Most medical ninja lacked combat experience and required protection from others. Therefore, Fumori Masaki also dispatched a ninja squad to accompany them.
Tsunade had no objections to this; she knew that medical ninja who could fight like her were very rare. She just hadn't expected one of them to be an annoying guy.
"Yo, I didn't expect you to be in this medical squad too." Jiraiya, with his youthful white hair, greeted Tsunade.
"I should be the one saying that. Why are you here, you jerk?" Tsunade asked, her expression unfriendly.
"That goes without saying, it's because I'm incredibly strong!" Jiraiya proudly patted his chest. "You probably don't know, but this past year, I've traveled all over, seeing many new and exciting things."
Currently, business activities in Konoha Ninja Village were very frequent. For support and protection, young ninja usually accompanied merchants, solving problems they faced, honing their skills, and then being assigned to appropriate departments based on their abilities.
Jiraiya was not the type of medical or research ninja who could stay in the village without going out. As an action-oriented person, he had participated in many practical activities entrusted by the village, learning a lot and gradually developing his talents, making him a ninja highly valued by the village.
Therefore, Jiraiya joined the team protecting the medical ninja squad. This was one reason, and another was Fumori Masaki's small personal wish. Among readers in his previous life, many regretted the relationship between Tsunade and Jiraiya, and "Fumori Masaki" was one of them. Even though Tsunade had a legitimate lover, Kato Dan, he still felt this way.
The most memorable scene was Jiraiya's last meeting with Tsunade when he went to Amegakure to investigate Pain's secret. Tsunade, who always lost at gambling, uncharacteristically won, but the outcome was not what she wanted. This scene was truly heartbreaking.
The original Sannin no longer existed, and Fumori Masaki hoped that this ill-fated couple could be together. He just didn't know if these two, who lacked the camaraderie of fellow disciples and were more like a bickering couple, could truly end up together. If they were truly fated to meet but not to be, then he couldn't say anything.
Fumori Masaki had even specifically sought out Tsunade's supposed lover, Kato Dan. He was indeed an intelligent young man. At present, there was no cause for him to meet Tsunade. He remembered that their relationship deepened because Tsunade proposed reforms for medical ninja, and Kato Dan was the only one who supported her.
Because of outdated medical practices, Tsunade's younger brother, Nawaki, died due to a delayed rescue. In her grief, Kato Dan, as her sole supporter, naturally entered her heart. Now, considering that the medical ninja reforms had already been implemented, Tsunade and Kato Dan's fated connection had vanished, which was the only strong support Fumori Masaki could give Jiraiya.
"—From now on, it's all up to you, Jiraiya." Fumori Masaki, sitting in his office, thought that the two might have already met, and secretly said in his heart.
At this moment,
Jiraiya showed off to Tsunade, then turned to the slender young man beside him and said, "Orochimaru, this time I might not necessarily lose to you. You haven't neglected your training during your time in the research department, have you?"
Besides Jiraiya, Orochimaru had also joined this team. The original Sannin reuniting in this way was truly a strange twist of fate. Orochimaru joined as a member of the research department. Although the medical and research departments were two separate entities, their work often overlapped due to research, leading to occasional collaborations. Orochimaru joined the research department after being promoted to Chunin, and his opportunities to interact with Tsunade were actually more frequent than Jiraiya's.
Of course, Fumori Masaki didn't need to worry about these two. Orochimaru's personality was too cold, possessing the rationality of a researcher, and he also didn't get along with Tsunade. In Tsunade's mind, he was merely a smart person skilled in researching ninjutsu; beyond that, there were no other superfluous feelings.
"Hmph. Jiraiya, you needn't worry. You can gain experience outside, while I can learn new ninjutsu in the research department. It's hard to say who has the advantage," Orochimaru said with a light chuckle.
"Alright, let's find a time to compete and see who wins," Jiraiya said, somewhat unconvinced.
