belamy20

Chapter 165: Turns Out Jiraiya Has Been a Victim Too

Added 2024-09-06 10:01:40 +0000 UTC

“Tsunade's acquaintance?!”

Sengoku quickly got up, wrapped himself in a bathrobe, and rushed out of the hot spring to get dressed.

He hadn't expected Tsunade to have acquaintances here, but then again, this was her hometown—of course, there'd be people she knows everywhere. However, Tsunade was now part of their Navy; they couldn't afford to let her be lured back.

Kuzan and Issho followed closely behind him, without a moment's hesitation.

Before they could leave the hot springs, the owner stepped forward to block Sengoku.

“Is something wrong, gentlemen? Didn't you enjoy the hot springs?” the owner asked with a friendly smile.

These three had only been soaking for less than ten minutes before they suddenly rushed out—could it be they were trying to skip out on paying the bill? Didn't they know where they were?

This establishment was protected by the ninja of the Land of Wind. If anyone dared to skip out on the bill, they should think twice about how they might end up.

“The hot springs were excellent,” Sengoku replied, his expression ambiguous as he glanced at the owner, though he did manage to give an answer. But he was obviously in a hurry, his eyes darting toward the exit repeatedly.

“In that case, are you ready to settle the bill? I'll have someone bring it over,” the owner said, still smiling, as he signaled to a staff member.

Their bill wasn't particularly high; they had just rented a private hot spring and arranged for lodging. They hadn't even ordered any food or drinks—it seemed this group was quite... frugal.

“...Fine, settle it,” Sengoku said, his face darkening as he reached into his pocket.

Before they left, Raijin had reminded them to bring gold instead of Beli, which wouldn't be much use here. So, they had brought a considerable amount of money with them.

But... why was his pocket empty?

Sengoku's expression froze slightly as he turned his gaze to Kuzan. His money was gone—what could they do now? Maybe Kuzan had an idea?

“...”

Weren't you supposed to be paying, boss? Why was it his responsibility now?

Kuzan sighed and reached into his own pocket. But his face, too, soon lost all color. His money was missing as well!

Damn it.

Sengoku immediately understood Kuzan’s expression. There were only a handful of people in the world who could steal from two high-ranking naval officers like them, and it had to be someone from their own ranks. That left only one possible culprit: Tsunade, that sneaky thief!

But now wasn’t the time to worry about confronting Tsunade—they had to deal with the situation at hand first. Sengoku, as a naval admiral, certainly didn't want to be caught skipping out on a bill; if Zephyr found out, he'd never live it down.

“Ah…”

Issho sighed, a hint of resignation in his voice. He understood the situation perfectly. He reached for his cane sword, held it out in front of him with both hands.

“It seems we've been robbed, so I hope you won't mind if I use this sword as collateral for the bill. I'll return to reclaim it once we've gathered enough funds,” Issho said, a hint of helplessness in his tone.

With both Sengoku's and Kuzan's money gone, Issho didn't even bother checking his own pockets—he knew his money was likely gone too. The only way to preserve their dignity was to offer up his sword.

“Hmm…”

The owner was no stranger to valuable items. After taking a good look at Issho's sword, he could tell it was a high-quality weapon, and that the man before him wasn't just any ordinary person. Though blind, Issho exuded an almost imperceptible aura of strength.

It wasn't worth offending a powerful ninja over a single sword.

“Very well, but be quick about gathering the funds. I'll hold onto this sword for three days,” the owner agreed, nodding as he accepted the sword.

With dark expressions, Sengoku and Kuzan left the hot springs.

The Navy had never been more humiliated. Thank goodness this wasn’t on the open seas where they might run into someone they knew. No one would find out about this incident.

“Issho, we’ll make sure to get your sword back from Tsunade after we retrieve the money,” Sengoku reassured him.

“Understood,” Issho responded with a nod of silence, picking up a branch from the ground to use as a walking stick. The Navy… It seemed to be full of problems. Perhaps he should reconsider his path and not tie himself so closely to the Navy's fate.

“With this 30 million ryo, I’m going to double it,” Tsunade said, her eyes ablaze with determination as she entered a casino.

