Jiraiya's fledgling romance had finally begun, though the road ahead was clearly anything but promising.
Still, he had taken the first step. Congratulations were in order!
Sitting nearby, Leaf Dragon felt somewhat reassured. At least his efforts had not been wasted.
It seemed that Jiraiya needed to improve his dating skills more than his strength. He had nearly ruined the conversation with Tsunade...
I should have Kagami Uchiha start a dating class at the Konoha Ninja Academy, teaching Konoha's next generation how to confess their feelings properly and healthily!
The brand-new couple cuddled together, sweet and affectionate. Elsewhere, however, Black Zetsu was in a much less pleasant mood.
Inside the Jashin Cult, in the living quarters Black Zetsu had arranged for himself.
Black Zetsu stared at the endlessly crying child, on the verge of a breakdown. He felt that his already considerably shrunken body had grown even more haggard.
"Why don't you know how to soothe a child?"
He looked up resentfully at Leaf Dragon, who stood beside him in the attire of the Jashin Cult Followers, his face expressionless.
Leaf Dragon stood solemnly and answered coldly, "I haven't mastered the relevant skills."
The red-haired brat before him was the child Black Zetsu had painstakingly stolen from the Uzumaki Clan himself. The boy was incredibly difficult to handle and could hardly bear to be left alone for a moment.
Black Zetsu valued him greatly and dared not entrust him to just anyone. The only people he could trust were himself and Leaf Dragon, who was bound by layer upon layer of restraints.
He had originally planned to leave the child in Leaf Dragon's care while he continued running the Jashin Cult, but for some reason, the little brat had latched onto him.
Whenever he put the child in the bassinet