The little girl with light yellow hair pointed to a room in the distance: "That pretty older sister seems to live in that room over there."
The three of them rushed in the direction she pointed, fuming. The little girl ran downstairs in a few quick steps, and ran into Ino who was coming up.
Ino: "."
She didn't know what to say anymore. Should she say hello?
As a fifty-year-old woman, you're really something!
Tsunade was also stunned for a moment. She didn't know Ino, but Ino's Konoha forehead protector was clearly visible.
For a moment, both of them felt a bit awkward.
Fortunately, Tsunade was older, and all three Sannin were thick-skinned. At this moment, she reacted quickly, waving her hand: "Don't just stand there, keep up!"
Ino followed her out of the inn for no apparent reason, then met up with Tsunade's attendant, Shizune, a female Jonin who was a contemporary of Kakashi and Asuma, in a private house at the other end of the town.
Shizune was also holding a pet pig named Tonton.
The pet pig, Tonton, first froze when it saw Ino. After a brief eye contact, it let out a series of "puyu puyu" squeals, then burrowed itself into Shizune's arms.
Back on her own turf, Tsunade dispelled her Transformation Jutsu. She looked outside, saw that the creditors hadn't followed her, then put her hands on her hips and laughed triumphantly.
"These idiots, still trying to corner me? Hahahaha—"
After laughing, she finally looked at Ino, her words terrifyingly direct: "I know you, you're a Yamanaka Clan child, right? Looking to become my disciple? I require a disciple's gift, though. Do you… have money?"
Shizune was extremely embarrassed. She urged anxiously: "Lady Tsunade, what you're saying is truly impolite."
The pet pig, Tonton, also squealed "puyu puyu" a couple of times, but seeing Ino's gaze, it shrank back into Shizune's arms in fright.
Ino scratched her head. To be honest, she didn't have much money right now, and for Tsunade, she couldn't leave the impression that she was rich. Once that impression was left, the requests for money would be endless.
That would be a bottomless pit, no amount of money would be enough to fill it.
Ino said hesitantly: "I'm just a Genin… I just graduated, and my family cut off my allowance. The little money I earn from missions really isn't much…"
Shizune said in a fair tone: "Yes, yes, Lady Tsunade, what you're saying is truly inappropriate."
Tsunade picked at her ear, indicating that she didn't care at all.
"Really no money?"
"Really none."
"Not a single bit? I can break even with just five million ryo!"
This time, Ino's answer was much more sincere: "I really don't have any. The Village hasn't settled my mission pay for this month yet."
Tsunade nodded with deep understanding: "The Third's old man is indeed very slow in his work. Hmm, what should we do? I've got it!"
She snapped her fingers forcefully, then whispered something to Shizune.
Shizune looked at Ino for a moment, then at Tsunade, then started shaking her head vigorously. Under Tsunade's glare, she hesitated immensely, and finally had no choice but to go next door and bring back a young man with a joyful expression.
The young man also wore a Ninja forehead protector. He was a Takigakure Village Ninja, appearing to be sixteen or seventeen years old.
Tsunade smiled at Ino, motioning for her to wait a moment, then pulled the young man aside to whisper quietly.
Ino could only hear sounds like "five hundred thousand," "five million," "six hundred thousand," and "four million." She had a black line on her face. I'm going, are you haggling?
Not long after, with the young man's somewhat dejected expression, Tsunade pulled the young man back into the room together.
She asked Ino directly: "You want to study with me, you want to become my disciple, right? Do you know what that means?"
"Yes, Lady Tsunade, I want to become your disciple. I've already prepared myself for hardship." Despite the interview scene being completely different from what she had expected, Ino still answered very firmly.
Tsunade pointed to the young man beside her: "His name is Shibuki. His father and I have some acquaintance. Now I'm giving you a mission: safely escort him to Konoha Village, and I'll agree to take you as my disciple. How about it?"
Sending a Takigakure Village Ninja to Konoha Village? If it were anyone else, Ino would definitely suspect ulterior motives, but Tsunade was fine. What kind of person was she? She was the First Hokage's granddaughter! Anyone could betray their Village, but she never would.
Ino was considering the relationship between the two Villages. Konoha Village and Takigakure Village were allies, but this alliance was far too fragile for Ninja Villages.
The young man named Shibuki seemed very nervous, his expression even more timid than Chōjūrō, whom Ino had once met.
Ino was young, but having repeatedly defeated strong enemies, her confidence had already grown.
She looked at the young man for a couple of seconds. He took two steps back, then smiled ingratiatingly.
Ino turned her head and asked: "Lady Tsunade, is it just escorting him back to the Village? Will there be anything during the mission…?"
Tsunade instantly understood her meaning: "That will be for you to judge. He definitely has some trouble, otherwise he wouldn't come to me. You decide for yourself."
Ino thought about it and felt that even if there was trouble, she could handle it completely. Takigakure Village's trouble wouldn't be Kakuzu, would it? Kakuzu was busy earning money for the Akatsuki Organization at this time. He didn't bother Takigakure Village, and Takigakure Village didn't dare to provoke him, a Rogue Ninja. Kakuzu's return to Takigakure Village should be when he captures a Tailed Beast, and it was clearly not that time yet.
"Then shall we depart now?"
Tsunade waved her hand: "You can discuss it yourselves, no need to ask me. After the mission is completed, come back and find me. If I'm not in this town, then I should be… well, your Yamanaka Clan will definitely be able to find me."
"Understood, Lady Tsunade, Senior Shizune. Then I'll take my leave."
Ino took Shibuki and left the town, heading towards Konoha Village.
On the way, she asked about Shibuki's intentions. Although unlikely, what if this person wanted to go to Konoha to carry rice? She had to clarify.
"What are you going to Konoha for?"
Shibuki's voice was very low: "Um, I have a mission I want to entrust to Konoha Village."
Ino suddenly realized: "You mean you want to issue an entrustment mission to Konoha Village, so you want me to escort you to Konoha Village first?"
"Yes, yes!"
Ino pondered for a moment: "Then for this journey where I escort you to Konoha, are you prepared to pay?"
The other party was dumbfounded: "I've already paid Lady Tsunade…"
Ino's expression darkened: "You mean to say that I'm running all this way, will encounter Ninja ambushes on the road, and finally risk my life, painstakingly escorting you to Konoha Village, without a single bit of labor fee? Look into my eyes and say that again."
Shibuki counted on his fingers for a long time: "Wait! Let me calculate. Um, that, that can be counted as another mission. I'll pay!"
Ino was very satisfied. Young man, you're very sensible, you have a future!
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