Senba pushed open the courtyard gate and led Nono into his yard.
She looked around curiously, her eyes filled with a mix of restraint and wonder.
Senba stopped and turned to look at her.
"I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Uchiha Senba, and from today we'll be fellow students."
Nono was stunned for a moment, then waved her hands in a panic.
"But I haven't become Lady Tsunade's student yet… How can we be fellow students in advance…?"
Senba took a deep breath and gritted his teeth.
"That addict Tsunade, daring to dump you on me… If she doesn't end up taking you as a student, I won't let her off easily!"
Hearing the clear resentment in his tone, Nono shrank her neck, but soon covered her mouth and smiled.
Senba calmed himself down and walked toward the courtyard wall.
"Alright, let's start by teaching you the basics of chakra control exercises." He pointed to the wall. "There are no big trees in the yard, so we'll use this as a substitute for now."
He tapped his toes and walked straight up the wall, his feet perpendicular to the surface. He walked step by step to the top of the wall as if walking on flat ground, then leaped down lightly, landing in front of Nono.
"Did you see that clearly?"
Nono nodded vigorously, her eyes shining with earnestness.
Senba continued, "The principle is very simple. By adhering chakra to the soles of your feet and controlling it precisely, you can stick to any flat surface."
After saying that, he led Nono to the edge of the fish pond in the corner of the yard.
"Now look at this."
He lifted his foot and stepped lightly onto the water. The moment his sole touched the water, chakra surged, and he stood steadily on the surface without causing a ripple.
He walked a few steps, and the koi fish in the pond were frightened and swam away in all directions.
"Wall climbing and water treading are based on the same principle, but the latter is much harder. So practice wall climbing first."
Senba walked into the house and quickly brought out a soft mat, laying it down by the wall.
"This way you won't be afraid of falling." He pointed to the mat. "Now you practice on your own. Once you can climb up, we'll practice water treading."
Nono walked to the wall, took a deep breath, and mimicking Senba, lifted her foot and stepped onto the wall.
But the result was completely different.
She slid straight down and landed on her bottom on the mat.
Not willing to give up, Nono clenched her fist and walked straight back to the wall.
Senba watched from the side without intervening. For things like practice, one must explore it on their own.
However… he glanced at the fish pond and then at the wall, frowning slightly. Climbing walls and walking on a fish pond surely wouldn't be as effective as tree climbing and water treading.
Tree trunks are uneven, with bumps and dips, requiring higher demands on chakra control. River water flows, and the surface is constantly moving, which is also much more difficult than a still fish pond.
Even if the koi fish in the pond were moving around, it wasn't as turbulent as a flowing river, but it was enough for initial practice.
Once Nono had more or less mastered it, he would take her to the training ground or the riverbank.
"You continue to practice; I have something to do in a while," Senba said, causing Nono to stop her movements and look back at him.
Senba formed hand seals with both hands.
Poof.
After a puff of white smoke, another Senba appeared beside him.
The Shadow Clone nodded at Nono and stood aside, watching over her.
"He will accompany you while you practice," Senba pointed to the Shadow Clone and said. "If you don't understand anything, you can ask him. When I return tonight, I will take you back to the orphanage."
Nono was startled for a moment, then lowered her head in a conflicted manner.
"But… if I don't go back for lunch… the Director will be worried…"
Senba thought about it.
"Then I'll have a clone go to the orphanage and let them know."
He formed hand seals again, and another Shadow Clone appeared.
"Go to the orphanage and tell the Director that Nono was accepted as Lady Tsunade's disciple and will return tonight."
The Shadow Clone waved his hand and pushed the door open to leave.
Senba looked at Nono and said, "Is this alright now?"
Nono nodded vigorously, a happy smile appearing on her face.
"Thank you, Senba-kun."
Senba nodded slightly and walked into the house.
A moment later, he came out carrying a basket and placed it on the stone table in the yard.
There were some fruits in the basket—grapes and oranges—as well as a bottle of milk.
"Rest for a while if you get tired," he said to Nono, then looked at the clone. "Keep an eye on her."
The Shadow Clone nodded, and only then did Senba walk toward the courtyard gate with peace of mind.
Before leaving, he took one last look and saw Nono already standing by the wall again, earnestly attempting to climb it.
Her movements were very clumsy, sliding down time after time, but each attempt she picked herself up and continued trying.
'Is this the first butterfly effect I caused?'
Senba didn't know whatever Nono had learned under Tsunade, but one thing was clear.
In this life, she wouldn't be forced to join Root under Tsunade's protection.
'Though, I don't know whether this is good or bad.'
Nono was an excellent spy who managed to gather a lot of valuable information during wartime. Losing such an important asset might cause consequences beyond the original story, but Senba didn't care.
As long as he is strong, he'll make sure to change the future he doesn't like.
"It's time to see the old man."
Senba pushed the door open and left.