Jiraiya's footsteps echoed softly as he approached the dango shop, a place he knew well as Mitarashi Anko's favorite shop.
Mitarashi Anko was Orochimaru's student in his previous life. But he didn't know if it would stay that way in this life or not.
From a discreet distance, Jiraiya observed her.
The exhaustion etched on her face was evident. It was clear she had come directly to the dango shop after finishing her shift at another job.
Her mother's illness had placed a heavy financial burden on her shoulders. Orochimaru, like Jiraiya himself, had grown up without a father.
"She wouldn't need to work herself to the bone if she knew I'd already provided medicine for her mother,"
Jiraiya mused inwardly.
"Her mother's health will naturally recover with time."
However, Jiraiya was well aware of Orochimaru's strong dislike of owning someone.
If she discovered his intervention, she would undoubtedly insist on repaying him. It was a situation he wished to avoid.
"Hey, Jiraiya... Are you really okay with that?"
Jiraiya feigned ignorance.
"Okay with what?"
Though he knew exactly what she meant. The sight of Dan shamelessly trying to win Tsunade's favor was a thorn in his side.
Inori's frustration was evident.
"Of course, it's about Tsunade! Don't you see how Dan is practically throwing himself at her?"
Jiraiya's irritation simmered beneath the surface.
'I'm old, don't be stupid,'
He thought to himself, trying to dismiss his feelings.
However, Jiraiya couldn't deny the changes he'd noticed in himself.
He was quicker to anger, more prone to sentimentality. The youthful vigor of his body was influencing his aged mind, creating an uneasy balance.
He had always prided himself on his laid-back, somewhat perverted demeanor. But now, he found himself easily provoked, his emotions raw and exposed easily if slipped.
The sight of Dan vying for Tsunade's attention ignited a fire within him that he couldn't quite extinguish.
He knew he was being irrational. Tsunade was her own person, free to choose who she wanted to be with.
In a fit of exasperation, Inori exclaimed.
"Jiraiya, you're being foolish! If I were in your shoes, I'd have already punched that guy and declared Tsunade as my woman!"
Her words were accompanied by gestures that suggested she was serious about her intentions.
Jiraiya, however, remained fixated on Tsunade, who was sharing a laugh with Dan.
He couldn't fathom how such a simple joke could elicit such a reaction from her.
Feeling a pang of jealousy and frustration, he muttered,
"Whatever, I'm going to get some dango."
He turned away from the scene, seeking solace in a sweet treat.
Unbeknownst to Jiraiya, his actions had caught the attention of Orochimaru.
A surge of anger coursed through her, and she was on the verge of confronting him.
But as her gaze fell upon his face, she noticed a flicker of unending darkness that he concealed from the others.
It was such a scary expression, enough to make her reconsider.
A shiver ran down her spine as she thought,
'I'd be signing my own death warrant if I crossed him right now.'
Meanwhile, Tsunade, noticing Jiraiya's departure, excused herself from her conversation with Dan and followed him.
"Buy one for me too!"
She called out, her voice carrying a hint of playful demand.
Jiraiya, however, was in no mood for her antics.
"No, buy it yourself,"
He retorted curtly, proceeding to purchase only his own dango before walking away, leaving Tsunade behind.
A wave of déjà vu washed over Tsunade, but she quickly dismissed it, attributing it to a fleeting memory.
She purchased her own dango, muttering under her breath,
"Humph, what a stingy friend."
Still young and naive, she couldn't comprehend Jiraiya's sudden coldness.
The unfamiliar emotions that stirred within her were also ignored, as she convinced herself they weren't her own.
"What should we do? Should we kick Dan out?"
Inori's abrupt dismissal of Dan was reasonable.
He hadn't even spared them a cursory glance. His attention remained on Tsunade all the time.
Shikadai, ever the voice of reason, calmly interjected.
"That's not a wise decision. Jiraiya can handle this on his own."
His words were measured, but his eyes held a steely glint as he watched Kato Dan's every move.
Chojuro, unfamiliar with the intricacies of the situation, merely shrugged and continued to savor his dango.
However, if he had been forced to choose a side, his loyalty would undoubtedly have aligned with Jiraiya.
Tsunade pouted, her brows furrowing in frustration.
"What's gotten into him? Why won't he just tell me what's wrong?"
She grumbled, her voice filled with confusion and annoyance.
Jiraiya's sudden shift in demeanor had left her bewildered. One moment, they were engaged in their usual banter, and the next, he had withdrawn into a pensive silence and cold treatment.
Dan, ever observant, seized upon Tsunade's discontent as an opportunity.
"He's probably just exhausted,"
He suggested smoothly, his voice feigned concern.
"He has been training relentlessly all day. Why don't we let him rest here for a while and go enjoy the fresh air with the others?"
Tsunade pondered his proposal. He was right; Jiraiya had been pushing himself to the limit lately, his dedication to their training was incredible.
Perhaps he truly did need a break.
"You're right,"
She conceded, a hint of guilt creeping into her voice.
"He deserves a day off. Let's go play outside and let him rest. Orochimaru's here too, so he won't be alone."
The prospect of leaving Jiraiya behind, even for a short while, tugged at her heartstrings.
But the thought of him pushing himself to exhaustion outweighed her desire for his company.
If Dan had suggested they spend time alone, she would have declined without hesitation.
But he had extended the invitation to Inori, Shikadai, and Chojuro as well, making it a group outing rather than a personal one. In that context, she found no reason to refuse.
...
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