Naruto: Wooing Tsunade from Day One!-Chapter 323: Safe Return

"Ginji, why are you crying again?"

"Don't you like your great-grandmother anymore?"

Mito held Ginji in her arms, gently rocking him back and forth. The baby had just finished breastfeeding, but his cries filled the room once more.

The sound was heart-wrenching. Perhaps it was the milk—preserved and not as flavorful as fresh—or the unfamiliar texture of the pacifier.

"Maybe he misses Tsunade," Nayuki suggested, her voice tinged with exhaustion. She stood nearby, her eyes reflecting a quiet sadness. Despite her best efforts to soothe the baby, nothing seemed to work.

Ginji, far from calming down, wailed even louder, his tiny fists flailing in distress.

"It's been half a day, and she's still not back," Mito murmured, her gaze shifting toward the door. Her heart clenched with worry. She hadn't stopped Tsunade from chasing her dream, but as an elder, her concern lingered.

"I brought my little brother a pinwheel!"

Kakashi's voice broke through the tension as he ran up, holding a small, colorful toy. Though still young himself, Kakashi had already outgrown such trinkets and now regarded them with a mix of amusement and disdain.

"Childish," he muttered under his breath but handed over the pinwheel nonetheless.

"Kakashi is really good to his little brother, let's see if little Ginji likes it."

Mito didn't refuse Kakashi's gesture. Smiling faintly, she took the pinwheel and blew on it, causing it to spin with a soft whir.

"Ginji, Kakashi brought you a toy. Do you like it?" she asked softly, placing the pinwheel just within the baby's reach.

"Owa~ owa~"

Though Ginji's cries continued, his small hands reached out for the pinwheel, clearly intrigued by the colorful spinning blades.

"Why are you still crying?" Kakashi asked, exasperation creeping into his tone as he watched Ginji cling to the toy, his face still scrunched up in distress.

Kids are so troublesome! he muttered, throwing his hands up in frustration.

"Maybe it will be okay in a while."

Nayuki wasn't very certain either, but she offered the words to casually soothe her son.

Despite their efforts, the group was at their wits' end. Ginji's small hands gripped the pinwheel tightly, but his cries persisted without pause.

Luckily, this was the Naruto World, where normal children would have fainted long ago from crying so hard.

Just as despair was settling over them, a figure approached swiftly.

"Oh dear, why is he crying so hard?"

"I'll take him."

These words reached their ears as Tsunade arrived. Seeing Ginji's tear-streaked face made her heart ache deeply.

"You're finally back," Mito said, relief washing over her face. With a slightly reproachful tone, she handed Ginji over. "I'll give you back your son. He's crying so loudly it's giving me a headache."

"Thank goodness," Nayuki murmured, her face lighting up with a smile. Her heart brimmed with joy now that Tsunade had returned.

"I've worried you both," Tsunade said softly, her expression full of guilt as she cradled Ginji in her arms. She knew well how much Mito and Nayuki had fretted over her.

Within moments, Ginji's cries began to subside. A few deep breaths in Tsunade's arms were all it took to calm him, his small body finally relaxing.

Kawakaze strolled toward the group, unconcerned. He was sure his son had been crying for his mother—not for him.

"Auntie, if you hadn't come back soon," Kakashi said with mock drama, "my little brother would've flooded the house with his tears."

His exaggerated statement drew laughter from everyone present.

"Is it really that bad? You make it sound so believable," Kawakaze teased, leaning down to scoop Kakashi into his arms.

"Ouch~ Uncle, I was exaggerating!" Kakashi protested, squirming in Kawakaze's grasp. "Exaggerating! Do you understand?"

He glared at Kawakaze as if the man were utterly clueless, his disdain unmistakable. If Kawakaze weren't his beloved uncle, Kakashi wouldn't have had the patience to deal with someone so "illiterate."

"It sounds very impressive," Kawakaze remarked, a teasing tone in his voice. "Did Kurenai teach you?"

The question hit Kakashi's pride hard. What did Kawakaze mean by Kurenai taught him? He was smart too! He just didn't like reading, that's all.

"No way! Not at all," Kakashi denied quickly, but the reaction gave him away—it was clear Kawakaze had guessed correctly.

"Do I still need her to teach me?" Kakashi added defensively, feeling the need to bolster his claim.

"Haha, you're the smartest," Nayuki said with a laugh, gently patting Kakashi's head. She couldn't help but smile at how easily the boy gave himself away. Even if he had learned it on his own, his mannerisms made it seem like he had picked it up from the Kurenai.

"You can't be sure," Kawakaze countered with mock seriousness. "How would I know what you do every day?"

The statement stung. Kakashi squirmed in Kawakaze's arms, clearly frustrated. Was this really his uncle? Where was the trust between family members?

"I'm busy training and reading every day," Kakashi retorted, struggling in Kawakaze's grasp. He wanted to prove he wasn't just some boy who didn't know how to work hard.

"Okay, stop teasing him," Tsunade said with a hint of reproach as she rocked Ginji in her arms. She couldn't stand by and watch Kawakaze torment the child any further. "Be careful not to let him fall."

This chapt𝒆r is updated by frёewebηovel.cѳm.

"Uncle believes in you, okay?" Kawakaze finally relented, setting Kakashi down with a playful grin. "Today, I'll teach you some awesome moves."

"Okay, let's go now!" Kakashi's frustration evaporated instantly, replaced by excitement. Children were easy to please, and he quickly pulled Kawakaze toward the dojo, his earlier dissatisfaction forgotten.

His father had once admitted—right in front of him—that he wasn't as good as Kawakaze. Now Kakashi was determined to learn something impressive and prove himself.

"Okay, let's go. I'll take Kakashi for a walk while you guys chat."

Kawakaze's offer wasn't made casually. He knew that even small actions or lessons could leave a strong impression on Kakashi. It wasn't that Kakashi lacked talent—he was simply still very young.

After exchanging farewells with Mito and the others, Kawakaze led Kakashi away.

"That's more like it," Tsunade murmured, watching the two walk off. She nodded in approval. She believed that Kawakaze would make an excellent father. As for being a good husband, he was already doing a great job.

"Have you mastered your grandfather's abilities?" Mito asked calmly, her tone light but inquisitive.

Tsunade's lack of disappointment spoke volumes. Mito had noticed the faint resistance and fear the Nine-Tails exhibited toward Tsunade, which confirmed her suspicions—it must have worked.

"Well, it's still not as good as Kawakaze," Tsunade admitted openly. She saw no need to hide the truth.

Mito had been aware of the experiment since its inception under Tobirama. Without Mito's approval, Tobirama likely wouldn't have been able to proceed.

"It's good to have it under control," Mito said evenly. "For you, Wood Release is not the most important thing."

Her perspective aligned with what Orochimaru had once said. Mito understood Tsunade's role and responsibilities. With one more person capable of wielding Wood Release, she felt reassured about the future. Even if the Nine-Tails ever went out of control, it wouldn't be able to wreak complete havoc.

"Are you feeling unwell?" Nayuki asked gently, her concern evident.

"Don't worry, I'm fine," Tsunade replied with a small smile. She brought the pinwheel close and blew on it softly, setting it spinning once again.

Ginji, cradled in her arms, finally broke into a smile, his eyes lighting up at the sight of the pinwheel whirring to life.