Sakumo and Natsuki were listening to the gossip, their eyes glazed and ears perked up.
"May I know your name?"
Katsuyu Sage felt the abnormal cell activity in Kawaki, which she had only felt in Hashirama before.
"His name is Kawaki Hatake. He's my, um~ good friend."
Tsunade introduced him, almost blurting out that he was her future husband.
She felt guilty and blushed right away. Since she always blushed easily, her face was now as red as if it had been painted bright red.
"May I ask what advice you have, Katsuyu Sage?"
This was Kawaki's first time meeting a miraculous summoned insect like Katsuyu, which could not only heal injuries but also fight.
"I sense cell activity as strong as Hashirama's in you."
"If it's you, perhaps the Immortal Jutsu of Shikkotsu Forest can make a comeback."
Katsuyu Sage voiced her speculation.
"Then learn it."
Before Kawaki could even say a word, Tsunade somehow summoned a big scroll, which was exactly the [Summoning Contract] scroll.
She spread it on the ground, and it was several meters long.
Kawaki looked up and saw that all the contractors of the Senju clan were listed on it.
Tsunade's name was clearly written at the end.
"Seal it with your blood. Sign your name, Kawaki-kun."
Tsunade didn't hesitate at all. Since the Senju clan was no more, it wouldn't be bad for Katsuyu to become the hereditary summoned insect of the Hatake family.
"Then I won't be polite."
Katsuyu Sage didn't stop them. Tsunade could decide such a trivial matter on her own.
Sakumo looked envious. This was one of the three great summoned beasts in the ninja world. Tsunade was really generous.
Kawaki bit his finger and wrote his name next to Tsunade's.
He vaguely felt a throbbing from the depths of his soul, as if he had established a connection with a mysterious place.
"Okay. At first, you still need to make [Hand Seals]. You can omit them after getting familiar with Katsuyu Sage."
Tsunade put away the scroll and performed a jutsu. The scroll disappeared from her hand.
She told Kawaki the seals, and the Summoning Jutsu was complete.
"If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave."
Katsuyu Sage disappeared in a puff of smoke at the dinner table without even having a piece of meat.
Compared to this, the snakes in Ryūchi Cave were simply hateful.
"Kawaki, do you really want to learn Immortal Jutsu?"
Sakumo still remembered Katsuyu Sage's words "No one made it through."
He couldn't help but worry. Kawaki was his only younger brother. Although he was a bit of a slacker on weekdays, he was still his dear brother.
"I'd like to give it a try if I have the chance."
Kawaki didn't hide it. Sakumo didn't know how powerful Hashirama's Immortal Jutsu was.
But he did. When combined with [Wood Release], all you had to do was clap your hands and you could get whatever you wanted.
Combined with the incantation of the powerful divine beings, it would be invincible.
Just thinking about it made Kawaki excited. He was determined to learn Immortal Jutsu.
"Be careful. Your safety comes first."
Natsuki also advised in a timely manner. "No one made it through" sounded terrifying.
"Kawaki-kun, think it through. I'll support you no matter what."
Tsunade picked up her wine glass and clinked it with this handsome man in front of her.
The drinking feast went on, and everyone started to stagger around drunk.
Due to the lesson of getting drunk at the Hatake family last time, Tsunade put down her glass before she completely went crazy and was already full.
If things went the same way as last time tonight, who knew what would happen.
Sakumo still wanted to keep her drinking, but Natsuki slapped him twice to calm him down and took him back to the room to rest.
"It's so late. Why don't you stay at my place for the night?"
Kawaki was being kind. He was still struggling against his drunkenness to persuade Tsunade to stay.
"No, Kawaki - kun. I'm afraid you won't be able to control yourself."
As Tsunade said, she staggered to her feet and walked outside.
Kawaki quickly stepped forward to support her, putting one hand around her waist and placing her hand on his shoulder.
