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Elsewhere, in the cave.
Jiraiya watched Qianyu work. The kid was pouring everything into the healing. Jiraiya's eyes grew thoughtful.
"Medical skills on par with Tsunade at such a young age… Could it be him?"
He could sense it—Qianyu was leading the entire procedure. The more experienced Nonō was merely assisting. The precision of his chakra control, the effortless way he wielded medical ninjutsu… Jiraiya's gaze on him deepened.
[Ding! Treatment successful. Host has acquired ninjutsu: Earth Style: Swamp of the Underworld and Fire Style: Flame Bullet!]
The system prompt chimed. A satisfied smile instantly spread across Qianyu's face.
"Gotta hand it to the Sannin. A mere fatal injury, and it drops two whole jutsu at once!"
[Earth Style: Swamp of the Underworld: Creates a massive swamp beneath an enemy's feet, trapping and eventually drowning them.]
[Fire Style: Flame Bullet: A fire technique of strange, sudden flames, specializing in surprise attacks.]
"Hmm. I wonder if it's because I only have Fire, Earth, and Yang chakra natures. The system's rewards seem limited to those three…"
Qianyu stroked his chin, thinking. The Senju bloodline's power manifested mainly in physique. Not every Senju possessed both Water and Earth natures, so he hadn't inherited Water.
"I wonder if the system can grant me new chakra natures. Otherwise, how am I supposed to use Kekkei Mōra to heal people later?"
…
Though Tsunade and Orochimaru weren't at their peak, with Konoha's reinforcements, wiping out a bunch of nameless Iwa-nin was effortless.
The battle ended quickly. Konoha's victory was unquestionable. Iwa's plot to annihilate the Sannin was shattered.
The remaining Konoha ninja handled cleanup. Tsunade returned to the cave with Nawaki to check on Jiraiya.
Orochimaru, cold words aside, also followed, quietly observing his teammate.
"Hah… Jiraiya. Good to see you're alright, you damn fool."
Jiraiya's complexion was healthy, and he was already joking with Qianyu and the others. Both Tsunade and Orochimaru breathed a silent sigh of relief.
"Lady Tsunade, since you're back, I'll go help outside. There must be wounded."
When they returned, Qianyu stood up quickly. He'd finished shearing Jiraiya. Time to find new pastures.
Bastard. I just got back from the battlefield, and you can't even ask if I'm okay? Just rushing off?!
Tsunade's eye twitched. Her recently unclenched fist tightened again, knuckles white.
"I'll go with you, Qianyu."
Nonō stood as well, her voice soft.
BOOM!
A deafening crash. Nawaki turned, bewildered, to see his sister retract her fist from the cave wall. A crater, three or four meters across, now marred the smooth stone.
Gulp.
"What's with her lately? Blowing up over nothing. Early menopause?" Nawaki swallowed hard.
So that's why he doesn't want to stay. Mesmerized by that little vixen.
Tsunade's golden hair seemed to float. Her icy gaze swept over Qianyu and Nonō. A chilling aura radiated from her.
"D-did I offend Lady Tsunade somehow?"
Qianyu shivered, sensing the killing intent directed his way.
"Hold on, Qianyu."
As the atmosphere grew tense, Jiraiya, who had been leaning against a rock, pushed himself up with effort.
"Qianyu. You don't have a teacher yet, right?" He walked over, smiling, and extended a hand.
"So. Want to be my student?"
"…Huh?"
Qianyu blinked. This scene felt familiar.
"Jiraiya, don't cause trouble!"
Tsunade snapped. "Qianyu's a medic-nin. If he needs a teacher, he should learn medical ninjutsu from me. What would he do with you? It'd be a mess!"
Angry or not, she had to think of Qianyu's future. Staying with her was his best path.
"Heh."
Orochimaru chuckled softly from the side. "Now that you mention it… I once proposed taking Qianyu-kun as my disciple as well. Sadly, he refused."
"Whoa, Qianyu! You're something else!" Nawaki grinned, elbowing him. "Having all three of them fight over you? That's my bro!"
He actually…
Nonō looked at Qianyu, eyes wide with surprise and admiration. The Sannin were the pinnacle of Konoha in both strength and status. And this boy had earned recognition from all three.
Countless dreamed of becoming a Sannin's disciple, the Hokage's direct line… Yet he'd refused. Nonō admitted it—she was growing more and more curious about Qianyu.
"Uh… what?"
Suddenly the center of attention, Qianyu was lost. Why had Jiraiya taken a shine to him? And why were Tsunade and Orochimaru joining in?
He could write a novel: Naruto: Starting with the Konoha Sannin Fighting to Take Me as Their Disciple.
"My apologies, Lord Jiraiya. I don't plan on taking a teacher right now."
Facing Jiraiya's outstretched hand, Qianyu could only offer an apologetic refusal.
He liked Jiraiya well enough. What Naruto fan disliked the great hero Jiraiya?
But with the system, a teacher offered little real benefit. Just added risk of exposure.
"Maa, maa, no need to apologize. My bad for being so forward. Hahaha!"
Jiraiya waved it off, then put his hands behind his head, laughing heartily.
Tsunade shot Qianyu a sideways glance, snorted, and said nothing more. She'd… talk to him privately later.
"In that case, Qianyu, I have another request."
Jiraiya's smile faded. His gaze turned intense. "I want to entrust you with an important mission."
He wasn't sure if Qianyu was the Child of Prophecy the Great Toad Sage spoke of. So, he'd administer a test.
"A mission? Tell me more!"
Nawaki's eyes lit up. He crowded Jiraiya's side.
"..."
Jiraiya didn't speak. He looked at Nonō. His meaning was clear.
With one of Danzō's people here, some things couldn't be said.
"Lords, if there's nothing else, I shall take my leave."
Nonō understood. She bowed slightly to each Sannin in turn, then walked past Qianyu, out of the cave.
We were never from the same world. You stand in the sunlight. I am buried in the dark… She didn't look back.
Sigh…
Watching her leave, Qianyu felt a pang. The white-stockinged beauty, he really…
SLAP!
Qianyu's despondent look was the last straw for Tsunade. She snapped, her palm connecting with the back of his head.
Thud.
Facing Tsunade's monstrous strength, Qianyu hit the ground without a sound. A true hardass.
The youth are in great health—they hit the ground and fall asleep instantly.
Jiraiya: Σ(°△°|||)
Orochimaru: (⊙ˍ⊙)
Both suddenly recalled some unpleasant childhood memories and took a careful step back from Tsunade.
"Hey, sis! Why'd you hit my bro?!"
Nawaki, suicidal as ever, marched up to Tsunade, poking his neck out.
"Hmm?"
Tsunade narrowed her eyes. A soft hum. Nawaki immediately scrambled back two steps, raising his arms in a trembling guard.
"S-sis, you can hit me! But if you hit my bro… you can't hit me anymore, okay!"
Brothers in spirit, but when trouble calls, the phone stays silent.
"Baka!"
A backhand slap. Nawaki hit the deck, lining up neatly with his good bro.
"Jiraiya. What exactly do you want them to do for you?"
While the two were out, Tsunade frowned, looking at Jiraiya.
"Relax. It's not dangerous."
Jiraiya explained. "I can't get away right now. I want them to watch over those three kids for me for a while."
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