"Tsunade, who is he?"
Jiraiya snapped back to himself, hurried to his feet, and took a few quick steps to stand in front of her, sounding a little anxious.
"His name is Kitazawa."
Tsunade paused, then added, "He's… half my student."
"You actually took on a student?"
Jiraiya looked genuinely surprised, then frowned. "Why only half?"
"My business is none of yours."
Tsunade clenched her fist as her gaze hardened.
"Right, I didn't ask anything."
Catching the threat in her tone, Jiraiya immediately backed down.
"Kitazawa, this is Jir—"
Tsunade started to introduce Jiraiya, but he cut her off halfway.
"Hold it! I'll handle my own intro!"
Grinning, Jiraiya hopped back a step, planted one foot, and struck a ridiculous pose.
"I am the white-haired Toad Sage, unmatched in every direction; even crying babies hush at the sight of this dash—ow!"
Before the word "dashingly" could leave his mouth, a fist the size of a sandbag filled his vision. A heartbeat later he shot through the air like a white comet, crashed several meters away, and howled.
"His name is Jiraiya," Tsunade said evenly, shaking out her hand. "Do yourself a favor and keep your distance."
"What do you mean, 'keep my distance'?"
Like a cockroach that refused to die, Jiraiya popped back up in front of her.
"You know exactly why," Tsunade said with a sidelong glance. "If I catch you peeping at the Konoha hot springs again, you'll die a miserable death."
"It's all a misunderstanding!"
Cold sweat sprang to Jiraiya's brow. He waved his hands. "I'm back this time to spend New Year's Eve with the old man—and with you."
"Go keep the old man company."
Tsunade flicked her hand dismissively. "I don't need it."
"Don't need it?"
Jiraiya instinctively looked at Kitazawa.
"Tsunade-sama, Shizune-senpai, Rina-san, and I are spending it together," Kitazawa said matter-of-factly.
"Who's Rina?" Jiraiya scratched his head.
"You're never in the village, so of course you don't know what's been happening," Tsunade huffed, clearly annoyed.
Kitazawa blinked. Honestly, she wasn't so different from Jiraiya. If he hadn't proposed the psychological medical-nin program, she would've only come back when Naruto eventually sought her out after graduating. Not that he dared say that out loud—he didn't want to end up like Jiraiya.
"If you've got questions, go ask the old man," Tsunade said, turning away and closing the door with a casual shove.
Jiraiya rubbed his nose, looking a bit deflated. After a couple seconds' hesitation, he decided not to bother her. He gave Kitazawa a quick nod, then headed for the Hokage's office.
…
"Old man, still glued to your crystal ball? Lend it to me for a couple days?"
The voice came out of nowhere to his side.
Sarutobi Hiruzen reflexively covered the crystal ball. Only when he recognized the voice did he breathe out.
"This office hasn't changed a bit," Jiraiya said, dropping in through the window and strolling up to him.
"Have you forgotten how doors work?" Hiruzen scowled. "You and Tsunade both—no sense of decorum."
"Next time. Promise."
Jiraiya didn't look the least bit repentant.
"Forget it. You wouldn't listen anyway." Hiruzen put the crystal ball away. "Have you found the Child of Prophecy?"
"No."
Jiraiya shook his head.
One of the three great summoning sanctuaries, Mount Myoboku, is led by the Great Toad Sage, who can foresee fragments of the future. In one of those visions, among the students Jiraiya would take under his wing was someone capable of changing the entire shinobi world—for salvation or for ruin, depending on the guidance he received. That student was the so-called Child of Prophecy. Jiraiya had been searching ever since, determined to guide him onto the right path.
"You've searched for years and still found nothing. Maybe the Child of Prophecy doesn't exist," Hiruzen said slowly. "Since you're back in Konoha, why not stay?"
"Sorry, old man. I have to find him." Jiraiya was quiet for a beat, then firm. "He exists."
"…"
Hiruzen had no answer. In strength and stature, Jiraiya was hardly beneath Tsunade. If he would stay, many outcomes might have been different—like the Nine-Tails disaster.
"I just saw Tsunade," Jiraiya said, changing the subject. "Who is this Kitazawa, and why 'half' a student?"
"See for yourself." Hiruzen handed him a dossier.
Jiraiya skimmed it. At first he was calm; the farther he read, the wider his eyes grew. Kitazawa's rise was staggering: in under a year, he'd gone from an ordinary academy teacher to an elite jōnin adept at medical ninjutsu, genjutsu, and Water Release.
The pattern felt familiar. Back in the day, Jiraiya had been the least gifted of the Sannin—until he stumbled into Mount Myoboku and his power surged. What had Kitazawa stumbled into? Or was he simply a late bloomer?
"No wonder Tsunade came back," Jiraiya murmured when he reached the section on the psychological medical-nin system.