They had intended to exchange the money anyway, so it was only fair that she took care of it for them. Once she returned with 100 million ryo, Sengoku wouldn't have a word of complaint.

Back in the ninja world, Tsunade planned to indulge herself a little. After all, it had been a while since she had a chance to let loose. She had borrowed 3 million in high-interest loans yesterday and lost it all, but that was just bad luck. Today, her fortune would change!

She had her fortune read this morning—great blessings! That meant today she would take over the entire street.

Half an hour later, Tsunade emerged from the casino with a hollow look in her eyes, her spirit crushed. Finding a small tavern nearby, she sat down and began to drown her sorrows in what tasted like horse piss.

"Thirty million went in, and two thousand came out.

Tsunade couldn't remember what happened in between.

Anyway, the scene was very lively. As soon as she entered, someone served her tea.

They were incredibly attentive to her!

But after half an hour, when there was no money left, the owner even gave her two thousand to drink.

You could say Tsunade still holds a certain status in the ninja world.

'Tsunade?'

At this moment, the tavern curtain was slightly lifted, and a white-haired man with spiky hair walked in.

Seeing Tsunade, his eyes widened, mostly focusing on her upper body.

Jiraiya didn't feel the need to confirm; this was definitely Tsunade.

Aside from Tsunade, only the Tegami he encountered while wandering in Amegakure recently had such strength. He never thought that after all this time, Tsunade hadn't changed a bit.

But what's with the clothes she's wearing? Justice? What kind of clothes are those?

'Oh? Jiraiya, huh!'

Tsunade's pupils were dilated as she glanced toward the entrance.

After realizing it was Jiraiya, she lost all interest.

'Where have you been all this time? The entire ninja world couldn't find you.'

'Even the Slug Sage couldn’t contact you. Where have you been?'

Jiraiya hurried to Tsunade’s table and started asking.

'Where have I been? I was captured by that brat Uchiha Reijin! That guy is insidious and cunning, just bullying a weak and powerless woman like me.'

Tsunade slightly flaunted her graceful figure, making it impossible for Jiraiya to take his eyes off her.

He hadn't expected that even after all this time, Tsunade's assets were still as impressive as ever.

Suddenly, he missed Tegami and felt he had to go back there and take a look.

Tegami wasn't the main point; he just wanted to pay tribute to his three disciples.

'Uchiha Reijin? What did that guy do to you? Don't worry, Tsunade, even if he did anything to you, I will still accept you.'

'Rather, Tsunade, no matter what you become, I’m willing to accept you.'

Jiraiya’s face looked extremely bad, but at this point, Uchiha Reijin wasn’t the main problem.

It seemed like Tsunade’s emotions were extremely unstable now; he needed to comfort her properly.

Moreover! Jiraiya was serious when he said that.

'Jiraiya, you must have an important reason for coming here, right?'

Tsunade's face changed slightly, with a somewhat peculiar expression.

It felt like Jiraiya was acting like a simp, just as Reijin had said.

Can't think like that!

‘Ahem! You should know why I’m here. Konoha has been investigating your matter recently.'

'When we discovered that your disappearance was related to Uchiha Reijin and you’re appearing now, it seems you’ve escaped from him, right?'

'Konoha needs all the information about the Uchiha clan, including Uchiha Reijin, and... the Third Hokage is getting old. He hopes you can come back to take charge.'

Jiraiya looked seriously at Tsunade, but his eyes couldn’t help but glance at her front.

Did Uchiha Reijin really mistreat Tsunade or not? Jiraiya wasn’t very sure.

Jiraiya just feared Tsunade had Uchiha Reijin’s child; then it would be hard to return to Konoha.

If there was a child, they could only wait for the child to be born before returning to Konoha.

Uchiha Reijin! The evil Uchiha clan is truly harmful.

However, Jiraiya's face showed a smile with an unclear meaning.

He had been pining for Tsunade for over thirty, nearly forty years.

Since they started at the ninja academy, even now, he still remembered her.

At least he could fulfill Jiraiya’s wish!

