Is Something Like This Worth Arguing Over? [Third Update, Please Bookmark and Send Flowers~] (1 / 1)

"This is great!!!"

Tsunade jumped up, beaming as if her own application had been approved.

Jiraiya scratched his head with a silly grin, chuckling nonstop. Though he looked a little lecherous, he was genuinely happy for Hikaru.

"Should we go celebrate?"

"The four of us are about to leave the Ninja Academy. That's worth celebrating."

Jiraiya's eyes suddenly darted around as he proposed a celebration and even wanted to invite Orochimaru. Although he disliked Orochimaru somewhat and couldn't stand him, Jiraiya didn't hate him.

Tsunade rolled her eyes at Jiraiya and dampened his excitement. "Don't celebrate too early, especially certain people. The application only got approved. Whether you can pass the assessment is another matter."

"Tsunade!!!"

Jiraiya bristled like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. Tsunade's words were a real blow, indirectly saying that he, Jiraiya, might fail the assessment. He'd be thrilled for nothing, head into the assessment full of confidence, then fail—it was humiliating just thinking about it.

The teacher would definitely announce that they were taking the assessment, so everyone would know. Succeeding would be fine, but if they failed and came slinking back, that would be utterly embarrassing. No one wanted a taste of that.

"Don't underestimate me. I'm afraid you're the one who won't pass."

"Who knows? Certain people really have no self-awareness."

"You..."

"Want to fight? Come on! If I'm afraid of you, then my name isn't Tsunade!!!"

Here they went again...

Hikaru sighed softly and raised his hands in surrender. "Come on, you two, that's enough. Is something like this worth arguing over? Weren't we going to celebrate? Let's get Orochimaru and go eat barbecue. My treat."

"That's great!!!"

The moment he heard barbecue, Jiraiya lost all interest in competing with Tsunade and shouted excitedly.

Tsunade, however, wasn't happy at all. Instead, she moved closer to Hikaru and whispered worriedly, "How about I treat?"

She knew Hikaru was having financial difficulties, not to mention that she and Jiraiya often mooched meals off him.

Among the four of them, Hikaru was the poorest, but he was also the best at budgeting.

Tsunade simply couldn't hold on to money. Whenever she had any, it felt like it was biting her hand. If she didn't gamble it away, she felt uncomfortable. Jiraiya was even worse—between food and dirty books, he never had enough money.

Orochimaru used his money elsewhere. Although Hikaru had many expenses, he was still the wealthiest of them, at least in terms of savings, unlike Tsunade, who spent money by the handful.

"It's fine."

Hikaru rubbed Tsunade's head and laughed. "I can still afford barbecue. Just eat as much as you want. I'll go get Orochimaru."

Head pats and hand-holding were perfectly normal between Hikaru and Tsunade, but only between those two. If anyone else dared do that to Tsunade, they would be beaten senseless.

Jiraiya was used to it as well.

"Orochimaru, we're planning to celebrate our applications for early graduation being approved. Are you coming?"

The best place to find Orochimaru was the training field. Whenever he had nothing to do, he would sit beneath a tree and read.

Orochimaru looked up at Hikaru, Tsunade, and Jiraiya, then put down his book. After thinking for a moment, he nodded and agreed.

With Orochimaru joining them, the four left the academy together and headed for the barbecue restaurant.

Jiraiya was undoubtedly the happiest, while Orochimaru was the quietest. Unless someone spoke to him first, he wouldn't say a word. Tsunade and Hikaru chatted on and off, and the four soon arrived at the barbecue restaurant.

Barbecue actually wasn't too expensive. As long as they didn't run into Ino-Shika-Cho, a meal usually wouldn't cost much. Children's appetites were limited, after all.

"This sucks!! They won't sell me any alcohol!!!"

Inside the barbecue restaurant, Hikaru and Tsunade turned slices of meat sizzling with grease over the grill. Orochimaru sat off to the side with his arms folded, silent as ever, while Jiraiya sulked. He wanted to drink, but the owner had refused him!!

"It's not fair!! Why can Hikaru smoke, but I can't drink!!!"

Hikaru wasn't particularly fond of alcohol. As for cigarettes, he only smoked occasionally. He had been quite addicted in his previous life, but after coming to this world, because of his age, he only took a few drags when he was truly exhausted.

The smell of smoke and alcohol could reveal a ninja's position. But if a ninja couldn't even deal with the smell of cigarettes and alcohol, they might as well stop taking missions and smash their head into a wall.

"Because you're stupid!! Can't you buy it outside and drink it here?"

Tsunade directly slapped the idiot label onto Jiraiya. He couldn't even figure out something that simple, yet he wanted to drink?

"And Hikaru only smokes occasionally, occasionally. It's not like you're some alcoholic!!"