However, the Konoha High Command has yet to achieve stability.
After Hiruzen Sarutobi's death, the Hokage Position became vacant.
Danzo wanted to succeed the Fifth Hokage.
The other high-ranking officials, however, preferred Jiraiya.
Jiraiya had no interest in Hokage.
After several unsuccessful attempts to reach an agreement, he proposed to go out and search for Tsunade.
Before leaving Konoha, he planned to visit the Undead Tavern.
The Hashirama and Tobirama are both there.
Having the two of them persuade Tsunade to return to the position of Hokage is more likely to succeed than having him act alone.
Jiraiya pushed open the tavern door.
Is Boss Zhang Yu here?
Bai walked out from behind the bar.
" Boss Zhang Yu is in the backyard."
What do you need him for?
I want to meet him.
Please wait a moment.
Bai walked through the corridor and came to the backyard.
A swimming pool has been added to the courtyard.
Zhang Yu was swimming in the water with Yugao and Xiang.
Yugao was the first to see Bai.
"White."
"Want to come down together?"
Bai stopped by the pool.
He was wearing a light blue sailor uniform today, the hem of which just reached above his knees, revealing a pair of fair calves.
No, thank you.
There are still guests in the lobby.
Yugao leaned against the pond.
"Let Xiang watch over it for a while."
"It's so hot outside, might as well come down for a swim."
Shiro looked down at his sailor uniform.
I didn't change into my swimsuit.
"Just go back to your room and change."
Xiang also swam over.
"Bai, let's go together."
Bai was still somewhat shy.
"We'll talk about it next time."
She stood by the pool, not leaving immediately.
Zhang Yu had already submerged underwater.
He circled around from the other side and quietly swam to Bai's feet.
Just then, a system notification popped up.
[bite!]
[Daily selection task has been triggered.]
[Option 1: Swim away underwater. Reward: 2000 coins.]
[Option 2: Suddenly surface to scare Bai. Reward: 2000 gold coins.]
[Option 3: Grab Bai's ankle and drag her into the pool. Reward: 2000 coins.]
The rewards for all three options are exactly the same.
Zhang Yu glanced at the first one.
There's no point in just leaving.
The second one is also unsuitable.
Bai is now standing by the pool.
If you suddenly startle her, she might lose her balance.
The poolside is paved with stone bricks.
If you fall backward, you can easily get injured.
That leaves only the third one.
Without further hesitation, Zhang Yu prepared to grab Bai's ankle and drag her into the water.
Whoosh!
Zhang Yu suddenly leaped out of the water.
He put one arm around Bai's waist and grabbed Bai's arm with the other, dragging the unsuspecting Bai directly into the pool.
Water splashed everywhere.
Before Bai Lian could even utter a cry of alarm, he had already fallen into the water.
"Ah!"
The pool water was over their heads.
Bai subconsciously closed his eyes, grabbed around haphazardly with his hands, and quickly wrapped his arms around Zhang Yu's neck.
Zhang Yu supported his waist and pulled him out of the water.
"Cough cough..."
Bai leaned against Zhang Yu and coughed several times.
His sailor uniform was soaked through, his long black hair clung to his face, and water droplets kept dripping down his chin.
That happened so suddenly.
Bai still hasn't realized what's happening.
His arms were still tightly wrapped around Zhang Yu, and his legs were wrapped around Zhang Yu's waist in his panic, so that he was almost glued to Zhang Yu's body.
Their bodies were pressed together without any gap between them.
Zhang Yu looked down at him.
Why are you hugging me so tightly?
Bai then realized his posture.
His face instantly turned red.
" Boss Zhang Yu..."
"I was just startled."
Bai wanted to let go.
But his feet couldn't touch the bottom of the pool, and as soon as he stepped back, he sank into the water again.
He could only hug Zhang Yu again.
Zhang Yu supported his waist.
You can't swim?
Bai shook his head.
"I haven't studied it."
"Then you still dare to stand by the pool?"
"I'm here to announce that we have guests."
Bai's breathing was still not steady.
"You suddenly grabbed my foot; I wasn't prepared at all."
Zhang Yu smiled.
"With me here, you won't drown."
Bai lowered his head.
His forehead was almost touching Zhang Yu's shoulder.
The sailor suit, soaked with pool water, clung to his body, making him even more afraid to move.
Yugao and Xiang were standing on the other side of the pool, already looking over.
Xiang blinked.
"She's holding me so tightly."
Yugao leaned against the pool wall.
"They were probably really scared."
Xiang glanced at Bai's legs, which were wrapped around Zhang Yu's waist.
But he's already out.
Why aren't you letting go?
Bai felt even more embarrassed.
"I can not swim."
Xiang immediately said, "I can teach you."
"No."
Bai answered very quickly.
After saying that, he realized he had refused too hastily, so he could only add one more sentence.
There's still work to be done in the front office.
[bite!]
[Daily selection task completed.]
[Congratulations, host, you have received 2000 gold coins.]
A system notification appeared in front of Zhang Yu.
Two thousand gold coins were credited directly to your account.
Zhang Yu was in a good mood.
He carried Bai towards the poolside.
"Sit down on the shore first."
Bai responded softly.
"Um."
Upon reaching the poolside, Zhang Yu supported Bai's waist with both hands and helped her up.
Bai sat by the pool, his hands supporting him on the ground.
Her long, soaked hair hung down her back.
Water dripped continuously from the light blue sailor uniform, and the skirt clung to her legs.
Bai quickly reached out to straighten his clothes.
But the clothes were completely soaked, and nothing I did could fix them.
His face remained red.
She didn't dare look at Zhang Yu anymore.
Zhang Yu braced himself against the edge of the pool with both hands and flipped himself out of the water to get ashore.
Bai moved a little to the side.
" Boss Zhang Yu."
"Could you please let me know in advance next time?"
"If I told you in advance, would I scare you?"
Bai whispered, "I almost thought I was going to drown."
I've been holding you the whole time.
Zhang Yu squatted down beside him.
How could I possibly let you drown?
Bai then recalled how the two of them had been pressed together just moments before.
His face turned even redder.
"I did not mean that."
Zhang Yu stopped teasing him.
Let's rest here for now.
"Go back to your room to change your clothes after you've calmed down."
Bai nodded.
Only then did he realize that he had forgotten something.
Jiraiya was still waiting.
Bai suddenly raised his head.
" Boss Zhang Yu!"
"What's wrong?"
Someone is looking for you in the lobby.
Bai quickly stood up from the ground.
" Lord Jiraiya has been waiting for a while."
"I came here specifically to report on this matter."
"I forgot about it after I fell into the water."
Zhang Yu glanced in the direction of the tavern.
Did he say what it was about?
"No."
He shook his head.
"I just wanted to meet you."
Zhang Yu picked up a towel from the side and dried himself off.
"I'll go take a look."
He then looked at Bai.
"Don't go back to the front hall yet."
"Your clothes are all wet. Sit here and rest for a while."
"Go back to your room when you're no longer dizzy."
Bai looked down at himself.
"Clear."
Zhang Yu left the pool and went back to his room to change into a black outfit.
When he arrived at the front hall, Jiraiya was already sitting at the bar drinking water.
What do you want?
Zhang Yu pulled out a chair and sat down.
Jiraiya put down his cup.
Konoha is currently lacking a Hokage.
After the old man passed away, village affairs were temporarily handled by a few high-ranking officials.
"No problems have arisen yet due to the short timeframe."
"If this drags on, things will definitely get messy."