The air in the underground training hall usually smelled like ozone and sweat. Tonight, it smelled faintly of jasmine and exhaustion.
Nanami Kento sat on the edge of the stone pedestal, buttoning his shirt. He missed a button, fixed it with a lazy flick of his finger, and started humming a goofy little tune.
"You're humming," Tsunade pointed out. She was putting her pants on on. Her hair was a disaster—a golden bird's nest that defied all laws of physics. Her face was flushed a deep, healthy red.
"Am I?" Nanami chuckled, smoothing his collar. "It's a catchy tune. Fits the mood. Victory music."
Tsunade snorted, throwing a hair tie at him. He caught it between two fingers without looking.
"You're annoying," she muttered, though she was smiling. "And my Tou-san is going to kill you. You know that, right? He's probably out there sharpening his sword. Or digging a hole."
"Earth Style user," Nanami corrected, hopping off the pedestal with a spring in his step. "He's probably hardening his fists to turn me into a garden ornament. But hey, a little danger makes the heart beat faster, right?"
He walked over and offered a hand. She took it, letting him pull her up.
"We should go up," Tsunade said, suddenly looking nervous. "Kaa-san said she was making eel. And if we stay down here any longer, oji-sama is going to send an ANBU squad to see if we died."
"Eel!" Nanami rubbed his stomach. "Perfect. I'm starving. That was quite the... workout."
Tsunade punched his arm hard. "Shut up."
They finished dressing. Nanami ran a hand through his hair, deciding 'messy' was a style choice, while Tsunade gave up on her hair and just let it hang loose.
Nanami walked to the heavy iron door. He placed his hand on the seal.
"Ready to face the boss battle?" he asked, winking.
"As long as you don't run away."
"Run? Me?" Nanami laughed, a carefree sound. "I never run. I just tactically reposition. But for you, Princess? I'll hold the line."
He unlocked the door.
Clank.
They walked up the spiral stairs. The cool air of the underground gave way to the humid warmth of the garden.
It was night. Crickets were chirping. The Senju main house glowed with warm light.
They walked through the garden. They didn't hold hands—Tobirama had eyes everywhere—but they walked close enough that their shoulders bumped with every step.
They reached the dining room door.
Nanami took a deep breath. He slapped his cheeks lightly.
"Showtime."
He slid the door open.
"We're back!" Nanami announced cheerfully, stepping inside with a wave. "Man, that training hall is solid! Not a scratch on the walls!"
The room was silent.
Dead silent.
The entire Senju family was seated around the low table. The food was served—steaming rice, miso soup, and grilled eel that smelled amazing.
Tobirama sat at the head, reading a scroll while eating. He didn't look up.
Mito was sipping tea, looking like a statue of serenity.
Kaede was smiling, but it was that terrifying 'Kaa-san Smile'—the one that said she knew everything and was just waiting for you to confess.
Daichi was gripping his chopsticks so hard they were splintering. He was staring at a spot on the wall behind Nanami's head, his eyes twitching.
And Nawaki was happily shoving rice into his mouth, oblivious.
ARIA stood in the corner, holding a tray. She looked at Nanami, then at Tsunade. Her golden eyes glittered with amusement.
"Sit," Tobirama said. It wasn't a suggestion.
Nanami and Tsunade sat. They took their places next to each other.
"Itadakimasu," they mumbled.
They began to eat.
The silence was heavy. You could cut it with a kunai. The only sounds were chewing and tea sipping.
Nanami took a bite of eel. "Delicious! Kaede-sama, you really outdid yourself."
Kaede smiled. "You need your strength, Kento-kun. You look... drained."
Nanami choked slightly but recovered. "Just a bit tired. High intensity training."
Minutes ticked by. The tension was building like a pressure cooker.
Then, ARIA stepped forward to refill the tea.
She stopped behind Nanami and Tsunade. She leaned down, her voice low, bored, and laced with sarcasm.
"You two look wrecked," ARIA drawled, pouring tea. "I assume the... grappling practice... was vigorous?"
Cough.
Nanami hacked on a bone.
Splutter.
Tsunade inhaled rice and started pounding her chest.
ARIA tilted her head innocently. "I was monitoring your vitals remotely. Heart rates up. Heavy sweating. Shouting. It sounded like a war down there. Who won?"
"ARIA!" Tsunade wheezed, her face turning crimson.
"What?" ARIA blinked slowly. "I'm just asking. Kento-kun usually complains about being tired, but he seems remarkably... loose right now."
Nanami cleared his throat, grinning sheepishly. "Thanks, ARIA. Always helpful. We were just... testing our endurance."
"Is that what the kids call it?" ARIA mused, moving to refill Tobirama's cup. "Back in my day, we called it something else."
The dam broke.
Daichi Senju slammed his hands onto the table. BANG.
"THAT'S IT!" Daichi roared, pointing a shaking finger at Nanami. "YOU! YOU DEFILED MY INNOCENT PRINCESS!"
Nanami blinked, putting on his best 'innocent' face. "My, my, Daichi-san. That's a strong accusation. Have you seen her punch? If anyone was defiled, it was me! I was fighting for my life!"
"Fighting for your life?!" Daichi sputtered, his face purple. "In the dark?! With the door locked?!"
"Sensory deprivation training!" Nanami lied smoothly, wagging a finger. "Very advanced stuff. You have to feel the opponent's chakra without seeing them. It really sharpens the... instincts."
"Instincts my foot!" Daichi stood up, knocking his chair over. "I know what you were doing! I was young once! I know what 'sensory deprivation' means in a soundproof room!"
"Daichi, sit down," Kaede said calmly, yanking him back down by his obi. "You're scaring the Nawaki."
Nawaki looked up, rice on his chin. "Is Kento-niichan wrestling Onee-chan?"
