Naruto and his group swiftly returned to the hotel, moving as if they'd never set foot in the casino at all.
Tsunade would probably need to beat Jiraiya for quite a while longer. She wouldn't return to the hotel for at least another hour or two.
More importantly, Tsunade's money hadn't run out yet.
Perhaps Tsunade would beat Jiraiya so thoroughly he couldn't walk, then simply abandon him there and return to the casino to lose the rest of her funds. Tsunade was absolutely capable of such behavior.
As soon as everyone arrived back at the hotel, they prepared to return to their individual rooms. When Tsunade and Jiraiya eventually came back, they could assess the situation between the two.
Sasuke was about to enter his room to resume training when Sakura stopped him.
He stood at his doorway, turned his head, and looked at her. "What is it?"
Sakura approached him with visible shyness. "Sasuke, do you think I'm different today?"
Looking at the slightly nervous Sakura, Sasuke thought to himself, What's wrong with her today? She seems anxious. Maybe she ate something bad.
What's different? Sasuke's gaze traveled up, down, left, and right across Sakura's appearance.
Following Sasuke's inspection, Sakura watched him with hopeful anticipation.
After his examination, Sasuke shook his head. "You're the same as before. There's no difference."
"Huh?" Sakura's disappointment was immediate and visible. Then her thoughts shifted. Maybe I'm too far away from Sasuke. Maybe his nose is stuffy and he can't smell the new perfume at all. Thinking this, Sakura took several steps closer to Sasuke.
Sasuke's heart skipped a beat. He looked at Sakura warily and subconsciously took a step backward.
Are you serious about stepping back? That single small movement cut deeply. Sakura felt a sharp slash across her heart. But she quickly adjusted her mentality and resumed her hopeful expression. "Sasuke, now can you tell the difference?"
What the hell is going on? Sasuke firmly believed Sakura had gone insane. Originally, he'd still considered trying to date her—all for the revival of the Uchiha clan, naturally. But this kind of crazy Sakura was too frightening. He immediately extinguished that idea.
However, Sasuke's nose twitched. He did smell something different emanating from Sakura's body.
His brow furrowed. "Did you change your perfume?"
Hearing Sasuke's answer, Sakura's heart immediately soared with joy. Sure enough! What Naruto said was right! Sasuke has me in his heart! This overwhelming joyful emotion buried itself deep in Sakura's chest. She couldn't get carried away and reveal too much.
"Yes." Sakura twisted her body slightly and nodded with renewed shyness.
However, Sasuke didn't register Sakura's shy demeanor. His mind was working through today's events. Naruto suggested everyone give Jiraiya an encouraging hug...
Suddenly, Sasuke detected the distinct scent of conspiracy emanating from these clues.
It was a conspiracy orchestrated by Naruto. Thinking this, Sasuke looked at Sakura with renewed suspicion. "Sakura, I remember you bought that perfume a few days ago when we went shopping, right? Why didn't you use it when you bought it? Why use it specifically today?"
"Naruto told me today that I should use things when I buy them." Sakura replied without thinking.
After answering, she noticed Sasuke staring at her with an odd expression.
"What? Is there a problem?" Sakura looked at Sasuke with confusion.
"What do you think?" Sasuke glanced at her meaningfully before speaking. "You've become Naruto's tool."
"Tool?" Sakura's brow furrowed. Soon, sudden realization dawned across her features. "So that's how it is! Naruto, that guy! I'm so angry! I wondered why he suddenly asked me to use new perfume. It turns out he was using me to trick Jiraiya-senpai!"
Sakura's intelligence wasn't low. With Sasuke's reminder, she figured everything out instantly.
"What's the use of being angry? Are you actually going to confront Naruto about it?" Sasuke poured cold water directly on her enthusiasm. He continued his analysis. "Don't forget—what is Naruto's future plan? He wants Tsunade to return to Konoha to succeed him or temporarily serve as Hokage. That way, he can travel to other ninja villages and make friends everywhere."
"Right now, Tsunade is unwilling to return to Konoha. This runs counter to Naruto's objectives. Of course Naruto will try his best to make Tsunade return to Konoha willingly."
"It's true that he wants to match Jiraiya with Tsunade. It's also true that he wants Tsunade to return to Konoha." Sasuke's analysis was clinical and precise.
After listening to Sasuke's explanation, Sakura's eyes lit up immediately. She looked at Sasuke with open adoration. "Wow! Sasuke is so amazing! You saw through Naruto's entire plan at once!"
Sasuke felt secretly proud of the admiration Sakura displayed. Haha, not everyone worships Naruto after all. But his face still maintained the cold, aloof expression from before. "This kind of thing becomes obvious once you think about it. It's not a big deal."
