Chapter 20: Farewell to Tsunade (Part Two)

Outside the gates of the Hidden Leaf Village, three figures—two tall, one short—appeared at the distant end of the road. They were Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and Tsunade, returning from a mission.

The three were of the same age as Kato Mikaze, all born in the thirteenth year of the Leaf, now twenty-two years old. Their talents as ninja surpassed Kato Mikaze’s by a slight margin, but most importantly, their lineage of mentorship was far superior. When the three graduated from the ninja academy, their team leader was none other than the Third Hokage of the Hidden Leaf, Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Hiruzen Sarutobi, renowned in the ninja world as the “Professor of Ninjutsu” and the “Doctor of Shinobi,” was unmatched in his ability to teach disciples. Under his guidance, the trio had all been promoted to Jonin last year. Compared to them, Kato Mikaze, though their peer, had lagged behind by a year in his own advancement to Jonin, which had earned him no small share of playful teasing from Jiraiya.

As the three drew closer to the enormous gates of the Hidden Leaf, the young man with white hair at the front of the group glanced up, his eyes falling on a distinctive figure standing nearby, not wearing the standard Leaf vest. That signature pale blue hair shimmered in the sunlight, visible even from afar.

The white-haired youth didn’t need to think twice to know who it was, muttering under his breath, “Just back in the Leaf, haven’t even entered the village yet, and here’s that annoying guy already...”

“Jiraiya, what are you mumbling about up there?” asked the man behind him, his face cold, long black hair framing his sharp features, voice cool and hoarse.

“It’s nothing, really. Just, we’ve only just returned and already I have to see someone I’d rather not,” replied the white-haired youth, not even turning back, a clear impatience in his tone. He quickened his pace, heading toward the gates.

“Oh? Someone you dislike? Could it be...?” The black-haired man watched his companion’s impatient stride, then looked past him to the gates. He too spotted the striking pale blue hair under the sunlight and instantly recognized the figure. His stern face relaxed, an eyebrow arching, the left corner of his mouth curling up in a subtle smile.

Turning to his other companion, he said, “Someone’s come to pick you up, Tsunade. Has your relationship gotten to the point where you need a welcoming committee at the village gates every time you return?” His gaze signaled both the impatient Jiraiya and the distant blue-haired figure by the gate.

The young kunoichi with golden hair tied in a single ponytail and a burgeoning figure heard her companions’ exchange, noticed the familiar silhouette by the gates, and knew precisely what was happening. Ignoring their teasing, she promptly quickened her own pace toward the entrance of the Hidden Leaf.

The impatient white-haired young man was, of course, Jiraiya; the cold, hoarse, black-haired one was Orochimaru; and the beautiful kunoichi with a golden ponytail and an enviable figure was Tsunade, the object of Kato Mikaze’s affections, the Princess of the Leaf.

Soon, the trio stood outside the gates. Jiraiya ignored the two gatekeepers, Tetsu and Shinya, leaving the tedious entry procedures to his companions. He strode straight up to the figure with pale blue hair and said, “Hey, hey... stop staring. If you keep looking, your eyes will pop out. Isn’t this just some Chunin kid? What are you doing here?”

Kato Mikaze, hearing the impatient voice, withdrew his gaze from Tsunade and looked at Jiraiya, replying, “Jiraiya, is your backside itching again? Chunin, you say—I simply haven’t had time for the Jonin test. I’ll be taking it next week. As for why I’m here, obviously to greet Tsunade, not you. What did you think?” His tone carried the warmth of friends reunited after a long absence.

With that, Kato Mikaze gave Jiraiya a friendly punch to the chest, pushing him aside, and walked toward the figure he had longed for. “It’s been a while, Tsunade,” he said, nodding to Orochimaru, who was busy with entry procedures, before turning his attention to Tsunade.

He scrutinized her from head to toe, for they hadn’t seen one another since the beginning of the year—over half a year ago. The look in his eyes was filled with affection; anyone could see how deeply he cared for her.

She didn’t appear injured, though she looked a bit weary, likely from the prolonged mission. Her height hadn’t changed since the start of the year; at twenty-two, she probably wouldn’t grow any taller. She was just half a head shorter than he, perfectly suited... Yet her legs seemed longer, curiously enough, and her chest had grown even more prominent—she truly lived up to her reputation as the most formidable woman in the ninja world. He wondered idly, do women’s chests still grow after their height stops?

“It’s been a while, Mikaze,” Tsunade replied, not questioning why he was here or how he’d managed to meet her just as she returned from her mission.

She looked at the handsome young man before her, dressed in loose casual clothes, hair neatly styled, his gaze fixed on her, radiant and energetic. Her cheeks warmed under the intensity of his affectionate stare, a faint blush spreading.

Clearly, he had come to meet her. She recalled their last meeting at the start of the year, and how soon after, Kato Mikaze had led his team to the eastern border for a six-month deployment. They hadn’t seen each other in over half a year; he had liked her since their academy days.

It would be impossible for Tsunade to claim she felt nothing for Kato Mikaze. He had admired her since their school days—back when, as Jiraiya had once joked, she was still flat as a board. Aside from her pretty face, she hadn’t had the figure she boasted now. Moreover, he was the first boy to confess to her publicly, and he was outstanding: sharp features, a rugged, spirited charm—just her type.

“Kato, you brat, you dare ambush a Jonin... You’re finished, let me tell you—##%%...” Jiraiya’s frustrated voice rang out behind Mikaze.

In truth, thanks to his social skills, Kato Mikaze got along well with Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru. Tsunade hardly needed explanation—he had liked her since his previous life, and in this one he aimed to be the man behind the most formidable woman in the ninja world. Their relationship hovered above friendship, not quite lovers.

Orochimaru was a rational ninja, cool and detached, lately dabbling in snake ninjutsu with a hint of the eccentricity he would later be famous for, but not yet truly warped. He and Mikaze had always gotten along.

Jiraiya, despite claiming Mikaze was someone he disliked, was mostly just habitually opposed to anyone who liked Tsunade. The two were rivals for her affection, but also good friends, partners in mischief since their academy days. Jiraiya himself wouldn’t admit his feelings for Tsunade, but everyone else knew—he was simply jealous that Mikaze dared to pursue her openly.

Thus, Jiraiya and Kato Mikaze were both friends and rivals in affection for Tsunade.

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