'You can go back. I can't reveal any information about the Uchiha clan or Uchiha Reijin to you!'

'I can't even tell you a word about what happened while I was gone, and as for the Third Hokage...'

'After this trip, I’m afraid I won’t be active in the ninja world for too long; I’ll soon leave and return.'

Tsunade looked a bit helpless. Returning to the ninja world was just a chance to check on home.

As for wanting to live here for a long time, that would depend on whether Uchiha Reijin was willing.

More importantly, whether she herself was willing or not. In her heart, Tsunade was 100% unwilling to live in the ninja world.

Everywhere in the ninja world was full of painful memories, with not a bit of pure land in Tsunade's eyes.

But in the pirate world, there was at least a navy!

Although the reputation of the navy wasn’t great either! But it was much better than the chaos of the ninja world.

'Leave? What kind of spell did Uchiha Reijin cast on you that you want to go back?'

'Tsunade, I absolutely won’t allow you to make such a wrong decision. Come back to Konoha with me.'

'Then, you’ll be the next Hokage of Konoha, the Fifth Hokage!'

Jiraiya's face twisted suddenly, his eyes filled with fire.

He originally thought his chance had come!

But now it seems.

He was simply a clown.

Even if he were to be a rebound guy, he had no qualifications.

Now, Jiraiya didn’t care what Tsunade thought; his only obsession was to bring Tsunade back to Konoha.

He also didn’t plan to continue wandering the ninja world. He wanted to stay in Konoha and keep an eye on Tsunade.

Until Tsunade was genuinely willing to take over the mess of Konoha.

'Hahaha, Jiraiya, do you think that decision is wrong?'

'There’s nothing in this ninja world for me to linger on. Moreover, as for the position of the Fifth Hokage, I’m not the least bit interested.'

'I have no interest in being Hokage. When I leave the ninja world and go back, I can still enjoy three or four decades of freedom!'

Tsunade waved her hand; she wasn’t moved by anything Jiraiya said.

Even a dog would turn its head away from the Hokage position. How could she possibly be interested in it?

Konoha is not a good place. Going back would just mean more scheming and infighting.

Tsunade really didn’t have the energy to play those games anymore.

'Tsunade, what nonsense are you talking about? You are the granddaughter of Lord Hashirama!'

Jiraiya suddenly stood up, staring at Tsunade in disbelief.

Anyone could say they weren’t interested in being Hokage, but not Tsunade!

'Jiraiya, if you’re here to persuade me, then hurry up and leave.'

'If you’re here to drink with me, then I can have a good drink with you.'

Tsunade picked up an empty wine glass and poured a glass for Jiraiya.

She had just come back and was actually looking for someone to talk to; she had no mood to quarrel with Jiraiya now.

Later on, quarreling is fine too!

'Drinking? Who has the mood to drink right now!'

'Tsunade, Konoha is now surrounded by the Four Great Ninja Villages, and war could break out at any time.'

'If it's just me alone, there’s no way to resist so many ninja villages. Konoha needs you right now.'

'Tsunade, are you unwilling to return to Konoha because of Reijin? Did he do something to you? Do you have a child now? Are you ashamed to return to Konoha? No worries, once the child is born, I’ll raise them! I guarantee no one will know.'

Jiraiya spoke emotionally!

If Tsunade went back to Reijin again, Jiraiya was afraid he might never see her again.

'...'

'Is this the granddaughter of Senju Hashirama? Does she have a child?'

'Didn’t you hear what they were saying? Supposedly, it's with someone from the Uchiha clan.'

'Is that true? Aren’t those two families enemies? And hasn’t the Uchiha clan become rogue ninjas now?'

'Who knows? The ninja world is very chaotic; who understands this kind of thing?'

All eyes in the room were on Tsunade and Jiraiya.

They kept sizing up Tsunade and Jiraiya, as if they could write a 1.5-million-word melodrama about them.

Some men in the tavern had read Jiraiya’s novel, Make-Out Paradise.

It felt like Jiraiya was just like a character in Make-Out Paradise! Hmm! One of the tragic ones.

No wonder Jiraiya’s novel was so well-written.