Do you think you're Jeanne Alter from the neighboring studio?
Sakuya grumbled inwardly.
She was way too easy to win over.
Looking at Tsunade, whose face was flushed with embarrassment but who stubbornly kept looking at him, as if trying not to seem so pathetic, Sakuya couldn't help laughing to himself. He felt he might have miscalculated.
He hadn't expected that saving the damsel in distress once and losing his left arm would be enough to take her affection from below zero straight to max.
So what had he bothered making all those plans for?
Maybe he could've won her over just by being direct.
He steadied himself, looked at Tsunade, and asked, "What kind of soup did you make me? It smells delicious."
"It's pork bone soup. I added ginseng, goji berries, and osmanthus, especially to help you recover..."
Halfway through, Tsunade realized what she was saying and hurriedly changed her tune. "Hmph, n-no, I didn't make it for you. I only made it for Nawaki because he's been growing lately! And don't get the wrong idea."
"Oh, is that so? Then I won't have any."
At those words, a disappointed look immediately appeared on Tsunade's face. Sakuya was delighted.
"...I'm kidding. Thank you so much for thinking of me, Princess Tsunade, and bringing me something nourishing in the rain. Sorry for the trouble."
"Hmph. As long as you know."
Tsunade gave a haughty snort, set up the tray over Sakuya's hospital bed, then placed the lunch boxes in front of him one by one.
"It smells wonderful."
Sakuya gazed at the delicious food before him in eager anticipation.
He reached for his chopsticks, but suddenly remembered something and teased her with a smile.
"It looks, smells, and tastes great. Princess Tsunade, you're quite the cook."
"Hmph, of course."
Tsunade said smugly, "I put in the effort to learn, you know?"
She'd learned as a child under her grandmother's guidance, who'd told her she could make a meal for the person who mattered most to her someday. She hadn't expected that the first time she cooked for someone, it would be for a member of the Uchiha Clan.
"But there's one little problem."
Sakuya looked at Tsunade.
"What problem?"
"Look."
Sakuya raised his right hand, then pointed at the bones. "You cut the pork bones into such big pieces, and I only have one hand. I can't pick them up."
"Huh?"
Tsunade blinked.
"You mean..."
"Feed me."
Sakuya tapped the table and said, as if it were only natural.
This was so weird.
Really weird!
Jiraiya was utterly bewildered as he watched Orochimaru head out early in the morning to buy sweets at Kanurigami.
He was sure Orochimaru didn't like sweets, right?
Why had he gone there after a trip to the Land of Fang?
And not just any shop—Kanurigami, with its pricey, luxurious treats.
Didn't he spend all his money building that research lab of his?
Did he still have enough to buy sweets?
If Tsunade found out, she'd definitely borrow money from him, wouldn't she? And never pay him back.
"Here you are. That'll be 3,400 ryō. Thank you for your purchase."
The shopkeeper smiled as she handed the neatly packaged box to Orochimaru and saw him out.
"Hey, Orochimaru."
As soon as Orochimaru stepped outside, Jiraiya hurried over. "Well, this is unusual. Why are you buying sweets all of a sudden?"
"I'm buying them for an injured friend. What about it, Jiraiya?"
Seeing Jiraiya's pale face and disheveled appearance, Orochimaru guessed what had happened.
"Look at you. Were you spying on the women's bath again?"
"Cough, cough! What are you talking about?"
Jiraiya coughed several times, his sore spot exposed. He glanced around furtively and, once he saw no one paying attention to him, finally relaxed. "I was gathering material for my masterpiece!"
"Oh? That Tale of the Gutsy Ninja?"
Orochimaru knew Jiraiya had been writing novels.
He'd even read that one, but it was a dull tale about a hot-blooded boy striving to succeed, and the writing wasn't all that good either. Despite having been on sale for quite some time, it had done only so-so.
"Of course not that one."
Jiraiya waved his hands repeatedly, glanced around again, then leaned close to Orochimaru's ear and whispered, "It's a new book. The kind everyone will love."
"What kind of book requires you to go spy on the women's bath every day? A book about dissecting the human body? Or..."
Orochimaru had no idea what Jiraiya was talking about.
"Well, whatever it is, it's definitely going to be a book everyone loves. You'll see when I publish it."
Jiraiya brushed the subject aside. "Speaking of which, Orochimaru, who's injured? Why buy such expensive sweets?"
He eyed the box in Orochimaru's hand with curiosity. "I didn't know you had such a good friend."
"Heh heh. A like-minded 'companion.'"
Orochimaru smiled.
"Like-minded?"
Jiraiya looked puzzled. He thought it over carefully, but couldn't imagine who could be so close to Orochimaru.
"Anyway, is he in the hospital? Why don't I come along and see him too?"
"You can come if you want, but he's badly injured and needs to rest. You're so energetic, so don't disturb him."
Orochimaru said this seriously.
"Ha ha ha, of course I won't."
Jiraiya waved a hand.
He followed Orochimaru all the way to Konoha Hospital.
When they went inside, some of the female nurses gave Jiraiya disgusted looks.
There was no need to guess. It had to be because he'd spied on the women's bath before.
"Once things settle down in a few days, Jiraiya, you should leave the village."
Orochimaru glanced at him and said with distaste.
"Why?"
"Having you stay in the village will only bring shame on me."
He made himself perfectly clear.
"I don't want to end up branded a bathhouse peeper and a sexual harasser because of you."
At that, Jiraiya looked heartbroken.
Can't we still be friends?
Thankfully, as they went up to the third floor, there were fewer people around. The looks of disgust and disdain dwindled too, and Jiraiya and Orochimaru no longer felt so painfully self-conscious.
But then...
"...All right, here you go. Say ah."
A familiar yet unfamiliar voice came from the hospital room ahead, and Jiraiya froze.
He looked at Orochimaru in disbelief, then pointed ahead, still unable to believe his eyes.
"Is Tsunade injured?"
"No."
"Then why is Tsunade here?"
His face was full of confusion.
What was going on?
"You'll find out when you go in."
Orochimaru ignored him and strode forward, pushing open the door.
"Hey, Orochimaru..."
Jiraiya hurried after him, but when he saw what was happening inside the room, he stood there dumbfounded, mouth agape.
At that moment, the blonde kunoichi was carefully holding a spoon, her face flushed as she brought it to the lips of the boy in the bed.
Was this a dream?
Jiraiya's mouth twitched.
That short-tempered Tsunade was gently feeding someone.
How did you tame her into this?
Before you continue