But before he reached the place, he spotted Shizune by a small stream not far away.
At this moment, she was holding an innocent-looking Tonton, squatting on a large rock and staring blankly at the gurgling water. Tsunade's absence meant she was temporarily out of work, so she was staying here alone.
"Shizune." Jiraiya landed, trying his best to make his voice sound calm.
Shizune snapped her head back at the sound. Seeing it was Jiraiya, her eyes immediately lit up as she searched for Tsunade's figure. But after looking around and not seeing Tsunade, her eyes were replaced by deep worry and questions. She stood up while holding Tonton.
"Lord Jiraiya, you're back. Where is Lady Tsunade? Wasn't she with you...?"
Jiraiya walked up to her and spoke in as peaceful a tone as possible.
"Shizune, let's go back inside first. We'll talk about the specifics once we're back."
The anticipation on Shizune's face quickly turned into unease. She didn't move immediately, instead hugging Tonton tightly.
"Lady Tsunade... did something happen to her?"
Jiraiya knew he couldn't hide it, and The Third's intention was also to "control" Shizune, letting her know part of the truth while keeping it a secret. He rubbed his brow.
"Shizune, you must remain calm after hearing what I'm about to say, and you must absolutely never mention it to anyone else, understand?" Jiraiya's expression was serious.
Shizune's heart sank. She nodded vigorously, clutching the Tonton in her arms which had begun to squirm uneasily, squeezing it until it could hardly breathe.
Tonton: I can't breathe!
Jiraiya briefly recounted what had happened, including Orochimaru's temptation, Tsunade's struggle, and her final choice to follow Orochimaru and leave.
He omitted a few things and gave a simple explanation.
As Shizune listened, her eyes grew wider and wider, and her mouth unconsciously hung slightly open.
"How could it be..." Shizune murmured to herself, her voice as light as a feather. "Lady Tsunade really left with Lord Orochimaru? Does Orochimaru really have resurrection technology?"
The impact of this news was no less than an earthquake to her.
"She... she just left like that? Leaving me and Tonton here?"
She looked down at Tonton, who was staring at her with round black eyes and letting out a soft "pu-pu" grunt, seemingly sensing its owner's emotions.
Jiraiya coughed dryly, attempting to comfort her.
"Shizune, Tsunade might have just been temporarily deluded. She'll come back, and she won't abandon..."
"Lady Tsunade..." Shizune suddenly spoke to herself, interrupting him.
"She... actually followed one of the most dangerous Rogue Ninja in the entire Ninja World to conduct forbidden research, and she didn't even bring me along! This is clearly because she thinks I'm too much of a burden! She thinks I'm in the way! Tonton, we've been rejected. Lady Tsunade thinks the two of us are dead weight..."
Tonton: "Pu-pu! Pu-pu-pu!" (Translation: Exactly! Burning bridges! Killing the pig after the grind is done!)
Jiraiya: "..."
So after all that, you're not sad that Tsunade defected from Konoha, but because she didn't take you with her when she left?
What does Konoha even count for then?
...Inside the reception room, the aroma of tea wafted through the air, but the atmosphere was entirely different from the tension of a moment ago.
Tsunade had sat back down. Although she still felt a bit incredulous and shocked that the mysterious person was Hinata, it was more of a complex mix of curiosity, inquiry, and a slight sense of absurdity.
She looked at Hyuga Hinata, who sat peacefully opposite her with an expression as calm as if she were drinking tea in her own home, and felt as if she were in a bizarre dream.
"So..." Tsunade pointed at Hinata, then pointed outside, organizing her words.
"You, Hyuga Hinata, the Young Miss of the Hyuga Main Family, a Konoha Ninja Academy graduate, a Konoha Chunin... and also the most important research collaborator of that lunatic Orochimaru? You possess Soul technology that even he can't handle?"
"Mm-hm, you could say that." Hinata nodded.
"Orochimaru has unique insights into biological structures, gene compilation, and Forbidden Jutsu applications. We complement each other and cooperate."
The corner of Tsunade's mouth twitched.
"Complement each other..."
She picked up her slightly cooled teacup and took a large gulp, trying to suppress the urge to both complain and interrogate.
"You've been hiding your strength? Since when? In the Ninja Academy? Or even earlier?" She recalled some previous rumors and felt that nothing added up.
Hinata tilted her head.
"Hiding my strength? I haven't. Didn't I become a konoha hero and save Konoha from disaster during the Chunin Exams? Everyone knows that."
Tsunade: "..."
"You didn't hide it..." Tsunade put down her cup and rubbed her forehead, feeling her headache worsen.
"But you didn't tell anyone that your strength goes far beyond that. Who knew you were such a freak, directly catching up to figures like us who stand at the peak of the Ninja World."
She used the word "freak" as both a marvel and a degree of recognition. To reach such a level of understanding of power and knowledge at such a young age—what was that if not a freak?
Hinata seemed to accept this evaluation well, smiling slightly.
As a description of strength, this was practically a compliment. Terms like freak, monster, or demon were all forms of great recognition.
"Well, I can't just take action for no reason. For instance, if I caused some earth-shattering explosion, wouldn't that make me mentally ill? A total lunatic."
Tsunade looked at Hinata's matter-of-fact attitude, leaving her utterly speechless. If anyone else had this strength at this age, they would be incredibly arrogant, showing off and being ostentatious everywhere. Yet she was actually so composed.
As expected, the world of a Genius is different, especially for a Genius who breaks all conventions.
Tsunade didn't dwell on it further; she was now more concerned about something else.
"...Alright, let's not talk about that for now." Tsunade waved her hand, leaning forward slightly, her expression becoming serious and urgent.
"Hinata, you... you really have mastered the technology to resurrect the dead? Not Genjutsu, not Puppets, but truly bringing them back?"
Hinata sighed.
"...Lady Tsunade, you've asked me so many times. I thought you would ask about my abilities."
"Tsk, haven't I never seen it before? Is it wrong to confirm a few more times? Your technology just sounds too exaggerated. As for your abilities, everyone has their own secrets; I at least know that much."
Tsunade smiled. She had originally thought the mysterious person would be a stranger, which would certainly be troublesome to deal with. But now it was fine; she knew the mysterious person, and chatting was much more relaxed without needing to beat around the bush.
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