Serves You Right for Not Being Able to Catch Tsunade

"Old man, I'm back."

Jiraiya, who never took the conventional path, slid open the window of the Hokage Building and hopped in with a clean, fluid motion, his face etched with gloom.

Having just been scolded and forced to swear a venomous oath, it would be a miracle if Jiraiya were in a good mood.

The Third Hokage was already accustomed to Jiraiya's habit of climbing through windows instead of using the front door.

"It's good that you're back. You've been gone for so long..."

Before he could finish, the Third Hokage noticed the look of utter despair on Jiraiya's face and abruptly cut his sentence short.

He had intended to speak with Jiraiya about Danzo, but seeing that expression, his curiosity immediately took hold.

"That look... let me guess, did Tsunade reject you again?"

Although the Third Hokage had been in a foul mood lately, he could still manage a few jokes with Jiraiya after not seeing him for several years.

After all, Tsunade rarely spoke to him anymore, and Orochimaru was nowhere to be found; among his three disciples, only Jiraiya could still share a laugh and rekindle that old master-student bond.

Jiraiya scratched his hair, his body slumping into the sofa as if his bones had turned to jelly, his face full of frustration:

"Compared to what just happened, I think being rejected by Tsunade is easier to accept..."

"I finally returned to Konoha after holding back for three whole years, thinking I could finally get some good research done, only to be caught and lectured."

The Third Hokage was speechless.

He hadn't returned to the village in over three years, and the first thing he did upon returning wasn't to report to the Hokage Building, but to go peeping—and he got caught?

Knowing Jiraiya's character, the Third Hokage didn't need to think twice to understand what he meant by "research."

However, to be so dejected just because he was caught and scolded? That didn't seem like his thick-skinned self.

"A brat caught me and gave me a lecture; those words were more hurtful than Tsunade's fists. He even forced me to swear a venomous oath that if I ever peeked at the women's bath again, I'd become impotent while still being blessed with a house full of children! I'll never be able to do research again!"

Jiraiya was on the verge of tears.

Just thinking about it made his heart ache!

Ye Ning!

It was Ye Ning again!

The Third Hokage immediately thought of Ye Ning; there was no one else it could be!

In all of Konoha, who didn't know that Jiraiya was the Third Hokage's disciple, one of the Sannin who made a name for himself in the Land of Rain, and a hero of Konoha?

Only Ye Ning would dare to scold him so disrespectfully on the spot and force such a venomous oath upon him.

But truth be told, the Third Hokage actually felt that Ye Ning had done the right thing.

In the past, whenever this guy Jiraiya went peeping outside the women's bath, he was caught red-handed more than once. The victims couldn't find the culprit, so they would lodge complaints with him, the teacher. He had spent plenty of time apologizing on Jiraiya's behalf!

Ye Ning's actions... could be considered doing justice, right?

"This brat named Ye Ning is quite interesting."

Jiraiya picked up a teacup from the side and downed it in one gulp, the gloom on his face vanishing, replaced by a look of intrigue.

"By the way, old man, isn't this Ye Ning the Daimyo's Son? Why is he in Konoha?"

"He is a ninja of Konoha now, at the Daimyo's personal request."

The Third Hokage took a deep breath and briefly described what had happened since Ye Ning arrived in Konoha.

He also recounted Danzo's ordeal to Jiraiya.

Jiraiya, however, didn't have much of a reaction; in fact, he silently gave Ye Ning a thumbs-up in his heart.

Jiraiya had never liked Danzo's dark personality, and regarding Danzo's misfortune, he was at most not gloating. Expect him to sympathize with Danzo and denounce Ye Ning?

Forget it.

He and Danzo weren't that close.

Moreover, this was entirely due to Danzo's own misconduct, having his hand caught in the cookie jar.

He had brought this result upon himself; he couldn't blame anyone else.

Of course, the Third Hokage didn't tell Jiraiya everything.

At the very least, he didn't mention the matter of the White Fang.

Hatake Sakumo had a good relationship with all three of his disciples, and with Tsunade already estranged from him, he didn't want Jiraiya to grow resentful as well.

"So, this Ye Ning has a blood relation to Tsunade?"

Jiraiya nodded thoughtfully.

That explained why that punch Ye Ning landed on him felt so familiar.

He had been wondering why something felt off.

Now that he thought about it, that was clearly the Strength of a Hundred!

"Yes. Tsunade had been locking herself away at home because of the war; it was Ye Ning's guidance and comfort that helped her gradually emerge." The Third hesitated for a moment before speaking.

In truth, he still felt a sense of disappointment that she hadn't lived up to his expectations.

When Tsunade needed comfort the most, you were nowhere to be found; only after she had already moved past the pain did you finally return.

It makes perfect sense that you could never win Tsunade over!

You deserve to be single!

"Well, I get it." Jiraiya nodded, though he wore an indifferent expression, he couldn't help but feel a lingering sense of regret deep down.

When Tsunade lost her loved ones one after another and needed someone by her side the most, he hadn't been there.

The one who helped her walk out of the shadows wasn't him, but someone else.

It seemed he was always a step too late, missing the mark by just that little bit.

Seeing Jiraiya like this, the Third Hokage felt a strange surge of irritation and snapped impatiently:

"I'm warning you, stay out of trouble with that Ye Ning. If something actually happens, you're on your own."

"Got it, got it. What, am I actually going to throw hands with him? That would be bullying the kid."

Jiraiya waved his hand, not taking the Third Hokage's warning to heart.

The Third Hokage's mouth twitched twice, but he didn't bother to offer another reminder.

After all, you can't save someone who is hell-bent on their own destruction.

The Third Hokage had a premonition that Jiraiya was definitely going to suffer a massive setback at the hands of Ye Ning!

The kind of setback that would leave Jiraiya unable to even voice his grievances!

After a moment of silence, the Third Hokage spoke again:

"Are you leaving again after this return?"

"Well, I should be staying for a while. After all, I haven't been a very responsible teacher. Since I'm finally back, I should at least teach him something."

"That's fine. Minato has been taking on quite a few missions lately; it's a good time to give him a break and let him relax."

The Third Hokage rubbed his temples and let out a long sigh of relief.

Of his three students, each one was more troublesome than the last!

One locked himself at home drinking all day, another was nowhere to be seen for days on end, and the third had vanished for three whole years!

Being their teacher was truly exhausting!