"Do you like that girl Tsunade?"
"N-no, nothing like that..."
Jiraiya looked flustered and hurriedly shook his head in denial.
"Tsk, since you don't like her, I won't give you any advice then," Renya said, feigning disappointment.
Jiraiya doesn't like Tsunade? Who would believe that?
In the original work, Jiraiya was never able to get together with Tsunade.
The three of them knew each other since the Ninja Academy and were assigned to the same squad after graduation.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call them childhood sweethearts.
Yet Tsunade just didn't have feelings for Jiraiya and found Dan Katō to be her boyfriend.
Later, Dan Katō died in battle, and Tsunade developed hemophobia.
She left the village after the war ended.
Decades later, Jiraiya finally managed to trick Tsunade into coming back to become the Hokage.
Just when there was a spark of romance between the two, Jiraiya returned to the sea like a wandering dragon.
Renya thinking of Jiraiya's miserable romantic history, wanted to lend a hand.
Although there was no guarantee of success, it was at least better than Jiraiya messing around blindly.
He hadn't eaten pork, but hadn't he seen a pig run?
Hearing this, Jiraiya immediately couldn't sit still.
"Renya-sensei, can you tell me what the advice is?"
Orochimaru looked at his close friend with disdain, but still pricked up his ears to listen.
He wanted to see how Renya-sensei would guide Jiraiya in pursuing Tsunade.
One had to know that Renya-sensei didn't even have a partner himself.
Orochimaru expressed skepticism about Renya's teaching level.
"With your unconditional giving, Tsunade will only take it for granted." Renya chuckled lightly. "With your pestering method, it would be useless even if you pursued her for another hundred years."
Jiraiya choked up, unable to refute. After holding it in for a long time, he asked gloomily.
"Renya-sensei, then what do you think I should do?"
...
He felt that there was no problem with his method...
Since Tsunade didn't have money to gamble, he would lend her money.
There was nothing wrong with doing that!
Every time Tsunade got the money, she would show him a happy smile.
If Renya knew Jiraiya's inner thoughts, he would definitely lose all his energy and means.
Tsunade was subconsciously treating Jiraiya as an ATM!
Over time, she wouldn't consider him as a romantic partner at all.
Fortunately, he didn't know.
Renya held up three fingers.
"First, become stronger so she respects you."
"Not just paying lip service. Truly be able to stand by her side, and even make her need your power in certain aspects. Women naturally admire strength; only true powerhouses are more likely to win favor."
Jiraiya nodded thoughtfully. Renya-sensei was right!
However, he felt he met this condition.
——Needing his power in certain aspects...
Yeah, Tsunade often came to him to borrow money!
It could be said that if Tsunade had to find someone to borrow money from, the first person to pop into her mind would definitely be Jiraiya.
"Second, don't annoy her."
Renya paused briefly, then continued to speak with assurance.
"That pursuit style of yours, like a fly, will only make her annoyed."
"Keep your distance and do what you need to do. When she realizes you haven't appeared around her for a long time, she'll actually feel a bit unaccustomed to it."
Jiraiya nodded in sudden realization.
He remembered going out on a mission a while ago.
After Tsunade found out he was back, she rushed to his door in a hurry and asked anxiously. Where had he been during this time?
Then he lent all the remuneration from that mission to Tsunade.
Thinking about it now, it indeed aligned with Renya-sensei's words.
Indeed, some distance needed to be maintained.
"Appear occasionally and help her solve some practical troubles," Renya said softly. "Doesn't Tsunade lose money often? You are definitely not her only creditor."
"Wait until the creditors come to her door, then you suddenly appear to pay for her, and then turn around and leave. Don't talk nonsense."
Jiraiya's eyes lit up. This method was great!
The drama of a hero saving a beauty is the easiest way to capture a girl's heart.
He definitely had to try it when the time came!
"Third, make her need you." Renya said finally. "Remember, making her need you is more useful than saying 'I like you' ten thousand times."
If Tsunade had no interest in Jiraiya, no matter how hard he tried, it would be of no avail.
"If you fail, let it be. Don't hang yourself on a single tree."
Jiraiya stood frozen in place, pondering Renya's words.
Although simple and crude, it seemed... a bit more useful than his own blind pondering.
If he used Renya-sensei's advice, the success rate would be a little higher, right?
"Thank you, Renya-sensei!" Jiraiya stood up and bowed deeply.
He felt like he could do it again.
Although Renya-sensei was middle-aged and still didn't have a partner, his skills in pursuing girls were actually very useful.
Renya patted Jiraiya gently on the shoulder and said earnestly,
"Jiraiya, don't forget the last thing I said. Don't hang yourself on a single tree."
Love depends on fate.
If there is no fate, forcing it won't work.
Just like himself; since he hadn't met anyone he liked, he had always been single.
This had something to do with Renya staying at home every day, never stepping out the front door or crossing the second gate.
Mainly, he had no interest in such things.
"Yes, I understand, Renya-sensei!" Jiraiya said excitedly.
Obviously, he didn't take Renya's admonition to heart; his mind was full of thoughts about the feasibility of the first two suggestions.
He seemed to have already seen the scene where Tsunade was conquered by his personality charm and actively got together with him.
"Renya-sensei, Orochimaru, I have something to do, so I'm leaving first." Jiraiya left in a hurry.
Originally, he wanted to borrow money from Orochimaru, but how could he care about that now?
"Renya-sensei, are you confident in your own advice?" Orochimaru asked the doubt in his heart.
He always felt that Sensei's advice was a bit unreliable.
And that guy Jiraiya would always run into all sorts of mishaps.
"Who knows?" Renya spread his hands. "Success depends on human effort."
Didn't he remind Jiraiya at the end?
It doesn't matter if he fails; don't hang yourself on a single tree.
He wondered if he listened.
Orochimaru subconsciously looked at Jiraiya's retreating figure.
The dead last is the dead last; he only acts on impulse.
"Orochimaru, Second has agreed to your request. He wants you to report to the laboratory tomorrow morning."
"Thank you, Renya-sensei!"
A rare, unconcealable excitement appeared on Orochimaru's calm face.
With Nidaime-sama personally guiding him, he believed his research skills would go a step further.
"You must work hard and strive to surpass him," Renya said with a smile.
In the future, some matters regarding scientific research would still rely on Orochimaru.
"I understand." Orochimaru nodded seriously.
Renya chatted with Orochimaru for a few more sentences before saying goodbye and leaving.
It was getting late; he still had to go back and cook dinner.
He wondered if Jiraiya could get his wish and win Tsunade over.
Renya couldn't help but ponder this question in his heart.