Konoha, the Mitokado estate.
"Father, you called for me in such a hurry. What is it?"
Mitokado Homura sat in the main seat, his expression stern. His daughter, Tsuki, looked at him, confused.
"That commoner named Chiba… he's no simple matter."
Homura began, "Your handling of that last incident was poor. Now, you will go find him. Apologize. Tell him the five million ryo from before is your compensation."
Tsuki's refusal was instant. "Father, you want me to apologize to that nobody? Impossible. I won't go!"
"No tantrums, Tsuki!" Homura's voice turned low and firm. "Even the Third Hokage speaks highly of him. He is not a nobody. He is a dragon in waiting. Given time, he might even become a figure like the Second Hokage!"
Homura hadn't reached his position on strength alone. His vision and insight were just as sharp.
"You… you're joking, right?" Tsuki's face was a mask of shock, her voice jumping an octave. "A petty little thief, and you say he could rival Lord Second Hokage?!"
"I am not joking. This is an order, Tsuki," Homura's tone brooked no argument. "Go apologize to Chiba now. I don't care what method you use. You must make him view you, and our Mitokado clan, favorably!"
"…I understand, Father."
Tsuki saw the cold, unyielding look in her father's eyes. She knew there was no room for debate. She could only grit her teeth and agree.
Chiba's home.
Chiba sat cross-legged on his small bed, hands folded in a strange posture. He continuously circulated chakra through his body.
Hiss… This 'Living Puppet Blood Refinement'… it really wasn't meant for humans. Damn, it hurt!
His face contorted, features twisting in pain.
Since the exams ended, he'd attempted this body tempering a few times now. It was undeniably powerful. The results were solid. But the pain? Also undeniably real.
During the process, it felt like fire was burning inside him, searing every inch of his tendons and flesh. The agony was indescribable. How had Sasori even endured this?
Damn it. Some people live like protagonists in wish-fulfillment novels. Others live like protagonists from Yu Hua's novels.
I'm a protagonist with a system! Why do I have to suffer like this?!
Though he cursed inwardly, Chiba knew the truth. To survive and thrive in this world, he couldn't rely on the system alone. He had to put in the work himself.
"Chiba, you home?"
Tsunade's voice suddenly called from outside the door.
"Lady Tsunade? What brings you here?"
Chiba quickly sat up, adjusted his chakra flow, and hurried to open the door.
"You took your time. What shady thing were you doing in there?" Tsunade strode in with the ease of someone entering her own home, plopping down on the sofa. "It's nothing. Just passing by. Thought I'd check on you."
In truth, she'd finished her work and come specifically to see him. To see if he was hurt. If he'd missed her…
But she'd never say something so mushy out loud. She'd just observe with her eyes.
"You came at the perfect time, Lady Tsunade." Chiba poured her some tea, his face full of anticipation. "Can I become your disciple?"
Of the Sannin, Tsunade was the one he was closest to. So, she was his first choice.
"No!"
Tsunade's pretty face darkened. "I have no intention of taking on a student right now. Find someone else!"
Damn that Nawaki! Her relationship with Chiba was already bordering on that of siblings. If they became master and disciple on top of that? A disaster!
Chiba: "???"
If he remembered correctly, Tsunade herself had initially shown interest in taking him as a student. Why the sudden change of heart?!
Women really are fickle. Note to self: never get involved with one like this.
"If you want someone to guide your training," Tsunade said, seeing the flicker of disappointment on his face, "I suggest you go find Jiraiya. He just returned to the village a couple of days ago."
She added, "He might be unreliable, but his ability to teach is undeniable. He's very good at guiding people."
Chiba nodded inwardly. True. Half his students became Kage-level. One even reached Six Paths level. In the entire Naruto world, only Jiraiya had that kind of track record.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
As they talked, the door sounded again. Chiba opened it to find Mitokado Tsuki standing there.
"You—"
"You stinky woman?!"
"You manly hag!"
Before Chiba could even speak, Tsunade shot up from behind him. Tsuki ignored him completely. The two women locked eyes, hurling insults across the room.
"Still no progress after all this time, huh?" Tsunade scoffed, her gaze sweeping over Tsuki's chest. "Tsk. As flat as your life's achievements."
"Oh? You've made progress, alright," Tsuki shot back without missing a beat. "Grown as big as your temper. Any use? Anyone getting in there?"
