Even after witnessing Jiraiya's miserable state, it still dared to act so cocky.
This was truly a heroic level of audacity.
She pulled the cat closer, gave it a thorough pat-down, and finally said with a hint of disappointment, "Still just a kitten, huh? Fine, I'll let it slide for now.
This beating will be settled later."
"Meow?"
Raj was startled.
At first, he felt a flicker of relief, but it quickly turned into dread.
Sometimes, debts left unpaid are more agonizing than settling them.
Like this beating from Tsunade - if it accumulated over months, it would eventually leave him as miserable as Jiraiya lying there.
Settling it now would at least spare him future suffering.
But since Tsunade had already said she'd let it slide, could he really ask her to beat him?
That's not how you play the game, you idiot!
If he went that far, even Jiraiya, lying there feigning unconsciousness, would probably wake up laughing.
After a moment's contemplation, Raj decided it was best to play along.
With such a commotion, there were bound to be onlookers, and he couldn't afford to become the laughingstock.
"Get on my back. We're heading back to camp."
Tsunade clapped her hands, but when she glanced down at the cat's small size, she paused.
This little thing probably can't carry that idiot Jiraiya.
Never mind, I'll just drag him myself.
She grabbed him by the arm.
A doctor's grip was steady and wouldn't cause serious injuries - though minor strains were inevitable.
"Lady Tsunade, should I...?"
"No need. I can handle it myself. Just clear a space to lock him up for a few days. He's immune to punches, but confinement drives him mad," Tsunade said, her tone indifferent.
She and Orochimaru were the only ones who truly understood Jiraiya.
But unlike Orochimaru, who saw Jiraiya as both a friend and a rival, Tsunade's understanding ran deeper.
Jiraiya was dragged back to camp like a dead dog and tossed into a tent under the watchful eyes of everyone present.
His dignity was utterly shattered.
Raj felt embarrassed for Jiraiya.
What impressed him most was how Tsunade had managed to deliver so many powerful punches without drawing blood.
Her control over her strength is insane!
"Yes, yes!"
Minato glanced at the crater in the ground, unable to muster a smile.
He could only offer silent blessings to his teacher while marveling at Lady Tsunade's power.
As expected of the Three Legendary Sannin.
Though they themselves seemed to dislike the title, none of them were weak.
Each one commanded awe in every aspect.
News of Lady Tsunade's return quickly spread throughout the camp.
No, to be precise... throughout all of Konoha!
In the Hokage Office, the Third Hokage listened to the kneeling ninja's detailed account, his expression frozen in shock.
After a long silence, he lit his pipe and sat motionless in his office for a long while.
After a few seconds, curiosity stirred within him.
"What exactly was the book Shizune mentioned?"
"I don't know. She wanted to read it too, but Lady Tsunade only glanced at a few pages before stopping. Then she smashed the shop owner's store with a single punch."
The earlier reports had been brief, omitting these details.
The Third Hokage found the specifics intriguing, but now that he learned even Shizune didn't know the contents, his curiosity deepened further.
'It's just one of Jiraiya's books anyway. I'll have someone buy a copy later...'
At the Northern Front camp, Naoki was the only one who had read Jiraiya's book.
He alone understood why Tsunade had returned.
Though disguised with different settings and embellishments, the female lead was unmistakably modeled after Tsunade.
Tsunade's portrayal was downright scandalous.
No wonder she'd beat anyone who dared to write such things.
As Naoki returned to camp, his mind raced with worry.
He resolved to keep what he'd read to himself.
If Jiraiya and Raj kept quiet, who would ever know he'd seen it?
Perfectly sound logic, he thought.
Yet his face still betrayed his anxiety.
"Don't worry. The book's already published. One more reader won't make a difference."
A voice startled Naoki, making him jump.
He whirled around to see Shibi Aburame standing there, cloaked in his usual robes.
"Can you not scare people like that? And could you at least make some noise when you move?!"
"Rest assured, Lady Tsunade only punishes the ringleaders."
With those words, Shibi vanished as silently as he'd appeared.
Naoki's fright stirred up unpleasant memories.
He'd been utterly outclassed by Black Cat in assassination and combat.
Now, another opponent had emerged who could counter his Invisibility Technique.
'Will this world ever get better? When will the Gekko Clan finally stand tall in the village...?'
He doubted it would ever happen.
But what about Raj?
Raj had been present earlier and seemed to be involved in the novel.
'Could he have been beaten into a pancake by now? That would be wonderful. A blessing!'
But to his disappointment, Raj was currently safe and sound, cradled in Tsunade's arms.
The space was cramped, but it was better than being punched.
Besides, it seemed many people in the tent were contributing Points...
Jealousy, pure jealousy!
But how could others understand his suffering?
'It's lonely at the top!'
Being stuck here felt restrictive.
Raj was a Ninja Cat, not a pet, so he found this position rather unbearable.
"You're Rin, his caretaker?"
"Yes, Lady Tsunade."
Rin, meeting her idol face-to-face, was so overwhelmed she could barely speak coherently.
Tsunade smiled, sizing up the young girl with curiosity.
"Is raising a cat difficult?"
"Well, before I decided to adopt him, I thought it would cost a fortune. But Raj seems to take care of himself, and he even looks after me sometimes. So we're more like friends than... that kind of relationship."
Even if Raj hadn't already become independent and held a slightly higher rank than her, Rin would never view him as a mere master-servant relationship.
To her, even an ordinary Ninja Beast would be a friend.
"You're right," Tsunade said, gently stroking Raj's fur with a warm smile. "This cat... he wouldn't have stayed with you this long otherwise. Since you're friends, would you mind if I borrowed him for a few days? If he agrees, you shouldn't have any objections, right?"
That smile, though terrifying to Raj, was a huge bonus for Rin.
It was the smile of her idol, and it was so sweet...
'I'm in!'
Rin's heart swelled with delight, and she nodded unconsciously.
"Thank you. I won't mistreat him," Tsunade said, expressing her gratitude.
She then tilted the cat's head toward herself, her eyes narrowing and her lips curving into a slight smile.