The guilt towards the disciples and Kushina, and hearing that the woman he likes has a lover, who is someone with two wives and children... all these things together almost made Jiraiya ask something embarrassing.
"Hmph!"
Tsunade snorted coldly, considering the previous camaraderie as teammates, she didn't hold Jiraiya's actions against him; she then asked about Orochimaru and what he's been up to lately.
Speaking of which sparked Orochimaru's interest. He has been researching plenty of things lately, especially he's hit a deadlock in human experimentation... lacking enough test subjects, he needs capable medical ninjas to assist him, preferably someone with an extraordinary understanding of the body's various tissues.
Orochimaru's human experiments in the village are relatively well-hidden from ordinary ninjas, but among the ninja race and higher-status ninjas, it's no secret anymore.
However, no one can accuse Orochimaru. Even if it's human experimentation, he uses death row prisoners, and the previous human experimenter was the Second Generation Hokage.
But Tsunade outright rejected Orochimaru, saying she has more important matters to attend to and can't help him, though she can look for someone in Konoha Hospital to aid him.
This meal lasted over two hours, but Jiraiya spoke little, often drinking his booze alone, with most of the conversation between Orochimaru, Tsunade, and Nawaki, with even Shizune chiming in occasionally.
After finishing, Tsunade's drunkenness and exhaustion came on strong. She had hurried back today and was already fatigued from the physically taxing activities in the office with that shy little ghost earlier. Her legs were still a bit soft...
After sending off Jiraiya and Orochimaru, she returned home and lay down on the bed, soon falling asleep.
Walking outside for a while, Jiraiya and Orochimaru were sobered by the cold wind.
Orochimaru wasn't drunk in the slightest. He was here today merely to accompany friends and meet Nawaki. If Tsunade hadn't insisted on drinking, he would have preferred juice; finally, Orochimaru kept using Chakra to expel the alcohol, staying quite clear-headed.
"...Orochimaru, why do you think Tsunade chooses him, a man with two wives and children?"
Jiraiya couldn't help but ask, considering Katou Dan's prestige as a formidable Jonin in Konoha with unparalleled looks and reputation, and mastery of soul kinjutsu that was tough for enemies to defend against.
But Uchiha Yoichi is a man with a complete family, making it hard for Jiraiya to understand.
Seeing Jiraiya still baffled, Orochimaru reluctantly asked, "Jiraiya, what have you done for Tsunade?"
"I for her..."
Jiraiya suddenly had plenty to say, but the words disappeared at the tip of his tongue.
What had he done for Tsunade?
Saving lives on the battlefield? Orochimaru did that too, other ninjas did it, and Tsunade used medical ninjutsu to save him more times, which was what teammates should do. It would be foolish to mention it.
Otherwise, nothing noteworthy came to mind; his once ideal of escorting Tsunade across ninja world casinos never materialized.
Nothing substantial to mention...
"Uchiha Yoichi revived Nawaki for Tsunade, a fact we witnessed. There's likely much unseen, but they simply don't need to tell you, Jiraiya. Think seriously about it yourself..."
After speaking, Orochimaru promptly left. He's not a financial therapist, nor is Jiraiya a child.
After Orochimaru left, Jiraiya stood dazed for a while before slowly heading home.
Uchiha Yoichi knew Tsunade would be drinking with Jiraiya and Orochimaru tonight. If it were only Orochimaru, he would've gone; but since Jiraiya initiated it, he didn't feel like seeing him.
So, he simply went home.
During dinner, Uchiha Yoichi sensed the growing size of his household, with eight people now at the table, even though Karin and Sasuke couldn't dine yet, they occupied seats.
Shiro and Kimimaro could enroll in Ninja Academy next year. They have been learning with Itachi daily, showing considerable progress.
Although Itachi is a genius, Shiro and Kimimaro aren't lacking in strength, both fond of learning; in sparring, Uchiha Itachi could individually defeat either, but together they could put Itachi in a bind, even winning.
Itachi's combat talent is indeed strong, but without the Sharingan, facing Dead Bone Pulse and Ice Release, this is the current limit they can achieve.
During dinner, Uchiha Yoichi also asked Minami to help transplant Hashirama Cells into the three, the youngest now four years old, old enough for transplantation.
Furthermore, he's considering researching Dead Bone Pulse and plans to ask Hyuga Satomi for some Hyuga Clan cells, further assembling Otsutsuki's full bloodlines.
In the evening during dinner, after Uzumaki Minami learned of Tsunade's return, she eagerly wanted to visit her; her medical ninjutsu was taught by Tsunade, who was practically half her teacher.
However, Uzumaki Minami's words put Uchiha Yoichi in a fix; if Minami and Mikota found out he had another woman, especially Tsunade, they'd surely throw a fit.
One would softly ignore him, the other would tearfully gaze at him daily, making Uchiha Yoichi quite troubled.
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The next day.
After breakfast at home, Uchiha Yoichi trained in the courtyard. He summoned and subsequently dismissed his clones.
Waves of genetic primordial energy transferred to his main body, which Uchiha Yoichi used to enhance his physique.
Although the pace of cultivation slowed, seemingly hitting a bottleneck; absorbing such genetic primordial energy periodically still gradually strengthened his body.
He remembers a high-level war god's body is much harder than diamond, currently Uchiha Yoichi's body combined with Armament Aura achieves comparable hardness, though without any Nin-Taijutsu, it falls slightly short.
Still room for significant improvement!
After finishing the morning's training, Uchiha Yoichi headed to the Hokage Building. Entering his office, he saw unresolved files from the previous day, causing some head discomfort.
Getting carried away with fun yesterday, forgetting work, leading to a pile-up today.
He divided into Wood Clones, moved files to two other desks, and began handling them.
Uchiha Yoichi's main body was also gradually reviewing, processing one file after another.
Suddenly, he paused on a particular application, somewhat astonished, and couldn't help speaking, "What are these two thinking? Already Jonin, why shift to administrative roles..."
Thinking for a moment, Uchiha Yoichi summoned an Anbu to notify Hyuga Satomi and Yuhi Kurenai.
Soon, the Anbu brought the two over, and upon entering, Yuhi Kurenai sweetly called, "Teacher Yoichi, we're here."
Hyuga Satomi calmly asked, "Teacher Yoichi, any mission?"
"No mission, summoned you merely to inquire why you wish to be my assistants? Originally planning for you to accumulate mission experience before becoming team-lead Jonin... but if you're my assistants, you only count as administrative ninjas."
After hearing Uchiha Yoichi's words, Hyuga Satomi started first, "Teacher Yoichi, I want to stay by your side, otherwise the Main Family will certainly bring me back, even using the Caged Bird to force me into marriage, I don't want that..."
"They dare do that? I spoke with Hiashi last time."
Uchiha Yoichi frowned and said, "Soon, I'll discuss it further with Hyuga Hiashi, though it's an internal Hyuga Clan matter; since you're my student, I can interfere."
The thousand-year-old Hyuga Clan rules, don't hold much against power and authority!