"You really do have quite the nerve. I even sent two Anbu to invite you back, and you still couldn't be bothered to return."
Inside the gambling den, Jiraiya looked at the ageless Tsunade before him and sighed helplessly.
"If you were inviting me back to the village for a drink, I wouldn't hesitate. But if you want to dump a troublesome mess on me, forget it."
Tsunade tossed out a card as she spoke.
Soon, Shizune's helpless voice rang out from nearby as she held a small pink pig in her arms.
"Lady Tsunade... We've lost all the money we brought again!"
At that, Tsunade looked toward Jiraiya, still unsatisfied.
"Do you have any money left? Lend me some."
Looking at Tsunade's utterly unapologetic expression—and the fact that she clearly had no intention of paying him back—Jiraiya could only smile bitterly.
"I really don't have any money left..."
Tsunade curled her lips and looked at Jiraiya with contempt.
"You're a famous author, and you don't have any money? Jiraiya, you've changed."
Jiraiya sighed.
"After taking over the village, I found that the financial expenditures in many places didn't match the accounts. I don't know how my teacher handled it, but I can't keep using all my royalties to cover the shortfall."
Listening to Jiraiya's complaints, Tsunade's eyes flickered for a moment. Then she snorted and stood up, no longer intending to continue.
"So you want to dump this mess on me?"
"Wasn't becoming Hokage your dream all along? Why refuse after finally achieving it?"
Although Tsunade knew what Jiraiya was thinking, she couldn't help making a few sarcastic remarks.
"Sigh... You know how it is. People grow out of their childishness and eventually yield to reality. I'm not cut out to be Hokage... Lately, I've felt completely overwhelmed. When