"Hachoo! Hachoo!" Jiraiya rubbed his nose and patted the toad Gamabunta beneath him, saying, "This weather is so cold! It seems even this Toad Sage has caught a bit of a cold."
"You only realized now!" Gamabunta rolled his toad eyes, took a puff from his large smoking pipe to warm up, and complained, "You know I'm only wearing a short-sleeved shirt!"
"And you still want me to come out and travel?"
He was just enjoying the hot springs in Mount Myōboku, eating the food the old man prepared, but then...
Right after putting on the short-sleeve and leaving the hot spring, he was summoned out.
That feeling really was...
Gamabunta felt like he had caught a cold too.
"Haha!" Jiraiya laughed awkwardly and said, "Isn't this to get to the Land of Whirlpools sooner?"
But now it seemed...
Jiraiya sighed regretfully in his heart...
He wouldn't make it in time for the New Year's Eve celebration!
"Once we arrive, I'm not going inside the border."
Gamabunta took another puff from his large smoking pipe. Going inside meant getting injections, he really couldn't handle that, you go in by yourself!
He continued on the journey, saying, "And also..."
"Ten bottles of strong liquor, deliver them to Mount Myōboku yourself later!"
"Don't worry..." Jiraiya showed a smile and said, "I won't forget."
Only...
He didn't know if the ships in the Land of Whirlpools had stopped running yet??
If Gamabunta wasn't going...
Would he have to tread the cold seawater to get to the Land of Whirlpools?
This was too much for this Toad Sage!
...
"Table number ten's dual-flavor hot pot." Roshi shouted loudly, "And the beef, shrimp paste, vegetables are all ready, hurry up and take them out!"
"The customers are waiting."
Watching the busy waiters...
A smile appeared on Roshi's lips, he shook his head helplessly and muttered, "It seems I need to hire more people!"
There really weren't enough hands!
He sighed inwardly, looking at the boiler in front of him...
He had quit his job at the construction site and used the money he saved over the years to open a hot pot restaurant.
Originally, he just wanted to earn some money steadily.
But he didn't expect that using the Four-Tails' chakra as fuel would become so popular!
It's just...
The amount of fruit candy the Four-Tails needed had increased!
He now had to go to the dentist regularly for cleaning and care, otherwise...
His teeth always felt uncomfortable!
As for not giving candy...
Roshi had thought about it, but it was just a thought.
You know, if he really didn't give candy, the Four-Tails would go on strike and not provide chakra!
Back then, to get this shop running, he invested so much capital. Everything, from the boilers, bowls and chopsticks to the tables, was specially made.
After all, ordinary things couldn't withstand the Four-Tails' chakra.
The chakra of a Tailed Beast was just too strong!!
So...
To maintain the genuine quality and avoid bankruptcy, he could only keep the Tailed Beast inside him happy...
"Why are there so many customers today?" The Four-Tails' voice sounded again inside Roshi, "No matter, it's just too tiring, the candy today must be doubled!"
If it's not doubled, I'll go on strike!
"You!!" Hearing the Four-Tails' words, Roshi felt angry inside, but then he thought about his shop...
He quickly took a deep breath, forced out a smile...
"Whatever you say~"
No wonder Tailed Beasts and humans never got along, this attitude of raising prices temporarily...
It made him want to hit the Tailed Beast!!
But after thinking about it, mistreating rare animals is illegal in the Land of Whirlpools, so forget it.
He sighed inwardly...
Roshi touched his thick beard and muttered, "Why doesn't any girl like this?"
He also wanted to close today and take the whole family to see the fireworks!!
...
"Orochimaru??" Tsunade looked at her smiling, squinting companion and called out in surprise, "What are you doing here?"
"Tsunade!" Orochimaru heard someone call him, turned to look at Tsunade, smiled and said, "I was just about to look for you."
"Come, come." Tsunade glanced at the surrounded Hiruko nearby and understood why her captured friend could move around freely. She quickly waved him over, "It's been a long time since we had a drink together, come join us!"
