"Let go of me quickly!" Sora struggled with all his might, but at most, he could only lift his head to breathe.
Clearly, Tsunade was just playing with him. Although this should have been a happy moment, he was now ravenously hungry.
He had been starving for a long time before transmigrating here, and he hadn't eaten since arriving.
Being teased by Tsunade like this made him both tired and hungry.
"No!" Tsunade suddenly felt much better; the gloom from losing money had vanished.
She didn't know why, but seeing this boy—whose eyes lacked any trace of emotion—act like a normal child made her feel amused and strangely accomplished.
In her mind, this was how a child ought to be: innocent and pure.
However, Tsunade soon froze.
"Ah!" She let out a soft cry, her beautiful face instantly turning crimson.
She couldn't help but look down. Sora, whom she was pressing against her chest, was actually biting her ample nipple.
Tsunade, who had never been treated like this by anyone, immediately lost her composure.
"You little pervert, let go quickly!"
If it were anyone else, Tsunade would have punched them into meat paste long ago.
But this was a baby—one she had adopted—and she was the one who had pressed Sora against her chest. How could she possibly strike him?
However, Sora was determined not to let go this time. Perhaps he was too hungry.
Having reverted to a baby, his rationality was overwhelmed by primal instinct. Not only did he refuse to release her, but he sucked forcefully.
At this moment, he wasn't just a baby on the outside—his mind had become like a baby's as well. He simply wanted to be full.
"Sigh..."
Tsunade was one of the Sannin of Konaha and possessed the physique of the Senju Clan.
Although she hadn't awakened the Sage Body, the Senju Clan's innate sensitivity still allowed her to perceive Sora's change clearly.
Earlier, Sora had felt like a precocious little imp, which amused her and made her want to tease him.
But now, he felt like a completely ordinary infant—one who simply wanted to eat his fill.
Looking down at him, tightly latched onto her and sucking as if trying to draw out nourishment that didn't exist, Tsunade saw no trace of that cold gaze.
At this moment, he was no different from any other baby longing for a mother's milk.
The slight annoyance in her heart faded. She sighed again.
In this world, there were far too many children like this. Many truly starved to death on the streets.
If Sora hadn't met her—if his uniqueness hadn't caught her attention, prompting her to bring him back on a whim—his fate would have been miserable.
Thinking of this, Tsunade's heart softened.
She gently placed a hand on Sora's head and stopped struggling. She allowed him to bite. Though it couldn't fill his stomach, perhaps it could soothe him.
As an orphan, Sora was extremely sensitive to changes in others' gazes and emotions.
It was his childhood experiences, combined with his naturally cold disposition, that forged his icy heart. Yet that very heart was fragile.
Tsunade had initially saved and adopted him casually, almost absentmindedly. But just now, something changed. Her gaze changed.
And Sora noticed.
The rationality that hunger had suppressed gradually returned. Forcing himself to endure, he stopped biting her and merely held on lightly, closing his eyes.
He dared not move unnecessarily—every movement consumed energy.
So he entered a state of feigned sleep, a method he had learned through years of starvation.
Only this way could he minimize unnecessary consumption.
"Lady Tsunade!"
"Shh."
Shizune returned quickly, carrying baby supplies and food. She was interrupted by Tsunade before she could say more.
Taking the feeding bottle from Shizune, Tsunade gently pulled Sora away from her chest and placed the bottle in his mouth.
Though pretending to sleep, Sora immediately began sucking greedily. Instinct took over. He devoured the milk ravenously.
"Sigh..."
How could Tsunade not realize how hungry he had been?
He hadn't cried once. Unlike other babies who cried the moment they felt hungry—or even for no reason—he had waited silently.
Her heart tightened again.
From a casual rescue, to a momentary whim, to faint pity… now something warmer was forming. Her movements became noticeably gentler.
"Is this really Lady Tsunade? She hasn't been happy since Nawaki died, much less shown such a gentle side."
Shizune was stunned, but seeing the heartwarming scene, she wisely remained silent and began organizing the supplies instead.
"Sora, can you tell me why your eyes are so cold? Colder than many ninja."
Tsunade did not put him down even after he was full. Clearly, she was beginning to accept him. Perhaps not deep affection yet—but genuine care.
"Survival."
Sora hesitated before answering. He originally hadn't intended to speak; appearing too intelligent as an infant would be dangerous.
But sensing the change in Tsunade's heart—that she now treated him with concern rather than as a toy—he couldn't remain silent.
He had never experienced this kind of warmth before.
"Survival?" Tsunade's hands trembled slightly.
A baby less than one year old uttering such a word?
Was it truly for survival that he became like this? What kind of experiences could force such change upon an infant?
Even with her vast experience, Tsunade couldn't imagine it.
"Starting today, I, Tsunade, swear in the name of the Senju of the Forest, that I will adopt you until you grow up and are capable of leaving on your own."
Her voice was firm.
"From now on, you are my child. Tsunade's child."
She murmured the word "survival" again while looking at Sora, who appeared to have fallen asleep—though in truth, he was still secretly observing everything around him.
As one of the Sannin, how could she fail to notice his lack of security? He looked relaxed, but his body remained subtly tense, ready to react instantly to any disturbance.
In that moment, Tsunade thought of her younger self.
And something in her heart quietly changed.