Chapter 76: Is Tsunade Your Dad, or Your Mom?
Jiraiya naturally recognized what Tsunade looked like as a child.
It was just that the current "little Tsunade," desperately suppressing her rage, was clinging to Shiromo's leg and trembling.
Her entire body was hidden behind Shiromo, with only that familiar hair color and hairstyle visible.
When Jiraiya asked that question, Tsunade knew very well that there was no way to dodge this anymore.
But it didn't matter, she still had a plan!
"A-Actually, I'm Tsunade-sama's daughter. I came to Konoha to look for my family~"
Little Tsunade peeked out half her head and spoke timidly.
"D-Daughter?!"
"…She really does look a lot like Tsunade…"
Jiraiya was struck like lightning. He staggered back two steps, his hands trembling.
Today's stimulation was just too much for him.
One of the legendary Sannin.
Orochimaru had a kid.
And it might even have been with the Second Hokage.
Now Tsunade has a kid too.
What was this, team-based childbirth?
Only him, Jiraiya, was still alone. Meanwhile, even the toads of Mount Myōboku had produced a whole nest of tadpoles.
"Huh? Didn't you just say you were from Amegakure?"
Temari frowned and exposed little Tsunade's lie.
Earlier, when Shiromo hadn't exposed her, Temari could understand it, she thought the girl simply didn't want to reveal her real identity in front of strangers, and that Shiromo was being considerate and thoughtful toward a child.
But now this wasn't right anymore.
She was lying straight to their faces.
"Yes, I'm from Amegakure. I came with my guardian to look for Tsunade-sama."
Little Tsunade continued softly, "But Tsunade-sama doesn't seem to be in Konoha… so I'll just leave…"
Tsunade mentally gave herself a thumbs-up.
Perfect.
Plan successful!
First, she had gambled on using Amegakure as a temporary identity.
Now she gambled again, betting that these people wouldn't actually go find Amegakure Village ninjas and verify her story one by one.
Especially Jiraiya. There was no way he'd dare to confirm it.
Using this excuse, she could once again leave Konoha perfectly.
"But Amegakure only sent two people this time. One man and one woman."
Temari narrowed her eyes and looked over.
At the same time, she also glanced at Shiromo.
What?!
Tsunade's heart skipped a beat.
That was dangerous!
Luckily, there was a man.
So thrilling!
This was exactly why she loved gambling.
A comeback at the very edge!
She knew it, if Shizune hadn't stopped her that day, she definitely would've turned two hundred ryō into a million.
"Yes… that's right."
Little Tsunade nodded weakly.
"Nani?!"
Jiraiya was completely stunned.
Tsunade didn't know, but Jiraiya did.
The man and woman from Amegakure were Shiromo and Konan, weren't they?
If this had happened before returning to Konoha, Jiraiya's first suspect would've been Shiromo.
He would've thought Tsunade had gone full "old cow eating tender grass."
But after everything he'd experienced today, Jiraiya hesitated.
Orochimaru had turned into a woman and had a child.
The First Hokage openly admitted to a deep bond with Uchiha Madara.
Raikage A in novels who transplanted organs.
And not long ago, the child of Nagato and Yahiko…
This ninja world felt unfamiliar to him.
Jiraiya's worldview had been completely washed away.
All he could think now was, had Konan transplanted something to make Tsunade do that, or had Tsunade transplanted something to make Konan do that?
It felt more likely to be Tsunade.
After all, Tsunade specialized in medical ninjutsu. Like Orochimaru, developing human transplantation techniques wouldn't be strange at all.
"So… Tsunade is your father, or your mother?"
After holding it in for a long time, Jiraiya finally managed to squeeze out this sentence as he looked at little Tsunade hiding behind Shiromo.
?
Tsunade slowly typed a question mark in her mind.
No, had Jiraiya damaged his brain while training on Mount Myōboku?
Was this even a question a human could ask?
"Hey, what kind of weird nonsense are you spouting, you creepy old man? You're scaring the little girl."
Kankurō stepped in front of Jiraiya in dissatisfaction. Behind him, little Tsunade, still hiding behind Shiromo, had lifeless eyes, as if she'd been scared stupid.
"She's timid and gentle. Aside from looking a bit like her, this kid is nothing like that violent old hag Tsunade."
Jiraiya sighed emotionally.
"..."
After Shiromo's earlier line about "hanging it on the wall to prevent pregnancy," Tsunade's tolerance had clearly increased a lot.
Faced with Jiraiya's remark, she endured it easily.
There wasn't even an "aftershock" of an "earthquake."
"Forget it. Let the kid come with us. Since Tsunade isn't here, the Third and I count as her elders anyway."
As Jiraiya spoke, he put on what he thought was a kind expression and looked toward little Tsunade.
"No."
Little Tsunade shook her head decisively and hugged Shiromo's leg tightly. "Big brother, this weird old man has lecherous eyes. Just one look and you can tell he's not a good person."
Crack.
Jiraiya clutched his chest.
He felt his heart shatter.
Failing to get Tsunade was one thing, but now even kids…
Had he peeked at the women's bath too much over the years, to the point that his gaze was permanently corrupted?
"Heh. Big brother? Shouldn't you be calling him 'Dad' instead?"
Temari, watching coldly from the side, couldn't help snorting.
"Huh?"
Little Tsunade froze, not understanding what Temari meant.
"Oh, right. He's one of the two people from Amegakure you mentioned coming to Konoha."
Only then did Kankurō realize it as well.
"Ah?"
Tsunade was dumbfounded.
Was her luck really this bad?
She gambled on Amegakure, and only two people came.
She gambled that no one would verify it, and the person was right in front of her.
And that person had just insulted her earlier…
And he looked like he'd only just come of age. Subtract the age of her current child disguise… back then he'd only have been ten.
That really would turn into "old something eating young something, small something opening big something."
Was she really supposed to abandon even that last shred of dignity and insist that she got this child eight years ago by getting a ten-year-old boy drunk?
"Don't make things difficult for her. In a ninja world full of deception and lies, it's normal for her not to tell the truth to strangers. It's a way of protecting herself."
"Anyway, she hasn't done anything bad, nor does she pose any threat to us. Let's just be muddle-headed for once and stop asking."
Just as Tsunade was struggling internally, Shiromo said all this and placed one hand on her head.
"Is that so?"
Jiraiya, already mentally shaken, was somewhat unfocused.
He still felt the girl really did resemble Tsunade.
But Shiromo's words also made sense.
"Fine. In that case, hurry up and come with me to see the old man. This kid can go wherever she wants."
Jiraiya waved his hand and turned around, walking toward the Hokage Building first.
Safe?
Looking at Jiraiya's retreating back, Tsunade finally let out a breath.
She hadn't expected that in such a desperate situation, there would actually be a good person who could turn the tide for her.
For a moment, she felt herself starting to believe that there really was true feeling, true love, in the ninja world.
"That's where the other villages' people are taking shelter. Go find your companions over there."
After walking for a while, Shiromo patted little Tsunade on the back and pointed in a direction.
"Oh, okay. Then goodbye."
Little Tsunade came back to her senses and ran toward the direction Shiromo indicated.
She planned to find a chance to slip out of Konoha.
Boom!
A loud explosion suddenly came from nearby, drawing everyone's attention.
(End of this chapter)