Chapter 86 - Visiting Jiraiya
But of course, someone like Kazane, a man of virtue and righteousness, would never entertain such impure thoughts.
(Definitely not because he was afraid of getting punched to death.)
"Tsunade-nee-san, you're joking, right? I came here to visit Jiraiya-sensei. Lord Shikaku said he was seriously injured. I was hoping you could take me to see him."
Kazane, feeling a bit guilty, tried his best to resist the urge to glance down at that soft, snow-white expanse.
This isn't my fault, he thought. My will is strong—my enemy is just… armed with a nuclear warhead.
Tsunade scrutinized him for a moment.
There was a firmness in his expression, lines of maturity etched across his handsome features.
A good-looking boy couldn't possibly have bad intentions, she thought.
So she decided—for now—to let him off the hook.
"Come in. Jiraiya's right this way."
With that, she turned and led the way.
Kazane followed behind, letting out a quiet sigh of relief, as if he had narrowly escaped death.
But then, his eyes unconsciously wandered again— To that tight white nurse's outfit, which hugged Tsunade's curves as it bounced gently with each step she took.
As if sensing his gaze, Tsunade suddenly turned her head.
Kazane quickly looked up and put on his best righteous expression.
"There, that's Jiraiya over there."
Tsunade pointed to a hospital bed not far away and spoke softly.
Under normal circumstances, someone of Jiraiya's status would have been given a private room. But the recent battle had left too many Konoha shinobi wounded—there weren't enough medical tents to go around.
Some had even been converted from ordinary rest tents.
Following her finger, Kazane saw…
A man wrapped up so tightly in bandages, he looked like a cocoon.
"Jiraiya-sensei… you ended up like this?
Was it the Third Raikage? I won't forget this. Don't worry, Sensei—I'll avenge you on the battlefield."
Kazane said solemnly to the cocoon.
He genuinely hadn't expected it.
The last time he saw Jiraiya, the man was full of life, watching proudly from the observation platform. Now… the gallant Jiraiya was lying broken on a hospital bed.
"Ahem. While I appreciate the sentiment… you've got the wrong guy. ╮(╯_╰)╭"
A voice came from the bed next to the cocoon. Kazane pulled back the curtain—and sure enough, there was the Jiraiya he remembered.
A shock of wild, white hair, red streaks under his eyes, and instead of a forehead protector, he wore a headband with the kanji for "oil" written on it.
Honestly… it suited him. If you ignored his age, he looked every bit like a greasy old pervert.
Currently, Jiraiya was strapped up in braces and casts, looking like he couldn't even roll over by himself.
"Sigh… you've grown so much.
How's that bastard Orochimaru doing? Has he been beaten into the dirt by Iwa shinobi yet?"
Jiraiya muttered, forcing a smile.
He'd recently received word that Orochimaru had actually defeated the Iwa forces and was launching a counterattack.
Compared to that, he himself had been smashed into the dirt by the Third Raikage, so badly he couldn't even lift his head.
A pang of frustration hit his heart—but he covered it with bravado.
"Sensei, you're joking. Orochimaru-sensei often speaks highly of you, by the way.
He says you're elusive, a lover of literature, and often does field research from the rooftops of hot springs. He especially praised how you can escape from mobs of angry women after being discovered—truly a ninja of unmatched speed.
"Oh, and he also said you once peeked at Tsunade-nee-san while she was bathing… and even said something about her being flat…"
Kazane smirked as he teased Jiraiya, unwilling to let Orochimaru be the only one who got roasted.
Jiraiya's eyes darted toward Tsunade—
And just as he feared, met with her glowing red gaze.
In her eyes, he saw a vision of his own imminent death.
"T-Tsunade, don't listen to this brat's nonsense! I, the gallant Jiraiya, would never do such a thing!"
Jiraiya was absolutely terrified.
He would never forget the time he got caught peeping at the women's bathhouse—
Tsunade had broken six of his ribs, fractured both wrists, and ruptured multiple internal organs.
He had barely survived.
"Heh… we'll settle the score after you recover."
Tsunade clenched her fist and hesitated for a moment, ultimately choosing not to punch him— She was genuinely worried she might accidentally kill him.
As for Kazane's words?
She absolutely believed them.
After all, Jiraiya had a criminal record.
She'd personally caught him peeping before.
Who knew how many times he'd gotten away with it?
"Haha! Kid, so the old man actually sent you to support the front lines? I thought he'd come himself."
Jiraiya, relieved to escape a beatdown, quickly changed the subject.
No matter how powerful the intel claimed Kazane was, Jiraiya wasn't the type to believe it blindly.
If the opponent were someone like Hanzo of the Salamander, he could still fight him one-on-one. Even now, despite Hanzo's age.
But the Third Raikage… was something else.
That man had blocked Jiraiya's Sage Mode techniques using only his body.
He was lightning-fast and hit harder than Tsunade.
A true all-rounder.
Jiraiya genuinely couldn't think of anyone in Konoha who could take him on.
He had been knocked unconscious in the first wave of the Raikage's assault,
and had only just regained consciousness.
He didn't even know that Iwa and Kumo had joined forces to attack Konoha.
"The old man went to reinforce Orochimaru.
The Hidden Stone has fully mobilized.
Third Tsuchikage Onoki and two Jinchuriki are already on the battlefield."
Tsunade furrowed her brows, her expression full of guilt.
If not for my hemophobia…
If I had joined Jiraiya in that battle, we might have stopped the Third Raikage.
We wouldn't have to pin our hopes on a teenager.
"Jiraiya, this isn't your burden right now.
Just focus on recovering. There's nothing more you can do."
"And you, brat—let him rest. You should go now."
Noticing the heavy atmosphere, Tsunade cut off the conversation.
"Yes, Tsunade-nee-san. I'll take my leave.
Jiraiya-sensei, please recover quickly—I hope to fight alongside you soon!"
Kazane saw the look in both their eyes and didn't press the topic.
He knew both of them should have been leading on the battlefield. But due to their circumstances, they couldn't.
If he said anything more, it would only add to their guilt.
So Kazane turned to leave. Tomorrow, he had a different problem to deal with—namely, Danzo.
Just as he reached the tent's exit—
"Kid!"
"Make sure you come back alive!"
Jiraiya's voice rang out behind him.
Kazane paused, then raised his right hand,
clenching it into a firm and resolute gesture—
A silent promise.
He would fight— Carrying the hopes of this great ninja on his back.
TN/ I didn't edit this chapter much because I liked the comedy, despite the inconsistent phasing, scene transition and slightly awkward dialogue. I only do enchantment editing depending on chapter quality, take fight scenes for example. I have to extremely enhance imagery in those chapters.
So do understand why the writing style isn't consistent.