Thank you to Viswa Venkat Mounish Vadlapudi, kiddeath1998, J, Tyler A, Renzo Macedonio for their support and becoming a patron on p@treon.
You can read 40+ chapters ahead of everyone on p@treon.
P@TREON - p@treon.com/lessaservantofcosmos
(just replace the "@" with "a")
Check Out My Other MTL: Uchiha With Glasses
ps: Please support me on P@treon. I can really use your help!
--------------------------------------------------------------
After a hearty beating,
Jiraiya's already swollen face had a few more round lumps on it.
His hair was messy, both eyes were bruised, and he sat on the edge of the corridor with a vacant look.
"Sis, you didn't hit Jiraiya so hard that he became stupid, did you..."
Nawaki stood behind Tsunade and poked him gently, asking in a low voice.
Tsunade glared at him, annoyed. "You still call him 'big brother,' didn't he force you to call him that!?"
Hearing Tsunade's words, Tsunade scratched his head and said embarrassedly, "Actually, big brother Jiraiya is a nice guy, I was just joking with you, sis..."
Under Tsunade's angry gaze, Nawaki's voice got lower and lower, and finally, he stood with his hands behind his back, lowered his head, and dared not speak.
"They really are a bunch of troublesome guys."
Tsunade said angrily, then walked over to Jiraiya.
Seeing Tsunade coming over, Jiraiya, who had been sitting there blankly, shivering, and wondering why he always got beaten up, was suddenly startled. He stared at Tsunade with his two bruised eyes and raised his hands tremblingly.
"I... I won't do it anymore, except for that thing... I haven't bullied little Nawaki again..."
Tsunade glanced at him without good humor, and her palm gently touched his bruised face, with a slow overflow of green chakra.
Before long, the injuries on Jiraiya's face were almost completely healed.
"Nawaki told me that I was wrong about you, Jiraiya."
Tsunade said softly.
As soon as Jiraiya heard Tsunade apologizing, a smug look immediately appeared on his face.
But little did he know that Tsunade's tone suddenly turned cold.
"However, if I catch you showing those things to Nawaki, you're done, Jiraiya! Got it!?"
In response, Jiraiya wiped the cold sweat from his forehead with trembling hands and whispered, "I...I heard you."
However, in his heart, he secretly muttered, "Little Nawaki...please don't rat me out...otherwise, your big brother Jiraiya will really be in trouble..."
At this moment, Tsunade quietly asked, "Sis, when will Master Orochimaru and Sōsuke come back?"
Hearing the name from Tsunade's lips, everyone present, including Tsunade, paused for a moment and then showed a nostalgic expression.
Jiraiya chuckled and spoke up, "What's wrong, little Nawaki, do you miss Sōsuke that much?"
Hearing Jiraiya's question, Nawaki replied in a childish tone, "I made a promise with Sōsuke big brother, a man's promise! You wouldn't understand, Jiraiya big brother!"
Jiraiya's face turned dark upon hearing this and said irritably, "A man's promise?! Jiraiya big brother is a true man, you know! Tell me, I'm curious, what kind of promise do you have with Sōsuke?"
Hearing their conversation, both Orochimaru and Tsunade were slightly curious and interested in Tsunade's promise with Sōsuke.
In response to Jiraiya's words, Nawaki became somewhat annoyed and pouted, saying, "I'm not a little kid anymore, and I've made a promise with Sōsuke big brother."
With a slight smile, he continued, "As long as I can touch Kyōka Suigetsu, Sōsuke big brother will recognize me as a real man."
However, instead of receiving approval from his sister and mentors, Tsunade didn't hear any encouraging words.
Jiraiya burst into laughter, holding his stomach. Orochimaru and Tsunade also had gentle smiles on their faces, finding Nawaki's thoughts adorable.
Seeing everyone's reactions, Nawaki's lips slightly pouted, and he said, "What's so funny? I'll prove it to you! I made a promise with Sōsuke big brother, and in the future, I'll become a true man worthy of being the Hokage!"
Hearing his words, Jiraiya laughed even harder, covering his stomach.
"You...you little guy, do you know how strong Sōsuke is? Touching Kyōka Suigetsu? Ha...ha ha..."
"Ha ha... I haven't seen anyone else touch that sword to this day."
Jiraiya finally stopped laughing and looked at Nawaki with a smile, saying softly, "Even I, Jiraiya, can't touch it, you know?"
Nawaki's expression turned slightly dark, and he retorted, "Even Jiraiya big brother can't touch it?"
Little Nawaki wanted to refute Jiraiya's words, but to his surprise, Jiraiya nodded seriously.
"Yes, I've never understood Sōsuke's strength up to now, but just what I know is enough to make me lose confidence."
With that, he bent down and gently rubbed Nawaki's hair, then grinned broadly and said cheerfully, "But hey, our little Nawaki still has a chance. After all, you're going to become a man worthy of being the Hokage!"
At that moment, little Nawaki suddenly thought that Jiraiya big brother looked quite handsome!
Is this what a real man looks like...
However, at this moment, Jiraiya added, "Of course, the prerequisite is that you have to be able to touch Sōsuke's sword! Ha...ha ha... I'm sorry, I just couldn't hold back! My apologies!"
Little Nawaki looked at the laughing Jiraiya big brother with black lines on his face and suddenly felt that his previous thoughts were too absurd!
This is not what a real man is like!!!
Meanwhile, Tsunade walked up to little Nawaki with a gentle smile on her face, and she looked at him with a proud expression.
"No matter how difficult the process is, at least our little Nawaki already has great aspirations!"
Hearing his sister's praise, Nawaki's face turned slightly red, and he smiled brightly.
Tsunade stood in front of Nawaki, smiling gently, and whispered, "Nawaki, can you tell your sister your aspiration one more time?"
Looking at Tsunade, Tsunade grinned and said loudly, "One day, I'll touch Kyōka Suigetsu, earn Sōsuke big brother's recognition, and work hard to become a great Hokage, just like our grandfather!"
Hearing Nawaki's words, Tsunade smiled with satisfaction, then gently reached behind her fair neck.
She carefully removed the emerald-shaped necklace hanging around her neck.
Then she put it around Nawaki's neck.
"This is one of Grandfather's few relics, and it carries his expectations. Since our Nawaki has confidence in becoming Hokage, I'll entrust this responsibility to you, okay?"
After putting the necklace on Nawaki, Nawaki smiled faintly and said gently, "Sis believes that Nawaki will definitely succeed!"
Hearing Tsunade's words, Nawaki nodded excitedly, and his youthful cheeks blushed slightly.
In the brilliant sunlight, the emerald-shaped necklace seemed to shimmer with the light of hope.
On the side, Jiraiya and Orochimaru both looked on with smiles on their faces.