This gathering, Kizaru didn't indulge in his appetite as he did with Sarutobi Konohamaru last time. He just sipped on sake, nibbled on appetizers, and chatted with his fellow senior and junior.
In these two years, the four members of the same sect rarely gathered.
Tsunade was busy with hospital matters and the training of medical ninjas, facing tight schedules. Orochimaru was immersed in ninjutsu development and biological research, rarely leaving his place. Jiraiya, on the other hand, consistently used the excuse of creative writing to travel outside.
But in reality, he was searching for the child prophesied by the Toad Sage.
Thinking about this, Kizaru suddenly became curious. He wondered if the Toad Sage had predicted his appearance and if Jiraiya had shared information about him with the Toad Sage.
For Kizaru, the Toad Sage's predictions weren't as interesting as its Senjutsu.
It wasn't that he wanted to learn it; Kizaru wanted to study it for reference. Regarding Sage Mode and Senjutsu, Kizaru had his own considerations and ambitions. He aimed to create a Senjutsu that aligned with him.
Thinking about creating Senjutsu, Kizaru's gaze turned to Orochimaru.
In terms of researching ninja techniques, who in the entire ninja world could compare to Orochimaru, who mastered core technologies?
It seemed that after the end of the Second War, he needed to have a good chat with this senior.
Feeling Kizaru's gaze, Orochimaru, who had been mostly silent while listening to Jiraiya and Tsunade, showed a faint smile to his junior.
Kizaru smiled back, withdrew his scattered thoughts, picked up the sake cup in front of him, and rejoined the conversation.
This gathering lasted a long time. It wasn't until around eleven or twelve in the evening that the four, with a scent of alcohol, walked out of the izakaya.
Jiraiya, already drunk, was supported by Orochimaru in a somewhat disdainful manner, walking ahead. Due to the alcohol, Tsunade, with a flushed face, walked beside Kizaru.
The cold wind on the street made Tsunade, whose eyes seemed a bit blurred, slightly come to her senses.
Taking out a scroll prepared in advance from her clothes, Tsunade handed it to Kizaru.
"This is the training method for the Byakugou Seal. I'm giving it to you." Facing Kizaru's curious eyes, Tsunade explained softly.
"Eh, what a great gift! Big Sister Tsunade!" Kizaru said with a beaming smile, taking the scroll directly without hesitation.
"You, speak properly to me!" Raising her arm, Tsunade poked Kizaru fiercely, speaking without good humor.
Rubbing the soft flesh at his waist that had been injured, Kizaru joked, "Whoa, how scary! Big Sister Tsunade!"
Giving Kizaru a fierce glare, Tsunade continued, "I heard the old man say that your physical qualities and chakra control abilities are outstanding. Practicing the Byakugou Seal shouldn't be too difficult. I don't have much to do recently. Starting tomorrow, come to the hospital every afternoon, and I'll guide you in your training."
"Thank you!" Kizaru said while putting the scroll into his pocket.
"I watched your sparring with the old man. The Byakugou Seal and your taijutsu are very compatible, and it should bring you some benefits." Tsunade had carefully considered giving Kizaru the Byakugou Seal.
Nodding, imagining the combination of the Byakugou Seal with Haki and taijutsu, along with the assistance of the Glint-Glint Fruit's ability, and his own body quality fused with the Admiral Kizaru's peak period, Kizaru suddenly felt that his combat style seemed to be becoming more and more violent.
When he fused with the physical qualities of the Admiral Kizaru's peak period and the peak Haki cultivation, who in this ninja world could withstand a punch from him?
"What are you thinking, you rascal?"
Tsunade's voice brought Kizaru back from his reverie to reality.
"Something happy!" Kizaru answered with a smile.
"Tch!" Hmph, Tsunade looked at Kizaru seriously, cautioning him, "Be careful lately, don't go out of the village casually. The bounty on you in the black market has risen to 700 million."
"Eh, truly a frightening number!" Kizaru sighed with a smile.
"You, take this seriously." Concerned that Kizaru might underestimate his enemies and neglect his own safety, Tsunade said sternly.
In response to his senior's concern, Kizaru restrained his playful smile, answering seriously, "Rest assured, my bounty is worth more than that."
Seeing Kizaru becoming serious, Tsunade was satisfied. She raised her hand and patted Kizaru's arm, saying earnestly, "Take care, I don't want to see you in the hospital."
"Instead of worrying about me, you should worry more about Jiraiya-senpai! He's the one who likes to run around the most." Speaking of which, looking at Tsunade in front of him, Kizaru had a whimsical idea. He raised his right hand.
The 190-cm-tall Kizaru easily pressed his hand on the head of the 163-cm-tall Tsunade.
Like rubbing the head of a wave-reading water gate as usual, Kizaru rubbed Tsunade's smooth and soft golden hair.
"Hmm! Nice touch!"
Praising in his mind, taking advantage of Tsunade's dazed state, Kizaru used Body Flicker Jutsu and disappeared.
When Kizaru disappeared, Tsunade snapped back to her senses.
Her pretty face was reddened, not due to shyness but anger.
"Kizaru, I'm going to kill you!" Shouting angrily, Tsunade chased after Kizaru in the direction he escaped.
Jiraiya and Orochimaru, who were walking ahead, had noticed the commotion behind when Kizaru ran away.
Without seeing Kizaru touch his head, he turned to look at them, only to see the roaring Tsunade.
In almost the blink of an eye, Tsunade's figure also disappeared in front of Jiraiya and Orochimaru.
The two looked at each other in confusion.
"What just happened?" With a pair of drunken eyes, Jiraiya looked at Orochimaru curiously.
Looking at Jiraiya with pity, Orochimaru spoke, "I'll take you home."
"Don't we need to care about Kizaru? Tsunade, that raging mother dinosaur, really knows how to kill people. Hiccup!" Jiraiya said, then burped, leaving Orochimaru, now wanting to beat him first.
"Bang!"
Falling heavily to the ground, Tsunade, who had just chased after Kizaru, couldn't keep up with his speed and could only helplessly return.
"Orochimaru, look, the mother dinosaur is back, hehehe!" Pointing at Tsunade, who descended from the sky, the drunken Jiraiya looked at Orochimaru with a happy smile and laughed foolishly.
Without hesitation, Orochimaru directly let go of supporting Jiraiya, used Body Flicker Technique, and distanced himself from this troublemaker.
"Jiraiya!!" Already furious, Tsunade, upon hearing Jiraiya's address, erupted with anger, along with a powerful punch.