Arrangements

Because he had just returned, Jiraiya still had many matters to attend to. After chatting with Sarutobi for a while longer, he took the initiative to bid farewell.

Tsunade and the others had come to welcome Jiraiya during a break in their missions. Now that the guest of honor was leaving, there was no point in them remaining in the Hokage Office, so they followed Jiraiya out.

Jiraiya and Tsunade chatted idly along the way, with Kato Dan occasionally interjecting, while Orochimaru remained silent throughout.

"I still have a few experiments to finish. The welcoming festivities end here; I'll be taking my leave."

Reaching a crossroads, Orochimaru, who had been walking at the back, spoke to the group in a flat tone. Without waiting for a reaction, he turned down another path on his own.

"Hmph, Orochimaru has been acting all mysterious lately, even more of a loner than before..."

Watching Orochimaru's retreating back, Tsunade frowned and muttered with dissatisfaction.

"Uh, really? I feel like Orochimaru has always been like that. Maybe he really does have something urgent to attend to."

Jiraiya could only offer a hollow laugh in response to Tsunade's complaints.

"In any case, I get the feeling he's been acting strange lately..."

"A woman's intuition isn't always right, you know. Orochimaru has been with us for so long; we shouldn't be suspicious of him all the time!"

Tsunade was just thinking about how to describe Orochimaru's odd behavior, but before she could finish her sentence, she was interrupted by Jiraiya.

Hearing Jiraiya's cheeky remark about a woman's intuition, veins began to bulge on Tsunade's forehead. Just as she secretly began to channel her strength, the latter half of his sentence caused her to quietly dissipate the force in her hands.

"Perhaps I'm just being too sensitive..."

Tsunade bit her lip and replied with a hint of helplessness.

"Jiraiya is right. We should place our trust in our comrades. You've probably been under too much mental pressure lately, Tsunade. Even with the establishment and training of the Medical Corps, you should find time to relax."

Kato Dan patted Tsunade on the shoulder, offering her gentle comfort.

"Mm." Tsunade met Kato Dan's caring gaze, feeling a warmth spread through her heart, and nodded obediently.

"Heh, heh, heh..."

Yuehua Ai watched this lovey-dovey couple flaunting their affection in the middle of the street without a care for anyone else. His mouth twitched in secret, and he immediately thought of his own master. But before he could offer any sympathy to his fellow single soul, he heard a sound of grinding teeth beside his ear.

Turning his head, he saw Jiraiya looking utterly lifeless.

Seeing Kato Dan's hand resting on Tsunade's shoulder, Jiraiya's face had stiffened like stone. Although he tried his best to maintain a smile, in Yuehua Ai's eyes, that severely distorted expression looked worse than crying.

Even though he felt miserable and wanted to storm off immediately, Jiraiya's reason firmly restrained his actions.

Jiraiya is just Tsunade's comrade, that's all. Just a comrade, a comrade...

Jiraiya kept chanting this in his heart, trying to hypnotize himself.

Enduring the bitterness in his heart, and despite wanting to get dead drunk right now, Kato Dan's words just now reminded him of something very important.

Tsunade is in charge of the Medical Corps, and Xiao Ai wants to learn medical ninjutsu, so...

Although he didn't want to be a third wheel, Jiraiya was willing to go the extra mile for his disciple.

After the two had finished their tender moment, Jiraiya, who had been standing to the side with a sickly green complexion, finally found an opportunity to speak.

"Tsunade, there is something I would like to ask of you..."

"Oh? What is it?" Tsunade asked, puzzled. She couldn't imagine what kind of matter would make Jiraiya act so solemn given their relationship.

"It's about Xiao Ai." Jiraiya looked down at Yuehua Ai, who happened to be looking up at him at that exact moment.

The instant he met Jiraiya's gaze, Yuehua Ai realized what the other was about to ask Tsunade, and he couldn't help but feel moved.

"Xiao Ai?"

Tsunade looked at Yuehua Ai by Jiraiya's side. She knew this was the child she had seen in Amegakure three years ago. To be honest, although they had met once, it had been a hurried encounter, and she hadn't paid much attention to him; her only impression was that he was a very delicate-looking child.

