Konoha Street.
Barbecue Q.
"Customers, your dishes are all served. Please enjoy your meal."
The proprietress placed the last plate of pork belly on the table, bowed slightly to the two, a faint smile gracing her face.
"Thank you, proprietress."
Ren looked at the sizzling grilled meat on the iron grill and instinctively swallowed. The chopsticks in his hand were already eager to move.
"You're welcome, please enjoy."
After speaking, the proprietress turned and left. Tsunade looked at her retreating with a puzzled expression.
"Ren, do you know the proprietress?"
"Hmm? Not particularly well. I've only been here two or three times. What's wrong, Tsunade-sensei?"
"Well, I've noticed she's always been indifferent to other customers. But as soon as we two walked in, the proprietress came over to personally greet us and busied herself. She ran back and forth two or three times serving dishes. Isn't she a bit too enthusiastic?"
After listening to Tsunade, Ren looked at her strangely until he saw Tsunade frown, raise her left hand, and clench her fist. Only then did Ren quickly explain.
"It's probably because I ate too much here last time, leaving a deep impression on the proprietress."
"Hmm?"
Tsunade lowered her fist, then suddenly looked confused again.
"Are you a big eater? How much did you eat last time?"
"Uh, not much, just... eighty thousand ryo?"
"Huh?"
Tsunade's eyes widened, her face filled with disbelief.
"You ate eighty thousand ryo by yourself? Good heavens, one meal costs a C-rank mission. Your appetite is almost catching up to the Akimichi Clan. No wonder the proprietress was so enthusiastic; she must have seen a big customer."
Tsunade started laughing as she spoke, resting her chin on her hand, looking at Ren teasingly.
"It wasn't just me; Lord Jiraiya was with me last time."
Ren replied while muttering to himself.
Besides... your nickname is also the "Legendary Big Fat Sheep"... we're both the same, master and disciple...
"Jiraiya? Why were you eating barbecue with him?"
Tsunade was curious how Ren had come into contact with Jiraiya.
"It's nothing much. That day, I was learning and training Medical Ninjutsu at Konoha Hospital when Lord Jiraiya suddenly tapped on the window and asked me to let him in. Then, there was a commotion on the street outside, as if they were shouting something about catching a pervert..."
Ren paused here, looking at Tsunade's increasingly dark face across from him. He organised his words and continued.
"I casually asked if something urgent had happened to him. Lord Jiraiya told me he was looking for some inspiration and collecting... materials."
Ren's voice gradually weakened. But Tsunade, across from him, was furious. She clenched her fist and squeezed out a few words through gritted teeth.
"Jiraiya!"
...
"Achoo!"
Jiraiya, lying in the bushes, sneezed. He rubbed his nose, a bit strangely, and muttered to himself.
"Strange, who's talking about me? Never mind, it doesn't matter. Collecting material is more important. Hehehe, this is really good..."
After the banquet, a restless Jiraiya wandered around and eventually found this natural waterfall. When he saw the scantily clad young ladies playing in the lake, Jiraiya decisively decided to gather material to inspire his novel. What he didn't know was that he was already being targeted by someone. Perhaps the next time they met, it would be a Super Strength Fist or a Heavenly Foot of Pain...
"Tsunade-sensei, are you alright?"
"Ah, I'm fine. Hurry and eat, or the meat will burn."
Tsunade came back to her senses, adjusted her mindset, and prepared to give Jiraiya an unforgettable experience the next time she saw him. For now, she would eat with her disciple.
"Yes, I'll dig in then."
Ren picked up a slice of pork belly, dipped it in the sauce dish a couple of times, then put it in his mouth. Mmm! Eating meat truly felt great!
Suddenly, a piece of tenderloin appeared on Ren's plate, steaming slightly, clearly cooked to perfection.
Ren looked up in confusion, seeing Tsunade watching him with a calm expression.
"Children are growing, eat more."
Ren felt a warmth in his heart. He picked up the serving chopsticks and reached for the iron grill.
"Thank you, Tsunade-sensei, you eat too."
Ren picked up a piece of almost-cooked beef and placed it on Tsunade's plate.
"Alright, you brat, hurry up and eat."
Tsunade playfully scolded him, a hint of tenderness in her eyes as she watched Ren devouring his food.
This kid, is quite considerate. So similar...
Tsunade also picked up her chopsticks and slowly, methodically, picked up a piece of meat, putting it into her mouth and chewing it deliberately. In contrast, Ren ate like a starving ghost reborn, the iron grill completely covered with various grilled meats, not leaving even a single gap, perfectly utilising all the space.
Although Ren hadn't consumed too much Chakra in the previous battle, the immense physical exertion caused him to get hungry again shortly after finishing his meal. Afterwards, Tsunade brought him here.
After a whirlwind of eating, a large table of delicacies was completely devoured by the two of them, with the majority being finished by Ren. Tsunade wasn't too hungry and, after eating for a while, just sat there watching Ren eat.
"Full?"
Tsunade rested her chin on the back of her hand, her gaze on Ren.
"I'm full, sensei."
"Then let's go."
Tsunade nodded, stood up, and walked towards the counter. Ren quickly got up and followed her.
"Lady Tsunade, your total is forty-three thousand seven hundred ryo. Since you're regular customers, you can just pay forty-three thousand ryo."
The proprietress looked at Tsunade, the smile on her face growing wider. This handsome young man was simply a little money god; she had earned over a hundred thousand ryo in just two visits. Such a big customer absolutely had to be served meticulously.
"Here."
Tsunade pulled out five large-denomination banknotes from her robe and handed them to the proprietress. The proprietress had already prepared the change. After Tsunade took the chance, she turned and waved to Ren, signalling to leave.
"I'm sorry, Tsunade-sensei, for making you pay."
Ren quickly walked to Tsunade's side and said somewhat apologetically, after all, most of the forty thousand ryo was for what he ate, and Tsunade probably only ate a fraction of that.
"It's fine, your sensei isn't short on money."
Tsunade glanced at Ren and said nonchalantly.
It was merely forty thousand ryo. Who was Tsunade? The sole heir of the Senju Clan, the princess of Konoha Village. One of the Legendary Sannin, she could easily earn hundreds of thousands in mission rewards from a single high-ranking mission. Although she enjoyed gambling now, she hadn't yet reached the point of being a compulsive gambler in the future.
"By the way, you brat, who taught you Water Release?"
"Hmm?"
Ren was startled but quickly reacted.
"Reporting, Tsunade-sensei, some time ago, Hokage-sama instructed Maruboshi Kosuke-senpai to teach me Water Release for a period."
Tsunade paused in her steps, then continued walking forward.
"Is that so? I understand."
The Old Man, huh...
Tsunade looked up, gazing at the distant Hokage Building and the Hokage Rock, her eyes flickering.
"What's wrong, Tsunade-sensei?"
Ren asked, puzzled, looking at the somewhat lost Tsunade.
"Oh, nothing."
Tsunade snapped out of her thoughts, her gaze falling on Ren. A hint of solemnity flashed in her eyes.
War isn't far off...
There isn't much time left for these children to grow...