"This kind of person."
Takayama Haru broke the silence.
Hiruzen said coldly, "Jiraiya, Tsunade, what are you two doing here?"
Tsunade's eyes flashed and she pointed at Takayama Haru, saying, "Sensei, this shameless guy actually tried to take advantage of Kushina Uzumaki while she was drunk!"
"Good thing I caught him in time, otherwise Kushina would've been in real trouble."
Takayama Haru was speechless. A thick vine suddenly sprouted from the ground again and tied Tsunade up before she could react.
Hiruzen looked at Takayama Haru and asked, "Haru, what exactly happened here?"
"Kushina was drunk. If I didn't carry her home, was I supposed to drag her on the ground?"
"Tsunade, did you even ask what happened before jumping to conclusions?"
Tsunade shrugged, "Do I need to ask? Seeing is believing, right?"
\[Ding! Based on the host's current situation, here are your options:]
\[Option 1: Forgive Tsunade and accept her criticism. Reward: a worn-out shuriken.]
\[Option 2: Forgive Tsunade and declare you won't defend yourself. Reward: C-rank ninjutsu – Fire Style: Phoenix Flower Jutsu.]
\[Option 3: Scold Tsunade fiercely and teach her a lesson. Reward: S-rank ninjutsu – Centurion Jutsu.]
Takayama Haru was already holding back from saying something. Now the system's perfectly timed options pushed him over the edge.
He curled his lip, "So brainless."
Tsunade's eyes went wide, staring at him.
Everyone else looked shocked.
"W-What did you just say?!"
Tsunade couldn't believe Takayama Haru actually insulted her.
"Are you lacking brain capacity? I said, big chest, no brains!"
"Seeing is believing? So if I didn't carry her, should I have just dragged her home through the dirt? Are your eyes broken, or is it your brain?"
"If your IQ is low, that's not surprising, you know? Big muscles, simple mind."
Takayama Haru's words came out in a rapid-fire burst, leaving everyone dumbfounded.
Tsunade exploded with rage.
"You're dead!"
Just as she lunged forward, Takayama Haru's figure flashed and reappeared a hundred meters away, thanks to a pre-set Flying Thunder God mark.
This time it was Orochimaru's turn to narrow his eyes, and Hiruzen's eyes widened.
"That's... the Flying Thunder God Technique?"
Jiraiya asked curiously, "Sensei, didn't you teach him that?"
Hiruzen shook his head slowly.
Orochimaru's eyes gleamed. "If not from you, Sensei, then this kid is very suspicious."
Hiruzen snorted, "Orochimaru, stop your scheming. As for the Flying Thunder God, yes, it's odd. But there's no way someone from another village taught him."
"Don't waste your energy worrying about him. Rest up—you've got missions soon."
Orochimaru yawned lazily, "Got it, Sensei."
But in his mind, Orochimaru thought, Hmph, no mission could be as interesting as keeping an eye on Haru. There'll be an opportunity sooner or later.
Takayama Haru gently set Kushina Uzumaki down.
"Hmm?"
Suddenly a voice came from right behind him. Takayama Haru felt a chill down his spine, his hair standing on end!
"Watch out!" Jiraiya shouted.
Tsunade's Yin Seal had released, her forehead marked with black patterns that extended down her face, crossing over her eyes and down to her chin.
Byakugō no Jutsu—releasing all chakra from the Yin Seal, her entire body burst with golden chakra light.
She was really furious now.
She appeared behind Takayama Haru and Kushina in an instant, grabbing for Haru's head.
Crack!
Takayama Haru's head shattered.
That was too easy...
But in the next instant, Tsunade realized she was holding a log.
And the Kushina underfoot? That turned into a log too.
Takayama Haru reappeared ten meters away, still holding Kushina, while at Tsunade's feet, a massive wooden dragon erupted from the ground.
Hiruzen sighed. "Wood Dragon Jutsu... it's been a long time since I've seen that. I didn't expect to see it here."
He remembered it well. This giant wooden dragon was used by the First Hokage to suppress the Nine-Tails during its rampage. Its binding power was so strong that even the Nine-Tails screamed in pain, and once it latched on, it drained chakra too.
The First Hokage had used this to immobilize the Nine-Tails. Hiruzen had a deep impression of it.
Of course, this dragon was smaller now.
"You're dead meat!"
Tsunade punched the wooden dragon, only to realize in shock that her chakra was being drained.
The wooden dragon quickly wrapped her up tightly.
"Hmph, you think this can hold me?!"
Tsunade confidently burst out with more chakra!
The Wood Dragon Technique was a signature jutsu of her grandfather, Hashirama Senju.
Tsunade knew very well—the easiest way to break free was to overwhelm it with a chakra blast.
You want to absorb my chakra? Fine, take as much as you want!