"Sasuke is so humble." Sakura's smile widened with genuine warmth.
"Alright, that's enough for now. Let's not get involved in Naruto's schemes." After Sasuke finished speaking, he plunged into his room and closed the door with finality. He immediately resumed training.
"Hey..." Seeing that Sasuke had no interest in chatting with her further, Sakura deflated immediately.
"However, just as Naruto said, this test proved that Sasuke still has me in his heart." Thinking this, Sakura's frustration dissipated completely. She laughed with genuine happiness.
Everyone else was training. As for Kakashi... well... everyone understood what he was doing, so there was no need to elaborate.
Tsunade finally lost every last bit of her money. The ten thousand ryō Naruto had given her today was completely gone after two hours of gambling. No—actually, half an hour should be excluded for beating Jiraiya...
After losing all her money and with the casino owner refusing to lend her more, Tsunade had no choice but to return to the hotel. Now she felt hungry.
"Hey, Tsunade! Take me with you!" Jiraiya lay sprawled at the casino entrance, footprints covering his entire body. Seeing Tsunade about to leave, he immediately shouted after her.
Tsunade's strikes had been too heavy. Without someone to support him, returning to the hotel by himself would be absolutely impossible.
Hearing Jiraiya's call, Tsunade paused. She'd almost forgotten about him. Tsunade looked at Jiraiya lying on the ground. She cursed internally, You deserve it for getting involved with other women. But she'd beaten Jiraiya into this condition, and he was Naruto's sensei after all. What if Naruto got angry?
Tsunade looked at Jiraiya, resting her chin on both hands. She felt genuinely troubled for a moment. After all, Naruto was now her biggest benefactor. Without Naruto's financial support, how would she have money to visit casinos and gamble stylishly?
"Hmph! It's all your fault for messing around with other women!" The frustrated Tsunade could only vent her anger at Jiraiya lying on the ground.
"I didn't! Tsunade, I really didn't go to any brothel!" Jiraiya's desperation was complete. He'd explained repeatedly to Tsunade, but she simply wouldn't listen. Women! Why can't they be reasonable?
"Why should I believe you?" Tsunade asked with icy coldness.
Jiraiya suddenly became angry. He finally realized a fundamental truth: Don't try to explain you're not wrong when a woman thinks you are. Even if you really aren't wrong, your explanations will make you wrong.
After thinking for a while, Tsunade took Jiraiya's hand. She muttered internally, Forget it. Take one step, see how it goes. Even if I don't beat him for visiting brothels, Naruto will beat him anyway. If I calculate it this way, I've actually helped Naruto and saved him from having to fight. Maybe Naruto will lend me more money for this.
Jiraiya looked at Tsunade's slightly furrowed brow—sometimes soothing, sometimes troubled. Suddenly thinking of something, he said, "Tsunade, I know what you're worried about. You're afraid Naruto will be angry because you beat me. Don't worry. I won't tell Naruto that you caused these injuries. I'll tell him I fell down."
"Fell down?" Regarding Jiraiya's terrible excuse, Tsunade snorted. "Do you think Naruto will believe that? Do you think Naruto is a fool, or do you think you're a fool? I do things and take responsibility for my actions. I've never been afraid."
Being blocked so thoroughly by Tsunade, Jiraiya found himself speechless. He lowered his head in defeat. Then his eyes lit up immediately. Even lowering my head, there's beautiful scenery here. So big...
Tsunade spoke those words from her heart, but she still genuinely cared about maintaining good relations with her financial benefactor. So Tsunade, absorbed in her thoughts, didn't notice Jiraiya's lecherous behavior.
After observing the magnificent scenery along the entire journey—and most importantly, watching how the two peaks vibrated violently with each step—Jiraiya didn't even realize his nose had started bleeding.
Tsunade noticed the nosebleed but assumed she'd injured him internally. She didn't think about anything else.
Right in front of the hotel, Jiraiya reluctantly withdrew his eyes from the graceful landscape. "Tsunade, don't disturb Naruto and the others. Let me go back to my room quietly."
Jiraiya remembered how before setting off, he'd been full of energy and confidence, radiating an aura that suggested easily conquering Tsunade. But now he was beaten into a complete mess and needed support just to walk.
This polar contrast made Jiraiya feel tremendously ashamed. He didn't want Naruto, Sasuke, Kakashi, and the others to see his embarrassed appearance.
However, before Tsunade could respond to Jiraiya's plea, he saw Naruto, Sasuke, Kakashi, Sakura, and Shizune—all five people standing at the hotel entrance, looking directly at him.