In truth, he hadn't expected to run into Tsunade this trip. She wandered the world much like he did. Hearing she'd been in Konoha had surprised him—but he'd been punched out the door before he could ask why.
"This psychological medical-nin framework could help a lot of shinobi," he said—then his eyes narrowed as a thought struck. "Can it treat Tsunade's hemophobia?"
"It might." Hiruzen nodded. "I've asked Kitazawa and his team to try. Whether it succeeds… we'll see."
"If it does, that would be amazing." As Tsunade's old teammate, Jiraiya knew how her fear of blood began—and how much it cost her. He wanted it gone more than anyone.
"Kitazawa's earned the right to be Tsunade's student," Jiraiya concluded, laying the file down. He didn't press about Kitazawa's 'chance encounter.' With Tsunade's backing, a seat among the village leadership, and the academy's vice-principal role, the man had both strength and status—and the right to his secrets. Besides, he'd already passed both Hiruzen's and Tsunade's scrutiny.
Hiruzen nodded, satisfied. "He's also an excellent academy teacher."
"Even the best academy teacher only goes so far," Jiraiya said, unimpressed. He'd gone to school, after all, and most instructors barely managed to teach the Three Basic Techniques.
"Take a look at this." Hiruzen slid over a packet labeled Advanced Class.
"Advanced Class?" Jiraiya arched a brow and flipped through it quickly.
"Well?"
"A solid reform," he admitted. "If we'd had something like this back then, maybe we could've beaten Hanzō."
The Sannin had earned their name in the Second Great Ninja War when they faced Hanzō of the Salamander. In truth, they'd been routed—everyone else from the Konoha with them had died. Even the title 'Sannin' had been Hanzō's to bestow. In a way, it was a mark of shame. But the name had spread so widely they'd long since stopped fighting it.
"Who is Rina?" Jiraiya asked again.
"Uzumaki Rina, a survivor of the Uzumaki clan," Hiruzen explained. "Tsunade and Kitazawa brought her back from Grass."
"There are still Uzumaki around?" Jiraiya was stunned.
"I didn't expect it either," Hiruzen said with relief. "Good thing Kitazawa found her in time."
"I've learned what I needed. I'm going to check on Naruto."
Jiraiya tossed the Advanced Class packet onto the desk.
"Look all you want, just don't overstep," Hiruzen warned.
"When are you going to tell Naruto the truth?" Jiraiya frowned.
"He's not ready yet. After he graduates," Hiruzen said.
"It's New Year's Eve. You're not bringing him over tonight?" Jiraiya looked straight at him.
Hiruzen fell silent.
"Tsunade's in the village now—what are you even worried about?" Jiraiya pressed without mercy. "Old man, you were once the fearsome Professor. When did you get so timid?"
"…Bring Naruto to my place tonight," Hiruzen said at last, after a few seconds of hesitation.
"Now we're talking." Jiraiya waved as he headed for the window. "I'm off. See you tonight."
"Seems I really am getting old," Hiruzen murmured, watching Jiraiya slip back out the way he came. Tsunade and Jiraiya had more fire in them than he did now. Still, Jiraiya's flaw was clear—he hewed too closely to Mount Myoboku's visions, chasing the Child of Prophecy all year long.
"Leaving Konoha in Tsunade's hands would be the steadier choice," Hiruzen mused.
…
With the New Year approaching, Konoha was buzzing. Every storefront along the streets was open, and food stalls—fixed and mobile—lined the lanes. Most of all, there were people—crowds so dense every street felt packed to bursting.
"Not opening your general store today?" Kurenai asked, fingers laced with Kitazawa's. "You'll lose a lot of money."
"I'm closing. Being with you matters more," Kitazawa said with a shake of his head. "Besides, I'm not hard up for cash."
"True enough." Kurenai glanced around. "You're the village's top medical-nin after Tsunade-sama. If you wanted to make money, it'd be easy."
"As long as I don't pick up gambling," Kitazawa said lightly. "Or I'll end up penniless—like Tsunade-sama."
"She is your teacher," Kurenai laughed. "Careful or she'll dump all her IOUs on you."
"Don't jinx me with nightmares like that." Kitazawa's mouth twitched.
"Eh?" Kurenai suddenly stopped. "Isn't that Asuma and Kakashi over there?"
"Looks like them," Kitazawa followed her gaze.
"Kitazawa!" Might Guy spotted them and waved energetically.
Asuma's eyes dropped, landing on their joined hands. He felt a stab right in the chest.
"When did you get back, Asuma?" Kitazawa asked as they walked up.
"Yesterday afternoon," Asuma answered.
"What brings you all together?" Kurenai asked, curious.
"Ran into each other," Asuma grumbled. "Then the old man had someone tell me to go buy groceries—said we're having a guest tonight."
"On New Year's Eve? A guest?" Kurenai blinked.
"No idea," Asuma said with a shrug.
