Tsunade Invites Everyone to Dinner?

It was only then that Jiraiya remembered Hyuga Shin was just a little kid. If he won a fight against one, he'd be bullying a child; if he lost, he'd be worse than a child.

That would make Jiraiya a laughingstock—not just in Konoha, but in the other ninja villages too.

And worst of all, his teacher, Sarutobi Hiruzen, would be disgraced along with him.

Tsunade Invites Everyone to Dinner?

"Having a teammate like you is embarrassing, Jiraiya," Orochimaru said coolly.

"Exactly! Your reputation's already bad enough. Add bullying a child to the list, and you'll be like a rat crossing the street, with everyone clamoring to beat you up," Tsunade teased.

Hyuga Shin crossed his arms and watched Jiraiya's stunned expression.

Honestly, if he really fought Jiraiya, Shin was confident he could beat him. Jiraiya was currently a step behind Orochimaru and Tsunade in strength.

Tsunade was at the level of an elite jonin, Orochimaru was close to a Kage, and Jiraiya was merely a jonin.

That wasn't meant to put Jiraiya down. In the future, with Sage Mode, he might become the strongest fighter of the Sannin.

But Jiraiya hadn't yet gone to Mount Myoboku, one of the Three Great Sage Lands, and his natural talent was inferior to Orochimaru's and Tsunade's. So, he really was a little weak.

He'd reached jonin strength through diligent training. Compared to Orochimaru and Tsunade, Jiraiya might have worked even harder behind the scenes, despite his carefree appearance.

Jiraiya was one of the most important characters in Naruto. You could say that without him, there would be no Naruto in the future.

Jiraiya and Iruka were undoubtedly the two people most important to Naruto.

"We've been talking for so long, and I still don't know your name," Tsunade said, turning to Hyuga Shin.

"Beautiful big sister, my name is Hyuga Shin," he said with a smile.

Tsunade froze for a moment, then looked into Shin's sapphire-blue eyes. Stars seemed to swirl inside them, dazzling her so much that she almost lost herself in their depths.

"Big sister, what's wrong?" Shin tugged at Tsunade's hand.

She came back to herself and smiled. "Nothing. Your eyes are so beautiful, little guy. I got completely lost in them."

"Little guy?" Shin's face darkened.

Orochimaru gazed at Shin's eyes, looking thoughtful. When he'd glanced at them just now, he'd sensed a hint of danger.

He took a long look at Shin, then said nothing. His interest in the boy had only grown.

If Shin knew that this weirdo Orochimaru had taken an interest in him, he'd have shuddered.

"Since you've introduced yourself, we should introduce ourselves too!" Tsunade said with a smile.

"No need, Tsunade. I think he already knows who we are." Orochimaru's slit pupils fixed on Shin.

Shin was taken aback, then said, "That's right, I do know you. You're the Hokage's disciples, after all. Is there anyone in Konoha who doesn't know you? Especially Princess Tsunade."

"So you know who we are, brat! You knew our identities and still made me look like a fool. You're dead meat!" Jiraiya threatened Shin.

"Big sister Tsunade, this ugly old man is threatening me." Shin ducked behind her.

When Jiraiya saw Tsunade's gaze turn toward him, he immediately backed down.

"You said your name was Hyuga Shin. You're from the Hyuga Clan, but you don't have the Byakugan. You're the talentless loser the Hyuga Clan talks about, aren't you?" Jiraiya blurted out.

"Jiraiya!" Tsunade's voice rose.

Jiraiya realized what he'd said and quickly apologized to Shin. He always spoke without thinking, but he hadn't meant any harm.

"It's fine. I don't care about that. Time will prove everything." Shin wasn't angry in the slightest.

He knew his own situation, and he didn't care much about what others said. Just as he'd said, time would prove everything.

"I can't believe you're so easygoing. If anyone said that to me, I'd have punched them into the ground already." Tsunade said, raising a fist at Jiraiya.

"Easygoing? Heh..."

That was only because no one had crossed Shin's line. He used to be a pushover, smiling and agreeing as long as his own interests weren't affected.

But if anyone touched what was his, Shin would explode.

"We're about to get some food at a barbecue restaurant. Why don't you join us? It's on me," Tsunade said with a smile.

She liked Shin, who was about the same age as her younger brother and made her feel an odd sense of closeness.

"Sure!" Shin replied with a smile.

Free food was free food. He might as well take it and save some money.

To be honest, Shin was a little short on cash. Training in the Six Powers cost a lot, and he'd become a bottomless pit.

On top of that, he needed to eat well to stay properly nourished, so his money was disappearing like water down a drain.

Jiraiya was in tears. He was the one who ended up paying for meals every time. Tsunade loved gambling and was a huge sucker—she didn't have a penny to her name!

Orochimaru was a stingy miser too, never willing to spend a single coin. So every time they went out to eat, Jiraiya's money for drinking with women got cut in half.

At least he's just a kid. He can't eat that much, Jiraiya reassured himself.

When they reached the barbecue restaurant, the owner saw the three of them and greeted them with a smile.

"Well, if it isn't the Hokage's disciples! You're regulars here, so I'll give you thirty percent off this time," the owner said cheerfully.

"Thank you, boss!" Jiraiya was extremely grateful. With thirty percent off, maybe he'd get to keep a little extra money.

"Don't mention it. You're regular customers, after all," the owner said with a smile.

But before long, the smile disappeared from his face.

After they found a seat, Jiraiya said generously, "Order whatever you want, brat. I'll pay."

"You said it, not me. Boss, bring me ten plates of barbecue first. I'll order more when I finish those."

"Ten plates won't be enough for all of us, kid," Jiraiya said with a laugh.

"I think you misunderstood. Those ten plates are for me. If you want to eat, order your own." Shin shot Jiraiya a glance.

"W-what? You can eat ten plates? Aren't you afraid you'll burst?" Jiraiya jumped to his feet.

"Shin, don't order so much if you can't finish it," Tsunade added.

"Don't worry. This is just a drop in the bucket—a little appetizer."

As he spoke, Shin laid the meat on the grill.