Tsunade, with a hint of curiosity, decided to personally guide Jiraiya around the familiar yet ever-changing landscape of Konoha.
The village held countless memories for her, and she found herself eager to share them with the boy who had so abruptly interested her.
As they strolled through the bustling streets, Jiraiya's inquisitive nature bubbled to the surface.
Her gaze fell upon Jiraiya's striking silverish white hair, a stark contrast to the fiery red locks that he associated with the Uzumaki clan.
"Hey,"
She piped up, her voice genuine curiosity,
"Are you really an Uzumaki? Why is your hair white instead of red like my grandma's?"
Jiraiya rolled his eyes
"You also have Uzumaki blood in you,"
"Why are you blonde then?"
Tsunade couldn't deny that Jiraiya's presence had stirred something within her.
He was unlike any other boy she had encountered within the village walls.
Most children, both boys and girls, kept a respectful distance, their awe and fear of the Hokage's granddaughter evident in their eyes.
Tsunade had friends, of course, but none possessed the same boldness, the same spirit as Jiraiya.
Tsunade's laughter filled the air, light and carefree.
"You're funny,"
She declared, tilting her head with a curious glint in her eyes.
"How old are you? I'm ten!"
The question wasn't merely idle; it held a hidden agenda. Tsunade was determined to ascertain whether she was older than this Jiraiya or not.
If she were older, she'd permit him the privilege of calling her "Onee-sama," a term of respect and endearment reserved for elder sisters.
Jiraiya's response was swift, a sly smirk playing on his lips.
"Call me Onii-chan!"
He proclaimed, his voice brimming with confidence.
"I'm eleven!"
The lie slipped off his tongue effortlessly. In truth, Jiraiya was only ten, the same age as Tsunade, but she had no way of knowing that.
Deception came naturally to him, a skill he wielded with ease.
Tsunade's reaction was immediate, her defiance evident.
"Never!"
She retorted, her chin held high. The thought of calling this boy, "Onii-chan" was unthinkable.
Jiraiya laughed and said that it was just a joke.
Tsunade didn't develop her fast fist now. So he was spared from her fiery temper.
The two continued their stroll through the village, the rhythmic crunch of gravel underfoot and the gentle rustle of leaves overhead providing a soothing backdrop to their conversation.
Their peaceful walk was abruptly interrupted by a chorus of voices shouting a familiar name - Tsunade's. The once serene atmosphere was shattered.
Tsunade clicked her tongue in annoyance, muttering.
"Tsk, those damn bastards again."
The source of the commotion was a group of kids from the Uchiha clan, their youthful faces contorted in expressions of challenge and rivalry.
The Senju and Uchiha clans, two of the most powerful and influential clans in the ninja world, had been locked in a bitter and seemingly endless feud since the war era.
Encounters between children from the two clans were rarely, if ever, peaceful. The weight of their families' history bore down heavily on their young shoulders, and even the most trivial of disagreements could quickly escalate into petty squabbles and brawls.
The rivalry was particularly intense between the heirs of the two clans, who were destined to inherit not only their families' vast fortunes and political influence but also the heavy burden of their ancestors' hatred.
Their every meeting was like a spark igniting a powder keg, a volatile mix of pride, resentment, and simmering tension that threatened to explode at any moment.
Today, the heir to the Uchiha clan had made his presence known. It was Uchiha Kengo, a boy a few years older than Tsunade, with a glint in his eyes.
He always seemed to find a way to cross paths with Tsunade, and whenever he did, he couldn't resist the urge to taunt, and provoke her.
"So you are here, Blondie."
Jiraiya, who observed the situation, couldn't help but notice something was off.
Despite his brash and arrogant demeanor, Jiraiya sensed that Kengo's intentions weren't entirely malicious.
He suspected that the boy harbored a secret crush on Tsunade but didn't know how to express his feelings in a way that wouldn't be met with scorn or rejection.
Perhaps it was the weight of the clan rivalry that held him back, or maybe he simply lacked the confidence to make his true feelings known.
Tsunade's voice was laced with barely-contained fury, her fists clenched tight.
"What do you want from me again, you bastard?"
Even though she was ten years old, the personal tutelage of her grandfather had honed her skills to a remarkable degree.
Her strength was already enough to make even low-level Chunin wary.
Kengo, the source of her ire, ignored her outburst, his gaze shifting instead to Jiraiya, who stood beside her.
With a sneer twisting his lips, Kengo spat,
"To think that you would lower yourself to be friends with a nobody."
Jiraiya blinked, taken aback by the unexpected insult. Then, comprehension dawned, and a wry smile touched his lips. 'Jealousy, huh,' he thought to himself, recognizing the root of Kengo's animosity.
It was clear that Kengo's pride was wounded by Jiraiya's sudden apparent closeness with Tsunade, whom he had a crush on.
Jiraiya, though amused by the situation, was prepared to defend himself if necessary.
Kengo, fueled by his jealousy, seemed oblivious to the potential consequences of his actions.
...
Craze: 1/6 if you like my fic please review and give me power stones.