The Third Hokage's Attention (Part 2)

With delicious food before them, Yūske quickly grew familiar with Orochimaru and Jiraiya.

Orochimaru in particular had yet to develop the morbid disposition he would have later in life. At present, he was still quite easy to get along with.

Slices of meat were placed on the grill, and Yūske took on the role of chef. He wrapped the grilled meat and cucumber in lettuce leaves, then handed them to the three of them.

It was Jiraiya's first time trying this way of eating. The lettuce was refreshing, so it kept the meal from being overly greasy without losing the grilled meat's aroma.

"I'm telling you, Yūske, if you don't become a ninja, you could inherit your family's barbecue restaurant. I'm sure it would be hugely popular." Once he had eaten his fill, Jiraiya began letting himself go again.

Tsunade kicked Jiraiya under the table and said unhappily, "Even good food can't shut your mouth."

That made everyone burst into laughter. Even Orochimaru wore a faint smile.

Going along with him, Yūske said, "That could work. Once you become Hokage, assign me a few storefronts on Central Street, and I'll immediately submit my retirement application. How about it?"

At those words, Jiraiya immediately shook his head.

"I have no interest in being Hokage. Watching the old man cooped up in his office handling documents all day is far less interesting than traveling around gathering material."

"My dream is to travel the ninja world, write down all my experiences, and publish novels. That's what I'm meant to do."

If I didn't know you peeked into women's bathhouses every chance you got, I might actually believe that nonsense. Yūske silently mocked him.

After eating and drinking their fill, the three bid Yūske farewell and left together.

"Tsunade, you know Yūske best. Is there anything special about him?" Jiraiya suddenly asked Tsunade.

"Wh-what could be special about him? We're just friends." There was no need to look to know that Tsunade had gotten the wrong idea.

"No." Jiraiya put away his usual frivolity and said seriously, "The old man gave us another task today. He wants us to find a chance to force Yūske to reveal all his strength."

"Him?" Tsunade asked in confusion. "We've fought several times over the past few days. He's been improving every day, but aside from that, there's nothing particularly special about him, right?"

"From what I know of Teacher Hiruzen, he would never take such an interest in a Special Jonin of average strength who has no clan secret techniques. Perhaps Yūske possesses abilities that neither of us knows about." As Orochimaru spoke, he stopped and turned to look in Watanabe Yūske's direction. His eyes were filled with curiosity.

"Why don't we make a plan?" Jiraiya whispered to the two of them.

"That's way too underhanded. I'm not doing it." Tsunade refused.

"Hmm, Orochimaru would be too easy to expose. Looks like this great Jiraiya can only do it himself. I'll dig out every last one of his secrets." After saying that excitedly, Jiraiya ran toward the Hokage Building.

"I'll go report to the old man first. Tsunade, I won't walk you home."

Even after Jiraiya had gone far away, his voice still carried back from the distance.

Inside the Hokage's Office, Hiruzen Sarutobi ended the Telescopic Jutsu, put away the crystal ball, and continued reading the battle reports from the Front Lines.

The office door was suddenly kicked open with force, startling Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"Go pay for the door repairs tomorrow."

Looking at his favored disciple, Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed helplessly. There was nothing to criticize about the strength of his three students, but each of them had flaws that gave him headaches.

Orochimaru was poor with words and had a solitary personality.

Tsunade had a violent temper and resorted to force at the slightest disagreement. Most importantly, she was the First Hokage's granddaughter and Konoha's princess. With that background, she often showed no respect even for him, her teacher.

Jiraiya was rash and had many bad habits. Hiruzen often caught him peeping into women's bathhouses. It was utterly disgraceful.

"Old man, didn't you ask us to probe into Yūske's true abilities?"

"Hmm?" Hiruzen Sarutobi had not expected Jiraiya to take the matter he assigned so seriously.

"Hehe, I'll need you to seal off the place where Yūske usually trains. No one else can be allowed in. Here's my plan... First, I do this... then this..."

Listening to Jiraiya's plan, Hiruzen Sarutobi smoked as he considered it.

It had to be said that Jiraiya's plan was nearly perfect. Not only could it test all of Yūske's strength, but it could also test the Will of Fire in his heart. The only troublesome part would be calming him down afterward.

From his observations over the past few days, he could tell that Tsunade cared quite a bit about the boy. If Tsunade found out afterward...

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked sympathetically at Jiraiya, who was still proudly admiring his perfect plan. He seemed not to have realized the severity of the problem. Hiruzen silently mourned for Jiraiya for three seconds.

After receiving Hiruzen Sarutobi's approval, Jiraiya left the Hokage Building with cheerful steps.

Standing before the window and looking down at Jiraiya's departing figure, Hiruzen Sarutobi began planning how to distance himself from the matter.

After seeing Tsunade and the others off, Yūske washed up briefly and returned to his room. Lying on the bed, he began to think.

If Tsunade and the others were going to the Front Lines, he would likely follow the main force as well.

By now, he had almost completely adapted to this body. Fortunately, he had the memories of his past life, and he had developed the String-String Fruit's abilities quite a bit. But it was not yet time to rest easy.

It seemed he would have to increase the intensity of his training starting tomorrow.

Thinking of the money he had painstakingly saved, only for it to shrink again because of repairs, made his heart ache.