Tsunade moved even closer to Kairen and released chakra to carefully examine his body — poking here, prodding there.
A faint flush appeared on her face from time to time; she was obviously thinking about that strange dream.
Perched atop Gamabunta, Jiraiya quietly watched the reunion between Kairen and Tsunade and frowned.
Together they didn't look like siblings so much as a pair of lovers. Tsunade wouldn't be flirting with a younger man like this, would she?
Could she actually like this sort of thing? If so, what chance do I, Jiraiya, have!
"Summoning Technique — Release!"
Jiraiya released Gamabunta and slowly walked toward Kairen and Tsunade.
Orochimaru stood on his great serpent, looking down; his amber-gold pupils flashed light from time to time.
Jiraiya glanced at the wooden ash on the ground.
Danzo was dead like that. Even though he had secretly betrayed his ancestors many times, he had still been the notorious head of Root.
A man like that ended up as nothing but a lump of mud — his death caused a shock in Konoha comparable to the death of White Fang.
The second matter would shake the world even more: the return of the Senju's power and the reappearance of Wood Release in the ninja world.
Jiraiya looked again, seriously, at Kairen, who was making lighthearted banter with Tsunade.
He was the mountain-toad's representative in the human world, continually roaming the ninja world in search of the prophesied child.
In the Land of Rain Jiraiya had discovered Nagato's Rinnegan and thought him the prophesied child, but he had not gained the Great Toad Sage's approval.
Now Jiraiya had two candidates in mind for the prophesied child.
One was Nagato, who possessed the Rinnegan and mastery of the seven attributes; the other was Minato, who had already learned the Flying Thunder God Technique.
One is Nagato, one is Minato — both were born with ninja qualities one in ten thousand, and each would bring revolution to the ninja world.
Now there was a third: Kairen. This kid had directly trained the Eight Gates and was stronger than either Nagato or Minato.
Kairen's ninja aptitude was something Jiraiya had never seen before.
Forbidden Fire Release, the undying Smoke Release, hyper-accelerated regeneration, and Wood Release…
"Kaaw—"
A high, rousing cry from the sky. A bald-headed eagle with a wingspan of about ten meters descended from above.
"Kairen—"
The two adorable girls immediately jumped down.
Two chubby baby pandas followed them; one chewed on a bamboo stalk, already free of their earlier worries.
"Kairen!"
Kurenai and Shizune ran over anxiously toward Kairen, grabbed his hand, and looked up at his upright figure.
Seeing Kurenai and Shizune were back on their feet, Kairen smiled.
Kurenai clutched Kairen's clothing, her eyes full of worry.
"Kairen, are you all right?!"
Kairen paused, then shook his head. "I'm fine. I'm fine — you don't need to worry about this anymore!"
"That's good!"
Kurenai relaxed, her adorable red eyes brimming with undeniable affection.
"Kairen, from now on I'll train hard. I'll never hold you back again!"
Kairen pinched Kurenai's soft little cheek and smiled.
"I never considered you a burden, and I don't mind you holding me back."
"Even in the future, if you want to hold my leg back, you can — and I can hold yours back too! No… carry it!"
Kurenai quietly soaked up Kairen's pampering, feeling a honey-like happiness swell in her chest.
She then looped both arms around Kairen's neck and made him bend his waist.
Kurenai kissed Kairen's cheek. "Kairen, you're so good to me!"
Of course — I've always been good to you.
Shizune looked on with envy. She was more timid by nature and wouldn't do something as bold in public like Kurenai had.
Seeing her glance flicker, Kairen turned his face toward Shizune and pointed at his cheek.
"Come on! Shizune, one for you too!"
Shizune glanced around shyly, then quickly pecked Kairen's cheek and, blushing, retreated, hiding her face.
Kurenai noticed and clenched her fist.
The two girls exchanged a look in midair, as if sparks and lightning had flashed.
Kairen… is mine!
Kairen smiled inwardly: I have my own little patch of heart — Kurenai and Shizune, don't fight over it.
He turned his face toward Tsunade's side and pointed at his cheek.
"Tsunade, you too!"
Tsunade pushed Kairen's face back and muttered, "You stinky kid!"
Since Tsunade wouldn't kiss him, Kairen could only hug Wolon and Fenchu on the ground and force them to kiss his cheeks.
"Mm—"
Wolon struggled hard, refusing to kiss this monkey Kairen.
Fenchu, however, stuck out its tongue and licked Kairen's cheek, showing its dependence on him.
Jiraiya came over; his tall frame blocked the sunlight. He patted Kairen on the shoulder.
Jiraiya still remembered the Canon clone he'd fought with and carried cannons with. That personality was easier to get along with — just a bit more full of artillery than Jiraiya himself.
Kairen hugged the two baby pandas and turned, looking at Jiraiya's smiling face.
"What is it?"
Jiraiya scratched his head and said,
"Kairen, don't be so impulsive from now on. If you had caused an even bigger conflict with the village today—"
"Konoha internal unrest would follow, and the consequences would be unimaginable!"
Jiraiya was a man who worked for peace; he disliked war and preferred to travel the ninja world alone, quietly writing about Liu Bei.
But when it came to matters of Konoha he always cared deeply — he would even go alone into Amegakure to protect Konoha's peace.
Kairen sneered. "You should be grateful my temper cooled — otherwise I would've killed that old Hiruzen Sarutobi."
"No, no, no. Sensei Sarutobi is the village's Hokage and has devoted himself to the village. You can't treat the old man like that."
"What devotion?! Where was he when Root besieged me?!" Kairen demanded, radiating anger.
"And… my father only said one thing wrong and that old man sent him to the most dangerous frontline to die. Isn't that bullying me?!"
Kairen finally remembered that unlucky old father — he hadn't been killed by Kairen's curse but instead died in a purge from the higher-ups. Truly regrettable.
I'll use the dead old man's misfortune now.
Jiraiya fell silent.
Tsunade also reflected carefully on Kairen's background.
Kairen did indeed have a father, very possibly a member of the Senju clan. In the village his family belonged to the commoner ninja class and had long advocated for a Hokage born from the commoners, to break the control of the clans.
If that was the case… Kairen and Hiruzen Sarutobi were sworn enemies.
Jiraiya was silent, then finally looked at Kairen.
"Sarutobi-sensei isn't so petty — it must've been someone under his command. I'll investigate this; I'll give you an explanation."
"Please do me this favor — behave a little. Our village can't take your indiscriminate bombardment."
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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