Perfect...
She could conveniently let him pay the bill later!!
The wild Lin and Shizune beside Tsunade became somewhat nervous upon seeing Orochimaru and quickly said, "Lord Orochimaru!"
"Hmm!" Lord Orochimaru smiled and nodded, saying, "Don't be nervous, it seems you are living quite well in the Land of Whirlpools."
"Waiter, two more sets of bowls and chopsticks!" Tsunade raised her chopsticks and called out boldly.
Then, she glanced at Hiruko and shook her head helplessly...
"He still loves showing off so much!"
"Yes!" Orochimaru sighed and nodded in agreement, saying, "As soon as he enters, people surround him, especially parents asking about their children's school situation."
Plus, the newspapers have been reporting extensively on his outstanding contributions in biology lately, winning this and that award!
Probably the entire Land of Whirlpools knows him by now.
"It seems he won't be free for a while."
As soon as he finished speaking...
Suddenly...
A young boy walked over happily, saying to Tsunade and Orochimaru, "Teacher Tsunade, Teacher Orochimaru."
"Hello!" Orochimaru was momentarily stunned upon hearing the boy, then smiled and said, "Happy New Year."
"Eita." Tsunade also put down her chopsticks and said with a smile, "Happy New Year! Your family is here for hot pot too?"
"Yes! Teacher Tsunade." Eita nodded, then turned to look at Orochimaru excitedly, "Teacher Orochimaru, when will you come to teach us again?"
"Everyone thinks your classes are very interesting!"
"Although some girls find it a bit scary..."
Eita said with a silly grin, "But everyone really likes listening to your lessons!"
Not only were they super interesting, but there was also stewed toad to eat afterwards!
"Next time!" Orochimaru was slightly taken aback, then smiled and said, "I'll go when I have time next time."
"Okay!" Eita nodded happily and said, "I'll tell them when school starts, I'm sure they will be very happy." Then, looking towards his own table, "Teachers, please continue eating."
He skipped away...
Leaving behind...
Tsunade, Wild Lin, and the others, all squinting and staring at Orochimaru...
"When did you become a teacher?" Tsunade looked at Orochimaru and asked puzzledly, "How come I didn't know?"
"A few days ago, Hiruko had something to do, so I substituted for his class." Orochimaru wore a gentle smile, picked up his chopsticks, grabbed a piece of beef, dipped it for a moment, then put it in his mouth, saying casually, "I'm not a teacher there."
"I see." Tsunade nodded, also picked up her chopsticks, picked up a meatball, and said with emotion, "Actually, being a teacher is quite nice."
At least it's more interesting than being a ninja.
Then, she looked at the two young girls beside her who were staring blankly at her and Orochimaru...
"Don't overthink it!"
Tsunade shook her head helplessly, smiled and said, "We are still Konoha ninja, we haven't defected from the village!"
These two girls...
What were they thinking??
And then...
"Sorry, sorry." Hiruko also came over, sat down with a smile on his face, and said, "The parents are very concerned about their children's studies, so it was a bit hard to refuse!"
He picked up a nearby beer, opened it casually, took a swig, and looked at the eye-rolling Tsunade...
"I looked for you this morning, but you weren't there. I didn't expect to run into you here."
"Just taking two juniors from the village out to relax." Tsunade sighed and said indignantly, "Working all year round without holidays, and no salary either, what a black-hearted factory!"
She had tried to pull strings with Uzumaki Jun to let these two girls off, but was refused...
Tsunade slammed the table hard...
It really made her feel upset!
Even though she knew the Daimyō wasn't wrong to do this...
It was just unpleasant!!
"Hehe!" Hiruko laughed awkwardly upon hearing this and said, "After all, it's war!"
He didn't know what else to say.
You know, the life of a prisoner in the Land of Whirlpools was actually pretty good!
And besides...
He was no longer a Konoha ninja.
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