After the meeting, Kazashiro bid farewell to Choza and the other two, and immediately began searching for Tsunade.
Soon, he spotted Tsunade at the doorway and saw Jiraiya following behind her.
Tsunade looked very displeased.
Perhaps because she had been drinking, she was now loudly complaining to Jiraiya about Orochimaru's rude behavior.
"Orochimaru, that guy, dares to ignore me! Damn it, he's still the same as ever!"
With a punch thrown in a fit of rage, Jiraiya was startled, recalling unpleasant memories.
"That's normal, isn't it? After all, Orochimaru will be very busy lately; the old man just approved his establishment of the Research Bureau— "
Jiraiya tried to smooth things over, but Tsunade's glare made him shrink back.
"Research Bureau?"
Tsunade's tone was like that of a demon, and combined with her unpleasant expression, Jiraiya easily associated her with the legendary Hannya.
Yes, yes.
Forced to explain, Jiraiya at that moment only wanted to run away.
[Honestly, I shouldn't have come and called Tsunade.]
Jiraiya, who had only intended to invite Tsunade for a few drinks Jiraiya deeply regretted it.
Seeing the unfriendly interaction between the two, Kazashiro wisely stopped and observed from a distance.
After Tsunade stormed off, Kazashiro rushed over to Jiraiya and asked curiously, "What did you do to offend Lord Tsunade this time, Jiraiya- san?"
"Wow, that scared me." Jiraiya, who had just been startled by Tsunade, was startled Jiraiya Kazashiro suddenly appearing beside him. He patted his chest and steadied his breathing.
"You brat, what do you mean by 'again'?!"
Jiraiya squatted down, placed his hand on Kazashiro's head, and began to knead it vigorously.
But before he could even rub it twice, Kazashiro vanished before his eyes in an instant, leaving Jiraiya speechless. "Flying Thunder God Technique, huh? What a boring brat."
Unable to find Kazashiro anywhere Jiraiya reluctantly got up and headed to the tavern as planned.
Inside the Hokage's Office.
After finishing the meeting, Hiruzen Sarutobi sat in the room, looking at the office where he had spent countless years with a nostalgic gaze.
As he looked at it, Hiruzen's hand unconsciously reached for the spot where the crystal ball was.
Knowing that returning home would mean spending every day with Biwako and never having the chance to see the crystal ball again, Hiruzen blushed slightly and prepared to give Konoha its last inspection of the people's conditions.
However, having been interrupted multiple times before, Hiruzen did not act immediately. Instead, he listened carefully to the sounds outside the door and, after confirming that no one would disturb him for the time being, he eagerly lifted the red cloth covering the crystal ball.
The sound of hurried footsteps rang out at that moment, and before Chakra Hiruzen chakra into the crystal ball, the door was violently pushed open.
"Hey, old man, studying your crystal ball again?"
By pressing her hand against the door, Tsunade prevented it from springing back, and her gaze towards Hiruzen Sarutobi was not friendly.
"Tsunade, have you been drinking?"
Seeing the behavior of his own disciples, Hiruzen, who was already used to their way of doing things, Hiruzen his forehead in exasperation.
Why do none of these guys like to knock on doors?
Especially Jiraiya, after being scolded by me a few times, he actually developed the skill of climbing through windows and no longer even uses the door.
Kazashiro is definitely more well-behaved and adorable.
Although he thought this to himself, Hiruzen, feeling somewhat guilty towards Tsunade, tolerated her behavior and asked Tsunade why she had come, "Is there something you need from me?"
Upon hearing Hiruzen's question, Tsunade narrowed her eyes and carefully examined her teacher.
After a long silence, she finally spoke with a touch of sadness, "It's nothing, I just thought you really haven't changed. Back then, you rejected my proposal on the grounds of insufficient funds, but when it came to your favorite disciple, you approved his establishment of the Research Bureau without hesitation."
"You're far too biased towards Orochimaru."
Tsunade never forgot that Jonin meeting, and it was at that meeting that she met Dan Katō.
"Tsunade, I don't deny that I have a bias towards Orochimaru. No matter the era, teachers always tend to prefer geniuses." Hiruzen Sarutobi did not deny Tsunade's accusation, but instead took out his pipe from his pocket and put it in his mouth.
"Of course, it wasn't because I disliked you that I rejected your proposal. If Orochimaru's proposal had been made around that time, I would have rejected it as well."
"At that time, Konoha indeed lacked the financial resources to train specialized medical ninjas."
Hearing Hiruzen Sarutobi's explanation, Tsunade's expression softened slightly.
A moment of silence fell over the room.
After a long silence, Tsunade spoke slowly, "You have indeed changed, old man. The old you would never have explained so much to us."
"I'm old, Tsunade."
Touching the wrinkles on his face, Hiruzen Sarutobi gave a self-deprecating smile, "Besides, when I spoke with you before, I was the Hokage; now I'm just your teacher."
"He's only in his fifties."
"In my fifties, back in the days of my predecessors and me, we were indeed considered old." Hiruzen was right; in that era of constant warfare, the average lifespan of ninjas was indeed very low.
"That's why Grandpa wanted to establish Konoha..." After her outburst, Tsunade had sobered up considerably, and her tone wasn't as aggressive as before. "Old man, the war is over, I want to go out for a walk."
"Go, it's good to see the outside world." Knowing that the knot in his disciple's heart wouldn't be untied so easily, Hiruzen readily agreed to Tsunade's request.
"That..."
A weak voice rang out, drawing their attention.
Kazashiro peeked out from the edge of the doorway, revealing an awkward smile, "Could I come along too?"
"You want to go to Shikkotsu Forest to study?"
Tsunade sat on Hiruzen's desk, and surprisingly, the old man didn't reprimand her for this rude behavior.
Glancing at Hiruzen, Kazashiro nodded knowingly. "Yes, Tsunade- senpai."
"Hey, old man, if I take the Three-Tails Jinchuriki away, it won't violate the village rules, will it?" Tsunade to look in the direction where Hiruzen was.
"Suit yourself. Kazashiro's identity is top secret now. Not many people know that Jinchuriki." Hiruzen his head.
As he just said, every teacher will favor the gifted student, and for the sake of the gifted student, he may even sacrifice some principles.
"Well, since you've put it that way," Tsunade stretched her shoulders and left Hiruzen's desk.
"Then I'll take Junior Brother with me!" Tsunade reached out and grabbed Kazashiro by the back of his collar, lifting him up and dragging him out.