clenched her fists and shouted fiercely.
Minato scratched his head awkwardly, giving a helpless smile.
"Alright… fine, I'll join you guys another time."
Seeing him step back, Kushina was satisfied and patted his shoulder.
"That's more like it, Minato. Next time, I'll treat you to a meal."
Minato's eyes lit up. He knew very well how well-off Kushina was.
When he was younger, Minato had been fairly poor, often unable to afford good food. Things only got better after he became friends with Uchiha Tendō.
But times had changed. Uchiha Tendō's household was also in a tight spot now, so he couldn't keep treating Minato lavishly like before.
After school, Uchiha Tendō and Kushina said goodbye to Minato and headed straight to Konoha's commercial district.
"Tendō, Tendō! You have to try these takoyaki—they're amazing!"
"Tendō, Tendō! They also have your favorite tri-colored dango!"
"Tendō…"
Watching the lively, bouncing Kushina, Uchiha Tendō helplessly rubbed his forehead.
"Hey! Kushina, calm down!"
Though he said it, a smile couldn't help but spread across his face.
····················
Good times are always short-lived.
Uchiha Tendō sighed as he looked at Kushina, hefting several large shopping bags.
"Kushina, you bought too much. These could last Akihō and me two months."
"Ah… then just bring Minato along to help eat it. If not, we can throw some away…"
Uchiha Tendō: "…Seriously?!"
It was as if her mental abacus had slapped him in the face!
Although he wanted to invite Kushina to his house, her background was too sensitive. He couldn't risk having the Anbu show up immediately after inviting her.
"Kushina, come here for a moment."
Kushina, puzzled, walked over.
"Tendō, what's up?"
Uchiha Tendō casually pulled out Touko's tennis cap and placed it on Kushina's head.
"Well~ thanks for taking care of Akihō. Here's a little gift for you."
He then turned and walked away.
Kushina touched the red tennis cap on her head and couldn't help but burst into a silly laugh.
"Hehehe~~~"