In a noisy shop, tucked away in a secluded corner, Jiraiya was chattering away to Tsunade.
Several bottles of sake sat on the table in front of Tsunade. Her cheeks were flushed, and she had clearly had quite a bit to drink.
She glanced at the talkative Jiraiya, a trace of drunkenness in her voice, and gave a faint laugh.
"I never thought you'd be the one trying to talk me around at a time like this..."
"Do you really think... this approach will work?"
At her words, Jiraiya showed no sign of anger. He grinned at her, wearing a playful expression.
"It might work a little. After all, you know I always keep the promises I make to you!"
"So, Tsunade, now that you've thought about that, have you changed your mind at all?"
Tsunade's lips curled into a slight smile. She pointed a pale finger at Jiraiya and murmured,
"If we weren't here, I'd beat you into an idiot, you fool!"
Tsunade had a smile on her face, yet she had just said something like that.
Jiraiya, who had been acting so carefree, suddenly wilted. He gave Tsunade a resentful look, feeling as though he'd taken ten thousand points of damage.
Tsunade narrowed her eyes slightly and glanced at him through her drunken haze, then poured herself another drink.
Just as Jiraiya was telling her to drink less, she quietly pulled a yellowed, worn piece of paper from her clothes.
At the sight of it, Jiraiya paused mid-gesture. He gazed at the note with a complicated expression.
Tsunade paid him no mind. Her eyes remained fixed on the note as she murmured softly,
"If you gave me hope... why are you treating me like this now...? To that man... is this just some kind of game...?"
"You really...