Kazuki didn't know whether to laugh or cry and quickly pulled the two girls apart.
"Drink!"
Kushina was still clutching her cup.
Kazuki grabbed it out of her hand.
"What the heck? I want to drink!"
"That's enough. We're going home."
Without another word, Kazuki scooped Kushina up in his arms.
After taking two steps, he suddenly turned and kicked Uchiha Fugaku—who was drunkenly stumbling toward Mikoto—straight back.
"You're drunk. Don't even think about it."
He glanced at Mikoto, who was half-awake and swaying.
Shook his head helplessly.
Then helped escort her out as well.
Behind them, Fugaku was left on the ground, hugging empty air.
Just as they stepped outside, they ran into Mikoto's father.
Perfect timing.
Mikoto was handed over safely.
Mission complete.
Kazuki adjusted Kushina in his arms and left the Uchiha district.
Under the moonlight, Kushina mumbled sleepily,
"Kazu… five six…"
Kazuki rolled his eyes.
Great.
Did he just witness the birth of another gambling addict?
Konoha already had one famous gambling disaster—
Tsunade.
"Hey, Jiraiya, want to hit the hot springs?"
A confident female voice echoed from ahead.
Kazuki looked up—
And froze.
Tsunade.
And beside her—
White-haired, unmistakable—
Jiraiya.
Even though he had never met them in person, he recognized them instantly.
Jiraiya's hair alone was impossible to miss.
Jiraiya cleared his throat seriously.
"No need. Let's report to the teacher first. Don't slack off."
Tsunade smirked.
"Hot springs help relieve fatigue. I heard this place just switched to mixed baths."
Jiraiya instantly changed direction.
"Well… people need to relax sometimes. Let's go."
Tsunade laughed.
"Didn't sound like that a second ago."
Then she turned—
And locked eyes with Kazuki.
She blinked.
"…Is that Kushina?"
It was late.
Kushina was clearly drunk.
And this guy was carrying her.
Her eyes narrowed.
"You bastard! You dare take advantage of Kushina?!"
Golden chakra erupted around Tsunade as she charged.
"Huh?"
Kazuki was genuinely confused.
What did he do?
Before Tsunade's fist landed—
"Wood Release: Wood Ingot Wall!"
Wooden pillars burst from the ground, arching together into a defensive wall in front of him.
BOOM!
The ground shook violently.
Tsunade's chakra-enhanced punch blasted straight through the wood barrier.
Elsewhere—
In the Hokage's office—
Hiruzen Sarutobi heard the explosion and shot to his feet.
"What now?"
"Konoha really hasn't had a quiet week…"
He grabbed his cloak, leapt out the window, and sped across the rooftops toward the explosion.
Back at the scene—
Jiraiya had just stepped into the hot spring when the blast echoed.
He spun around.
"…Where's Tsunade?"
He rushed out.
And saw Tsunade exchanging blows with a young man.
Wood Release vines and pillars surged everywhere, blocking her attacks.
A shadow clone?
No—
There was another Kazuki in the back, still holding Kushina.
"Is that… Wood Release?"
"That's Kushina…"
For the first time, Jiraiya realized—
This was Kazuki.
The young man everyone had been talking about lately.
Kunai and shuriken flew wildly—
One nearly hit Jiraiya.
"What the hell?! Why am I getting dragged into this?!"
Tsunade shouted,
"Brat! Let go of Kushina!"
"Our Senju clan never produced someone as shameless as Jiraiya, but you just set a new record!"
"Why am I catching strays here?!" Jiraiya yelled.
Even while fending off Tsunade's attacks and holding Kushina, Kazuki snapped back:
"Hey, hey, gambling addict! Don't act like you're better than him! Keep pushing me and I won't hold back!"
"Oh?" Tsunade grinned dangerously.
"Let's see you try."
She shattered the shadow clone in front of her and instantly closed in.
But—
Vine-like saplings wrapped around her legs.
Then her waist.
Then her entire body.
They thickened into a massive tree, crushing down around her.
"Wood Release: Tree Binding Burial!"
Tsunade's eyes widened.
Then—
BANG!
Substitution Jutsu.
She reappeared behind Kazuki.
"Not bad."
Before her kick could land—
Kazuki vanished.
And reappeared beside Jiraiya.
"What speed…"
Jiraiya's eyes widened.
"That's… Flying Thunder God?!"
"Did Sensei teach him that?!"
Tsunade also stared.
Wood Release like Hashirama.
Flying Thunder God like Tobirama.
Who is this kid?!
Kazuki didn't attack again.
He sensed someone approaching.
He looked up—
A golden streak shot down from the sky.
BOOM!
The Vajra Ruyi Staff slammed into the ground.
A figure descended.
Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"Hokage-sama."
"Sensei."
"Teacher!"
Another figure stepped out of the shadows.
Orochimaru.
The Third Hokage.
The Legendary Sannin.
All gathered in front of the hot spring.
And the air—
Was about to get very complicated.