"Always competing, competing. What a violent guy," Tsunade said, hands on her hips, pouting.
"It seems it's not your place to say that. Your temper isn't much better; it's exactly the same as before." Jiraiya said this, then secretly glanced at Tsunade, coughed, and added, "However, some other things have changed."
Tsunade noticed the direction of Jiraiya's gaze, and her cheek twitched. She lightly clenched her fist, her voice dangerously low: "Hey, what are you looking at?!"
With that, Tsunade threw a punch at Jiraiya. Jiraiya couldn't dodge in time and was hit head-on, but with a "bang," only shattered wood remained. Jiraiya, still shaken, reappeared to the side, beads of cold sweat running down his face as he looked at the fragments. He swallowed and said, "Are you trying to kill me?!"
"Killing you would be too easy. I should throw you into the Anbu's prison for a while. I can report you immediately," Tsunade threatened, pointing at the patrolling Anbu members not far away.
Given the ninja's advantage over ordinary people, Konoha law stipulated that unless facing war or other special circumstances, ninja were not allowed to use their abilities for other purposes in civilian areas, otherwise they would be punished by the Anbu. Therefore, if Jiraiya were to secretly go to the bathhouse as in the original story, he would certainly be arrested by the Anbu, and Tsunade could also use the excuse of harassment to have the Anbu thoroughly investigate Jiraiya.
"Let's skip that part," Jiraiya said, glancing over. The two Anbu members seemed to sense something and looked in their direction. Although he knew they didn't know what was happening, Jiraiya still turned his head back guiltily.
"Alright, alright, you two always argue every time you meet. Aren't you tired?" At this moment, Senju Risa, the leader of this medical ninja squad, walked over and said with a smile.
"Sister Risa," Tsunade called, pointing at Jiraiya, "Who recruited him?"
"It was the Third Hokage's decision. He carefully selected the protectors, all of whom are top-notch young ninja," Senju Risa said with a smile.
"It was Sensei Kazemori," Tsunade said, and her body involuntarily flinched. Since it was her sensei's choice, she couldn't say anything. She was grown up now, not like in the past when she could be willful.
Senju Risa didn't know that Fumori Masaki had plans for matchmaking. She had seen Jiraiya's performance in the Chunin Exams and thought he was a good ninja, so his joining didn't surprise her. She looked at the people already present, let out a soft "hmm," and said, "Sakumo doesn't seem to be here. He's also a member of the protection squad."
"It's probably because his father has been sick recently. It's probably troublesome to take care of him, so he hasn't come immediately," Tsunade said. A few days ago, she had seen Hatake Sakumo accompanying his father to the Konoha Hospital for treatment and had asked about it at the time.
"Is that so? What illness does his father have? Is it serious?" Senju Risa pressed.
"It's not a major illness, but he needs good recuperation," Tsunade recalled, saying, "His father is also getting old and has some minor ailments. Because of his past experiences in the capital, he's been depressed, which has also affected his physical and mental health, so his condition is a bit troublesome."
"Perhaps I should go and see him sometime. I heard Sakumo only has this one relative," Senju Risa nodded. At this moment, she saw someone waving at her, so she said, "I'll go check on the other preparations first. You all continue talking."
With that, Senju Risa left. After this interruption, the atmosphere among the three improved somewhat. Jiraiya was no longer as boisterous as before and began to inquire about the situation in the Land of Rain. Tsunade, based on the information collected by the Medical Department, explained the special environment of the Land of Rain to Jiraiya and Orochimaru.
After a while, Hatake Sakumo arrived. After apologizing to Sarutobi Konosuke, the leader of the protection squad, he joined Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru, participating in their discussion. As a member of the protection squad, he naturally needed to understand the situation in the Land of Rain.
Once everyone had arrived, Senju Risa and Sarutobi Konosuke reconfirmed everyone's presence, then announced their departure. The group then set off from Konoha Ninja Village, heading in the direction of Amegakure.