Jiraiya Treats Everyone (Part 2)

Konoha.

Inside Jiraiya's home.

"Who asked you about that?" Tsunade spat lightly, glaring at Yūske again.

"Do you distrust me that much? I've been training with you every day for so long." Then Tsunade turned and shot a look at Jiraiya, who had crawled back inside.

"Hmph. Out of all of us, we were the first to get acquainted, yet Jiraiya only helped you train a little and you told him everything."

"I told Jiraiya?" Yūske's memories became muddled for a moment. Wasn't I forced into it? Or did that guy sneak attack me? I let my guard down and couldn't dodge.

Behind Tsunade, Jiraiya frantically signaled to Yūske, so anxious his eyes nearly popped out, but Yūske did not notice.

"I didn't mean to hide it from you. I'd only just awakened this power, and I didn't know how to tell you. Besides, I was afraid I wouldn't be able to control it properly. What if I accidentally hurt you?"

Yūske patiently explained himself to Tsunade. After hearing him out, she gave a cold snort. The dissatisfaction in her heart eased somewhat.

When Jiraiya heard that Yūske had not mentioned last night's events, he secretly gave him a thumbs-up. What a loyal guy!

But Yūske's next words terrified him.

"If Jiraiya hadn't concealed his identity and sneak-attacked me from behind, making me think he was a spy from an enemy nation, I wouldn't have had to use String Style to keep him from escaping," Yūske said irritably.

"Huh?" Tsunade turned to look at Jiraiya.

"Didn't you say you planned to help Yūske train as his senior, point out his shortcomings, then provoke his competitive spirit with a little goading?"

"No, it wasn't me, it was the old man! Right, he told me to do it! He's the one who—"

Before Jiraiya could finish, a muscular hand had already struck him in the stomach. After 0.1 seconds of contact, Jiraiya flew away once more.

"Hmph!" Tsunade rubbed her fist.

Yūske thought, Should I have flown off myself? Maybe it wouldn't have been quite so embarrassing.

When Tsunade looked at Yūske again, she no longer held much resentment over his concealment. However, her anger had yet to fade. Most of it had probably been redirected at Jiraiya.

"Has Jiraiya learned some kind of flying ninjutsu? I just saw him flying pretty fast."

The timing could not have been better.

Orochimaru walked in with a basket in hand, his face full of teasing amusement.

So this is what you're like, Uncle Snake. Yūske complained inwardly. What happened to being cold and aloof? Still, thanks for drawing Tsunade's attention away, Uncle Snake.

"Congratulations, Yūske. I never expected that one day, we would become fellow disciples."

Orochimaru handed the basket to Yūske. Looking inside, Yūske saw a basket full of eggs.

"Thank you, Senior Brother Orochimaru. But Minato and the others are already cooking in the kitchen. Senior Brother Orochimaru, you should save these eggs for Jiraiya to eat himself."

After saying that, Yūske was about to take the eggs into the kitchen, but Orochimaru stopped him.

"This is the gift I prepared for you," Orochimaru said.

"Senior Brother gave me eggs?" Yūske stared blankly at them. He had merely become the Third Hokage's disciple, not just given birth.

"They're snake eggs, and they're about to hatch. I thought that since your Kekkei Genkai is made up of long, thin strings, you might like animals such as snakes." It was rare for the cold and aloof Uncle Snake to be so thoughtful, but Yūske's gaze toward him became even stranger.

Still, it was Orochimaru's kindness after all.

"Then thank you, Senior Brother Orochimaru."

"Pfft!"

Watching the interaction between the two, Tsunade finally could not hold back her laughter. Well, Tsunade had never had anything to do with being ladylike, so Yūske could not be bothered to complain.

The three of them drank tea in Jiraiya's home while waiting for the meal. As for Jiraiya, he crawled back just before the food was served.

At the dining table.

"Cheers!"

The four adults raised their alcohol, while the three children held their drinks. Maru clamped a bowl in his mouth and drank as well.

With Jiraiya around, the atmosphere was always so lively. Watching him repeatedly sling an arm around Yūske's neck, Tsunade silently decided that she needed to keep Yūske away from Jiraiya.

If he picked up bad habits, then with that handsome face of his, he would probably become the first ninja in the ninja world to be arrested—or defect—because he had ruined too many women.

After they had eaten and drunk their fill, the pitiful Minato, the other two children, and the dog once again served as laborers, cleaning up the mess.

However, the four people sitting on the sofa were no longer fooling around as they had earlier. Instead, they began discussing the war on the Front Lines.

Although Jiraiya and Tsunade had no interest in the position of Hokage, that did not stop them from keeping track of the war or understanding the overall situation.

According to Konoha's usual customs, the position of Hokage was generally passed down between master and disciple. The Fourth Hokage would likely be selected from among the four of them.

In the eyes of most people, becoming the Hokage's disciple meant that the Hokage was grooming a successor.

"Yūske, before long, the three of us will return to the battlefield. You need to increase your strength as quickly as possible. Your String Style is well suited for the battlefield," Jiraiya said to Yūske with a serious expression.

"Yes. I'll catch up to the three of you as soon as possible and fight for peace in the ninja world," Yūske replied just as seriously.

"I'll prepare healing medicine for you. Improving your strength is important, but you must also rest properly. Don't overdraw your stamina, or you may end up with hidden injuries that cannot be healed." Tsunade looked at Yūske with worry written across her face.

"If there's any ninjutsu you don't understand, you can come ask me at any time." That was the help Orochimaru offered.

"I understand. Thank you, Senior Brothers and Senior Sister."

Yūske stood and gave the three of them a deep bow.