When Jiraiya saw Yue summon Gamabunta, he quietly hid himself to the side.
He wanted to see whether Yue's training over the years was enough to actually handle Gamabunta.
Gamabunta took a huge puff of his pipe, exhaled, and snorted in disdain:
"Brat, go get Jiraiya. I don't have time to play with you.
If there's nothing important, I'm leaving."
Being so openly looked down on made Yue's expression darken.
"I said, I summoned you."
"Hmph! You little brat need a beating to understand your place."
Gamabunta didn't waste more words—he simply flicked his head upward, tossing Yue high into the air.
"Wood Release: Wood Human Technique!"
Flying upward, Yue exhaled in relief.
Finally he made the first move. If he didn't attack, I'd have no excuse to beat him up.
A massive wooden human manifested—
much larger than Gamabunta, easily twice his size.
Yue flipped in the air and landed on its shoulder.
Gamabunta was shocked beyond belief.
This kid summoned such a huge wooden construct effortlessly.
With chakra like that, Gamabunta now fully believed Yue was the one who summoned him.
But face was face—
He couldn't just admit defeat.
He had to put up a fight.
He unsheathed the short sword at his waist and slashed with full force at the wooden giant.
The Wood Human blocked with its arm—clang!—
leaving only light scratches.
Yue clasped his hands.
From the Wood Human's body, wooden dragons shot out, wrapping around Gamabunta tightly.
No matter how he struggled, he couldn't break free.
Yue's chakra flared, steaming around him.
"Here—enjoy a full set of Thai massage!"
Punch after punch hammered into Gamabunta's stomach while he was bound.
Gamabunta foamed at the mouth from Yue's "service,"
and finally burst into smoke—returning in shame to Mount Myoboku.
From his hiding spot, Jiraiya witnessed everything.
He was stunned.
Everything he thought he knew about Yue was shattered.
He thought Yue spent all his time studying women, given his "expertise."
Yet somehow his combat ability had become monstrous.
At this rate, once he learned Sage Mode, Jiraiya doubted he could even beat his own student.
And yet Jiraiya also felt a faint pride.
Minato was his student and became Fourth Hokage.
Now this kid…
Fifth Hokage seemed almost guaranteed.
Two consecutive Hokage as his disciples—
who wouldn't be proud?
Yue dispelled the Wood Human.
Jiraiya appeared beside him, patting his shoulder.
"Ahem. Gamabunta is like your senior. Be more respectful next time."
Yue shrugged.
"Alright, I'll apologize next time. I did beat him up a bit hard."
In truth, Yue had no real attachment to the summoning toads.
The Wood Human was way more practical.
Once he had enough chakra to summon a huge wooden titan with a flick of his wrist—
even tailed beasts would be like toddlers.
How wasn't that cooler?
Jiraiya saw the look on Yue's face and could guess his thoughts.
"Kid, don't blame me for not warning you.
If you want to learn Sage Mode, you'll need instruction from Fukasaku-sama and Shima-sama.
Gamabunta is their child."
Yue blinked in surprise, then nodded solemnly.
"I'll definitely apologize to Gamabunta properly next time."
Jiraiya was satisfied.
He then taught Yue how to reverse summon himself to Mount Myoboku—
the same accidental technique he once stumbled upon himself.
That night, before sleeping, Yue used Wood Release to construct a house on the spot.
Jiraiya shouted in admiration at the convenience.
—
A month passed.
They searched every tavern and casino in the surrounding nations.
Still no sign of Tsunade.
Yue was ready to give up.
Only Jiraiya kept going—with burning determination,
fully believing Yue's flirting ability could win Tsunade's heart once they found her.
Then one day, Yue was bored, wandering through a small town, when he spotted—
a beautiful young girl with a chubby pig trotting behind her.
Shizune!
Finally! Luck at last!
Yue stealthily followed her,
keeping low until she entered a quiet izakaya.
A moment later, Tsunade herself walked out.
"Shizune, you silly girl.
You let someone tail you without noticing.
You hiding over there—get out.
What do you want with me?"
Tsunade barked in Yue's direction.
Yue stepped out.
He did want to test Tsunade's strength—
to see how far apart they were in raw power.
After searching so long, he had… a little bit of pent-up frustration too.
And she was family.
She wouldn't kill him.
His chakra exploded, crushing the ground beneath his feet.
Tsunade's eyes narrowed.
Enemy, not friend.
She gathered strength for a serious punch.
Yue leapt with full power, aiming a straight punch at her.
Tsunade met it head-on.
The impact blasted a crater into the ground.
The moment Yue's fist touched her knuckles—
It felt like punching reinforced steel.
Pain surged up his arm.
His right hand instantly went numb.
Completely shattered… Yue thought bitterly.
How could he compare?
Tsunade's strength was innate.
His was forced out by chakra.
They weren't even in the same weight class.
Tsunade didn't give him a chance to recover.
She flickered forward and swung another punch.
One clean hit would kill him.
Yue panicked—his right hand numb and useless.
He raised his left hand desperately, shooting out wooden spikes.
Tsunade shattered them with a single punch.
Yue paled instantly.
I'm dead.
I'm so dead.
I'm going to die or—at best—be half-crippled…
Seeing the Wood Release, Tsunade guessed the boy must be Konoha's famous Wood Release prodigy—Yamato.
She withdrew some force but still intended to discipline him.
This brat came at her fist-first.
Of course she'd teach him manners.
BOOM!
Yue's world turned black.
He crashed into the wall—embedded so deep only his legs stuck out.
"Tch. Terrible durability."
Tsunade scoffed.
"Shizune, dig the little guy out.
Take him back."
Meanwhile Jiraiya—
who arrived just in time to witness Yue being blasted into the wall—
almost fainted.
He thought Yue must've told Tsunade about the "marriage plan" already,
and got punched for it.
Terrified, Jiraiya ran and hid again.
After all—
the only near-death experience he ever had—
was from one of Tsunade's punches.
~------------------------------------
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