The Circle Run Ends

Orochimaru was far ahead, having left Tsunade and Jiraiya far behind.

Jiraiya and Tsunade maintained a distance of one behind the other, Jiraiya in front and Tsunade behind.

Suddenly, Tsunade wasn't paying attention and tripped on a small stone. Just as she was about to fall, Tianqi used the Body Flicker Technique to steady her.

"Are you alright, Tsunade?" Tianqi asked softly.

"N-no, I'm fine," Tsunade blushed, looking at Tianqi holding her.

"I believe this distance should be no problem for you. Keep it up!" Tianqi encouraged.

Tsunade, blushing, ran off and ran alongside Jiraiya. Tianqi joined them as well.

"Huh, Big Brother Tianqi, are you joining us for a run too?" Jiraiya asked, seeing Tianqi join them.

"Seeing you all run made me want to join too. I'll just consider it a warm-up, and I can eat more tonight," Tianqi grinned mischievously, thinking about Sarutobi treating them. After years, he could teach Hiruzen Sarutobi another lesson.

Jiraiya was confused. Wasn't he the one treating them? And he wanted to exercise to eat more? What was that about? A weirdo.

"You all look tired. I'll tell you something interesting. It can also help distract you," Tianqi said to the two, thinking of Sarutobi.

They didn't speak, just stared at Tianqi.

"Your teacher, Sarutobi, is actually half my master. I was the first member of his first team, and he arranged all my training," Tianqi's thoughts drifted back to a few years ago, training and completing missions with Sarutobi.

"Huh, I didn't expect Big Brother Tianqi to be a student of Teacher Sarutobi. But why only half a master?" Tsunade asked, puzzled. Jiraiya also looked at Tianqi.

"Ah, that, you'll have to ask your great-uncle Tobirama Senju," Tianqi shook his head, thinking of Tobirama Senju.

"Great-uncle? What's going on?" Tsunade's interest piqued when her great-uncle was mentioned.

Jiraiya's ears perked up upon hearing about the Second Hokage.

"Your great-uncle, because of my Uchiha heritage, never liked me. Although he assigned me a Jonin leader, he didn't allow the Jonin to take me as a disciple. So, Sarutobi can only be considered half a master," Tianqi said, waving his hand indifferently.

"Yeah, Great-uncle really didn't like Uchihas," Tsunade nodded, recalling her great-uncle.

"Then, Big Brother Tianqi, how did you become so strong later?" Jiraiya asked happily, eager to know how Tianqi got so strong. Maybe he could use his method too. He really didn't want to be at the bottom anymore.

"Hmm... How to put it? Three parts luck, seven parts effort. Everyone has their own opportunities. As long as you seize the opportunity and work hard, you can soar," Listening to Jiraiya, Tianqi thought of the system. He had indeed achieved his current status through the system and his own hard work in completing missions. However, that three parts luck was more important than the seven parts effort.

"Oh," Jiraiya's expression fell upon hearing it was luck and effort. It seemed he couldn't use his method.

"Jiraiya, don't be too discouraged. I believe your own opportunity will come soon, and you will definitely soar then," Tianqi said, looking at the disappointed Jiraiya. These weren't empty words of encouragement; they were facts. As far as he knew, Jiraiya in the original story, at this age, used summoning jutsu to enter Mount Myoboku and successfully learned Sage Mode, thus soaring.

"Thank you, Big Brother Tianqi," Jiraiya clearly didn't believe Tianqi's encouragement but still thanked him.

"Jiraiya, I'm very optimistic about your future. I believe you will definitely become a pillar of Konoha. And you too, Tsunade."

Hearing Tianqi praise her, Tsunade blushed shyly.

"Let's go, we need to catch up to Orochimaru!"

With that, the two inexplicably gained strength and sped up, chasing in Orochimaru's direction. They caught up to Orochimaru in five minutes.

"Oh? How did you catch up?" Orochimaru asked curiously, seeing the two running alongside him.

"It's not just them; I'm here too!" Tianqi appeared appropriately in front of Orochimaru.

"Captain Tianqi, you're joining the running circle too?" Orochimaru said to Tianqi. Wasn't he supposed to be hiding in a corner sleeping? Why was he joining the run? Strange.

At this, all three looked at Tianqi with strange expressions.

"Don't look at me with those strange expressions. Your teacher Sarutobi trained me like this back then. Blame Sarutobi if you must; he came up with this idea," Tianqi directly shifted the blame to Sarutobi.

"Captain Tianqi, are you also a disciple of Teacher Sarutobi?" Hearing Tianqi say that, Orochimaru instantly understood.

"No, just a former teammate. And please call me Big Brother Tianqi."

"Alright, handsome guys and beautiful girls, let's sprint towards the finish line! The barbecue is waiting for you!" Tianqi shouted and charged ahead.

Although the three didn't know what "handsome guys and beautiful girls" meant, seeing Tianqi rush out excitedly, they followed.

Finally, at 9:20 PM, they completed thirty laps, all three panting heavily at the finish line.

Tianqi checked the time and said to them, "You didn't finish within the allotted time, so there's no barbecue."

Hearing that the barbecue was gone, the three looked disappointed, especially Jiraiya, who had relied on eating Tianqi dry to keep going.

"However! Your teacher Sarutobi is treating us today, so the barbecue is still on!" Seeing their disappointed faces, Tianqi executed a complete reversal.

"Hooray!" Jiraiya jumped up with joy. Tsunade and Orochimaru also smiled.

"Don't keep Sarutobi waiting. Target: barbecue restaurant, let's go!" As soon as Tianqi finished speaking, the three turned into gusts of wind and vanished from their spots.

"These guys," Tianqi shook his head, watching the three disappear, then used the Body Flicker Technique to arrive at the entrance of the barbecue restaurant.

After waiting for a while, the three also rushed to the barbecue restaurant. As soon as they arrived, they saw Tianqi smiling at them.

"Oh my, you're fast. I thought I'd have to wait a bit longer," Tianqi teased them with a smile.

"How did you get here so quickly? Weren't you behind us?" Tsunade and Jiraiya exclaimed.

Orochimaru wasn't surprised. With his strength, it was normal for him to arrive before them.

"Why are we talking so much? Sarutobi is waiting inside. Let's go in first."

With that, they rushed into the restaurant. Tianqi joined them.

Upon entering, they saw Sarutobi sitting at a table, with barbecue already cooking. Seeing Sarutobi, they immediately sat down. Orochimaru and Jiraiya sat together, Tianqi and Tsunade sat together, and Sarutobi sat in the main seat.

"Tianqi, why are you also rushing like them?" Sarutobi teased Tianqi as he saw them hastily take their seats.

"It's rare for you to treat us. I have to be proactive," Tianqi said nonchalantly.