Chapter 411: 389. Misplaced Feelings
In a room inside the ship,
"Hmm... let's talk now!"
Tsunade, Mei, and Ayaka are present in the room.
Tsunade picks up the Katsuyu clone and places it on the table.
"Sigh... she is the culprit behind our misunderstanding."
"What? Katsuyu-san!" Mei and Ayaka curiously stare at the chibi Katsuyu.
"Eeek..." The chibi Katsuyu panics and hides behind Tsunade.
"Tsunade-sama, it's not my fault. It's the fault of that other Katsuyu clone. I am just a newborn." Katsuyu wiggles around In Tsunade's clothes.
"Stop! Stop it... Katsuyu... Haha... it tickles!"
A few seconds later, Tsunade places the Katsuyu clone on the table. The Katsuyu clone has an apologetic expression on her face.
"Sigh... I will begin the explanation. It's like this."
Tsunade starts her explanation.
A few minutes later,
"So, Tsunade-san and Katsuyu-san share a mental link?!" Mei asks in surprise.
Mm...
Tsunade nods.
"As Katsuyu's contractor for so many years, I came to share a part of my mental scape with Katsuyu. And thus, I also possess a limited connection to Katsuyu's hive mind network." Tsunade explains to them.
"When the genjutsu technique started, Katsuyu's clone was also with me. Both of us were trapped in the illusory reality. Since this illusion technique targets a person's mindscape and reads their memories to create a replica of the real world, it also managed to get access to our mental link.
For some odd reason, it considered Katsuyu and me as a single entity. And thus, it created the version of illusory reality you people saw."
Tsunade breaks down her explanation.
"So... so does this mean Tsunade-san doesn't have feelings for Izuna?" Mei asks in a feeble voice.
"Of course, I have feelings for him." Tsunade immediately responds to her.
"Eh!" Mei and Ayaka are surprised to hear her confess.
"But my feelings are different compared to your feelings." Tsunade chuckles and shakes her head.
"I have seen Izuna grow up from a kid to his current state. Our first meeting wasn't a particularly pleasant one."
Tsunade recalls her first meeting with Izuna.
"Hehe... back then, he was a cheeky brat with a big mouth. And as for me... I... I was a pathetic woman stuck up in her past. We had a minor squabble among us, but in the end, he ended up being my disciple.
He had extraordinary talent in the medical field and he quickly mastered my teachings. Our bond of teacher and student continues to grow as we spend more time with each other."
Tsunade chuckles and turns to Mei.
"If I was the same age as him and had met him before, then I might have ended up falling for him. But for me, Izuna is more like a son."
Tsunade closes her eyes.
"My heart already lies with someone else, but love is not just romantic feelings. A teacher's love for their students, a mother's love for her kids also shares such feelings." Dan's face flashes in front of her eyes.
"If I had a son, then I might want him to be like Izuna." Tsunade raises her hand and touches the illusory figure of Dan, who smiles at her and dissipates.
"As for what you saw in the illusory reality, it was Katsuyu's dream merged with mine. One of Katsuyu's clones always mutters such silly words." Tsunade chuckles and stares outside the porthole.
"Oh, I remember that silly clone. Isn't she the one who is in charge of all these smaller Katsuyu clones?" Ayaka recalls the giant slug with weird hobbies.
"Mm... it's her. That silly Katsuyu." Tsunade shakes her head and turns to Mei.
"So, yes, I share feelings for Izuna. But they aren't of romantic nature. I love him as her teacher and I have a one-sided maternal love for him." Tsunade smiles at Mei.
"I... I see. I am very sorry about the misunderstanding." Mei quickly apologizes to Tsunade.
"I was too hasty to jump to a conclusion. I was envious of your relationship with Izuna." Mei has a wry smile on her face.
"Hoh! I seem to recall something when I was unconscious. Something like fickle-heart and..."
"Please Tsunade-sama! Don't embarrass me further. I am ashamed of my stupidity." Mei's face turns red.
"Hmm... what are you two talking about? I am very curious to learn about it." Ayaka chimes in.
