This Is a Question

At this moment, Jiraiya finally appeared at the classroom door, his head wrapped entirely in bandages.

Jiraiya looked pitifully at Uchiha Chen.

That resentful gaze made Uchiha Chen's scalp tingle. Big brother, I was wrong, okay?

"Um, Brother Jiraiya, you weren't really beaten up for peeping into the women's bathhouse, were you?" Nawaki was startled. Jiraiya looked rather terrifying like this. Although he remembered that his sister had beaten Jiraiya before, he had not been there when it happened. How could he have known the injuries were this severe?

"No. Well... these were injuries I sustained while carrying out a mission for the Third Hokage Old Man. An ultra-S-rank mission, ultra-S-rank. Orochimaru can testify to that."

Jiraiya hurriedly came up with an excuse for himself. Come on, in front of so many students, Lord Jiraiya still needed to save face.

If people found out Tsunade had beaten him into this state, how was he supposed to survive in ninja circles from now on?

"Brother Jiraiya, did you also investigate that shop with the girls in short skirts?" Nawaki asked in a foolish tone.

Huh? If anyone dared call Nawaki an idiot again, Uchiha Chen would fight them.

Nawaki had clearly seen how miserable Jiraiya's fate was and had become somewhat afraid of his sister, Tsunade.

So, pretending to let the information slip by accident, he fed it to Jiraiya, hoping Jiraiya would test the waters and probe around the edge of danger.

If Jiraiya came out unscathed, he could investigate the enemy situation openly and properly.

Sure enough, ninjas were not easy to fool.

"Ah, really? The other side might be spies from an enemy village. For the village's safety, we must conduct a thorough investigation from one o'clock to three o'clock."

"..."

Worthy of being Nawaki's life mentor.

However, after the Tsunade incident, Jiraiya was clearly still rather wary.

"Nawaki, where did this information come from? Is it reliable?" Jiraiya warily glanced at Uchiha Chen.

After all, he had only just been fooled.

"Um, I saw it when I passed by that shop this morning," Nawaki stammered.

After all, Uchiha Chen had previously told Nawaki that he could not say this important intelligence came from him.

As for the reason?

Of course, it was because of Mikoto. Uchiha Chen still wanted to live a few more days.

So now, Nawaki had become the first discoverer of this intelligence.

Nawaki felt a little ashamed. After all, he had always claimed to be Konoha's number one intelligence agent.

Hearing that the information had not come from Uchiha Chen, Jiraiya visibly relaxed his guard.

He gave Nawaki a suggestive look.

"Very good, Nawaki. I'll go verify it later. I imagine the Third Hokage Old Man will be very interested too."

"..."

It seemed Jiraiya wanted to drag the Third Hokage into this too.

After they finished exchanging intelligence, Jiraiya called Uchiha Chen, Mikoto, and Minato outside.

Uchiha Chen wisely did not ask why they were late. It was obvious that Jiraiya had been looking for an excuse to teach this little Uchiha brat a lesson.

The sunlight was somewhat scorching, filtering through the dense leaves and falling onto the ground in patches.

Yet only Orochimaru stood beneath the shade of the tree.

Orochimaru stood there wearing a Jonin Flak Jacket.

But where was Tsunade?

"For this period, the three of us will be guiding you," Jiraiya said, pointing at Orochimaru beside him and the absent Tsunade.

"This guidance will last one week. Time is precious, so cherish it properly."

"So, Minato, you'll be with me." Jiraiya had originally wanted to personally guide Uchiha Chen and let him experience, in Jiraiya's hands, what it meant to be nourished by love.

But he had already promised Minato. Besides, Jiraiya thought highly of Minato. Minato was a commoner like him, so he liked Minato very much.

More importantly, he already knew that Tsunade would personally Discipline Uchiha Chen.

"Then that settles it. Mikoto, you'll be with me." Orochimaru's hoarse voice rang out.

Uchiha Mikoto had no objections to Orochimaru's guidance.

After all, Mikoto had no intention of learning Medical Ninjutsu. The Sharingan held no particular advantage in Medical Ninjutsu.

Moreover, Mikoto was not a Taijutsu-type ninja. She was a Ninjutsu-type ninja. Tsunade was not suitable for her.

Uchiha Chen was an all-around ninja. For him, anyone would do. Besides, Taijutsu was currently his strongest area, so choosing Tsunade was just right.

Most importantly, all of them knew that Tsunade had already reserved Uchiha Chen.

That was right, reserved.

Uchiha Chen was Tsunade's prey. Tsunade intended to use her methods to Discipline Konoha's problem child.

"Um, then what about me?" Uchiha Chen asked. Tsunade had vanished without a trace.

Jiraiya looked at Uchiha Chen with ill intent. He patted Uchiha Chen's shoulder, his face full of smiles.

"Kid, Tsunade is waiting for you at the Senju Clan Compound. Oh, and don't forget to bring your wallet. Without money, Tsunade can't treat your injuries."

There was a lot to unpack in that sentence. Uchiha Chen needed a moment.

So Tsunade was going to beat him half to death first, then Uchiha Chen would pay Tsunade to heal him, and then Tsunade would cripple him again?

How could anyone come up with such a method?

"Um, can I give up this spot?"

Uchiha Chen swallowed.

"You can. But then you won't need to spend your money on treatment—" Jiraiya looked at Uchiha Chen with a smile.

"That's great."

"—you can use it to buy yourself a gravesite with good feng shui instead."

"..."

"It's okay, Chen. Apologize properly to Lady Tsunade, and she'll forgive you."

If apologizing worked, what would Tsunade be for? Jiraiya thought as he looked at the bandages on his body.

"Minato, let's go! I'll teach you powerful Ninjutsu. You have to defeat Uchiha Chen and avenge me, got it?!" Seeing that Uchiha Chen even had a young girl comforting him, Jiraiya grew a little angry.

"...Ahaha." Minato gave Uchiha Chen a helpless, comforting look before following Jiraiya away.

"Then, Chen, I explained this before the competition. I said that outstanding students could come to me. After you finish training with Tsunade, you may come ask me for guidance. This promise will always stand." Squinting, Orochimaru spoke gently to Uchiha Chen.

Orochimaru still found it somewhat regrettable, but since his teammate Tsunade had asked to take Uchiha Chen, Orochimaru would not refuse to give Tsunade face.

Besides, there would be plenty of opportunities in the future, wouldn't there?

Faced with this scientist who would one day wholeheartedly develop technology, traffic people, diligently answer the call, and develop impoverished villages, Uchiha Chen could only agree.

After all, after graduation, he might still become Orochimaru's disciple.

"Follow me first." Orochimaru's snake-like eyes glanced at Uchiha Mikoto before he spoke in a slightly hoarse voice.

"Then I'm leaving, Chen." Mikoto followed Orochimaru and vanished from sight as well.

Only Uchiha Chen was left standing there alone.

Should he go find Tsunade?

To live or to die?

That was a question.