A Grand Feast

"Honestly."

Looking at Jiraiya tied to a round wooden post, the young Third Hokage put his hands on his hips and sighed.

"How do you always fall for such obvious traps?"

"Because..." Jiraiya muttered...

"Try learning a little from Orochimaru." The Third Hokage was only saying it casually. That child Orochimaru was far too satisfying by comparison, while this one...

He had chosen these disciples himself, so he would teach them to the end even if he had to kneel, but complaining a little was only human nature.

What he never expected was for Jiraiya to suddenly explode.

"It's Sarutobi Sensei who's always going on about Orochimaru! You're so annoying!"

Jiraiya shouted loudly.

The Third Hokage froze for a moment. This wasn't like the boy at all. Had his pride been hurt?

He had thought Jiraiya was nothing more than a fool who was always grinning.

"I use an amazing Invisibility Technique when I'm peeping, too!"

Jiraiya announced proudly.

But peeping? Invisibility Technique?

What was this child talking about?

The Third Hokage lowered his head and gave a helpless, bitter smile before sighing. "Honestly, just how amazing is this Invisibility Technique you're talking about?"

"I've never been discovered even once! I'm telling the truth!"

Hmm...

The Third Hokage crossed his arms and closed his eyes in thought.

Quite impressive...

No!

He had to take the child's self-esteem into consideration.

"Since you've put it that way..."

The Third Hokage raised his head. His face was slightly red as he looked up at the sky.

"Next time, I'll go with you."

A long, speechless silence followed...

After a while, Jiraiya said,

"Sarutobi Sensei, you lecher."

"It's you who's the bastard!"

Sarutobi leaped up and punched Jiraiya on the head.

This brat tricked me!

Tears instantly sprang from his eyes, and Jiraiya, who was in pain, couldn't speak.

"Honestly..." the Third Hokage said. "Don't be stupid next time. Let's go have a grand feast. My treat."

Tsunade and Orochimaru, who had left first, should already be at the restaurant by now.

"Great!" Jiraiya's eyes lit up at once, and he didn't hold back at all.

"Honestly." The Third Hokage untied the ropes around Jiraiya.

At the Senju Clan Grounds, Mimi and the others were still listening to Mito's rambling.

"To celebrate the formation of the Second Squad, let's go have a grand feast!"

Mito said cheerfully. She seemed quite excited herself.

Although she was no longer young, she was still very girlish.

In fact, it would not be wrong to say she looked like a girl.

Chiri and Hitomi looked at each other. Why had they come here today?

To eat?

They felt as if they had done something, yet also as if they had done nothing at all.

"Grandma Mito, the Sealing Technique."

Mimi reminded her.

They had yet to accomplish their purpose today. They couldn't return empty-handed.

"Who cares about that? In any case, Insect Princess can't learn it in a single day. It's a rare holiday. Spending the whole day training would ruin the mood."

Mito said with a beaming smile.

"Didn't you say you had plans to go on a date with Chiri? Come here tomorrow. You can all have a good time first."

Hooray!

Chiri's eyes lit up. She felt that the grandmother in front of her was a wonderful person.

Mimi lowered her head and rubbed her forehead without saying anything.

There was no point. Mito wouldn't listen even if she said something.

Following Mito's rhythm was the wisest thing to do for now.

Hyuga Hitomi looked a little bewildered.

Play? What were they going to play?

"Still, I have to assign you some studying."

Mito softly called toward the door. "Taohua."

The proud kunoichi returned carrying three books.

She had originally brought two, but halfway through, she had gone back for another because of Mito's decision.

"Lady Mito."

Mito took the books and handed one to each of the three girls. "You must memorize all these incantations."

Mimi flipped through the book. Although she had been mentally prepared, the sight of those strange, scribbled symbols still gave her a headache.

Chiri looked through her book and nodded. As expected, it was very simple if all she had to do was memorize it.

Hyuga Hitomi, however, held the book with a completely bewildered expression.

Wasn't I supposed to learn Medical Ninjutsu?

Why did they give me something I couldn't understand at all?

"This is only the simplest foundation," Mito said. "The school teaches these basics as well."

The basics of the Sealing Technique.

But what Mito had given them was the super-sized version.

"All right, put them away. Let's go!"

With that, Mito stood and left at once, swift and decisive.

Mimi and the others had no choice but to follow.

In recent years, Mito had rarely walked around the village, probably because it brought back too many memories.

Some of the village's newer faces no longer recognized her. As she walked through the village, she caused no stir at all. Everywhere was filled with a lively, bustling atmosphere.