"Nnnn... No... it's nothing! It's not something kids should interfere in." Mei waves her hand.
"I am not a kid anymore. I am already eleven years old and will be twelve in the next few months." Ayaka notices Mei's gaze on her chest.
"You are so mean, Mei Nee-san. I won't talk to you anymore." She puffs her cheeks and turns away.
Haha...
Tsunade burst out in laughter. She places her hand around Ayaka's ear and mutters to her.
"Ayaka, I have a secret to share with you."
"Secret!" Ayaka raises an eyebrow.
"Yes, when I was your age; I was also flat-chested like you. But look at me now."
Tsunade puffs her chest out.
Badum... Badum...
Her two massive mountains sway sideways.
"So, you mean these are unnatural?" Ayaka has a skeptical expression on her face.
"What do you mean by unnatural? These are genuine goods." An angry tick appears on Tsunade's forehead.
"Never mind, if you want, I can share my most hidden secret with you," Tsunade whispers in her ears.
"Really?!"
"Of course! My grandma passed this secret on to me. So, do you want to hear it?"
"Of course!"
Swoosh... Bang...
Soon Mei was kicked out of the room by Ayaka and she closes the door in the latter's face.
Sigh...
Mei takes a deep breath.
"What was I even thinking of? I am an idiot!"
Mei shakes her head and returns to her room.
Back on the deck of the ship,
"Hey, Sakura, what are Tsunade baa-san, Ayaka-chan, and Mei Nee-san talking about?" Naruto curiously questions Sakura.
"How would I know that?" Sakura shakes her head.
"Aren't you her protegee? So, shouldn't you have a clue about it?" Naruto replies.
"I am not sure. Back then, Tsunade-sama kicked me out of her room when Mei-san and Ayaka-chan entered the room."
"Tch... you are so useless!" Naruto clicks his tongue.
"God damnit Naruto! Don't act like a pervert. And why are you so interested in their conversation?" Sakura angrily questions him.
"It's just... I could sense it, their emotions. Their emotions were in turmoil before they went inside the room." Naruto places his hand under his chin.
"They seem to be troubled by something. So, I am not sure about it."
'Tch... Naruto! Don't pry into ladies' affairs." Sakura shrugs him off.
"Sakura is right, Naruto!" Izumi pats Naruto's head.
"Everyone has something which they don't want to share with others."
"Oh! So, it's like that secret stash of cash which dad is hiding from mot..."
Whoosh...
Minato swiftly appears beside Naruto and places his hand on Naruto's face to prevent him from speaking further.
Mufff... Huff...
"Don't spill the beans, Naruto. Your mother might hear our conversation through our telepathic link. Next time, I will treat you to your favorite ramen In Ichiraku." Minato releases his hand from Naruto's face.
"Seven bowls!" Naruto raises his fingers.
"Any less and I will..."
"It's a deal!"
Minato releases his grip from Naruto's face.
'Even your left hand shouldn't know what crime your right hand committed.'
The rest of the members of the escort group turn their faces away from Minato.
"The weather is so good!" Kakashi whistles with his eyes closed.
'Do you think I am a fool or are you blind, Kakashi?' Minato stares at the dark black clouds in the sky.
"These fishes look so delish!" Ao slightly coughs and remarks.
'Not you too! And how the **** are these fishes even a delicacy?' Minato stares at the poisonous piranhas in the sea being warded off by a barrier.
'I have lost my face! But still, none of them know about the terror of marriage. This Kakashi has yet to make any move on that girl. He just keeps fantasizing off of Jiraiya Sensei's books' Minato sighs and takes out a can from his pocket.
He takes a few gulps and sighs.
"Dad! You are drinking?" Naruto notices the light brown liquid in the can.
"It's a non-alcoholic beverage! Izuna suggested it to me. It clears my mind and freshens my senses." Minato takes another chug from the can.
'I hope Naruto won't become like me.' Minato recalls Hinata's shy expression.
"Hinata seems like a good girl."
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