In the infirmary, Tsunade gave Shikamaru some basic treatment. Watching him break out in a cold sweat as she set his bones without letting out a single cry, she teased him casually. "You can take quite a bit, can't you? Why couldn't you keep fighting?"
"Give me a break. One hit from that girl left my arm like this. Another one really would've killed me..."
Cold sweat streamed down Shikamaru's face.
Tsunade stopped teasing him and left him in the care of the other medical personnel. When she stepped outside, she found Jiraiya waiting by the door.
"What is it?"
"Your hemophobia?"
Tsunade glanced at Jiraiya. So that was why he had kept stealing looks at her earlier.
She folded her arms across her chest, instantly compressing her ample breasts, which already looked ready to spill out.
Yet, to her surprise, Jiraiya looked at her with a serious expression this time, his gaze unwavering...
Well, all right. Jiraiya still couldn't control his eyes and snuck several peeks.
"I taught Shizune the treatment I used on the Anbu, then had her test it on me first. It worked pretty well."
"...That sealing technique that makes you temporarily forget part of your memories? You forgot..."
Jiraiya froze.
"I only forgot some scenes I ought to forget, not certain people. Don't overthink it."
Tsunade waved him aside. "You're the chief examiner. Is it really all right for you to leave like this?"
Once he was sure Tsunade wasn't putting on an act, Jiraiya smiled. "Oh, I'm just a shadow clone."
Then, with an air of forced nonchalance, he dissolved into a cloud of smoke.
After Jiraiya disappeared, Tsunade dropped her indifferent expression and let out a long sigh. "If I don't deal with my own problem, how can I help any of you...?"