Chapter 193: The Gathering
The midday meal was held in the courtyard of Naruto's new home.
Seeing Hashirama personally bringing out the dishes, Hiashi Hyuga and Inoichi Yamanaka, who were already seated at the table, stood up almost immediately, their faces full of respect.
"Shodai-sama, how can we let you do this!"
Hiashi quickly took a step forward, reaching out to take the plate.
"Yes, yes, let us help. Please, take a seat!"
Inoichi also quickly chimed in, his expression nervous.
"Hahahaha!"
Hashirama let out a hearty laugh.
Instead of handing the plate to Hiashi, he took two quick steps to place it on the table first. Once his hands were free, he firmly pressed a hand onto Hiashi's shoulder. The force wasn't great, but it carried an unquestionable, gentle power.
"Sit, everyone sit!"
Hashirama said with a chuckle.
"It's a rare happy occasion for everyone to gather for a meal, so let's skip the formalities. I'm just an idle man now."
As he spoke, he turned back toward the house and shouted, "Tobirama, come help! Your sister-in-law is still stir-frying over there, I can't carry everything alone."
With Hashirama's hand on his shoulder, Hiashi's body was a bit stiff, but he still tried to protest: "Shodai-sama, please let us..."
"Yes, Shodai-sama, let us do it!"
Inoichi also spoke earnestly again, signaling to Hiashi with his eyes.
Just then, a cool voice came from the doorway:
"Brother, stop making things difficult for them."
Tobirama Senju was leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed, his red eyes glancing indifferently at the flustered Hiashi and Inoichi.
He had clearly heard Hashirama's shout, but he seemed to have little interest in the work of "bringing out dishes."
Tobirama's tone was flat.
"Since the juniors are being so proactive, let them help. You should settle down too; don't scare the juniors."
There were five tables set up in the courtyard.
Two tables for the children, two for the adults, and one for the elders.
Simba and Akamaru were eating inside the house.
The Konoha 12, Karin, Hanabi, the Kazekage's three children, and the Konohamaru Corps sat at the children's tables.
After the Chunin Exams, Koyuki Kazahana had already left.
Therefore, she did not attend this gathering.
One table for the boys, one for the girls.
Because Shukaku had settled down, Gaara had been getting plenty of sleep, and his eyes were much clearer.
Asuma, Kurenai, the three members of Genma's team, Tenzō (who was brought by the Second), Ebisu, Kakashi, Guy, Kushina, the current Ino–Shika–Chō, Hiashi, Shibi Aburame, and their partners were also split into a men's table and a women's table.
Kushina was pulling Karin aside to ask about the marriage arrangements with Kakashi, looking like she wanted to help Kakashi get organized.
The remaining table consisted of the Sandaime, who had aged significantly, Mito, Jiraiya, Orochimaru (whose Chakra was sealed), and Utatane Koharu and Homura Mitokado, who didn't dare look at their teacher.
Why were they so hesitant to see their teacher?
Because they had a guilty conscience!
Hashirama Senju sat at the head of the table. He looked around at everyone present, then glanced at the empty seats specially reserved at the table, a look of curiosity appearing on his face.
"Is there anyone else who hasn't arrived?"
Hashirama asked heartily, his gaze sweeping over everyone. "The group isn't complete yet, right? Who are these seats for?"
Everyone's eyes instinctively turned to the empty seats, and then they exchanged glances with one another.
The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, whose face was deeply wrinkled and whose complexion was poor—looking as if he had aged another ten years all at once—pondered for a moment and guessed in a slightly raspy voice:
"It should be... Danzo, right?"
His tone was uncertain, but logically, since Utatane Koharu and Homura Mitokado—who were also Hidden Leaf Village Advisors and had never had much interaction with Naruto—had come, then Shimura Danzo, who was also a high-ranking official with an even more unique status, seemed to have no reason to be absent.
A trace of bitter self-mockery welled up in Hiruzen's heart: This Old Man really is getting old; his eyesight is failing, and he's being played like a fiddle by this kid Naruto.
The possibility of Danzo being invited seemed slim, but besides him, who else of sufficient weight would sit in these empty seats?
Hearing the name "Danzo," Jiraiya, sitting across from Hiruzen, and Orochimaru, whose Chakra was sealed beside him, lifted their eyelids almost simultaneously and glanced at each other.
Their eyes met briefly in the air, both reading the other's meaning.
It couldn't be Danzo.
Danzo was already dead. In order to give Orochimaru a legitimate reason to appear, all the blame had been pinned on him.
Jiraiya shook his head, directly refuting the Sandaime's guess. He looked at Orochimaru, his tone carrying a sense of shared understanding: "I think... it might be Tsunade. What about you, Orochimaru?"
Orochimaru's golden slitted pupils shifted slightly as he licked his lips, his voice raspy as he agreed: "I also think... it might be Tsunade."
For the two of them, fellow members of the "Sannin" who knew each other and Tsunade perfectly, this guess was clearly more logical.
The composition of the people Naruto invited to this gathering was complex: there were legendary predecessors, current core high-levels and elites, close companions, and "family members."
Thus, as Hidden Leaf Village's top Medical Ninja, one of the "Sannin" with legendary status, and someone who theoretically had no direct conflict with Naruto, Tsunade should naturally be among those invited.
Furthermore, the fact that Tsunade was not in Hidden Leaf Village right now was the key.
"Where could Tsunade have gone?"
Jiraiya rubbed his chin and began to analyze, his tone carrying a hint of helplessness and realization. "For her, besides drinking, it's gambling."
Orochimaru nodded and added, his voice carrying a trace of amusement at his old friend's habits: "And with her 'luck' and 'reputation'... it's hard not to attract attention in a casino."
Indeed, with Tsunade's illustrious title as the "Legendary Sucker," as long as she appeared in any place with a casino, she would almost instantly become a "celebrity."
Inquiring about where the "Legendary Sucker" had been spotted recently, how much she had lost, and who she owed money to... such intelligence might just be idle gossip for ordinary people, but for Orochimaru with his vast intelligence network and Jiraiya with his extensive connections and skill at gathering information, pinpointing Tsunade's general whereabouts was as easy as turning over a hand.
Jiraiya traveled abroad all year round, and gathering intelligence was his forte; he had channels for news from casinos and taverns all over the Ninja World.
Generally, if Jiraiya encountered one of Tsunade's creditors, he would conveniently pay off the debt for her.
After all these years, even Jiraiya couldn't remember how much money he had helped Tsunade pay back.
Orochimaru was even more so; he had operated Otogakure for many years and had his own spies and intelligence sources in the underground world, among rogue ninjas, and in black market networks. Tracking a Tsunade who didn't act particularly discreetly was not a difficult task.
However, how was Naruto supposed to find Tsunade?
And could he really bring Tsunade back so quickly?
The Sandaime and the others were all wrong.
The last one to enter was neither Tsunade nor Danzo, but Maruboshi Kosuke.
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