The Sannin Reunited

While Sigurd and Sasori were rushing to Amegakure, everyone in Konoha was happily celebrating the New Year.

By rights, it was New Year's Eve, so they should have been enjoying a sumptuous feast.

Unfortunately, the Hokage observed the Japanese New Year. A bowl of soba on New Year's Eve was all they got.

But Tokiju was a Chinese soul through and through. How could he let New Year's Eve pass without a table full of delicious dishes?

In the past, with Grandma Mito still around to keep an eye on him, he'd never had the chance to try anything new for the holiday.

Now that the only person who'd kept him in line was gone, the only one with a higher standing in the family was Tsunade.

But she was hardly the type to keep anyone in check. Every day, she lived a life where meals and clothes were brought to her.

She'd have a drink now and then, visit the casino when she had time, and take on a few surgeries at the hospital whenever she ran short of money. It was a life of enviable ease.

Today, Tsunade had left the Senju Ancestral Residence early, saying she was meeting up with some old classmates. She'd told Tokiju and the others to make their own plans.

Tokiju immediately concluded that his big sister was definitely going to meet Jiraiya and Orochimaru.

From the looks of it, Jiraiya had arranged the get-together after returning to the village. Neither his sister nor Orochimaru seemed like the sort to organize one themselves.

Tokiju had guessed correctly.

At that moment, three people were seated in a private room at a barbecue restaurant called Yakiniku Q: Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Orochimaru.

Jiraiya took a sip of sake and sighed cheerfully. "Ah, it's been ages since we last got together like this, hasn't it?"

"And I never expected you to come back to the village, Tsunade. Otherwise, I'd have returned ages ago, hahaha."

Tsunade clicked her tongue in annoyance. "Tch. I only came back with my little brother. Once he's settled into life in Konoha, I'll still..."

As she spoke, Tsunade took a long swig of sake and trailed off.

Honestly, she hadn't decided what she wanted to do in the future.

Once the higher-ups confirmed her brother's safety and stopped monitoring him, would she leave Konoha again and travel the Ninja World?

Or would she stay in Konoha as she had these past few months and devote herself to her work at Konoha Hospital?

Noticing Tsunade's troubled expression, Jiraiya quickly changed the subject. "Tsunade, I heard your younger brother, the one who went missing, is back?"

At Jiraiya's words, Orochimaru, who had been silently turning the meat with his tongs, looked up.

As the older brother of his student Nawaki, Tokiju was naturally known to Orochimaru.

He'd investigated and studied Tokiju's bizarre disappearance twenty years ago, but hadn't found anything useful.

So he was extremely curious about Tokiju's sudden return—and the fact that he still had the body of a six-year-old.

After all, it was only after Orochimaru witnessed his student Nawaki's tragic death that he realized how fragile life was.

From then on, he began to yearn for endless life.

Naturally, he was intensely curious about how Tokiju had managed to keep his six-year-old body for all those twenty years.

But Anbu and Root agents were always watching those around Tokiju, leaving Orochimaru with few chances to approach him.

If Orochimaru wanted, he could easily have slipped past the Anbu and Root surveillance.

But he hadn't. The main reason was that he simply didn't have the energy to spare.

Shimura Danzō had given him a batch of excellent experimental subjects some time ago. These days, Orochimaru was busy with research and experiments, with no time to concern himself with Tokiju.

The ostensible reason he'd come to the gathering today was out of respect for the bonds they'd shared as classmates for many years.

But the real reason was that he feared Jiraiya would barge into his lab and wreak havoc if he turned him down.

At Jiraiya's question, Tsunade nodded. "That's right. Tokiju really has come back. I'm certain of it."

Her tone was firm. The Anbu surveillance over the past few days had already gotten on her nerves. It was as if nobody trusted her brother.

The only thing that brought her some comfort was that Minato and Kushina were on her side and seemed to trust Tokiju.

If Jiraiya started making insinuations too, she'd make sure he spent the next ten days or half a month in the hospital.

Seeing Tsunade like this, Jiraiya swallowed the words that had been on the tip of his tongue. He really had meant to warn her.

He'd wanted to tell her not to believe everything she saw too easily. But one look at her murderous expression, and he could only keep quiet.

Orochimaru spoke in a low, sinister voice. "Heh heh. I'm quite interested in Tokiju's strange disappearance and sudden return, Tsunade. If possible, I'd like to meet him."

Orochimaru had put it very politely. He didn't actually need to ask Tsunade. He could have gone to see Tokiju in secret.

But out of respect for his old classmate, he'd courteously asked permission first.

Of course, even if Tsunade refused, he still had plenty of ways to meet Tokiju in secret.

After hearing Orochimaru out, Tsunade began to consider the matter.

Knowing Orochimaru, even if she refused, he'd still seek out Tokiju behind her back. That would only make things more dangerous.

Tokiju now had the fighting strength of an elite jōnin, and an array of Sealing Jutsu at his disposal. Even she might get caught off guard.

But he still lacked real combat experience. If the two of them actually came to blows, Tokiju would be no match for the snake in front of her.

Rather than let Orochimaru seek out her brother in secret, it would be better for them to meet under her watchful eye.

With that in mind, Tsunade nodded to Orochimaru. "Fine, but I have to be there too."

Orochimaru stuck out his tongue and gave his face a lick. "Heh heh. Of course. It's just a simple meeting."

At the sight of it, Tsunade got goose bumps all over. "Can't you quit that disgusting habit?"

Seeing that he'd been left out, Jiraiya pointed to himself. "I'm coming too! How could the Toad Sage miss something like this? You two can't just leave me out!"

Tsunade pursed her lips, but nodded anyway. "All right. Tokiju said he's putting on some kind of Grand New Year's Eve Dinner tonight, so you can both come along!"

At Tsunade's agreement, Jiraiya immediately straightened his clothes. "Don't worry. Since it's a New Year's Eve dinner, I'll bring a gift. I guarantee that kid Tokiju will love it, hehehe."