"Jiraiya, how did you end up back here?"
Tsunade wasn't exactly welcoming when she saw her two teammates, but she did scoot over to make room.
"The old man had something important to discuss with me. If I hadn't come back, ANBU would probably have dragged me here."
"I'm only here for one day, and I just happened to run into Orochimaru."
Seeing Jiraiya acting so frivolously and shamelessly, Tsunade felt her anger rise.
"You lecherous old man. I'm worried you'll corrupt the kids."
As she spoke, she raised her fist. Jiraiya looked at it and silently took a step back, repeatedly promising he absolutely wouldn't corrupt the kids.
"I only meant to invite Teacher Orochimaru, but Lord Jiraiya insisted on coming along."
Seeing Jiraiya's predicament, Shengshu hurried over to twist the knife.
Orochimaru's lips curled into a smile, and he nodded along.
"Orochimaru, now's not the time to pile on! Save me!"
For all their bickering, the Sannin were still the Sannin—partners who could trust each other with their lives on the battlefield.
Luckily, the private room was spacious enough for everyone to sit comfortably.
Yayoi and Yan sat together, Shengshu and Tsunade sat together, and Orochimaru and Jiraiya sat together.
Orochimaru was a little surprised to see a Uchiha there, but after seeing Yayoi, he gave it no further thought.
As teammates who had faced life and death together, they'd heard about Uesugi Yayoi from Tsunade.
He was a member of the Senju Clan and a promising student of Medical Ninjutsu. Tsunade planned to take him as her apprentice.
Now that he'd met Yayoi in person, Orochimaru smiled and showed his goodwill.
"Little Yayoi, I didn't expect girls to like you at such a young age."
Jiraiya was the friendliest of them all. He looked at Yayoi with a kind expression and said with a grin.
He was Tsunade's student. If Jiraiya could build a good relationship with him now—
Then they could work together from the inside and out. Jiraiya might still have a chance.
That was what Jiraiya thought.
"Ahem. I'm Jiraiya, one of the Sannin."
Jiraiya sneakily leaned toward Yayoi's ear.
"Tomorrow, I'll take you to see some really good stuff."
"Lord Jiraiya, you're quite the joker."
Yayoi wasn't buying it. Everyone knew what Jiraiya was like: a lecherous old man. Besides, wouldn't it be better to spend that time studying Dragon Script?
Yan silently watched Yayoi and Jiraiya. Her stare made Jiraiya feel a little awkward, and she only looked away after he let go of Yayoi.
"Jiraiya, keep it under control, or else..."
Watching Jiraiya sneak around, Tsunade knew he wasn't up to anything good and warned him.
Jiraiya opened a bottle of sake, seemingly ready to drink it in one go.
"Wait, my cousin hasn't arrived yet. She might be lost. I'll go get her."
At that moment, Tsunade seemed to suddenly remember something.
The others exchanged puzzled looks, unsure what was going on.
Before long, the private room's door opened, and Tsunade led in a red-haired little girl.
"Ahem. Let me introduce you. This is my cousin, Kushina."
"Kushina."
Shengshu greeted her too, beckoning her over.
As for why his sister had invited Kushina, perhaps she wanted to help Kushina feel a little better.
After all, her country had been destroyed, and she'd come alone to a foreign land. It must have been terribly lonely.
Perhaps the lively atmosphere would help Kushina feel the warmth of Konoha.
"All right, everyone, dig in. Don't be shy."
Tsunade opened a bottle of sake and started drinking with Jiraiya.
"What a feast."
Yayoi couldn't help but marvel at the people gathered for the banquet.
The Sannin, Shengshu, and the future—or rather, current—Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.
It was hard to imagine a more remarkable gathering.
Kushina still seemed a little out of place. After all, she'd suddenly found herself among so many strangers, and she wasn't used to it.
But when she saw the quiet boy and girl across from her eating without a word, she followed their example and focused on her food.
At the table, only Jiraiya and Tsunade kept the atmosphere lively, drinking each other under the table.
Everyone else, including Orochimaru, one of the Sannin, remained silent.
Yayoi, however, was lost in thought.
He'd long since hit a bottleneck in his analysis of Uchiha and Hyuga genes. This wasn't something he could finish in a short time.
His expertise still wasn't sufficient. After all, one person only had so much energy.
But could two people split up the work?
"Maybe, for now, I can ask Orochimaru to help me study Hyuga genes."
After turning it over in his mind, Yayoi finally came up with a solution.
There was no helping it. His research into Uchiha genes had recently stalled too; he needed a deeper understanding.
Tsunade hadn't been around before, so Yayoi had been able to focus on overcoming the hurdles in Dragon Script.
He simply hadn't had time to work on the genes.
At this stage, Orochimaru's ambition for research was already beginning to show.
If Yayoi handed him the Byakugan genes now, Orochimaru would probably be overjoyed.
Having made up his mind, Yayoi decided to speak with Orochimaru later.
For now, he'd finish his meal first.
"How boring. Not a single one of the famed Sannin can match me. The life of a master is lonely."
Tsunade looked at Jiraiya, who had passed out, and burst out laughing.
"Shengshu, help me get home. That's enough for today."
"Are you drunk too, Sis?"
Shengshu truly was the brother of the year. He immediately ruined Tsunade's bravado.
"What did you just say, you little brat? I won!"
Taking advantage of her height, Tsunade ruffled Shengshu's hair with a rough hand.
In the end, Shengshu left, supporting Tsunade with a deeply aggrieved expression.
Before leaving, he remembered to call Kushina along.
"All right, I should get going too."
Orochimaru hauled up Jiraiya, who reeked of alcohol, and spoke with a look of distaste.
"Lord Orochimaru, if you have time tomorrow, please stop by the Tricolor Dango Shop next door."
Orochimaru looked at Yayoi. Once he was sure Yayoi wasn't joking, he nodded.
"Sure."
Then the two of them left.
"Lord Orochimaru doesn't seem so cold after all. He looks easy to talk to."
Yan stood up.
"Yeah, he does. All right, Yan, let's head home too. Your Second Grandfather will be worried otherwise."
"Mm-hm."
Every night, Yayoi activated Mirror Eye to analyze Dragon Script until he'd used up most of his chakra and exhausted himself.
Only then could he sleep especially soundly.
Early the next morning, he got up, got ready, packed the notes from his research on the Hyuga, and prepared to head to the Dango Shop.
The outsourced work was officially underway.
Yayoi wasn't worried about Orochimaru setting him up. At this stage, Orochimaru was still good to the people on his side.
Besides, if Orochimaru gave him false information, Yayoi would be able to tell.
In short, there was no need for it. Orochimaru wouldn't stoop to tricking him.
"Boss, five skewers of dango, two to go."
"Yayoi, you're here early today. The takeaway's for Yan, right?"
The Dango Shop owner spoke amiably.
"You can't fool the shopkeeper."
"Sure thing. I'll get them ready for you."
The morning light filtered through the curtains, casting thin rays across Yayoi's face.
The early sun wasn't scorching. Its light was gentle and soft, like a breeze brushing against his face.
Before long, Orochimaru arrived as promised.
"What did you want to talk to me about?"
Orochimaru sat down. A magatama-shaped earring dangled from his ear, looking a little eerie in the light. He looked straight at Yayoi and asked.
"I'd like to ask you to help me research something, senior."
"Research?"
"Please take a look."
Yayoi handed the notes to Orochimaru.
Just then, the shopkeeper brought over three skewers of dango.
Before you continue