Tsunade took a deep breath, setting off a wave, then looked at Kizaru and continued explaining, "Jiraiya heard you were going to become Orochimaru's disciple. Curious, he wanted to test your strength on Orochimaru's behalf."
Kizaru drew back his index finger, rubbed the back of his head with his right hand, and kept smiling. "I'm really sorry about that! I hope Lord Jiraiya's injuries aren't too serious."
Hearing Kizaru's words, Tsunade turned to look in the direction Jiraiya had flown.
The dust had just settled. Tsunade could clearly see Jiraiya, his clothes tattered, his body covered in dust and blood.
He was alive, and still breathing!
Tsunade felt a little relieved, then looked back at Kizaru. "He's fine!"
No, I'm not!
Lying on the ground and staring at the sky, Jiraiya felt like crying.
"Big Sister Tsunade, why don't you treat Lord Jiraiya first?" Kizaru had followed Tsunade's gaze and turned to look as well. Seeing Jiraiya, whose Transformation Technique had worn off, lying there in such a sorry state and looking like he might stop breathing at any moment, he was startled and kindly reminded her.
Lying motionless in the distance, Jiraiya heard Kizaru's words and felt a warm rush in his heart. His fondness for Kizaru instantly grew, and he thought with emotion, My little nephew-in-training is a great guy. He's a good person!
"With me here, he won't die." Tsunade crossed her arms and said confidently.
Crack!
After hearing Tsunade's reply, Jiraiya felt half his heart shatter. He wanted to cry even more.
"True. Then let Lord Jiraiya lie there a little longer!" Kizaru nodded in agreement.
Cra-a-ack!
It was shattered. Completely shattered. Jiraiya's heart ached! It hurt so much!
So love really could disappear. There was no love left in this world!
Just as Jiraiya had given up all hope in this cold world, his vision suddenly darkened. Someone appeared beside him, blocking out the sun.
"You idiot!" Orochimaru spoke coldly as he crouched down.
Although he hadn't devoted himself to studying Medical Ninjutsu, Orochimaru was a genius at ninjutsu and had still mastered a little of it.
He carefully examined Jiraiya's injuries and found that the poor guy had internal bleeding beneath the skin, damaged organs, and several broken ribs.
Reflecting on Kizaru's Strength of a Hundred and his skill, Orochimaru began treating Jiraiya's injuries.
"Orochimaru!" Jiraiya said softly, his voice full of emotion. At that moment, Orochimaru suddenly seemed kind and noble to him, so much so that Jiraiya couldn't help feeling a little smitten.
"Stop looking at me with that disgusting expression. Don't get any strange ideas, you idiot!" Jiraiya's gaze made Orochimaru uncomfortable, and he spoke coldly.
"You—!" After being insulted again and again, Jiraiya was about to talk back, but when he saw the dangerous look in Orochimaru's eyes, he could only swallow his retort.
Orochimaru's actions naturally didn't escape Kizaru and Tsunade's notice. They both looked toward the direction Jiraiya had flown once more.
"Looks like Lord Jiraiya is fine now," Kizaru said, sizing up the young, original Orochimaru.
"Tch!" Tsunade gave a cold snort, then looked back at Kizaru. "Kid, what was that glowing ninjutsu you just used?"
After speaking, Tsunade worried she might have touched on a sensitive subject, so she quickly added, "You don't have to tell me if you'd rather not."
"The glowing ninjutsu? There's nothing I can't tell you. I awakened this Kekkei Genkai, Light Style, not long ago."
"Light Style?" Tsunade murmured in confusion.
Wasn't the Shimura Clan known for Wind Release Ninjutsu? Since when did they have a Kekkei Genkai?
Tsunade had many questions. She looked at Kizaru, hesitated for a moment, then asked curiously, "Did you create this Light Style Kekkei Genkai yourself?"
Kizaru would have loved to take credit and show off a little.
But remembering the Great Elder and the others' earnest instructions, he repeated what they had told him to say. "This is a Kekkei Genkai passed down by the ancestors of my Shimura Clan. It's just that no one has awakened it for a long time."
Liar! Tsunade thought to herself, but outwardly she nodded, accepting Kizaru's explanation.
The Shimura Clan has never had a Kekkei Genkai like this. Tsunade was quite certain, having read the historical records of her clan.
The Kekkei Genkai called Light Style must have been created by the kid standing in front of her.
Thinking this, Tsunade carefully looked Kizaru up and down. She had to admit to herself that, judging by the strength and talent the six-year-old Kizaru had just displayed, he really might one day reach her grandfather's level—or possibly even surpass him.
Looking up at the sky, Tsunade seemed to see her grandfather's beaming face.
Grandpa, an incredible kid has been born in the village. Maybe he'll grow as strong as you one day.
Seeing Tsunade staring blankly at the sky, Kizaru didn't just stand there. He took the initiative and walked over to her.
Though only six years old, Kizaru stood 175 centimeters tall, already taller than Tsunade, who was 163.1 centimeters.
Kizaru dipped his head slightly, meeting Tsunade's gaze as she looked up at the sky.
Seeing Kizaru's handsome face, tinged with a hint of sleaziness, Tsunade looked away.
It wasn't some dramatic love-at-first-sight moment or a sudden flutter of the heart. She simply didn't want a kid who was barely six to tower over her. It was far too annoying.
Kizaru didn't care that Tsunade had averted her gaze, nor did he vainly assume that she was shy because their eyes had met.
"Big Sister Tsunade—"
"Stop!" Tsunade interrupted Kizaru.
Although Kizaru was only six, his height of 175 centimeters and his long, strong build made it impossible to think of him as a child.
So the moment she heard Kizaru call her "Big Sister," Tsunade felt uncomfortable.
"Call me Big Sis. Don't call me Big Sister!"
"Then, Big Sis Tsunade, I hope you won't tell anyone that I have a Kekkei Genkai."
Tsunade nodded. She understood why Kizaru had made that request. As the saying went, a tree that stood out in the forest would be battered by the wind. It was only natural that Kizaru wanted to keep a low profile and grow in peace.
"Don't worry. We won't tell anyone about what happened today." Tsunade patted her chest, setting off another wave, and readily agreed.
"Then thanks, Big Sis Tsunade!"
"No need to thank me. It's nothing!" Tsunade said with a smile.
After that, Tsunade continued admiring Kizaru's well-built frame and couldn't resist reaching out to squeeze his arm.
So hard! So thick!
Admiring his arm, Tsunade smiled at Kizaru and said, "Kid, are you really only six?"
"I know it's a little hard to believe, but I really am just over six." Kizaru smiled, looking a little troubled.
"Kid, how about becoming my disciple? I'll teach you the Strength Enhancement Technique!" Although she probably wouldn't become a super-strong ninja like her grandfather in this life, the thought of raising someone who could match his strength made Tsunade's heart race.
And when she imagined the terrifying power Kizaru could unleash by combining his already formidable physique with her Strength of a Hundred, Tsunade could hardly contain her anticipation.
He'd be a total weapon of mass destruction on the battlefield!
Tsunade imagined Kizaru slaughtering the enemy on the battlefield with the Strength of a Hundred and couldn't help marveling to herself.
"I don't mind. You might just have to convince Uncle Hokage and my uncle, though." Kizaru replied with a smile.
"Easy. Leave it to me!" Tsunade said confidently, patting her chest.