Guts grinned ear to ear, his eyes practically glowing with mischief. Tsunade stared him down, fists clenched at her sides, trying her hardest not to react like she really wanted to.
She hadn't felt this level of irritation since the last time Jiraiya made a stupid joke at the hot springs.
Her fingers twitched.
Her forehead vein pulsed.
If this had been Jiraiya, she would've sent him flying into the mountains by now. But this wasn't some grown-up idiot. This was just a little brat who thought he could outsmart her—and succeeded.
She flexed her fingers, trying to resist the very inappropriate urge to give him a flick on the forehead. Just a tiny one. Nothing fatal.
"Hahaha! Tsunade, you lost!"
Jiraiya's laughter rang out as he approached, clearly savoring the moment.
Tsunade turned to glare at him with enough intensity to freeze lava. He immediately shut up and took a wise step back.
Smart move, she thought, still fuming.
It was no mystery why she never gave this idiot a serious shot for fifty years.
It wasn't just his face—though that was part of it—it was also the fact that his emotional intelligence hovered somewhere between a brick and a turnip.
At least in his youth.
Compared to Jiraiya, Kato Dan wasn't exactly a genius either—but at least he had the basic decency to not laugh at Tsunade for losing to a kid.
Dan stepped forward, offering the calm, level-headed role as he crossed his arms.
"Kid, you can't win like that. You want to be a true ninja? You've got to earn it the right way."
To an outsider, it sounded noble.
To Guts? It sounded... idealistic.
He tilted his head. "With respect, sir... in the middle of a war, ideals won't keep you alive. Sometimes tricking your enemy is the only way to win."
This was the shinobi world. Illusion, deception, misdirection—these weren't just tools. They were survival.
Even Naruto, the world's most straightforward idiot hero, learned that lesson fast once he hit the battlefield. Tricks, clones, bait-and-switch—anything to stay alive and win.
Charging in with pure ideals? That was the fastest way to get your story cut short.
Kato Dan's face stiffened.
Did this kid just jinx me? he thought, trying to keep his expression composed.
He couldn't exactly argue with a brat without looking foolish—especially not with Tsunade watching.
The words hit harder than they should've. Still, the kid had a point.
Before the moment got too tense, Orochimaru finally spoke up.
"You're unusually sharp for your age. With your talent, you could graduate early. Would you consider becoming my disciple after that?"
Everyone turned, stunned.
Guts glanced at him—cool, collected, intelligent. But there was something strange in his aura. Like a snake curled in the dark, waiting.
He smiled politely. "Thank you, Orochimaru-senpai, but I don't think your style matches mine."
With a clap of his hands—left flat, right curled—he struck them together in a Taijutsu stance.
"This is all I need."
Orochimaru gave a faint, amused chuckle. "A shame... but interesting."
"What a pity," he said. "So, you rely on pure hand-to-hand combat? It reminds me of someone."
Jiraiya leaned in with a grin, glancing at the steaming Tsunade nearby.
That's when Tsunade snapped.
"I refuse to take that arrogant brat as a disciple!" she shouted, stomping her foot.
Guts smirked. "Good. I'm not planning to wait around anyway. I'll surpass you in no time."
"WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY!?"
She lunged forward, sleeves rolled and fists blazing. Nawaki grabbed her arm in panic.
"Sister, please calm down!"
Just then, a blond teenager flashed into view.
"Jiraiya-sensei, Lady Tsunade—The Hokage has summoned you both. It's urgent."
"Got it. We're on our way," Jiraiya replied, nodding.
Then, with a grin, he leaned toward the young man.
"So... how are things going with Kushina? Heard you've been spending a lot of time together."
The blond flushed red. "Haha, nothing like that... We just train together sometimes, that's all…"
"Don't worry!" Jiraiya clapped him on the shoulder.
"With looks like yours and speed like that, she'll fall for you in no time! That's my student for ya!"
Tsunade rolled her eyes. Orochimaru, as always, remained unreadable.
This was typical Jiraiya. Always bragging about his golden boy.
But it wasn't all fluff. The boy—Namikaze Minato—was already a prodigy. A civilian-born shinobi who'd climbed the ranks to elite jonin before most finished the academy.
He had even begun training in the secret technique of the Second Hokage: the Flying Thunder God.
Tsunade folded her arms and looked away.
One day, she swore, I'll train someone even greater than Minato…
Almost unconsciously, her eyes slid toward Guts.
Then she caught herself and scowled.
Tch. As if. I, Tsunade Senju, will NEVER take him as a disciple!
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