I've Brought You an IOU!

Tsunade sat upright and adjusted her clothes.

In front of a stranger's child, she still didn't want to appear too unrestrained.

Afterward, her gaze swept across the room, pausing slightly when it passed over Kyohiko.

Then.

"I didn't expect you to lead another squad; it seems you've grown fond of being a teacher."

"Haha, being a teacher isn't actually that bad. They are all very excellent children."

Jiraiya entered and sat down.

Then, he introduced them one by one.

Everyone responded in kind.

Kyohiko looked at Shizune beside him and greeted her calmly—

Shizune, who had dared to argue with Tsunade earlier, was now standing to the side, looking restrained, her eyes darting toward the three of them from time to time.

However.

When she saw Kyohiko, she was clearly quite shocked.

Kyohiko had not been outstanding at the academy; both his academic and practical grades were mediocre. Yet, after not seeing him for two years, he had graduated early and even become Jiraiya's subordinate.

Shizune was full of curiosity.

But with Tsunade and Jiraiya present, she didn't dare to ask.

Tsunade swept her gaze across them.

Sakumo's son.

Then, she thought of the rumors about Sakumo from a few days ago, and her eyes dimmed involuntarily as she swept them toward the second person.

Kurenai Yuhi.

Shinku's daughter; she must have some talent in genjutsu, but as for the rest...

Her gaze shifted to Jiraiya, and she couldn't help but feel a bit suspicious.

Logically, Kurenai Yuhi's abilities didn't mesh with Jiraiya's; surely this guy didn't pick her just for her looks, right?

Tsunade's expression gradually shifted from confusion to seriousness and annoyance.

Jiraiya knew his partner too well; he immediately waved his hands repeatedly, his face turning pale, and whispered, "It's not what you're thinking! Don't misunderstand!"

Then, he gave a light cough.

"Kyohiko, why don't you take everyone outside to play for a bit? I need to have a private chat with Tsunade."

"Understood!"

Kyohiko nodded and led everyone out of the booth, though they didn't go far, just wandering around nearby downstairs, mainly to leave space for Tsunade and Jiraiya to talk.

Tsunade rested her hand on the window ledge, squinting down at the scene below.

"Is that child the one calling the shots in your squad? Kyohiko Yoshimine... I seem to have some impression of him, but it's not very deep."

"His grandmother was Tokah Senju."

Jiraiya explained.

Tsunade was slightly startled, her gaze sweeping back down.

"He is a descendant of Great-Aunt Tokah?"

"Yes, his parents were very mediocre, but this child seems to have inherited the powerful Senju bloodline. What's even rarer is his way of thinking and his awareness; he was very mature even as a child."

Jiraiya's tone was serious. "I believe he has the potential to become a second Second Hokage."

"It's rare for you to give such a high evaluation."

Tsunade leaned against the window, looking at the boy leading the group below.

Tokah's descendant...

Tokah Senju was a trusted aide to Hashirama Senju; she had called her Great-Aunt back then.

Before she knew it.

She already had grandchildren.

It was a pity that Great-Aunt Tokah had passed away as well.

Tsunade's eyes grew dim.

She sat back down, her mood not very high. "You aren't trying to have him convince me to return to Konoha, are you?"

"I won't convince you to return to Konoha."

Jiraiya shook his head.

He understood Tsunade's situation; forcing her to return would be nothing more than an unreasonable demand, and it would be of no help to the overall situation.

As a friend, he did not want to force the issue.

Jiraiya paused for a moment before bringing up the real business: "What do you think of Kurenai Yuhi?"

"Huh?"

Tsunade was slightly stunned, then let out a dry laugh, "You don't mean to have her become my apprentice, do you?"

"Her talent for chakra control is top-tier. Her constitution is a bit weak, but that can be compensated for with hard work later on; it's not entirely impossible for her to handle it."

Jiraiya replied.

Tsunade fell silent.

That wasn't wrong.

Those who excel in genjutsu often possess very precise chakra control.

As for her physical constitution, while it could indeed be improved to an extent, there would still be an upper limit, meaning Kurenai would likely struggle to fully inherit her complete techniques...

However.

If taught well, at the very least, the village would gain a new-generation leader in the field of medical ninjutsu.

She thought for a moment.

"Let her start learning and we'll see."

"I'll take that as a yes."

Jiraiya chuckled.

Tsunade did not refute him, instead letting out a yawn.

At this, Jiraiya smiled: "One last thing, and this one concerns you the most."

"There's more?"

"Mm, Koji Matsuyama from the Blue Flower Pavilion entrusted me to bring you an IOU."

Jiraiya's grin stretched wide.

A slip of paper was pushed in front of Tsunade.

Tsunade's face turned black instantly; the drowsiness from her yawn vanished, and she glared at Jiraiya with fierce eyes, saying: "You bastard!"

"Ahem, you have a reputation to maintain, after all; how could you skip out on the bill?"

Jiraiya pushed it further toward her.

Tsunade snorted coldly, took out a pen, and was just about to sign her name on the IOU when her eyes suddenly darted around, and she said: "If you're asking for favors for your student, you have to pay something in return—help me settle this debt!"

"Huh?"

"Anyway, you're much richer than I am."

Tsunade laughed.

Jiraiya's expression stiffened.

That might be true, but he was just supposed to be delivering an IOU!

How did he end up getting dragged into this himself!

Two girls walked in front.

Kyohiko and Kakashi followed behind.

"I didn't expect Kyohiko-kun to graduate early and become Lord Jiraiya's student."

Shizune said in a low voice.

Kurenai couldn't help but smile: "Kyohiko graduating at seven is nothing; Kakashi graduated at five."

"That's different."

Shizune shook her head.

She sighed: "Kakashi has been a genius since he was little; our generation grew up listening to rumors about him, but Kyohiko..."

People like Guy were, after all, the minority.

Everyone had always admired Kakashi, knowing full well that they could hardly catch up to him.

Kyohiko was different.

Before this, who had even heard of him?

Even Shizune's impression of her classmate was still stuck at the age of five; she never would have imagined that upon meeting again, he would have become a genius-level existence.

Whenever she thought about it, she felt a sense of how much things had changed.

Kurenai was just about to ask a question when, suddenly, the surroundings gradually grew quiet.

Ahead lay Tanzaku Castle.

However.

At this very moment...

Birds took flight, their chirping filling the air.

Something was wrong!

Kyohiko's gaze turned stern.

"Everyone, watch out!"

In the next instant, threads suddenly materialized all around them, followed by a rapid barrage of kunai and shuriken flying toward them.

Kyohiko immediately used the Body Flicker Technique to dash forward.

Mid-air, he had already finished extracting his chakra and forming the hand seals.

Water Style: Water Wall!

A rushing torrent of water surged up to form a high wall, shielding everyone in the center.

The kunai and shuriken struck the wall, only to be swept away by the current, unable to advance even a fraction of an inch.

At the same time—

Petals of cherry blossoms began to drift down.

Falling Cherry Blossom Illusion Technique!

Kakashi's figure flickered and vanished from his original spot.

Behind the wall, over a dozen masked ninjas charged out to attack.

"Capture them and trade them for the Young Master!"

Someone shouted amidst the chaos.

As the water wall collapsed, Kyohiko had already unfastened his leg weights and tossed them aside.

"Be careful!"

He then vanished from his spot in a flash.

Squelch!

Kyohiko, wielding a kunai, pierced a ninja's throat, blood spraying out to splatter across his body.