The two drunkards staggered out of the Hatake family's gate.
The night was deep, and the moon was high in the sky.
"Go back. I can manage."
Tsunade tried hard to break free from Kawaki's hold. If she was held like this any longer, she was afraid she really wouldn't want to leave.
"Then I'll watch you go."
Their two blurred eyes met.
Kawaki's breathing became uneven, and his heart raced.
Tsunade looked even more charming in the moonlight.
He suddenly leaned in, holding Tsunade's face with both hands.
He lowered his head and kissed those rosy lips.
The moment he touched the softness, Kawaki closed his eyes.
Tsunade's dilated pupils suddenly widened in a daze, and she placed her hands on Kawaki's chest.
She wanted to say something but could only make a few "um" sounds.
Kawaki got even more excited. His hands went over her cheeks, pressing Tsunade's head closer.
He savored the agility and softness of her tongue.
The hands that Tsunade had placed on his chest dropped powerlessly and naturally rested on Kawaki's waist.
After a long time, their lips parted.
There were still glistening strands of saliva pulling between their lips.
Both were gasping for breath.
A moment later, Kawaki wanted to kiss her again.
When he leaned in, Tsunade suddenly pushed him away and ran off without looking back.
Already drunk, and now with an excited heart, she almost tripped over a stone. She staggered a bit before regaining her footing and disappeared in a few leaps.
Kawaki stood there, licking his lips. Alcohol was really a good thing.
The corners of his mouth curled up slightly as he turned around and staggered back.
～～～～～ Divider ～～～～～
The next day, Tsunade woke up.
Her mind was still in a mess, and she vaguely remembered the kiss with Kawaki.
A shy smile appeared on her lips.
Suddenly, she smelled the unpleasant odor on herself, a mixture of tobacco, alcohol, and sweat.
She frowned. It was really hard for Kawaki to kiss her like this.
She got up and went to the bathroom to wash up. After breakfast, it was time to get down to business.
She walked out of the door towards the construction company in Konoha.
Most of Konoha's infrastructure projects were undertaken by this company.
It guaranteed good quality and fast construction periods.
Because this company had a group of Genin and lower - ranked Ninjas proficient in Earth Release, who were excellent for construction work.
When she arrived at the company's front desk, she saw a short, dark - skinned middle - aged man.
Obviously, he recognized the famous Princess Senju.
He was humble in attitude, trotting up to Tsunade and bowing slightly.
"Lady Tsunade, what important matter brings you here?"
Tsunade wasn't surprised. There were too many people in Konoha who knew her, either by her Ninja reputation or her gambling fame.
"I have a major project and want to cooperate with you."
"Oh, please come inside, ma'am."
The swarthy guy's eyes lit up. A major project mentioned by Tsunade must be substantial.
He led Tsunade to the office and eagerly poured her a cup of tea.
"I'm on duty today. Just tell me about any major project you have in mind."
"I'm not boasting, but there's no construction company in Konoha more capable than ours."
The swarthy guy really showed off his sales - talk skills.
"Is a 6,000 - square - meter hospital a major project?"
Tsunade sat gracefully, picked up the cup, and slowly took a sip of water.
The guy stared at her with his eyes popping out and quickly lowered his head, knowing such a woman was out of his league.
"Of course it is. When can the construction start?"
"Is it daily payment or a lump - sum contract?"
The man eagerly inquired about the start time and payment method.
After half an hour of conversation, Tsunade pretexted it as a trial job, hired ten construction workers on a daily - payment basis and decided to start the construction in the afternoon.
She used this construction team as bait, waiting for the 'fish' to bite.
Fortunately, the opponents were also from Konoha, so they wouldn't blatantly attack the construction company's workers during the day. At most, they'd just drive them away.
Otherwise, Tsunade wouldn't have implemented Kawaki's plan. The goal of the Senju clan was to protect the village.
At least for now, Tsunade still agreed with her grandfather's idea.