"Heard you ran into that kid Saitama Uchiha this time. How'd it go?"
Inside a cozy izakaya, Jiraiya and Tsunade sat face-to-face.
It was a small private room on the second floor, where they could look out through the window and see the street and people below.
Outside, the sun hung high. With July coming up, the temperature wasn't low at all—it was pretty hot.
"Yeah, I met him. That kid still had that same annoying expression—didn't change one bit."
Tsunade picked up the cup of sake in front of her, brought it to her lips, and took a small sip.
"I never thought things would turn out this way. I actually liked that kid's personality—he was cold, sure, but really sincere to others."
Jiraiya looked at Tsunade, who hadn't changed much over the years. Despite not seeing each other for several years, she appeared as youthful as when they'd last parted. Time had left no visible marks on her face.
Both were well into their forties. He managed his age thanks to training in Sage Art, which helped maintain his physical condition. He hadn't completely expected Tsunade to stay so young-looking either.
Jiraiya noticed the ◇ mark on Tsunade's forehead. It reminded him of an old ninja technique Tsunade had been researching long ago.
She'd said back then that with this technique, she could forever preserve her youthful beauty while watching him, Jiraiya, slowly grow old and be mocked by her every day.
"Hmm, but this time, things have gotten somewhat troublesome."
Tsunade didn't oppose Jiraiya's description of Saitama. Indeed, Saitama Uchiha was a good person. Otherwise, she wouldn't have confidently let her own disciple follow him around back then.
"This time in River Country, I gathered some intelligence about Saitama's organization. Their group is called Akatsuki, with spies spread throughout the Shinobi World. Originally, it was a powerful mercenary organization, but lately, it has gradually transformed into what seems like a terrorist organization..."
Looking steadily at Tsunade, Jiraiya began speaking in a calm tone, sharing all the information he had collected previously.
"You're saying even after breaking their necks, those enemies still didn't die?"
After listening to Jiraiya's account, Tsunade seemed puzzled. As a Medical Ninja, she understood human anatomy better than anyone.
But how could someone possibly survive after having their spinal column—the neck—broken?
"That's right. The two enemies I faced this time both possessed extremely strange abilities. They weren't easy to kill at all!"
"This organization certainly sounds terrifying, based on your explanation."
Tsunade narrowed her eyes, looking at Jiraiya, a faint blush appearing on her face. Maybe it had something to do with the strong liquor they were drinking today—not regular sake.
"It's hard to imagine who exactly could gather such extraordinary ninjas under one banner. I think only a Sage would possess that level of power."
Jiraiya poured himself another drink, clinking glasses with Tsunade's raised cup before downing it in one gulp.
"Their apparent goal seems to be the Tailed Beasts. Not long ago, I ran into Saitama because he had run into the Six-Tails Jinchuriki. At that time, they apparently tried capturing the host but failed."
Tsunade watched Jiraiya drink so heartily and grinned. Under the stimulation of alcohol, she downed her cup in one gulp as well.
"Hey, this isn't the same sake you usually drink..."
Seeing Tsunade's action, Jiraiya found it somewhat amusing. He shook his head and warned her.
"Pfft!" Tsunade ignored him, picked up the teapot, refilled her own cup again, and poured one for Jiraiya too.
"It's been forever since we sat down like this!"
Jiraiya looked at Tsunade's practiced movements, then cast a glance toward his left side.
There used to be someone else there. But he'd lost that person—who now was somewhere out there in the Shinobi World, beyond his reach.
"These years... have you had any luck finding Orochimaru?"
Tsunade looked at Jiraiya. The three of them, as a small team, shared an unspoken bond—they protected each other, yet held each other back at the same time. It was a strange triangular relationship.
"Nah! Don't remind me! That guy Orochimaru is truly just like a snake—extremely slippery."
Jiraiya revealed a bitter smile. The bond between him and Orochimaru was much deeper than the one he shared with Tsunade.
Of course, that didn't include Jiraiya's complicated feelings for Tsunade.
"I suspect Orochimaru might have some connection with some organization. After all, he seems close to Saitama, even though only he himself is a rogue ninja..."