"I can guess," Kitazawa said. "I saw Jiraiya-sama this morning."
"Jiraiya-sama?" The ever-blank Kakashi suddenly lit up, a gleam flashing through his dead-fish eyes. He'd already read Icha Icha Paradise a dozen times—maybe there was a new volume.
"Mm." Kitazawa chuckled. "He went to see Tsunade-sama and got punched back out."
"As expected of Tsunade-sama," Kurenai said, impressed.
"Ah, that explains it," Asuma said, looking enlightened. "If Jiraiya's the guest, we'd better prepare properly."
"We've got Tsunade-sama coming over to our place tonight," Kurenai smiled.
Our place? Asuma decided this was an unsafe area and he should retreat. He'd lost this one far too cleanly.
"You two keep strolling. We'll hit that supermarket," Asuma said, dragging Kakashi along.
"Wait for me!" Guy sprinted after them.
"Asuma," Kakashi said after a moment's thought, "I'll head back with you later. I've got something to discuss with Jiraiya-sama."
"Sure." Asuma hesitated, then grinned. "Why not ring in the New Year at my place?"
"Me?" Kakashi blinked.
"You're the grand-student of Jiraiya. It's been a while—eat and chat." Asuma laughed. "The old man will be glad to see you."
…
Night fell. Snow began to drift down.
Shizune and Uzumaki Rina had arrived early at Kurenai's to help with dinner. Kitazawa tried to pitch in, but got shooed out—the kitchen was already tight with three people; a fourth would just get in the way.
In the living room, Karin sat cross-legged on the sofa, watching TV with intense focus. Kitazawa sat beside her and gave the screen a few minutes before boredom set in. Shinobi-world TV programming left a lot to be desired.
A knock came at the door.
"I'll get it," Kitazawa said, heading over.
He opened it to a striking, flawlessly pretty face: Tsunade. Even with the snow, she wore the familiar tea-green haori with the kanji for "gamble."
"Tsunade-sama, cutting it close, aren't you?" Kitazawa stepped aside to let her in.
"I went to buy sake," she said with a small smile tugging at her lips. "Weather like this calls for a drink."
She bent down to take off her sandals. Kitazawa's eyes flicked down before he could stop them, briefly caught by skin paler than snow.
"Not afraid I'll punch you out the door?" Tsunade asked, glancing up.
"Not at all," Kitazawa said solemnly. "I didn't do anything wrong." He brushed the snow off her shoulder.
"I'll let you off—for tonight," she said after a tiny pause, padding barefoot onto the carpet into the living room.
Kitazawa exhaled in relief. Note to self: rein in the eye 'auto-aim.'
"Tsunade-sama," Karin greeted quickly.
"How's your training?" Tsunade sat beside her, ruffling her hair.
"Going great," Karin said, sneaking a glance at Kitazawa. "Sensei says I can try learning sealing next week."
"As expected of an Uzumaki," Tsunade said, one brow lifting.
"Mostly because Karin's got real talent for sealing," Kitazawa said, smiling as he took a seat opposite Tsunade.
"You're teaching her sealing?" Tsunade seemed to remember something. "Those three sealing techniques I gave you—learn them yet?"
"Two so far," Kitazawa said modestly. "I'm not exactly a natural at sealing."
"I ought to kick you out," Tsunade rolled her eyes. Learning two in such a short time—hardly 'not a natural.'
"No need to kick me. Just say the word and I'll see myself out," Kitazawa joked. He'd been around her long enough not to be afraid; she might be forceful, but she had lines she wouldn't cross. As long as he didn't screw up, she wouldn't really hit him. Jiraiya, on the other hand, had a record—peeping at hot springs and the rest—and he was getting no mercy.
An hour later, dinner hit the table. Kitazawa, Tsunade, Kurenai, Shizune, Uzumaki Rina, and Karin sat down together.
"Pour the drinks!" Tsunade plunked down all six bottles she'd bought.
"Weren't you told to buy two?" Shizune scolded, exasperated.
"It's New Year's. Two isn't enough," Tsunade shot back, perfectly justified.
"It's fine," Kurenai soothed. "I'll drink with Tsunade-sama." She wasn't as devoted to alcohol as Tsunade—but not far off.
"Cheers," Tsunade said, raising her cup.
"Hold on," Kitazawa caught her wrist lightly. "The first toast of the year—everyone together."
"Fair." Tsunade nodded. "Raise your cups—let's clink."
Everyone lifted their cups—everyone except Karin—and knocked them together.
"Happy New Year!"
…
At the Sarutobi compound—
"Today's a good day," Hiruzen said with a broad smile, looking at Jiraiya, Sarutobi Asuma, Hatake Kakashi, and Uzumaki Naruto. He couldn't remember the last time the place had felt this lively.
~~~
Patreon(.)com/Bleam
— Currently You can Read 100 Chapters Ahead of Others!