"Understood, Sensei," Jiraiya replied. Despite his calm deanor, he couldn't hide the excitent in his heart upon hearing about a new mission.
Heading out on missions wasn't just an opportunity to contribute, it was also the best way to hone his skills. With his current abilities, as long as he didn't encounter elite jonin or Kage-level figures, he was confident in at least being able to retreat unscathed, even if he couldn't win.
Given that they were only at the level of chunin, Hiruzen Sarutobi wouldn't assign them anything beyond a B-rank mission. Anything higher would essentially be a death sentence. After all, even jonin could die on A-rank missions, while S-rank missions were reserved exclusively for elite jonin or Kage-level shinobi.
For now, the most they could expect was handling a B-rank mission.
Nearby, Tsunade and Orochimaru lay sprawled on the ground, too exhausted to even speak. They rely nodded in agreent with Sarutobi's instructions.
Today's training had been grueling—so much so that even Jiraiya, with his enhanced stamina, was nearly overwheld. It was no surprise that Orochimaru and Tsunade were completely drained.
This session had been far tougher than any ninjutsu practice. After all, their sparring partner was none other than the Third Hokage himself, and the entire training felt more like a one-sided beatdown.
But despite being thrashed, they had gained a great deal from the experience. Their combat awareness had sharpened considerably.
For Tsunade and Orochimaru, if they could internalize the techniques learned today, they wouldn't just hold their own against most chunin—they could even take on multiple opponents at once. In the world of shinobi, experience in battle was as crucial as raw strength.
An inexperienced jonin could easily fall to a seasoned chunin. Examples of weaker shinobi outsmarting stronger ones were abundant, with Shikamaru's victories being a pri example of tactical brilliance.
As for Jiraiya, he had long been a standout among chunin. After today's training, the gap between him and a jonin had noticeably narrowed.
"Five days from now, you'll be assigned a mission that will take you far from the village," Sarutobi reminded them. "Make sure you're fully prepared during these next few days."
The trio nodded, refraining from asking for details about the mission.
It was standard protocol to keep mission specifics confidential until departure to avoid any risk of leaks that could jeopardize the operation. With that, Sarutobi left the training field.
"What do you think Sensei has in store for us?" Tsunade asked, her eyes sparkling with excitent.
"As long as it's not so boring errand, I'm fine with it," Orochimaru muttered, licking his lips in anticipation. He, too, was looking forward to the challenge.
Since graduating from the Academy, their missions had been mundane, low-ranking D-rank assignnts—finding lost pets or cleaning up garbage. It was mind-numbing work.
"One day, I'll be strong enough to crush you into the ground, just like Sensei does!" Tsunade declared, glaring at Jiraiya.
"Hey, it's not my fault! Sensei was the one beating you and Orochimaru down, not !" Jiraiya protested.
"And yet, you're the one who got hit the least. It's only fair that I balance the scales!" Tsunade said, hands on her hips, her tone brooking no argunt.
"I can't believe I'm being punished for being stronger," Jiraiya thought, sighing in resignation.
"Tonight, dinner's on !" Tsunade announced, her usual boldness shining through.
Neither Jiraiya nor Orochimaru hesitated, nodding eagerly. Both were perpetually broke, surviving mostly on village stipends and cooking their own als. Eating out was a luxury they rarely indulged in.
Tsunade led them to a high-end restaurant.
Once seated, Jiraiya and Orochimaru wasted no ti ordering dishes they could never afford on their own. Tsunade, as a mber of a wealthy clan, barely batted an eye—until the food began to pile up.
"Orochimaru, could you at least try to eat like a civilized ninja? We're supposed to have so class,"
Jiraiya complained, watching Orochimaru use his tongue to shovel food into his mouth at an alarming speed.
Jiraiya felt a pang of helplessness. Orochimaru's tongue was ridiculously agile—an unfair advantage when it ca to devouring food.
'Damn, if I had a tongue like that, I could...' Jiraiya shook his head, cutting off that train of thought.
anwhile, Orochimaru ignored him entirely, focusing on his al. Maintaining the nurous snakes he bred for his jutsu required significant resources, leaving him perpetually strapped for cash.
"Burp."
"Burp."
After what felt like ages, both Jiraiya and Orochimaru leaned back, patting their full stomachs in satisfaction.
"Thanks for the al, Tsunade!" they said in unison.
Looking at the towering pile of empty plates and discarded bones, Tsunade's face darkened.
"You should be thanking for the last ti I'm ever treating you," she grumbled, wincing as she pulled out her wallet to pay.
As they exited the restaurant and parted ways with Orochimaru, Tsunade turned to Jiraiya.
"Co to my house tomorrow and teach the Shadow Shuriken Clone Jutsu."
Jiraiya's eyes widened in surprise. Tsunade had always been adamant that she'd rather struggle endlessly than ask him for help. Yet now, she was the one extending the invitation.
It was a golden opportunity.
After all, teaching techniques often required close, hands-on instruction. If he "accidentally" brushed against her—well, that was just part of training, wasn't it? And who could say where such private lessons might lead?
"Are you listening, Jiraiya?" Tsunade snapped, breaking him out of his daydream.
"Of course! We're teammates—how could I refuse?" Jiraiya said with a grin. "I'll make sure I'm the best tutor you've ever had!"
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