Tsunade Is Urgently Summoned, an Unexpected Guest at the Dinner Gathering

Inside a hidden cave, Orochimaru removed the intelligence scroll from the ninja hawk's leg and casually released it.

"Old Man?"

Jiraiya, his face grimy as though he had not washed it in days, yawned. He looked somewhat unaccustomed to the local climate.

The war between Konoha and Amegakure raged on at every moment, and the three of them were exhausted.

Tsunade sat silently on a log nearby.

She was undoubtedly the most exhausted person on the team.

Not only did she have to fight, she also had to treat the wounded and prepare all kinds of medicine.

With such a rare break, Tsunade only wanted to rest properly. She had no desire to concern herself with the village's affairs.

Why had the Third Hokage let Danzo command the front lines?

It was complete nonsense.

Wasn't Shikaku Nara good enough?

He had strategy, intelligence, and seniority.

Unlike Danzo, who was completely out of his depth!

Unfortunately, the Third Hokage still appointed Danzo as the front-line commander-in-chief.

"Hmm?"

After opening the intelligence scroll, Orochimaru's vertical snake pupils contracted.

"What is it?"

Seeing that something was off with Orochimaru, Jiraiya looked over. Tsunade also opened her eyes, her weary gaze sweeping toward him.

"Sunagakure has declared war on Konoha. The Third Kazekage has led a ninja army into the Land of Fire."

Orochimaru smiled meaningfully and tossed the scroll to the stunned Tsunade.

"That little fellow you favor is quite extraordinary. At such a young age, he awakened the Three-tomoe Sharingan and even wiped out a Jonin squad.

"He excels at Genjutsu and can easily control Jonin. Unfortunately, the little fellow is not very obedient. Old Man wants you to return and take him out for some experience."

In the Third Hokage's eyes, everything Chiyue had done amounted to disobedience.

Fortunately, Chiyue had not given the Uchiha Clan any face, nor did he have any intention of returning to them.

Thus, the Third Hokage sent intelligence to Tsunade at the front lines. Besides informing them that Sunagakure had declared war on Konoha, he wanted Tsunade to return to Konoha.

Once she returned, she was to keep Chiyue by her side and teach him, hoping to use this method to build up his sense of belonging.

"What?"

Jiraiya could not help but be startled.

"Is it that brat Yagami Chiyue?"

Jiraiya tried to snatch the scroll, but Tsunade's fist was what greeted him instead.

With a scream, Jiraiya was slammed against the rock wall. His body twitched twice before he slowly slid down it.

Tsunade was in a hurry to read the scroll. Trying to snatch it now was just asking for a beating.

Before he turned dark, Orochimaru was actually quite easy to get along with.

For instance, he would occasionally joke around with Jiraiya and Tsunade.

However, Nawaki, that unlucky fellow, had forcibly changed Orochimaru's entire life.

After reading the scroll, Tsunade pondered aloud, "I didn't expect that kid to grow so quickly. His Sharingan has actually advanced to the Three-tomoe level, and his Genjutsu can even easily control Jonin. No wonder Old Man is so anxious."

"When do you plan to go back?"

Orochimaru leaned against the rock wall, gazing at the relentless rain outside the cave.

"As soon as possible."

The Third Hokage did not want it, and Tsunade did not want Chiyue getting too close to the Uchiha Clan either.

Otherwise, Kushina would have to completely cut ties with Chiyue.

Tsunade did not want to see Kushina looking so miserable.

Honestly, aside from being a little handsome and a little talented, what was so good about that brat?

Why did he attract so much attention from girls?

Kushina was simply foolish.

Of all people to like, she had to fall for someone like him.

"Bring... Minato along too..."

Jiraiya, sprawled on the ground, slowly raised a hand.

Tsunade: "..."

Orochimaru: "..."

"I brought a friend along. That should be fine, right?"

Minato smiled apologetically and pulled out Nara Shikaku, who stood beside him with his mouth twitching.

"Chiyue, long time no see."

"Come in. Don't stand in the doorway blocking the way. It's not like you're a stranger."

Chiyue looked outside but did not see the other two members of Ino-Shika-Cho.

It seemed that only Nara Shikaku had come with Minato.

The current generation of Ino-Shika-Cho had originally been in the same year as them, though not in the same class.

Later, Chiyue and Minato had skipped grades.

"They didn't come. I ran into Minato at the market, and after chatting for a bit, I accepted his invitation to join the dinner gathering."

Nara Shikaku offered an explanation.

"Perfect. Go help Minato wash the vegetables."

Without any ceremony, Chiyue dragged him inside and pushed him toward the kitchen.

"Wash... vegetables?"

Nara Shikaku had not expected that he would come to a dinner gathering as a guest, only for Chiyue to ask him to wash vegetables.

Minato was used to it, and he even chuckled.

"That's Chiyue's rule. You can join the dinner gathering, but everyone has to share the work. I usually buy the ingredients, he cooks, and Kushina and Sister Mikoto clean up after we finish eating."

That gave me a scare. I thought every guest had to work.

Nara Shikaku sighed in relief, but soon furrowed his brows seriously. Washing vegetables seemed rather troublesome...

And Minato had bought quite a lot. Even with two people working together, it would take some effort. This was not something he was good at.

"Haah..."

Looking at Minato, who had already begun working, Nara Shikaku could only let out a long sigh and walk into the kitchen with a stiff resolve.

Clang!!

Unfortunately, less than two minutes after he entered the kitchen, a loud crash rang out, followed by Minato's disgusted voice.

"Get out. Asking you to help was absolutely the wrong decision. I just finished washing those!"

"Sorry, I didn't do it on purpose."

With an embarrassed smile, Nara Shikaku retreated from the kitchen, looking utterly awkward.

"Hahaha..."

Chiyue laughed so hard that he bent over. The young master of the Nara clan did not even know how to wash vegetables.

The way he had entered the kitchen, he had looked even more nervous than during actual combat practice, his entire body taut with tension.

"Sit down. No need to be so formal. One more person makes things livelier."

After laughing for a while, Chiyue invited Nara Shikaku to sit, handed him a bottle of water, and asked, "You've graduated already, right?"

"Yeah, I just graduated. But because the war broke out, the village is short on Jonin, so they haven't arranged a Jonin Instructor yet."

Nara Shikaku nodded.

Inherited disciples like Ino-Shika-Cho did not need to worry about Jonin Instructors. The village would arrange a capable Jonin to lead them.

Unlike other squads, which had to be picked through and sorted out.

"Children from big clans like yours really have it easy."

Chiyue could not help but sigh.

Nara Shikaku was immediately speechless.

"I heard from my father that the village had planned to have Tsunade Hime be your teacher, but you turned it down. Really, I'm the one who should envy you."

"Chiyue, we're here."

Kushina ran in, pulling Uchiha Mikoto along and carrying some pastries. When she saw Nara Shikaku sitting in the living room, she asked curiously, "This is...?"

He looked somewhat familiar. She felt like she had seen him before, but she could not remember who he was.

The Nara clan was considered a major clan in Konoha, but Kushina had never cared about such things.

Back at the academy, she had seen Nara Shikaku with his spiky ponytail, but they had never interacted.

That was why he only seemed familiar, yet she could not recall who he was.

"This is Nara Shikaku. He was in the same year as us, from the class next door."

Chiyue introduced him.