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Tsunade straightened up and tugged lightly at her clothes.Even in front of unfamiliar kids, she didn't want to look too careless.
Her gaze swept across the group and paused briefly when it passed Leo.
Then—
"Didn't expect you to show up with another squad. Looks like you're starting to enjoy being a teacher."
Jiraiya laughed. "Being a teacher isn't half bad, honestly. They're all great kids."
He entered, sat down, and introduced everyone one by one.The students responded politely.
Leo glanced over at Shizune and quietly greeted her as well.
Shizune, who had just dared to argue with Tsunade earlier, now stood stiffly at the side, sneaking quick glances at the three visitors.But when she saw Leo, she clearly froze for a moment.
Leo hadn't been anything special back at the Academy—average grades, average combat ability. And now, after just two years, he'd graduated early and somehow ended up as Jiraiya's student.
Her curiosity was overflowing, but with Tsunade and Jiraiya both here, she didn't dare ask.
Tsunade's eyes moved from face to face.
Sakumo's son.
That made her think of the rumors about Sakumo from a few days ago. Her expression darkened slightly as she shifted to the next person.
Yūhi Kurenai.
So she was Shinku's girl. Genjutsu talent for sure, but besides that…
She glanced toward Jiraiya, suspicion creeping in.
Kurenai didn't match Jiraiya's skillset at all. He wouldn't have brought her just because she's pretty… right?
Tsunade's look shifted from puzzled to stern and then downright irritated.
Jiraiya knew her too well. He waved his hands frantically, paling. "It's not what you're thinking! Don't get the wrong idea!"
He cleared his throat."Leo, take everyone outside for a bit. I need a few minutes alone with Tsunade."
"Yes, sir."
Leo nodded, led the others out of the room, but didn't go far—just wandered around downstairs to give them space to talk.
Tsunade leaned one arm against the window, squinting down at them.
"So the kids actually listen to him? Leo… the name rings a bell, but not strongly."
"His grandmother is Senju Tōka," Jiraiya explained.
Tsunade blinked and looked down again."He's Aunt Tōka's descendant?"
"Yep. His parents are pretty average, but the kid inherited the Senju's strong bloodline. What's even rarer is his mindset—he was unusually mature even as a child."
Jiraiya grew serious. "I think he has the potential to become a Second Tobirama."
"High praise coming from you."
Tsunade leaned closer to the window, watching the boy leading the group below.
Tōka's descendant…
Senju Tōka had been Hashirama's trusted attendant—Tsunade used to call her 'great-aunt.'
Without realizing it, she herself had reached the age where Tōka already had grandchildren.
Too bad Aunt Tōka was long gone now.
Tsunade sat back down, her mood dimming. "Don't tell me you want him to convince me to return to Konoha."
"I'm not here to pressure you."
Jiraiya shook his head.He knew what she was dealing with. Forcing her back would only be cruel—and it wouldn't help the village much anyway.
As her friend, he wouldn't do that.
After a moment of silence, he shifted topics. "What do you think of Kurenai?"
"Huh?"
Tsunade blinked, then let out a small laugh. "You're not trying to send her to me as a student, are you?"
"She's got top-tier chakra control. Her body's a bit weak, but that can be trained. She's not completely unsuitable."
Tsunade didn't respond right away.
He wasn't wrong.Genjutsu specialists usually had precise chakra control.Physical weakness could be improved—within limits. Kurenai still probably couldn't inherit Tsunade's full medical-ninja legacy…
But if trained properly, she could at least become a leading figure in the next generation of medical ninjutsu.
Tsunade thought for a moment.
"…Let her try the basics first."
"I'll take that as a yes."
Jiraiya grinned.
Tsunade didn't deny it. Instead, she yawned lazily.
Jiraiya chuckled. "One last thing. And this one's about you."
"There's more?"
"Yeah. Kashin Kōji from the Aohua Inn asked me to bring you an IOU."
He slid a piece of paper across the table, grinning so wide it nearly split his face.
Tsunade's expression blackened instantly. The drowsiness vanished, replaced with murderous irritation."Jiraiya… you bastard."
"Ahem. You're pretty famous, you know. You can't keep skipping tabs forever."
He pushed the IOU toward her again.
With an annoyed huff, Tsunade grabbed a pen and was about to sign—but her eyes suddenly gleamed with mischief.
"You're here asking favors for your students, right? Then you should pay something in return. Why don't you cover this bill?"
"W-what?"
"You're way richer than me."
She smiled sweetly.
Jiraiya froze.Sure, she wasn't wrong, but wasn't he just delivering the IOU?How did he suddenly become the one paying?!
…
Up ahead, the two girls walked side by side. Leo and Kakashi followed behind.
"I can't believe you graduated early, Leo… and became Lord Jiraiya's student," Shizune said softly.
Kurenai smiled. "Seven is nothing. Kakashi graduated at five."
"That's different."
Shizune shook her head.
"Kakashi's been a genius since he was little. Everyone in our generation grew up hearing stories about him. But Leo…"
Kids like Guy were rare exceptions.Kakashi was someone everyone respected, someone they always expected to be far ahead.
Leo, on the other hand…
Before this, who had even heard of him?
Shizune's last memory of him was from when she was five. She would never have imagined that the next time they met, he'd already be considered a prodigy.
Every time she thought about it, she felt like the world had shifted around her.
Kurenai was about to speak when suddenly the area around them grew unnaturally quiet.
They were nearing Tanzaku Town.
But right at that moment—
Birds burst into the sky, crying sharply.
Something was wrong.
Leo's expression hardened."Everyone, stay alert!"
In the next instant, threads whipped into existence all around them, and kunai and shuriken came flying from every direction.
Leo shot forward on reflex, forming signs mid-air.
Water Release: Water Formation Wall!
A roaring sheet of water surged upward, forming a tall barrier that shielded the group.
The kunai and shuriken struck the water, were swallowed instantly, and couldn't come any closer.
At the same time—
Petals drifted down like pink snow.
Falling Cherry Blossom Illusion.
Kakashi vanished from sight.
Masked attackers rushed from behind the water wall—more than a dozen of them.
"Grab them! We'll use them to trade for the young master!"
Amid the chaos, someone shouted.
The water barrier collapsed. Leo ripped off his leg-weights and tossed them aside.
"Stay back!"
Then in the next heartbeat he was gone, moving too fast to track.
A sharp sound—Leo's kunai pierced a masked ninja's throat, blood spraying across his clothes.
"....."