Chapter 72: Encounter
But after hesitating for a moment, he still didn't go over.
Jiraiya exclaimed again, "She's coming closer! She's coming closer, wow, I can see it more clearly now! Her feet are so beautiful! Huh? Why is she standing on the water??? Could it be…"
But at that moment, Naruto suddenly sensed a powerful, murderous aura in the air.
Boom!
Suddenly, there was an explosion. The wooden partition instantly shattered, and a snow-white, delicate fist suddenly shot through the cracked board!
Boom!
"Ah!!!" With a scream, Jiraiya's face took the full force of the punch. His body was sent flying out of the hot spring, crashing through several fences surrounding the bath.
The other people soaking in the hot springs were shocked, quickly scrambling out of the water to escape.
Naruto was stunned. This murderous aura was comparable to Orochimaru's, and the opponent's speed and strength were astonishing—she'd even sent Jiraiya flying! Could it be…!
Looking up, Naruto's face showed just such an expression. The newcomer was their target: Tsunade!
"Jiraiya!!! I haven't seen you in years, and the first thing I catch you doing is peeping!" Tsunade stood upon the water at that moment, arms folded, a wide skirt-like bath towel wrapped around her body. The white towel barely covered her immensely ample chest, revealing only her fair, tender arms and calves below the knees. Beside her stood a delicate woman with an embarrassed expression, also covering herself with a bath towel. Compared to Tsunade, her figure naturally couldn't match up, but from Naruto's perspective, she wasn't bad either.
This sudden upheaval caused everyone in the hot spring to flee, leaving only Tsunade and Shizune beside her, Jiraiya amidst the wreckage, and Naruto standing by the hot spring.
Jiraiya stood up, his face bruised and swollen. But upon seeing it was Tsunade, he backed away in fright, shouting, "Ah, Tsunade, sorry! I didn't know it was you!" Having been caught peeping and nearly beaten to death by her before, he already had a shadow in his heart.
Naruto secretly looked down on him. No wonder Tsunade kept refusing you.
"Jiraiya, I don't think you've learned your lesson?" Tsunade hummed, stepping across the water. The face of the girl who looked only seventeen or eighteen was full of menace as she clenched her fists and approached step by step.
Jiraiya's face turned pale as if terrified. He quickly shouted at Naruto, "Master, stop this woman! I'll retreat first! Don't let her catch up!"
With that, he swiftly grabbed his clothes and fled as if his life depended on it.
Actually, Tsunade had just wanted to scare him. She was quite happy to see an old friend after so long, but she hadn't expected Jiraiya to run away. Her gaze then fell on Naruto.
This kid looks familiar!
The Fourth's kid??
For a moment, seeing Naruto's blond hair, a figure flashed in Tsunade's mind.
She frowned and said coldly, "Boy! Are you with Jiraiya?"
Naruto wasn't afraid of her. Right now, he was admiring this woman who still looked like a girl in her forties or fifties. Her skin was fair, moist, tender, and smooth. Though it was due to her youth-preserving techniques, it still couldn't help but make one's imagination wander.
Naruto couldn't help but swallow, but soon realized something was off and hurriedly regained his composure.
However, this scene was caught by the sharp-eyed Tsunade. She watched him unblinkingly, fully aware of the changes in Naruto's expression.
At that moment, she couldn't help but frown inwardly. There really isn't much good around Jiraiya!
Yet, Tsunade secretly rejoiced that her body could still attract a brat like Naruto.
However, being preconceived, she still didn't have a favorable impression of Naruto. She said coldly, "Little brat, answer my question quickly! And what's your name?"
Though Naruto was very annoyed by Tsunade's tone, to make a good impression on her, he still replied obediently, "I am Jiraiya's disciple. I am Uzumaki Naruto. You are one of the Sannin, Princess Tsunade, right?"
"Uzumaki Naruto?" A flicker of surprise passed through Tsunade's eyes. She stared at him carefully for a moment, then nodded with a smile. "I didn't expect a kid like you to know who I am in this day and age."
Clearly, Naruto's respectful tone pleased her. But immediately, her expression suddenly changed, turning terrifying. "But… sneaking into the bathhouse with Jiraiya, you must have done something shameful too! I'll punish you first! Shizune!"
"Yes, Lady Tsunade!" Shizune beside her hurriedly replied respectfully.
"Tie this brat up! Later, hang him on a tree outside town!" Tsunade ordered, then added, "Since you're here, that guy must have come to fetch someone, right?!"
"This…" Shizune looked at Naruto, hesitating. Naruto seemed quite well-behaved. Honestly, she didn't want to trouble him, but Lady Tsunade's temper was very stubborn, and she couldn't defy her at all.
"What? Feeling sorry for this brat?" Tsunade glanced at Shizune and sneered. "He's just like Jiraiya. Still sympathizing? Get on with it!"
Shizune gritted her teeth, having no choice but to step forward. She looked at Naruto somewhat guiltily and said, "Naruto, I'm sorry! I can't disobey Lady Tsunade's order!"
Hearing this, Tsunade curled her lip and smiled. "Shizune, don't tell me you've taken a liking to this brat? Why aren't you moving?"
Hearing Tsunade's teasing tone, Shizune couldn't help but look embarrassed. With an annoyed shout, she rushed at Naruto.
Naruto was very frustrated at this moment. He hadn't expected Tsunade—a woman with such a terrible temper—to want to hang him up just because Jiraiya peeped on her? In other words, he did it, not me!
Naruto, inwardly crying injustice, didn't realize Tsunade wanted to punish him this way because of his earlier brazen stare at her.
Shizune wasn't as observant as Tsunade and hadn't noticed Naruto's subtle swallowing motion earlier. Though she rushed over now, it wasn't easy to make big movements with only a bath towel on. Her approach was very gentle; she just wanted to restrain Naruto. So when she reached Naruto and extended her hands to grab his arms, she apologized in a low voice, "I apologize, Naruto!"
But the next moment, Shizune suddenly felt her vision blur. Naruto's figure had vanished from before her. When she clasped her hands, they closed on empty air!
"So fast!"
Upon realizing, Shizune looked at Naruto, who had appeared on the other side, with a surprised expression.
Seeing this scene, Tsunade was also very surprised. This kid's movements are actually more agile and lighter than a jōnin's! She frowned and reprimanded Shizune, "Use your full strength!"
"Yes!" Shizune hurriedly responded, now paying more attention to Naruto. She had thought he was just an ordinary ninja, never expecting him to be hiding his strength! If she didn't take it seriously, being reprimanded by Lady Tsunade was a small matter, but losing face was worse!
Naruto frowned. Tsunade is so pushy! Still not giving up! He didn't want to be hung on a tree by Tsunade and the other two. So, seeing Shizune's attack grow fiercer, he held back no longer. Since you're forcing me first, don't expect me to be polite!
Even a clay Buddha has a temper!
Forming hand seals, Naruto quickly performed a mainstream Water Release ninjutsu he'd just learned from Jiraiya. "Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!"
Though Naruto hadn't mastered Water Nature Transformation, this ninjutsu wasn't very powerful. Still, it was enough to pose a threat to Shizune!
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