Shame, shame!
Jiraiya also knew that today he had thoroughly embarrassed himself.
Over the next few days, Jiraiya was uncharacteristically calm, serious, and wholly focused on tracking down Tsunade. He even put aside his usual playful attitude and ran around collecting information personally instead of relying solely on Hiko and Itachi.
Meanwhile, Hiko and Itachi mostly stayed back at the inn, with little else to do. Their role in the mission seemed temporarily suspended, waiting for the target's location to be confirmed.
When it came to knowing Tsunade, only Orochimaru might rival Jiraiya in understanding her habits. That gave Jiraiya an edge in locating her, especially with the right intelligence. As long as Tsunade hadn't hidden away in an untraceable, desolate location, Jiraiya believed he would find her eventually.
Finding traces of her wasn't difficult. All he had to do was walk near casinos and listen for certain phrases. Words like "female gambler" and "big fat sheep" were enough to mark her path. Follow those rumors far enough, and you'd inevitably arrive at her trail.
Eventually, in the fourth town he visited after leaving Konoha, Jiraiya got lucky. A few days earlier, there had been a local incident: a notorious gambler had lost everything at the casino. When the creditors came knocking in the dead of night, they found only empty rooms. The debtor had long since fled.
The town was named Weeping Wood, after a crooked, sagging tree at its center. In one of the local taverns, Shizune sat in a corner, clutching her small purse with teary eyes, pleading:
"Waaaah~ Tsunade-sama, please, we can't gamble anymore! We'll lose all our lodging and food money!"
"Come on, Shizune, just trust me this once," Tsunade slurred, clearly drunk. "I promise I'll win this time. I'll even pay off all my debts!"
Her cheeks flushed from too much sake, Tsunade reached out like a trickster for the last bit of cash hidden in Shizune's pocket. She was determined to try her luck again at the casino. Whether she'd win or not, even she didn't know.
"No! I'm not falling for it again!" Shizune clutched her purse like a lifeline, shaking her head repeatedly. "Even if you cry, plead, or swear on your title, I won't give you a single coin!"
Despite her determination, Shizune's hands trembled, and before she could react, Tsunade had snatched the purse away.
"Ahaha~" Tsunade grinned like a rogue, proudly holding the now-empty purse. She looked like a sly older sister bullying her younger sibling.
Outside the tavern, Jiraiya stood by the door, his face buried in his hands.
Should I go in now?
Will she beat me up and take my money too?
Memories came flooding back: mission rewards gambled away, his entire savings once stolen by this infamous "big fat sheep."
Behind him, Hiko and Itachi looked on with faint amusement and growing exasperation. They had black lines over their heads, symbolic of second-hand embarrassment.
Unable to bear it any longer, Hiko raised his foot and kicked Jiraiya through the door.
"Ahh—!"
Jiraiya yelped and stumbled forward into the tavern in a comical sprawl. Hiko clapped his hands once and turned to Itachi.
"Perfect strength. Let's go eat and get some rest. Mission accomplished."
They had found Tsunade, which meant their assignment was complete. Convincing her to return to Konoha was now up to Jiraiya.
Inside the tavern, the sudden crash turned every head, including Tsunade's and Shizune's.
"...Jiraiya?"
Tsunade narrowed her eyes at the familiar sight of the white-haired Sannin clumsily standing up, brushing dust from his clothes.
She already had a hunch why he had shown up here.
"For the sake of the Fire Daimyo's mansion, I bet," she muttered.
"Boss! One more table of food and two bottles of your best sake!" Tsunade called out with a grin.
Though uninterested in Konoha's political affairs, Tsunade wasn't one to let a meal go unpaid—especially when someone from the village was around.
Shizune, meanwhile, was clinging to the now-empty purse, nearly crying in joy. At least today they wouldn't have to sleep on the street.
Still, she sighed. What about tomorrow? And the day after? If Tsunade's mood soured and she refused to work again, they'd be broke all over.
"Ahaha, long time no see, Tsunade," Jiraiya said awkwardly, trying to lighten the mood.
The legendary pervert who had wandered across nations and tricked even elite kunoichi into slipping up was completely helpless in front of one woman: Tsunade.
"Several guests—your food and drinks!" the tavern owner beamed, delivering the first batch to Tsunade's table.
Tsunade opened a bottle without a second thought, skipped the cups entirely, and chugged more than half in one go. She then slammed it down with a satisfied sigh and eyed Jiraiya with amusement.
"Well, well. Didn't expect to see you hanging around with Uchiha brats."
"In order to find you fast, the old man issued a mission," Jiraiya replied honestly. "I brought them along to help."
He began to sit next to Tsunade, but her sharp glare made him bounce back up reflexively. Without hesitation, he shifted toward Shizune instead.
Smart move, Tsunade thought with a nod, returning to her drink.
Shizune quickly gave up her seat with a forced smile. "Please sit here, Jiraiya-sama. I'll move."
It was uncomfortable to sit between those two legends anyway.
Shizune walked to the next table—and immediately sat down beside Hiko and Itachi.
Eh?
Hiko frowned. "Didn't you say you were moving away from the drama?"
Itachi stood up politely. "Hello, I'm Uchiha Itachi."
"Nice to meet you," Shizune responded, smiling. Her eyes drifted to Hiko's collar, where the Uchiha crest was sewn. The custom uniform didn't display it on the back.
Her smile faded a little. Memories surfaced—Obito Uchiha. Her classmate, known as the clownish tail-end of the class, and the Uchiha least like his clan. His fate was a bitter thought.
Then—
Suddenly, a handsome face filled her vision.
"What the—?!"
Hiko leaned forward swiftly, his face nearly touching hers. Their noses were almost touching. Shizune's eyes went wide with shock.
Is he going to kiss me?!
Even Itachi blinked, bewildered. Was the captain… making a move on her?
With a surprised yelp, Shizune fell backward off the bench. Thump! Her fall was audible and probably bruising.
"Ow! What are you doing?! Why'd you lean in like that?!"
Red-faced and flustered, she stood up and glared at Hiko, fists clenched.
Across the tavern, Tsunade blinked.
What the hell?
Is Hiko trying to flirt with Shizune?
Jiraiya's eyebrow twitched, and the gossip writer in him went into overdrive.
"You kept staring at me," Hiko said blandly. "I figured you were tired of looking from afar, so I came closer."
"Huh?! Me? I wasn't staring!" Shizune argued. "I was looking at your collar!"
Tsunade chuckled. "Ohhh~ So that's what this is, huh?"
She sipped her sake again.
"Shizune, if you want to date someone, at least choose someone closer to your age. This kid's much younger."
Then, pausing to squint, she added, "Still, I gotta admit—he's a looker."
"Tsunade-sama!! That's not it at all!!" Shizune cried, flustered.
She buried her face in her hands as Jiraiya laughed awkwardly, and Hiko leaned back with an indifferent shrug.
The situation in the tavern had changed entirely—but at least Tsunade had been found. Now it was up to Jiraiya to bring her back to the Hidden Leaf.