Chiba stood between them, dumbfounded. He never expected two such beautiful women to be so vicious.
"Damn you, Tsuki!"
"Tsunade!"
Watching the two momentarily cease fire, trying to murder each other with their eyes, Chiba tentatively spoke up. "Um, Lady Tsunade… you two… know each other?"
Tsunade's face was dark. She didn't answer, her eyes flicking between Chiba's face and Tsuki's.
That single look was all Tsuki needed. A woman's intuition, combined with a lifetime of understanding her rival, let her instantly grasp the relationship between Tsunade and Chiba.
This manly hag… has fallen for a little brat with no clan name?!
Shock gave way to a brilliant, gleeful light in Tsuki's eyes.
Coming here had just been about following her father's order.
But now? Even without Homura's command, she would move heaven and earth to win Chiba's favor. She was going to infuriate Tsunade!
"Of course we know each other, little brother Chiba," Tsuki said, a sweet smile on her lips. "We were classmates. Tsunade here… she's been the same since we were kids. Rosy lips untouched, fists that knock out young men. She's… very pure, you know."
"Stinky woman! You looking to die?!" Tsunade exploded, her golden twin-tails practically bristling.
"Lady Tsunade, calm down, calm down!"
For the sake of his new furniture, Chiba hastily grabbed the enraged Tsunade. He then frowned at Tsuki.
"Why are you here? If it's not important, please leave. Okay?"
He didn't know the history between them, but his loyalty was unquestionably with Tsunade. He always sided with his own over strangers.
"Oh, it's nothing really," Tsuki said, lifting the items in her hand, adopting a pitiful expression. "I just heard you had a close call in the Chunin Exams. I was worried you were injured, so I brought some supplements to check on you."
She then shot a subtle, provocative look straight at Tsunade.
This stinky woman…!
Tsunade ground her teeth. Those were her lines! The ones she'd been too embarrassed to say out loud!
"Chiba… I won't be staying for lunch… Stinky woman! You, with me! Outside!"
"Gah! Manly hag, why are you pulling my clothes? Let go! This is new!"
"Come on! You think you're so tough? Let's settle this! One on one!"
"Who wants to fight you? Let go of me!"
Chiba stood in his doorway, watching the two tug and pull each other into the distance. His brain buzzed with static.
"…What just happened? Women are terrifying. Nawaki was better."
After a long moment, he gathered his thoughts, his expression turning serious.
"Mitokado Tsuki coming to extend an olive branch… that was probably on Homura's orders. Which means… the Konoha higher-ups have taken notice of me!"
The thought made him restless. If that one-eyed, bandaged man invited him to join Root… would his choices be 'join' or 'die'?
"No. I need to find Lord Jiraiya. Fast."
Burning with purpose, Chiba headed out. A cold wind blew past.
He just remembered… Tsunade never told him where to find Jiraiya.
But Chiba recalled where Jiraiya always appeared in the anime. A confident smile spread across his face.
"I'm coming for you, Lord Jiraiya!"
Outside a certain hot spring in Konoha.
A man with wild, white hair lurked about suspiciously. He had a tall, imposing physique, but his face wore a lecherous grin completely at odds with his build.
"Hehehe… That wall is so white… And those bath balls… I'd love to get my hands on them…"
"Lord Jiraiya!"
Just as Jiraiya was getting into the groove, Chiba silently crept up behind him and suddenly shouted.
"Whoa?! What the—?!"
Jiraiya jumped, nearly having a heart attack on the spot. Chiba stifled a laugh.
Just as he thought. Like Zhang Wei always appearing outside the bathroom, Jiraiya always spawned near hot springs.
This kid Chiba's gotten stronger again. I was distracted, but for him to get this close without me noticing…
Jiraiya coughed twice, adopting a serious expression. "Ahem. It's you, Chiba. So… what brings you to me?"
Chiba nodded. "Lord Jiraiya, I've thought about it long and hard. I've decided I want to become your disciple. Do I still have a chance?"
He looked at Jiraiya expectantly, afraid he'd pull a Tsunade and suddenly change his mind.
"Oh?"
Hearing this, Jiraiya's eyes lit up. He struck a pose he thought was dashing, a smug look spreading across his face.
"Yosh! You've finally decided to become the student of the Great Jiraiya, renowned across the lands, so handsome he can silence a crying child?!"
"…On second thought… maybe let me reconsider?"
After a moment of silence, Chiba said, sounding uncertain.
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