The sunlight beat down, a little harsh.

After glancing at Hokage Rock in the distance, Mito revealed a faint smile.

"Where are we eating, Grandma Mito?" Mimi asked. The midday sun was simply too fierce.

"Secret~"

In the end, Mimi and the others followed Mito to a Barbecue Restaurant.

In Year 15 of Konoha, the village still did not have a particularly wide variety of shops.

There were mostly general stores selling daily necessities, such as grain and oil shops. As for entertainment, there were Izakayas, gambling houses, and the Hot Spring Inn.

Mimi had never even seen a movie theater or any similar entertainment facility.

Oh, there was also Shueisha Hall, but there was no Icha Icha Paradise.

As for food and drink, the selection was not especially diverse, but everything that should be there was available.

Although it was called a village, it had actually reached the scale of a county town, with a permanent population of more than one hundred thousand, most of them civilians.

Ninjas made up roughly two-fifths of the population.

An even larger population was concentrated in the major cities, where the flow of people was greater.

The Shopping Street was extremely lively and was the main place where the village's crowds gathered.

There was everything for sale, including novel goods brought in from outside the village.

The point was, Konoha was actually very small.

Naturally, the two groups ran into each other just like that.

Inside the dining hall of a Barbecue Restaurant.

Across an aisle, Tsunade glared viciously at Mimi.

"What a coincidence, Lady Mito."

"What a coincidence, Hiruzen."

The two adults exchanged pleasantries, while Mimi was already too lazy to say anything.

Could this really be explained as a coincidence?

It was obviously deliberate.

Naturally, the two groups ended up sitting at the same table.

It was the kind of low, long table commonly found on Tatami.

The Third Hokage and Mito sat at opposite ends. The three on Mimi's side sat in a row along one side, while the three opposite them were Tsunade's group.

The atmosphere fell silent for a moment.

Orochimaru kept his face cold. He noticed the awkward atmosphere, but did not care.

Jiraiya was rarely bashful, but the Hyuga sitting opposite him had a delicate face that was simply too cute.

As for Tsunade, Jiraiya currently refused to acknowledge her as a girl. She was merely a flat-chested Monster Strength woman.

Although she was quite beautiful.

Still, he didn't know where to let his eyes drift.

The atmosphere? What atmosphere?

Jiraiya didn't know, but she was so white.

Hyuga Hitomi noticed, however. Her eyesight had always been excellent.

With Tsunade taking the lead, there was a faintly confrontational atmosphere.

"Hahaha..." The Third Hokage laughed awkwardly. "Everyone, get to know each other. From now on, you'll all be Konoha's ninjas and comrades, and you'll be going on missions together."

"No need!" Tsunade said unhappily. "We all know each other already! Right, you lecher, Jiraiya!"

"Huh? Ah! Yeah!" Jiraiya nodded.

Mimi looked at Jiraiya and extended a hand. "Your drool is about to fall out. Are you hungry? Want some?"

Jiraiya looked at the insects crawling over Mimi's hand and shook his head frantically.

A vein sprang up familiarly on Tsunade's forehead. Why is this guy so practiced at ignoring me?!

We only tied yesterday!

As expected, this guy is the worst!

Thinking this, Tsunade angrily slapped the top of Jiraiya's head.

Jiraiya leaped up in pain.

"Why did you hit me?! Flat-chested Monster Strength woman!"

"Get your eyes back where they belong, you idiot! Haven't you seen enough before?!"

It wasn't this close before.

Jiraiya rubbed his head miserably.

"Heh." Mimi laughed aloud.

Hyuga Hitomi lowered her head, her face slightly red.

She somewhat regretted sitting across from this white-haired boy.

She hadn't expected Jiraiya to be like this.

Although this wasn't the first time she had met him, her impression of him had deepened considerably.

Orochimaru quietly looked toward Mimi.

Noticing Orochimaru's gaze, Chiri tugged on Mimi's sleeve.

This guy has been staring at you.

That was what she meant.

Mimi didn't care. There weren't any flowers on her mask.

Still, she had been targeted by a snake.

However one looked at it, it was all because of that title of genius.

Although this was their first meeting, Orochimaru at this age looked very weak and delicate.

Mimi had no intention of saying much.

A hunter often appears in the guise of prey.

You think you've set your sights on me?

No. I'm the one who has set my sights on you.

Mimi wanted to borrow that clever little brain of his.

Watching the little exchanges around the table, Mito revealed an enigmatic smile.

The Third Hokage only felt a headache coming on and hoped Tsunade, who was swallowing her anger, wouldn't flip the table.

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