Twenty-three: I Should Be Under the Car, Not Inside It

Do you think you're Jeanne Alter from the show next door?

Sakuya grumbled inwardly.

To think she'd be this easy to handle.

Watching Tsunade, who looked bashful yet insisted on staring at him as if trying to make herself look less pathetic, Sakuya couldn't help but chuckle, feeling he had miscalculated.

He hadn't expected that a single act of playing the hero and losing his left arm would be enough to pull her favorability from the negatives all the way to the max.

What was the point of all those schemes he had plotted before?

He might have been able to win her over just by being direct.

He steadied his heart, looked at Tsunade, and spoke: "What kind of soup did you make for me? It smells so good."

"It's pork bone soup. I added ginseng, goji berries, and osmanthus, specifically to help you recover..."

Tsunade spoke halfway before realizing what she had said, immediately changing her tone: "Hmph, no, I didn't make it for you! I made it for Nawaki because he's going through a growth spurt! You, don't you dare misunderstand."

"Is that so? Then I won't drink it."

As soon as those words left his lips, a look of disappointment instantly appeared on Tsunade's face, which brought Sakuya a sense of delight.

"...I'm just kidding. Thank you very much, Princess Tsunade, for remembering me and braving the rain to bring me supplements. You've worked hard."

"Hmph, as long as you know it."

Tsunade snorted with pride, set up the bed tray for Sakuya, and placed the food containers in front of him one by one.

"It really smells delicious."

Sakuya looked at the food before him with great anticipation.

He raised his hand to grab the chopsticks, but suddenly remembering something, he smiled and teased.

"It looks, smells, and tastes perfect. Princess Tsunade, your skills are truly impressive."

"Hmph, that goes without saying."

Tsunade said proudly: "I actually studied this seriously, you know?"

She had learned it under her grandmother's guidance when she was a child, told that she could cook it for the most important person in her life one day. She never expected that the first time she would make it, it would be for someone from the Uchiha clan.

"However, it's a bit of a pity."

Looking at Tsunade, Sakuya said.

"What's a pity?"

"Look."

Sakuya raised his right hand and pointed at the bones: "The pork bones you prepared are so large, and I only have one hand. I can't pick them up."

"Eh?"

Tsunade was stunned.

"You mean..."

"Feed me."

Sakuya tapped the table, speaking with righteous confidence.

How strange.

It's really, really strange!

Watching Orochimaru, who had run to Kanurigami early in the morning to purchase desserts, Jiraiya was filled with confusion.

He remembered that Orochimaru didn't like sweets, right?

How did he end up here right after returning from a trip to the Land of Fang?

And at Kanurigami, of all places—a shop known for its expensive luxury goods.

Didn't he spend all his money on building that research lab of his?

Does he even have money left to buy desserts?

If Tsunade knew, she would definitely try to borrow money from him, the kind that never gets paid back.

"Here you go, that will be 3,400 ryo (1 ryo = 10 yen), thank you for your patronage."

The clerk smiled as she handed the packaged box to Orochimaru and saw him off.

"Hey, hey, Orochimaru."

Seeing Orochimaru emerge, Jiraiya immediately sidled up to him: "This is rare. How come you're suddenly buying sweets?"

"I'm buying them for an injured friend. Is there a problem, Jiraiya?"

Looking at Jiraiya, whose face was pale and who looked somewhat disheveled, he understood everything.

"Look at the state of you. Did you go peeping at the women's bath again?"

"Cough, cough, what nonsense are you spouting!"

Having his sore spot poked, Jiraiya coughed several times and scanned his surroundings like a thief. Seeing that no one was paying him any mind, he let out a sigh of relief and said, "I am out gathering material, for the sake of my magnum opus!"

"Oh? That The Tale of the Gutsy Ninja?"

Orochimaru was, in fact, aware that Jiraiya had been writing a novel.

However, he had read that book; it was a dull, hot-blooded coming-of-age story with mediocre prose, so much so that despite being on the market for quite some time, its sales remained lackluster.

"Of course not that one."

Jiraiya waved his hands repeatedly. He scanned the area once more before leaning into Orochimaru's ear and whispering, "It's a new book, the kind that people love."

"What kind of book requires you to go peeping in the women's bath every day? Is it a book on human anatomy? Or..."

Orochimaru had absolutely no idea what Jiraiya was talking about.

"Well, anyway, it's definitely a book everyone will love. You'll see once I officially publish it."

Jiraiya glossed over the topic: "Speaking of which, Orochimaru, who is injured? You need to buy such expensive desserts."

He stared at the dessert box in Orochimaru's hand with curiosity: "How come I didn't know you had such a good friend?"

"Heh heh, it is a 'companion' who shares the same ideals."

Orochimaru said with a smile.

"Shares the same ideals?"

Jiraiya's expression turned strange. He thought about it carefully, but he couldn't think of anyone who could be on such good terms with Orochimaru.

"Well, is he in the hospital now? Why don't you let me tag along and take a look?"

"If you want to follow, then follow. However, he is severely injured and needs quiet rest. Your personality is so flighty, don't go disturbing him."

Orochimaru said earnestly.

"Hahaha, of course I won't."

Jiraiya waved his hand.

He followed Orochimaru all the way to the Konoha Hospital.

As they walked in, some of the female nurses cast looks of disgust at Jiraiya.

There was no need to guess; it was certainly because of his previous peeping at the women's bath.

"Once things settle down in a few days, Jiraiya, you should leave the village."

Orochimaru glanced at him and said with disdain.

"Why?"

"Your staying in the village only makes me lose face."

His words were crystal clear.

"I don't want to be branded with the charge of peeping at women's baths and molesting women just because of you."

Hearing this, Jiraiya immediately put on a heartbroken expression.

Can we still be friends?

Fortunately, after they reached the third floor, the number of people gradually decreased, and those looks of disgust and contempt lessened, sparing Jiraiya and Orochimaru from feeling like they were being pricked by needles.

However.

"...Alright, come on, say ah."

A familiar yet strange voice drifted from the ward ahead, causing Jiraiya's body to stiffen instantly.

He looked at Orochimaru in disbelief, then pointed toward the front, equally incredulous.

"Is Tsunade injured?"

"No."

"Then why is Tsunade here?"

His face was full of confusion.

What was going on?

"You'll know once you go in."

Orochimaru ignored him and walked straight ahead, pushing the door open.

"Hey, Orochimaru..."

Jiraiya hurriedly followed, but upon seeing the scene inside the ward, he stood there with his mouth agape in a daze.

At this moment, the blonde kunoichi was earnestly holding a spoon, her face flushed with shyness as she fed the boy in the bed.

Is this a dream?

Jiraiya's mouth twitched.

That hot-tempered Tsunade was actually feeding someone so tenderly.

How did you manage to train her into this?

Looking at the Senju princess who was completely different from her usual self, Jiraiya felt that he shouldn't be here.