"Uh, Tsunade?"
Nian looked down, staring blankly at the pale arms wrapped around him, suddenly feeling a bit flustered.
The sudden embrace made the young man’s face redden in embarrassnt.
Especially after the battle just now, with Tsunade’s clothing reduced to a thin, burdenso binding cloth that clung tightly to his back, the fragrant, warm feel triggered a fluttering sensation in his heart.
This was a novel experience he had never undergone in his more than twenty years of life.
Tsunade realized she was acting out of line as well. Blushing, she released her grip and softly murmured, "Thank you for coming to save ; I’m really... very happy..."
Nian unconsciously smiled, "Do you rember your promise?"
"Promise?" Tsunade asked in a daze.
Nian reached out to wipe the blood from the corner of her mouth, "You once said that one day you would beco Hokage, sweeping away the sickness, bringing light back to Konoha, clearing my father’s na, and then... inviting to visit your territory as a guest."
"Ah, that, of course, I haven’t forgotten!" Tsunade stood on her tiptoes, "I’ve been working hard for that goal..."
"I...," Nian chuckled lightly, reaching up to ruffle Tsunade’s hair, "I’m really looking forward to that day..."
Tsunade obediently stood still, narrowing her eyes like a small cat.
In the distance, Jiraiya and his frog partner were left dumbfounded, especially Jiraiya, who had his mouth agape, expressing an almost ghostly surprise.
What was he witnessing?
This Tsunade, always valiant and fierce, commanding respect and authority, whose personality and thods were often more hard-headed than any man’s, was currently displaying such a demure and refined deanor?
Was this the sa Tsunade he knew!?
Why was she acting like a little girl now!?
At that mont, Tsunade lowered her head, standing on tiptoes, her small hands obediently clasped behind her back, gazing around like a girl who had done sothing wrong, occasionally speaking sweetly, completely contrasting with the Tsunade Jiraiya rembered.
"That’s love for you," Fukasaku stroked his beard, solemnly stating.
"Huh?" Jiraiya seed dazed, his voice trembling.
"That’s love for you," Fukasaku thought Jiraiya hadn’t heard him clearly and repeated himself.
With a look of sentintality, he mumbled, "In the good old days, that’s how I was with my wife."
Jiraiya was utterly stunned, feeling as if the cold rain was slamming against his face.
He had known Tsunade since childhood; they had grown up together as partners, entrusted each other with their lives, and were childhood sweethearts (at least in his mind). Admittedly, he had never hidden his feelings for Tsunade.
Especially after Orochimaru had defected, their constant companionship deepened his feelings for her, yet for certain reasons, he kept this love buried deep within, reluctant to confess.
For her sake, he could do anything, even accompanying her to pursue the notorious Uchiha Kamihane without hesitation.
In reality, beneath his seemingly boisterous and carefree exterior, Jiraiya hid a sensitive heart; he always lacked the courage to express his true feelings.
Not confessing didn’t an giving up. He worried that facing Tsunade’s straightforward rejection would hurt more; what he feared more was her ambiguous acceptance, as it felt less like a long-awaited connection and more like a habit ford over ti, growing accustod to having such a confidant beside him.
That kind of connection wasn’t what he wanted.
Furthermore, he didn’t want to shake Tsunade’s heart either; he simply hoped that one day she could accept all of him.
But now, he watched from the white curtain of rain as Tsunade spoke softly with Nian, her deep gaze sparkling, as if dew gathered in sumr twilight was about to spill over.
So she could show such an expression too...
Jiraiya felt an unprecedented silence enveloping him; he could no longer hear any sounds, and his body grew colder from his fingertips to his heart, inch by inch.
’Hello, my na is Jiraiya; you can give the love letter later...’
A resounding crash shattered the silence, thunder ripping through the sky, lightning piercing the heavens as rain pattered down.
"Hey? Little Jiraiya, where are you going?"
"Cleaning up the battlefield. Although the Jinchūriki’s destructive power is strong, I believe there are surviving comrades in need of rescue." Jiraiya’s voice was cold as he turned without looking back.
He slowly walked toward the darkness, ultimately vanishing into the heavy rain.
...
"Hey, isn’t that Jiraiya?"
Above the night sky, a strange-looking bird soared through the curtain of rain, roaring with a fierce wind.
On the bird’s back, Hiruko pulled out binoculars from his pocket, watching a white-haired figure on the ground.
As he spoke, he handed the binoculars to Orochimaru, who waved his hand dismissively.
"I don’t need that," Orochimaru slightly closed his eyes, feeling everything on the ground through the currents of natural energy that resonated in his mind.
"It’s him, but this chakra... seems a bit dark," Orochimaru noted, puzzled.
"Um... could you let take a look?" A humble voice ca from behind them; it was Hatake Sakumo.
Lying nearby was the unconscious Katō Dan.
Hiruko generously tossed the binoculars to Sakumo, who nodded gratefully. After carefully confirming through the binoculars, he also nodded in agreent, "It’s definitely Jiraiya!"
"If he’s here, does that an... the battle is over?" Sakumo pondered for a mont, then looked up and said, "Could you leave here; I need to check on Jiraiya."
"No, no, no, you still need to find Tsunade quickly. Let her take care of your wounds," Hiruko shook his finger, "At the very least, think about Katō Dan beside you; we’re not obligated to carry you."
Orochimaru licked his lips, a sly glint in his eyes, "If you leave, to avoid trouble, we might have to kill Dan."
Sakumo’s expression turned worried. "I have a bad feeling; I can’t shake the thought that sothing might have happened to her."
Orochimaru exchanged glances with Hiruko and shook his head with a smile, "Even if sothing happens to soone, it wouldn’t be her."
"Exactly."
"Well then." As his savior, Sakumo had no reason not to believe them.
He pursed his lips, hesitated for a mont, and couldn’t resist asking, "What are you planning to do with that guy?"
Earlier, after Hiruko swooped down from the sky to protect him, he joined up with Orochimaru.
Seeing that Dan still had a pulse brought a sigh of relief, but when he clearly saw the figure walking out from the woods, he couldn’t help but be startled again.
The explosive Hunter, who had nearly cost him his life, was being carried like a dead dog over Orochimaru’s shoulder, completely unconscious.
In response, Hiruko grinned widely, not hiding his plans, "That’s just my first ’root vessel,’ soon I’ll turn myself into a furnace and forge many forms..."
Orochimaru swiftly covered Hiruko’s mouth, focusing on Sakumo with raised brows, "That’s not sothing you should be asking about."
"What’s the matter, you jerk Orochimaru?" Hiruko replied, slightly frustrated.
"You’ll sooner or later die from leaking information," Orochimaru coldly jabbed back. After years with Kamihane, his tongue had beco a bit toxic, "We have big plans; we need to keep a low profile until it’s done."
"I know, but I just can’t help sharing my excitent..."
Being with Uchiha Kamihane really made one this strong?... Sakumo silently gripped the hilt of his "White Fang" as he watched the two chitchat in the background.
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