The moment Tsunade and Jiraiya arrived at the hotel, Naruto's Ki and Blood sensing had detected them. Mainly, he'd sensed Tsunade. Her Ki and Blood signature was as obvious as carrying a pair of red lanterns.
Naruto, who'd just emerged from the hotel, glanced subconsciously at Tsunade's considerable assets. But he wasn't envious—Sister Terumi Mei was certainly not inferior to Tsunade in that department.
Sasuke also glanced subconsciously. Kakashi was no exception. Men.
Sakura, who'd been staring at Sasuke continuously, caught all three reactions. She looked enviously at her newly recognized master Tsunade, then looked down at her own flat chest. She suddenly felt deeply inferior. Instantly, she made up her mind. I need to learn from Tsunade-sensei how to become bigger.
The sudden appearance of Naruto and the others made Jiraiya feel utterly ashamed.
"Jiraiya-sensei! What happened to you?" Naruto immediately stepped forward. He took Jiraiya from Tsunade's support and spoke with seemingly genuine concern, as if he knew absolutely nothing about recent events.
Regarding Naruto's concern, Jiraiya gave him a pointed look. He was one hundred percent certain that Naruto, the instigator, knew exactly how things would end up.
"Naruto..." Tsunade thought she should tell the truth.
As soon as she opened her mouth, Naruto interrupted. "Sister Tsunade, don't say anything yet. Let Jiraiya-sensei go back to his room and lie down. Then I'll trouble you for treatment. Originally, I planned that since Sister Tsunade doesn't intend to return to Konoha, and Jiraiya-sensei is recovered, we'd go back to Konoha today. But with Jiraiya-sensei's current appearance, it looks like we'll have to trouble Sister Tsunade for a few more days."
"It's no trouble at all..." Tsunade spoke with visible awkwardness.
This conversation fell into Sakura's ears. She immediately recognized a serious problem. When Naruto and the others returned to Konoha, Sasuke would follow. And she'd just become Tsunade-sensei's student—didn't that mean she'd have to separate from Sasuke? This can't happen! If I'm not by Sasuke's side, Ino might succeed in stealing him away.
I'll need to discuss this issue with Naruto later. Sakura thought with determination.
After helping Jiraiya into his room, Kakashi, Sasuke, and the others retreated, leaving only Tsunade with Naruto. While Naruto was still supporting him, Jiraiya immediately whispered, "Naruto, you scheming bastard! I should have known! Why would you suddenly suggest hugs and encouragement for no reason? It turns out you were plotting against me all along..."
Jiraiya's words overflowed with complaints.
Naruto smiled. Seeing that Tsunade wasn't paying attention to their conversation, he spoke in a low voice. "Jiraiya-sensei, I did this for you. Think about it—if we go back now and Tsunade doesn't return with us, even if you confessed successfully, what's the use? Only by bringing Tsunade back to Konoha will your time together become longer and longer. Otherwise, she'll gamble around everywhere. Do you think you'll be able to find her?"
Hearing Naruto's flawless logic, Jiraiya couldn't find any grounds for refutation. After hesitating a moment, he asked, "Are you really doing this for me?"
"Of course." After finishing, Naruto didn't wait for Jiraiya to speak further. He stood up, walked over to Tsunade, and said, "Sister Tsunade, I'm sorry to trouble you. When you've cured Jiraiya-sensei again, we'll return to Konoha. After all, it's not good for me, as Hokage, to be away from Konoha for too long."
Tsunade nodded. Finally, she said, "Naruto, actually, the wounds on Jiraiya's body—I caused them."
"What?" Naruto showed immediate surprise. He asked with apparent confusion, "Can you tell me why?"
"Hmph! Didn't he mess around with other women again? Naruto, don't you think he deserved to be beaten?" Tsunade spoke with righteous anger.
Regarding Tsunade's explanation, Naruto looked back at Jiraiya, who was half-lying on the bed. After receiving Jiraiya's deeply resentful gaze, Naruto coughed lightly. He turned back to Tsunade. "Sister Tsunade did well. Even if you hadn't beaten him, I would have. Disrespectful old men need to be corrected. You did the right thing."
Forget it, Naruto. I can't afford to mess with you anymore. Jiraiya felt that life had suddenly become very bleak.
"Alright, but Jiraiya-sensei's injuries still need treatment. I'll trouble Sister Tsunade first. I'll go out and have the hotel prepare food. After Sister Tsunade finishes her work, she can eat." After speaking, Naruto exited Jiraiya's room.
As soon as he emerged, Naruto glanced at the closed door. His thoughts whispered internally, Sister Tsunade, don't blame me for deploying the final move.