Takeoff!

Ye Ning walked back home at a leisurely pace, his hands clasped behind his head.

He ran straight into Tsunade, who was clutching two large watermelons to her chest with a pout, staring resentfully toward the direction of the Senju Clan Grounds like a jilted housewife, taking occasional sips of sake.

Seeing Ye Ning return, Tsunade's face instantly tightened.

"Well? Finally decided to come back? You've been out all day without even thinking to take me with you?"

Tsunade had spent the entire day at home, going nowhere.

She had originally assumed Ye Ning was just out for a casual stroll and would be back shortly, but she never expected him to spend the whole day out playing!

Without Ye Ning around, Tsunade suddenly lost interest in everything.

Even the sake tasted bland.

Why did she feel so uncomfortable if she didn't get to bicker with Ye Ning?

"Tsunade, why are you waiting here?"

Ye Ning stepped over the threshold, curious.

"You didn't sit here waiting for me all day, did you?"

"Who was waiting for you! Don't be so full of yourself!"

Tsunade bristled like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.

"I just felt like drinking here, is that a problem?"

Seeing this, Ye Ning found it all rather baffling. Why was she getting so worked up after only a few words?

Is it that time of the month?

Her temper was so volatile.

Realizing that Tsunade might be on her period, Ye Ning wisely kept his mouth shut.

Arguing with Tsunade at a time like this was pure suicide.

A couple of back-and-forth retorts would likely earn him a "fist of love."

Seeing that Ye Ning stopped arguing and walked past her toward the courtyard, Tsunade hurriedly called out to him.

"Why didn't you call me when you went out today?"

Ye Ning turned back, his face full of confusion.

Are you looking for a fight?

Do you really have to punch me to vent your frustration today?

I didn't call you?

You were sleeping like a log; how can you blame me for not waking you up?

To shut Tsunade up once and for all, Ye Ning simply laid out his itinerary for the day.

"I tried to wake you three times today, but you didn't respond, so I had to go out alone. I got lost at first and ended up near a forest. I ran into a student from the Ninja Academy and followed him to find my way back."

"Then, at a hot spring inn one street away from the Senju Clan Grounds, I discovered Jiraiya."

"Jiraiya is back?"

Tsunade took a surprised sip of her sake.

The last time they met... it must have been over three years ago, right?

That guy had seen three war orphans and suddenly had a change of heart, staying in the Land of Rain to teach those three brats.

Come to think of it, three years had passed; it was about time that guy came back.

"When I found him, he was peeping."

"Peeping...?"

Tsunade's lips twitched, and she instantly snapped out of the joy of an impending reunion with an old friend.

As expected, she shouldn't have held any expectations for Jiraiya.

That guy was a complete and utter scumbag!

The first thing he does upon returning to Konoha isn't to visit a friend he hasn't seen in years, but to run to a hot spring inn to peep?

Tsunade rolled her eyes.

A dog really can't stop eating dung.

"And then?"

"And then, I gave him a piece of my mind. Oh, wait, to be precise, I gave him a very 'kind' lesson. After all, if no one teaches him, this kind of uncouth behavior is an easy mistake to make."

Ye Ning wore a refined and gentle expression, a smile playing on his lips.

"Under my earnest guidance, Jiraiya finally realized his mistake and decided to turn over a new leaf."

"Turn over a new leaf? Him?"

Tsunade scoffed at Ye Ning's claim.

If Jiraiya could ever kick his habit of peeping, pigs would fly.

"He has truly realized the depth of his errors and is heartbroken. After all, he swore that if he ever peeped again, he would be rendered impotent and never have descendants. I don't think anyone would swear such an oath unless they truly intended to follow through, right?"

Tsunade froze.

Jiraiya actually swore an oath like that?

Just thinking about it felt unbelievable!

However, Tsunade quickly realized that this must have been an oath forced upon Jiraiya by Ye Ning.

"Hey, hey, hey, Ye Ning, isn't it a bit unseemly to talk behind someone's back like that?"

A dissatisfied voice suddenly drifted down from the courtyard wall. Looking toward the sound, there was Jiraiya, squatting right on top of the wall.

Hiss...

Since Jiraiya had sworn such an oath, perhaps he really could break his peeping habit!

Tsunade glanced at the wall and nodded inwardly; after all, he was already up on the wall.

Seeing that Tsunade and Ye Ning had noticed him, Jiraiya stood up, jumped down from the wall into the courtyard, and struck a bizarre pose, landing on the ground in what he considered a dashing manner.

Ye Ning's brow twitched as he fought to suppress a fit of laughter.

When it comes to being cringeworthy, I crown you second place.

As for first... that title belongs to none other than Might Guy.

Ye Ning spread his hands, his face full of innocence. "I wasn't talking behind your back. Was there anything I said just now that was incorrect? Or could it be that you haven't truly turned over a new leaf, and are only abandoning your peeping habit because you're forced to by your oath?"

"How... how could that be!"

Jiraiya laughed awkwardly, feeling deeply annoyed with himself.

He knew this brat wasn't someone to be trifled with, so why did he have to go and provoke him?

What good did it do to be left speechless by his retorts again?

Jiraiya simply stopped paying attention to Ye Ning and turned his gaze toward Tsunade.

It had been years, and Tsunade had only grown more beautiful...

A hint of infatuation flickered in Jiraiya's eyes, and his gaze began to drift downward...

Before his eyes could settle, Tsunade strode forward and swung an uppercut that sent Jiraiya flying.

Holy crap!

He's taking off!

Ye Ning's Adam's apple bobbed as he felt a wave of relief.

He knew it—Tsunade was definitely on her period today and was desperate to vent her frustration!

It was a good thing he hadn't provoked Tsunade earlier.

Or perhaps, Jiraiya had taken the hit for him?

Poor Jiraiya traced a graceful parabola through the air before crashing down like a free-falling object.

After sending Jiraiya flying, Tsunade walked back with a blank expression, still clutching a bottle of wine in her hand. The scene was indescribably bizarre.

"Sss... ow, ow, ow!"

The unkillable Jiraiya limped back, his face twisted into a grimace. It was clear that Tsunade's punch had been far from light.

"I'm telling you, Tsunade, it's been over three years! To hit me the moment we meet is just wrong! This is a terrible welcome gift!"

Tsunade snorted coldly:

"I was just helping you recall memories from three years ago. What, not satisfied? If you're not, I can give you another punch."

"No, no, no, no, satisfied! Absolutely satisfied!"