But how could an upright gentleman like Chihane ever consider such a thing? (It wasn't because he was afraid of being beaten to death.)
"Big Sis Tsunade, what are you talking about? I came to visit Uncle Jiraiya. Lord Shikaku told me he'd been seriously injured."
"I was hoping you could take me to see him, Big Sis Tsunade."
Feeling guilty, Chihane forcibly suppressed the urge to look at that glimpse of snowy white skin. You can't blame our side for lacking resolve. The enemy has nuclear weapons...
Tsunade scrutinized Chihane for a while. She found determination in his expression and a hint of resolve on his sharply defined face.
What bad intentions could a handsome boy possibly have? She decided to let Chihane off for now.
"Come in. Jiraiya's in here."
Tsunade turned around and led Chihane inside to find Jiraiya.
Following behind her, Chihane let out a soft sigh of relief, grateful to have survived the ordeal.
But his gaze involuntarily drifted back to what was tightly wrapped in Tsunade's nurse uniform, bouncing up and down with every step she took.
As though sensing Chihane's gaze, Tsunade reflexively turned her head. Chihane immediately looked up, his face the very picture of righteousness.
"There. That's Jiraiya."
Tsunade gently pointed at a hospital bed a short distance ahead and spoke softly.
Given Jiraiya's status, he should have had a private room.
But the battle a few days earlier had left too many Konoha shinobi injured. There weren't enough medical tents available on such short notice, and many had even been converted from the tents everyone normally slept in.
Chihane followed the direction of Tsunade's finger and saw a silkworm wrapped snugly in bandages.
"Uncle Jiraiya, someone actually beat you up this badly? The Third Raikage, was it? I'll remember you.