"Lord Jiraiya, Lady Tsunade, please have a seat..."
In the living room, Uchiha Chen warmly welcomed Tsunade and Jiraiya. As for Uchiha Itachi, he sat quietly off to the side, perfectly well-behaved.
"Thank you both for stepping in to help today. I'm truly grateful!"
"Chen, there's no need to be so formal. We didn't really do anything. Besides, even without us, that old Uchiha Sanhe couldn't have done a thing to you."
Jiraiya waved a hand dismissively.
"Hehe, you're too kind, Lord Jiraiya. If it weren't for the reputation you and Lady Tsunade have as the Sannin, how would that old man have really agreed to pay a billion ryo in compensation?"
"I was just borrowing your authority to bluff him."
Uchiha Chen chuckled. At any rate, Tsunade and Jiraiya had arrived at just the right time.
"Honestly, you're the real tiger here, boy. You actually had the nerve to demand such an exorbitant sum from the Fourth Elder of your own Uchiha Clan!"
Tsunade gave Uchiha Chen a sidelong glance. He looked like such an honest kid, yet she hadn't expected him to be so bold.
"Hehe, not at all."
"By the way, Lord Jiraiya, Lady Tsunade, it's been quite a while since we last met. What made you think of coming by today?"
Uchiha Chen chuckled and let the subject drop, smoothly changing the topic instead.
At his question, Jiraiya and Tsunade exchanged an awkward glance, then quickly turned their heads away as if they'd been shocked. They both looked a little guilty.
Ever since their attempt to recruit him as a student had ended abruptly last time, neither Tsunade nor Jiraiya had shown up in front of Uchiha Chen for a long while. Mainly, they were afraid things would be awkward, but they were also worried the other might get there first and win Uchiha Chen's favor.
After agonizing over it for quite some time, they finally decided to come by and earn some goodwill with Uchiha Chen. They just hadn't expected to run into each other on the way.
That was why they'd both appeared at Uchiha Chen's door just now. Things hadn't gone quite as they'd imagined, but they were still fairly satisfied with the outcome. After all, they'd achieved their goal.
But now, naturally, they didn't want Uchiha Chen to discover what they were thinking. He'd made it clear not long ago that he didn't want a master, and bringing it up again now might make him resent them.
That was the last thing they wanted.
"Ahem, I just happened to be passing by. Just passing by."
"I was planning to go out and gather material today. But when I passed your house, I saw Uchiha Sanhe trying to hurt you. How could I stand by and let that happen?"
Jiraiya's eyes darted around rapidly. The more he said, the more smoothly the words came, until even he believed them.
"I see."
Uchiha Chen nodded as if he'd suddenly understood, then turned his gaze to Tsunade.
"Lady Tsunade, were you passing by too?"
"Mm-hmm, I was just passing by as well. What a coincidence."
Tsunade smiled, not looking the least bit flustered.
Though Tsunade looked calm and composed on the surface,
the moment the words left her mouth, she wished she could slap herself. But they'd already been said, and there was no taking them back...
Uchiha Chen: ...
Yeah, what a coincidence!
Your intentions are practically written all over your faces!
Still, Uchiha Chen understood that sometimes it was best not to say what you knew, so he merely smiled.
"Either way, I'm very grateful to you both."
"And there's something Lord Jiraiya said just now that I really agree with."
"Oh? What was that?"
Jiraiya's eyes lit up. If Uchiha Chen thought along the same lines as him, his chances would be much better.
"You said you considered me a friend. Since Lord Jiraiya has already said it, how could I possibly disappoint you? Besides, friends like you and Lady Tsunade are exactly what I could hope for. So I'm definitely making you two my friends!"
He looked at Tsunade and Jiraiya, his gaze earnest and full of expectation.
"Would you two be willing to be my friends?"
Jiraiya: ...
Tsunade: ...
The two exchanged another glance, both completely dumbfounded.
Well, look at that. They'd just shot themselves in the foot!
They couldn't say yes, but they couldn't say no either!
"Hahahaha, all right! Uchiha Chen, I'll gladly be your friend!"
After a long silence, Jiraiya, who'd been frowning moments ago, suddenly brightened. He grabbed Uchiha Chen's hand and answered with a hearty laugh.
Seeing Tsunade's puzzled expression, Jiraiya couldn't help feeling rather pleased with himself. My thoughts, Jiraiya's—the Toad Sage's—are beyond the likes of you ordinary people.
"Hahaha, now that we're friends, there's no need to be so formal with each other. From now on, I'll call you Big Brother Jiraiya!"
Uchiha Chen immediately seized the opportunity.
"Mm, that does make sense. Then from now on, I'll call you little brother Chen!"
Jiraiya thought it over briefly, then nodded in agreement.
Uchiha Chen abruptly jumped to his feet and shouted excitedly.
"Little brother Chen!"
Jiraiya sprang up too and shouted back.
"Big Brother Jiraiya!"
"Little brother Chen!"
"Big brother!"
"Little brother Chen!"
Tsunade's pretty face was full of confusion as she watched Jiraiya and Uchiha Chen hug each other.
Could Uchiha Chen be a nutcase too? Otherwise, why do these two get along so well?
Likewise,
Uchiha Itachi watched the scene, his big eyes blinking. Why does this look so familiar?
Tsunade and Uchiha Itachi, one tall and one small, exchanged a glance, then shrugged helplessly in unison.
Nobody knew how long it went on before Uchiha Chen and Jiraiya finally stopped.
Their voices must have gone hoarse; no matter what they did, they couldn't get a sound out. They each grabbed a chair at random and sat down. Uchiha Chen picked up the tea on the table and gulped it down, and Jiraiya did the same.
After drinking two cups of water, they both let out a long breath. They felt much better, and their voices finally returned to normal.
Uchiha Chen and Jiraiya exchanged a smile, then both turned to look at Tsunade. She jolted at their stares, nearly jumping out of her chair.
"Hey, don't look at me like that! Jiraiya was the one who brought up being friends. I didn't say anything. I still insist on taking Uchiha Chen as my student!"
She had no intention of acting like those two nutcases.
"Ah, since Tsunade's so insistent, little brother Chen, don't push her."
"Mm, I'll listen to you, big brother!"
Listening to Jiraiya and Uchiha Chen go back and forth,
Tsunade folded her arms across her chest and said nothing.
Hmph, I'm no fool. Now that Jiraiya and Uchiha Chen are calling each other brothers, doesn't that mean no one's competing with me for a student anymore?
If I can successfully take Uchiha Chen as my student, won't that make you, Jiraiya, a generation below me?