The Shocked Hokage

With the Sannin all present, it was inconvenient for Kizaru to continue his practice. After exchanging a few casual words with Tsunade, he announced his departure and left the training ground.

Watching Kizaru walk away, Tsunade withdrew her gaze and headed toward the spot where Jiraiya lay like a corpse.

Reaching Jiraiya's side, Tsunade knelt down, just as Orochimaru had done.

Following Orochimaru's preliminary treatment, Jiraiya's injuries had eased somewhat, and his spirits had recovered significantly.

"You guy..." Tsunade had intended to make a snide remark, but seeing Jiraiya's miserable state, she couldn't bring herself to finish.

Without a word, Tsunade took over the treatment from Orochimaru.

After a round of healing to stabilize his condition, Tsunade stopped and stood up.

"That's enough. Take him to the hospital to recover for a few days and he'll be fine." With that, Tsunade gave Orochimaru a look, signaling him to help Jiraiya up.

Understanding her intent, Orochimaru reached out and pulled Jiraiya up from the ground.

"Hiss!" The sudden movement made Jiraiya wince in pain, and he couldn't help but gasp. "Hey, hey, hey! I'm a wounded man here, be a little gentler!"

Orochimaru didn't speak, merely slowing his movements and bracing Jiraiya with his hand and shoulder.

"Shut your mouth. You got beaten like this by a six-year-old brat, and you still have the nerve to complain!" Tsunade said with disdain.

"I..." Jiraiya wanted to retort, but realizing that everything Tsunade said was true, he could only lower his head and mutter in unwilling defense, "Six years old? Whose kid looks like that at six?"

Both Tsunade and Orochimaru heard his quiet grumbling; they exchanged a knowing look and began to laugh, their amusement growing by the second.

"You're actually laughing? That's too much!" Looking up to find his two friends laughing heartily, Jiraiya protested indignantly.

"Shut up, we need to head back." Tsunade cut his complaints short.

With that, she stepped to Jiraiya's side, and together with Orochimaru, they supported him on either side and hurried toward the village hospital.

Jiraiya's injuries were neither light nor severe, but with Tsunade and Orochimaru supporting him, they dared not move too quickly, taking nearly half an hour to reach the hospital.

Once inside, Tsunade expertly arranged a room and found a physician for Jiraiya.

"Lie down and rest properly. We're leaving now." Standing by the bedside, Tsunade stood with her hands on her hips, giving him a final instruction.

"Got it." Wrapped in bandages from the waist up, Jiraiya lay on the bed and replied with a bitter expression.

Orochimaru said nothing; after a single glance at Jiraiya, he followed Tsunade out of the room.

Leaving the ward and exiting the hospital, Tsunade and Orochimaru walked side by side.

As they walked, Tsunade pondered how to ask Orochimaru to let her take Kizaru as her disciple.

Just as she was thinking, Orochimaru spoke up first.

"Back at the training ground, I heard your conversation with Kizaru. You want to take him as your disciple."

Tsunade stopped in her tracks and turned to look at Orochimaru.

Feeling a bit embarrassed, but possessing an outgoing and forthright personality, she didn't mince words and admitted it generously.

"Yes, I quite admire that brat. His physical talent is also very well-suited for my Strength of a Hundred."

Hearing her reply, Orochimaru fell silent for a moment. After witnessing the spar between Jiraiya and Kizaru, he too was filled with admiration for the boy.

Kizaru was a true genius!

That was Orochimaru's assessment of him.

Having seen the strength and talent displayed by a mere six-year-old, Orochimaru felt a heavy pressure in his heart, yet also a sense of excitement.

Who wouldn't want to be the teacher of a top-tier genius?

Orochimaru wanted to, and he was very much looking forward to becoming Kizaru's mentor.

But after hearing the conversation at the training ground, he hesitated.

On one side was his close friend of many years, and on the other, a disciple he admired. After a moment of hesitation, Orochimaru made a difficult decision.

"I will go and persuade Teacher Hiruzen," Orochimaru said.

"Orochimaru, thanks!" Tsunade reached out and patted his shoulder, laughing. "Then I won't stand on ceremony. I'll go find the old man and settle this right now."

With a faint smile, Orochimaru replied, "You really are impatient, Tsunade!"

"It's rare to come across such an excellent kid; I must take him as my disciple."

As she spoke, Tsunade grabbed Orochimaru's arm and began running toward the Hokage Building.

Inside the Hokage's office, Hiruzen Sarutobi had just finished processing paperwork and was using his Crystal Ball to admire the beautiful scenery of the village, allowing his weary body and mind to relax.

Wow! The quality at this bathhouse is truly excellent.

The scenery was captivating, and Hiruzen watched with great interest.

Bang!

Just as Hiruzen was focused intently on the Crystal Ball, the office door was kicked open.

Without looking, Hiruzen knew who it was. He skillfully grabbed the documents on his desk to cover the Crystal Ball before looking toward the door.

Only Tsunade would kick open the Hokage's office door with such lack of decorum.

Bringing Orochimaru with her, Tsunade walked into the office. Looking at the slightly chaotic pile of papers on the desk, she could roughly guess what her teacher had been doing.

Under normal circumstances, Tsunade would have certainly taught this indecent teacher of hers a proper lesson.

But since she had a favor to ask of the old man today, Tsunade simply ignored the mess on the desk, walked up to it with Orochimaru, pulled out a chair with practiced ease, and sat down.

"Orochimaru, Tsunade! What brings you two here?" Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at his two disciples, a gentle smile on his face.

"Old man, I want that brat Kizaru. From now on, he's my disciple," Tsunade said, leaning forward with one hand pressed against the desk.

Hearing Tsunade's request, a wave of confusion rose in Hiruzen Sarutobi's heart. He glanced at Orochimaru standing beside her, hoping to understand the reason.

"Orochimaru and I have already discussed it; he's yielding the disciple to me," Tsunade said, noticing Hiruzen Sarutobi's movement.

Taking a deep breath, Hiruzen Sarutobi leaned back in his chair and picked up his teacup. His gaze shifted between his two disciples before finally settling on Tsunade.

"Don't be so impatient. You at least need to tell me the reason, don't you?" Hiruzen Sarutobi said with a smile.

"Jiraiya sparred with that brat and ended up in the hospital. The kid is strong, and I like him!" Tsunade explained.

"Cough, cough!" Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had been in the middle of sipping his tea, was stunned by Tsunade's words. His usually steady hand shook, and he began to cough violently as he choked.

He hurriedly set the teacup back on the desk and brushed the spilled tea off his clothes, then looked at Orochimaru, who had remained silent the entire time, with an expression of disbelief.

He knew his own disciples well. Although Jiraiya wasn't a widely renowned genius like Tsunade or Orochimaru, he possessed exceptional talent. After years of his personal training, Jiraiya had already begun to show the makings of a powerhouse and could be considered half a Kage-level fighter.

That such a young powerhouse had been defeated by a mere six-year-old Kizaru and even hospitalized was something Hiruzen Sarutobi simply could not accept.