Snakes, Toads, and Slugs!

As Liuxia immersed himself in lesson planning within the office, he was suddenly interrupted by a light, rhythmic tapping at the door. He looked up to find Kushina standing in the doorway, a shy smile gracing her face.

"Brother Liuxia, it was such a surprise to see you in our class today!" Kushina stepped into the office and gently closed the door behind her. "Everyone is talking about you, especially about you becoming our substitute teacher."

Liuxia offered a soft smile and closed his lesson book. "Is that so? I'm very happy to be learning with you all as well. By the way, Kushina, do you have any plans after school today?"

Kushina shook her head, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. "No special plans, why do you ask?"

Liuxia stood up and straightened his clothes. "Perfect. Lady Katsuyu just sent me a message saying that Sister Tsunade has returned from her mission. She wants to hold a party to celebrate Nawaki and me successfully promoting to Chunin. It seems Brother Orochimaru and Brother Jiraiya will be joining us as well."

Kushina's eyes lit up instantly. "Really? That's wonderful! Sister Tsunade? It wouldn't be..."

Liuxia laughed, cutting off her concern. "Don't worry, I'm the one cooking this time. Tell me, is there anything you'd like to eat? I can pick up the ingredients on the way back."

A wide smile bloomed on Kushina's face. She said happily, "I want to eat your barbecue! And, and that sweet fruit soup!"

"No problem, leave it to me. Let's go, we can talk on the way." Liuxia agreed readily. He grabbed his coat, and the two walked out of the office together, heading toward home.

Along the way, the afterglow of the setting sun bathed them in light. Liuxia and Kushina chatted happily about the evening's menu, occasionally punctuated by Kushina's silver-bell laughter. Their moods were as bright as the warm sunlight, filled with anticipation for the upcoming family gathering.

"Yo, isn't this the legendary handsome guy Liuxia who took on four at once? Kushina, you'd better keep a close eye on him; you never know when some stray cat might want a taste," Tsunade teased with a playful smirk. Her words were filled with banter and affection, instantly livening up the atmosphere.

Faced with Tsunade's teasing, Kushina's cheeks flushed a deep red. She stammered in response, "Sister Tsunade, I, I'm not..." Her words were laced with shyness and embarrassment; she was clearly at a loss for how to handle the teasing.

Liuxia simply smiled, unfazed by Tsunade's joke. He responded with effortless grace, "Sister Tsunade, you start teasing Kushina the moment you get back. Honestly, you don't act like a big sister at all." His tone held a hint of indulgence and helplessness, showing he knew her personality all too well.

Liuxia then turned to Orochimaru and Jiraiya, his demeanor becoming formal and respectful. "Brother Orochimaru, Brother Jiraiya, it's been a long time." His voice revealed his deep respect for his seniors and his joy at their reunion.

Orochimaru nodded slightly, a rare, faint smile appearing on his expressionless face. "Liuxia, your progress is impressive."

Jiraiya laughed heartily and clapped Liuxia on the shoulder. "Little Liuxia, I hear you've been making quite a name for yourself lately. Even a traveling writer like me has heard the rumors."

"Brother Jiraiya, what kind of writer are you? At best, you're a writer of trashy erotica!" Nawaki's teasing voice carried a youthful energy. He had just finished training and heard Jiraiya's grandstanding before even reaching the house. He found it amusing, thinking that Liuxia's assessment of him was spot on—Jiraiya really was a dirty old man.

But when Nawaki's gaze shifted to Orochimaru—his teacher, a man known for his composure—his expression turned somewhat awkward. He had always casually called him "Brother," but now that Orochimaru was his teacher, he felt both respectful and slightly uneasy. Although this was exactly what he had hoped for, even if the Third Hokage hadn't arranged it, Nawaki had intended to find an opportunity to have his sister formally propose it to Orochimaru.

Scratching his head, Nawaki bowed respectfully to Orochimaru. "Teacher Orochimaru, please take care of me from now on!"

Orochimaru smiled slightly, his eyes revealing a hint of warmth. "You are welcome, Nawaki-kun. I have always been very satisfied with you." As he spoke, he even affectionately patted Nawaki's head. This version of Orochimaru, who had not yet begun his descent into darkness, was still full of care for those he held dear.

Jiraiya chuckled from the side, patted Nawaki on the shoulder, and jumped aside to strike his classic pose. "Nawaki, what kind of future is there following Orochimaru? You'd be better off following this Great Sage; I guarantee you'll never run out of material, ah..."

Hearing Jiraiya drift further and further off-topic, especially seeing him try to corrupt his younger brother again, Tsunade stepped forward without hesitation and punched him, cutting off his nonsense. "Jiraiya, stop teaching the kid bad habits!"