"Also, as you know, the reason Orochimaru defected was precisely because of his experiments and forbidden research. And the two people I recently met had bizarre physiological features—they might also be linked to Orochimaru..."
Jiraiya said slowly. He suspected there really was a link between Saitama and Orochimaru, so he took a wild guess.
The first half wasn't entirely wrong—Orochimaru and Saitama were indeed in contact. However, the second half was completely off-base, missing the point altogether.
Still, such divergent thinking deserved commendation.
"Hmm...it's possible." Tsunade didn't immediately affirm Jiraiya's speculation. At this moment, discussing it wouldn't change the current situation at all—it would only help someone prepare in advance.
"Did Minato say anything?" Tsunade asked casually after finishing another cup.
"Since important intelligence hasn't been obtained yet, we can't initiate any actions. According to Minato, we should probably wait and see for now!"
As Jiraiya spoke, he occasionally took some appetizers with chopsticks and popped them into his mouth.
"Ah, how long are you planning to stay this time? I heard that not long from now, our village will invite several villages to jointly hold a Chunin Exams event. From Minato's words, I think he intends to make this the timing for holding a meeting among the Hidden Villages."
Tsunade had returned earlier than Jiraiya, so she naturally knew more information.
"I'll stay here for a while, take a break, and also there are some things I need to handle, which will require some time!"
Jiraiya picked up his cup, drained the wine, refilled it again, tightened his lips slightly, and shook his head.
He hadn't tasted the village's liquor in a long time—he wasn't used to its potency anymore.
"Yeah, I'll stay for a while too. You know about the issue between Shizune and Saitama—it could stir up some trouble."
Tsunade leaned halfway over the table, looking slightly dazed from the alcohol.
They kept chatting and drinking until they'd both had quite a bit.
Normally only drinking sake, Tsunade joined Jiraiya in drinking shochu this time, and was already showing signs of intoxication.
Her left side pressed against the table, her slightly drunken gaze, and the faint blush on her cheeks gave her an alluring mature charm.
"Uh..." Jiraiya finished another cup of alcohol, his eyes unintentionally shifting downward toward Tsunade.
It wasn't that he deliberately turned his gaze toward her—it just happened naturally.
"Nah, what are you staring at... Why does your look still seem so perverted?"
Half-drunk Tsunade lifted her head, saw his face, smiled, raised her hand, and made a playful defiant gesture at him.
"Alright then, I'll call it a day. I'm heading back now!"
Tsunade blinked her eyes and pushed herself up, walking straight toward the exit.
"Want me to walk you home?" Jiraiya stood up as well, reaching out to help her, but she swatted his hand away.
"No need. I know my way, and besides, who in the village doesn't know me?"
Tsunade clenched her right fist, brought it close to her chest, and shook it threateningly.
"Fine then. Watch your step!" Jiraiya could tell Tsunade was just mildly drunk and nothing serious.
Watching Tsunade leave and close the door behind her, he sat back down and picked up his wine glass.
"Sigh... really..." He stared at the wine glass for a moment, then downed it in one go with a sigh.
Finally, he placed both hands on the table, slowly lowered his head onto them, and remained motionless for a long time.
All those years apart, he'd promised himself that the next time he saw Tsunade, he'd finally tell her how he felt. But now, face-to-face with her again, the words just got stuck in his throat.
Meanwhile, Tsunade stood by the closed door, her face still slightly flushed, yet her eyes were sharp and clear—none of the earlier tipsy haze remained.
"Huh!" She took several deep breaths, her chest rising and falling, then slightly turned her head, glancing at the door as if seeing through it to Jiraiya inside, before turning and walking away.
She once had a lover named Dan Kato, Shizune's uncle, who unfortunately died in the war, leaving nothing behind.
Even though many years had passed, she still couldn't move past that shadow and accept someone else.
She wasn't stupid—after all, she was in her forties. Of course she could see how Jiraiya felt about her. But she refused to accept them—or perhaps feared to.
Walking downstairs, Tsunade headed toward home. Shizune was waiting for her there.
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