Note:Gonggong (共工), in Chinese mythology
"Sigh... I've lost count of how many drinks I've had…"Jiraiya rubbed his temples and tossed a peanut into his mouth.
"Pervy Sage, do you think... souls really exist in this world?"
Naruto had been quietly listening to the nearby diners talk about a certain tale. The conversation had stirred something in his heart.
He thought of his parents.
"If it's really possible... I'd like to meet them someday."
A faint trace of loneliness flickered in Naruto's eyes.
Jiraiya ruffled his spiky blond hair hard.
"Train hard. One day, you just might. But for now—eat up. We've still got to find Tsunade."
Naruto immediately beamed.
"Quick, who did that Su guy summon back?"
"You saw the soul with your own eyes?"
A nearby uncle leaned in, urgently questioning the middle-aged man across the table.
The man made a silencing gesture—and the whole restaurant fell quiet.
"Her name's Tsunade. Says she's the granddaughter of the First Hokage—Senju Hashirama!"
"And the soul she summoned… was her younger brother, Senju Nawaki!"
"That Tsunade is a total knockout. Damn, I wouldn't mind getting a handful of—well, she's got that whole 'busty and clueless' charm goin' on, you know?"
CRACK!
Jiraiya's eyes went wide.
The cup in his hand shattered.
Naruto jumped in surprise, looking at his teacher in confusion.
"He… he just said Grandma Tsunade's name, didn't he?"
"I heard it."Jiraiya said flatly, slowly composing himself.
Then he stood and walked over to the man who had just spoken.
Everyone else was still caught up in the story. No one noticed the storm building on Jiraiya's face.
"That tavern—where is it?"
The man turned, eyes glinting mischievously.
"What, you fall for Tsunade too? Hah!"
The other patrons burst into laughter.
They had no idea Jiraiya's expression was getting darker by the second.
BOOM!
The next second, a plume of smoke exploded at the restaurant's entrance—the front door was blown clean off.
The man lay groaning, slumped against the cracked wall, which now bore a swirling impact pattern.
"Damn… That was awesome! What was that technique called?!"
Naruto's eyes sparkled.
Jiraiya stepped calmly out of the restaurant, carrying his pack, and knelt beside the dazed man.
"That was Rasengan—and it's one of the techniques I'm going to teach you."
Then he leaned in, voice cold.
"Now. Are you ready to talk?"
Duanshan Street.
The Forest Haven Tavern.
Jiraiya and Naruto finally arrived.
"This place has... character,"Jiraiya said, looking up at the two-story building, ringed by a grove of bamboo.
"You sure Grandma Tsunade is in there?"
Naruto tilted his head and asked suspiciously.
Jiraiya shrugged.
"Maybe. I don't know for sure."
"But more importantly... I want to see for myself if this Su fellow's stories are really as incredible as people say."
They pushed open the door and stepped inside.
At once, a group of cat-eared maid waitresses rushed over.
"Welcome, honored guests! Would you like some sake?"
"Holy—!"
Jiraiya was instantly surrounded by a group of cute girls, and nearly had a nosebleed on the spot.
"Forget the stories—this place is already paradise!"
His eyes sparkled as he ogled the maids.
Black stockings. Soft pink cat ears. Curvy bodies.
And the tails…
Those tails.
Jiraiya was already drowning in bliss.
Naruto stood beside him, looking completely disgusted.
No wonder they call him Pervy Sage. The second he's in a place like this, he forgets why we're even here...
"Drinks! Sake! Right now!"
Soon, under the enthusiastic guidance of the maids, Jiraiya and Naruto found a table and sat down.
"Pervy Sage, aren't you forgetting something?"
Naruto glared as Jiraiya continued staring at one maid's chest with wide eyes.
"Ah—r-right! I'll take a bottle of sake for now, and we'll order more later."
After sending the maid away, Jiraiya finally turned his attention to the tavern.
The place was buzzing.
Most of the drinkers seemed to be traveling merchants or local townsfolk. But so far, no sign of Tsunade, or the legendary Su, the storyteller.
"Attention, everyone! In ten minutes, Master Su will begin telling today's new story!"
"Please get ready!"
A cat-eared maid stood on a raised platform and called sweetly to the crowd.
Right then—
BOOM!
A powerful tremor shook the building.
Jiraiya blinked and turned to the door.
In the next instant—hundreds, even thousands of people flooded through the entrance.
"We made it! HAHAHA!"
"Master Su, I'm here!"
The newcomers were a mixed bunch—merchants, civilians, shinobi—from every corner of the ninja world.
After hearing tales like The God of Gamblers and Blood-Robed Soul Summoning, they couldn't resist and made the trip in person.
Within moments, the tavern was packed full.
But the crowd outside continued to grow.
Jiraiya sipped his sake, stunned.
"Huh... maybe this Su guy really is the real deal."
"Here's your sake and appetizers, sir. Please enjoy."
"No rush. Master Su will be arriving shortly."
Just then, Jiraiya heard a familiar voice.
He quickly turned to look—
And saw a blonde girl, with cat ears, scurrying about carrying drinks.
Jiraiya immediately spat out his sake.
"TSUNADE?!"
And it wasn't just Tsunade.
Two figures in black cloaks walked past Jiraiya—and he instantly recognized them.
"Orochimaru?!"
Nobody in the tavern realized it yet, but—
Right here, in this little tavern on Duanshan Street… the Three Legendary Sannin had gathered once more.
Orochimaru and Kabuto were still seated in the corner, calmly waiting.
They had stayed in town an extra day—just to hear Su's next story. After that, they planned to visit him in private.
"What the hell is Tsunade doing working in a place like this…"
Jiraiya murmured, dazed, still clutching his sake.
Suddenly, the door on the second floor swung open.
A tall figure stepped out, folding fan in hand, descending with a confident, elegant stride—
Su Mu had arrived.