"Yes," ARIA answered helpfully. "It was a submission match. Kento-kun tapped out. Repeatedly."
"I did not tap out!" Nanami protested, looking genuinely offended. "It was a draw! A glorious, sweaty draw!"
"SHUT UP!" Tsunade screamed, burying her face in her hands. "I am going to die. I am literally going to die right here."
Mito set her tea cup down. Click.
The sound was quiet, but it silenced the room instantly.
Mito turned her dark eyes toward Nanami.
"Kento-kun," she said softly.
"Yes, Shishou?"
"You're a seal master," she noted. "You know how chakra works."
"I like to think so."
"Then you know," Mito smiled, and it was a terrifying thing, "that when you put up a Privacy Barrier that strong... when you completely cut off your chakra from the outside world... it creates a hole in our senses."
She leaned forward.
"A hole that every sensor in this house can feel. We didn't need to see inside. The sudden, absolute silence... followed by the chaotic spikes of emotional energy when you opened the door..."
She chuckled.
"You might as well have put up a banner that said 'Busy Making Grandchildren'."
Nanami rubbed the back of his neck. "Ah. Over-engineered the stealth. Note to self: leave a little leakage next time. Calculated error."
Beside him, Tsunade groaned into her hands. "Obaa-chan... stop..."
"You are not dying," Kaede said, beaming. "You're growing up! Finally!"
Kaede leaned across the table, eyes sparkling.
"So, Kento-kun. When do I get grandbabies? I want three. Two boys and a girl. Senju blood is strong, but yours seems... durable. They'll be cute little monsters."
Nanami choked on his tea again.
"K-Kaa-san!" Tsunade shrieked. "We aren't—we haven't even talked about that!"
"Well, talk about it now!" Kaede insisted. "He's handsome, he's strong, he's got money from those tags, and he's polite. Mostly. Daichi, stop growling, you like him."
"I liked him when he was a sparring partner!" Daichi grumbled, crossing his arms and pouting like a child. "Not when he's dating my daughter! He's too... tricky!"
Tobirama cleared his throat.
Everyone froze. The Second Hokage looked up from his scroll.
He looked at Nanami.
"You've compromised the Senju Princess," Tobirama stated flatly.
"Compromised is a harsh word," Nanami hedged, leaning back and scratching his cheek. "I prefer to think of it as a... joint venture."
"You took her to the basement," Tobirama deadpanned.
"It has the best acoustics."
Tobirama sighed, a long, suffering sound. He rolled up his scroll.
"The Senju clan is dissolved," Tobirama said, sounding like he was giving a mission briefing. "They blended into the village. But the main line needs to continue. Tsunade carries Hashirama's blood."
He looked Nanami in the eye.
"You're my disciple. You're the strongest in the village right now. You're the only one who can keep up with her without getting broken in half."
Tobirama nodded to himself.
"It's logical. It secures the bloodline and keeps the military power in-house."
Nanami blinked. "Sensei?"
"You're engaged," Tobirama declared. "Effective immediately. We'll do the wedding in the spring. Daichi, stop crying. It's an order."
"I'm not crying!" Daichi sniffled loudly. "It's the wasabi!"
Nanami looked at Tsunade. She looked at him. Her face was red, her mouth open.
"Did... did the Hokage just order us to get married?" Nanami whispered.
"I think so," Tsunade whispered back.
Nanami sat back. He looked at the family. Mito was smiling like a fox. Kaede was already planning the guest list. Daichi was defeated. ARIA was eating Tsunade's leftover eel with a bored expression.
He realized something.
He was okay with it.
He looked at Tsunade. He grabbed her hand under the table.
"Well," Nanami said, a slow, playful grin spreading across his face. "If it's a mission from the Hokage, I guess I have to accept. A life sentence with the Slug Princess? I've had worse assignments."
Tsunade squeezed his hand hard enough to crack his knuckles. She smiled, radiant and fierce.
"You better not complain," she warned. "Or I'll break your legs."
"Understood. Legs are required for the aisle."
The dinner continued, the tension broken, replaced by the chaotic noise of a family. ARIA cracked jokes about human mating rituals that made Daichi choke. Nawaki climbed onto Nanami's lap asking to see a cool jutsu.
Late that night, as the dishes were being cleared, Nanami stood up.
"Everyone," Nanami announced.
The room quieted down.
"My training," Nanami said, his voice turning serious, though his eyes still sparkled. "It's hitting a wall."
Tsunade frowned. "A wall? You're stronger than anyone I know."
"Strong, yes. But not perfect," Nanami corrected. "My chakra tank is full. My body is maxed out. And ARIA here runs on nature energy that I built but haven't mastered myself."
Mito's eyes widened. "You mean..."
"I'm going to learn Sage Mode," Nanami declared.
A hush fell over the room.
"It's dangerous," Tobirama warned. "If you mess up, you turn into a rock. Or a slug."
"I know," Nanami nodded, stretching his arms behind his head. "But life without a little risk is just... boring, isn't it? I've got the vessel for it. My body is tough. My mind is clear. And I've got a hunch."
He clenched his fist.
"I need to bridge the gap between human and monster. If another war comes... I need to be ready. I need the big guns."
He looked at Tsunade.
"And when I come back," he winked at her. "We can talk wedding cakes. I want chocolate. Lots of it."
Tsunade rolled her eyes, but she looked proud. "Just come back in one piece, Sage-boy. Or I'll kill you myself."
"I always do."
He bowed to the room.
"ARIA, you stay here. Keep them safe. And try not to traumatize the kid."
"No promises," ARIA sighed. "Children are so breakable."
Nanami grinned.
The engagement was set.
Now, he just needed to learn how to eat nature without exploding. Easy peasy.