Jiraiya rubbed the spot where he had been hit, smiling wryly. "Ouch, Tsunade, I'm only doing this for Nawaki's sake."

The group continued to converse in a relaxed and happy atmosphere. Although Jiraiya occasionally made comments that left everyone speechless, everyone understood that beneath the jokes lay a deep friendship and genuine concern for one another.

"Ah, I can't eat another bite. The skewers were delicious. Even though they were incredibly spicy, the aftertaste was endless. I'm sweating all over, which is perfect for getting rid of the dampness from all that rain in the Land of Rain. I don't know what's wrong with that place; it hasn't stopped raining since we arrived. I've truly had enough." Having eaten his fill, Tsunade sprawled on the sofa with no regard for ladylike decorum, complaining about the absurd weather in the Land of Rain. Her face was etched with dissatisfaction over the relentless downpour.

"So you all went to the Land of Rain? No wonder you're full of resentment upon your return. But for a mission in the Land of Rain to require all three of you to go out at once... did Sunagakure have some sort of movement there?" Liuxia asked curiously, his eyes showing his concern for the situation.

Hearing the mention of the Land of Rain, Liuxia had a rough idea of what had happened. Although he wasn't clear on the specific timing of events in the original timeline, he knew that the title of the "Legendary Sannin" of Konoha was bestowed upon them after they were defeated by the leader of Amegakure, the man known as the demigod of the ninja world, Hanzo the Salamander, during the war between Amegakure and Sunagakure. To others, this might be an honor, but to the proud trio, it was an absolute humiliation.

Hanzo the Salamander, huh, Liuxia thought to himself. He decided he would definitely have to experience the power of this so-called demigod for himself. The world was no longer the original one; if Hanzo the Salamander didn't choose to let the three of them go, or worse, if he killed them, he would never forgive himself. Sister Tsunade was someone he had long ago decided to protect, and his current power would never allow his sister to accept such an insult.

"Indeed, the situation in the Land of Rain is quite complex. Sunagakure seems to have designs there, and Amegakure may be involved as well," Orochimaru took over the conversation. His voice was calm and low, revealing a seriousness that could not be ignored. "Our mission this time was to investigate their true intentions."

"That's right. Hanzo the Salamander of Amegakure is not a ninja to be trifled with. Most of our losses this time were due to his poison; he's quite the troublemaker," Jiraiya added while continuing to enjoy the food, his words revealing his vigilance and dissatisfaction toward his opponent.

"Hanzo the Salamander, you all must be careful. By the way, please keep this on your person." Remembering something, Liuxia reached into his ninja pouch and pulled out his custom kunai, engraved with the symbol of the Flying Thunder God—the symbol of his own ninja way.

"A spark of fire?" Tsunade took it and examined it closely, not noticing that her movements were giving Liuxia an eyeful. She was curious about the ninja way inscribed on the kunai.

"Yes, this is a Flying Thunder God kunai. The words on it are my ninja way. As long as you carry it, if you encounter danger, just have Lady Katsuyu notify me, and I will bring you back safely." Liuxia explained to the group while trying to keep his eyes off Tsunade's movements, his words filled with concern and a protective desire for his companions.

"Mm, okay, I got it." Tsunade casually tucked it into her chest—never mind how she tucked it; one shouldn't get too hung up on a ninja's business! She saw the embarrassed look on Liuxia's face opposite her and secretly found it amusing.

"Oh my, little Liuxia is embarrassed. I don't mind, you know; do you want to touch it?" Tsunade had always been interested in teasing Liuxia; seeing the mature and calm Liuxia act like a shy little boy was just too interesting.

"I, I have lessons to prepare, I'll be going now." Liuxia couldn't take it anymore. Feeling his cheeks begin to heat up, he quickly found an excuse to escape the awkward situation.

"Tsunade, I'm interested..." Jiraiya, whose thoughts had turned to other things after a full meal, became bold. His lecherous demeanor made the scene even more ridiculous.

"Get lost!" Tsunade couldn't be bothered to banter with Jiraiya; it was a miracle she didn't punch him. Her voice carried a hint of playfulness, but also a serious warning.

"Alright, alright!" Jiraiya scurried away. Better to go find those young ladies who need saving! he muttered to himself as he quickly left the scene, searching for his next "rescue" target.

"Then I shall take my leave as well. Nawaki-kun, once you return from the Daimyo's, come find me. I will assess your situation and develop a training plan for you." Seeing that the others had left, Orochimaru stood up to depart. His voice was calm and methodical, revealing a hint of imperceptible care.

Upon hearing this, Nawaki stood straight and responded respectfully, "Yes, Teacher Orochimaru! I will visit you as soon as possible and report on my progress."

Orochimaru nodded slightly, his gaze lingering on Nawaki for a moment. Then, he turned and left, his pace steady and composed, as if he were already contemplating the future training plan.