If it were based solely on that first meeting, she likely wouldn't have recognized Yuehua Ai if she had run into him elsewhere without Jiraiya present. It wasn't until this second meeting today that Yuehua Ai's appearance truly registered in her mind.

"I want Xiao Ai to follow you and learn medical ninjutsu!" Jiraiya didn't give her time to guess wildly; he stated his purpose directly.

"Uh... hasn't he already taken you as his master? Why..." Tsunade was momentarily stunned; she really hadn't expected this to be Jiraiya's request.

"Mm." Jiraiya nodded while ruffling Yuehua Ai's hair. "It's precisely because I am his master that I want him to follow you for a while."

Without waiting for Tsunade to ask further, Jiraiya continued on his own.

"I've been away from the village for so long, so they'll likely assign me a mission soon. You know the level of difficulty of the missions I take. If I go on a mission, I won't have time to look after this kid. Although I know he's mature for his age and doesn't really need much looking after, he is from Amegakure, after all. The war has just ended, and you know how the village feels about the Rain Ninjas..."

"I'm truly worried about him being alone in Konoha, so I'd like to entrust him to your care. And besides..."

"Besides, although I am Xiao Ai's master, due to the differences in our elemental affinities, I cannot fully develop his talent and potential. While I don't want him getting involved in the power struggles of Konoha, I also want him to be able to study and grow here in peace."

"Xiao Ai possesses a unique sensory talent the likes of which I have never seen. I think rather than having Sarutobi-sensei or Orochimaru look after him, it would be better for you to keep an eye on him. Plus, Xiao Ai is most interested in medical ninjutsu and is determined to become a medical ninja, so after thinking it over, you are the most suitable person..."

"..."

Jiraiya's words left Tsunade silent. To be honest, she was in a bit of a bind. From Jiraiya's words, she knew he wanted her to become Yuehua Ai's second teacher.

Although Tsunade didn't care much about taking on disciples, the timing wasn't ideal. The medical reforms had her completely overwhelmed, and she truly lacked the time and energy to specifically guide a child's training.

Tsunade frowned in distress. Just as she was struggling with the dilemma, Kato Dan thought for a moment and spoke up.

"Tsunade, you should agree to Jiraiya's request. Although you don't have the time to teach him personally, you are in charge of the Medical Corps, aren't you? You can have him study medical ninjutsu alongside the other children in the corps. Jiraiya also mentioned that Xiao Ai has great sensory talent, so the medical training class would be the perfect place for him!"

"That's true..." Tsunade realized, and indeed, that was the most suitable solution.

The Medical Corps training class had excellent instructors. If Yuehua Ai went there, although she wouldn't be teaching him hand-in-hand, he would still be able to learn medical ninjutsu. Furthermore, as long as he was in the Medical Corps, she could give him extra lessons whenever she went there to lecture.

As expected, only Dan truly understands everything about me, Tsunade thought, feeling a sense of sweetness in her heart.

Feeling that Dan's suggestion was indeed feasible, Tsunade asked Jiraiya:

"Jiraiya, what do you think about letting Ai go to the Medical Corps training class?"

"..."

The Medical Corps, huh? That works too... Jiraiya thought to himself.

Although it was different from what he had envisioned, Jiraiya understood Tsunade's predicament. Without much deliberation, he nodded in agreement.

Seeing Jiraiya agree, Tsunade breathed a sigh of relief, and Kato Dan, standing beside her, also appeared very happy.

"If Jiraiya is away on a mission and Tsunade doesn't have the time, then let me take care of Ai!"

Kato Dan volunteered himself. To be honest, being able to share some of the burden for Tsunade made him very happy. Moreover, he also had a great fondness for the cute, porcelain-like child, Yuehua Ai.

The quiet and well-behaved temperament Yuehua Ai possessed was truly similar to his own little niece...

Looking at Ai's small face, Kato Dan couldn't help but think. As the image of that little figure appeared in his mind, his gaze toward Yuehua Ai became filled with gentleness and doting.

After flashing a warm smile at Yuehua Ai, he leaned down, brought his face close to Yuehua Ai's, and said with a smile:

"If Ai goes to the training class, you'll get to meet my little niece..."

"I must say, my niece Shizune is a quiet little beauty just as cute as Ai!"