Chapter 232: , the bright warmth on the surface

"You three, there's no need to rush."

"The war hasn't broken out yet, you have plenty of time to prepare."

Sarutobi Hiruzen said unhurriedly, his demeanor extremely kind, just like a kind old grandfather doting on his grandson on the street.

The war he spoke of was naturally the prediction of the war that would break out between the Rain ninjas and the Hidden Leaf.

To this, the three of them were noncommittal.

"Got it, old man."

Tsunade nodded first, then said no more.

Orochimaru glanced at Tsunade sideways; the keen intuition of a snake-like creature told Orochimaru that Tsunade seemed to have changed a bit.

On the other side, the slow-witted Jiraiya did not notice any change in Tsunade and was chatting respectfully with Sarutobi Hiruzen.

"By the way, Tsunade."

"What do you think of that kid, Kato?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen suddenly turned his eyes and said to Tsunade with a smile.

Hearing this, Tsunade frowned directly.

As early as several months ago, both within the Senju clan and Sarutobi Hiruzen had begun to urge Tsunade's marriage for different reasons.

And the object arranged by both the Senju clan and the Hidden Leaf was Kato Dan.

To this, Tsunade was naturally annoyed beyond measure.

Plus, at this moment, Tsunade's body and mind had already been given to Mizunuki Ryosuke, so she was naturally even more disgusted by this.

What's more, this trip to the Land of Iron had completely exhausted the few good feelings Kato Dan had in Tsunade's heart.

But facing the dual pressure from the Senju and Sarutobi Hiruzen, Tsunade couldn't refuse directly, so she could only use a "delaying" tactic for now.

"Let's wait until this war is over to talk about this."

Tsunade shook her head gently, refusing noncommittally.

Seeing this, Sarutobi Hiruzen remained kind on the surface, but his eyes showed a subtle change; with his keen eyes, he could naturally see easily that Tsunade seemed very repulsed by this.

"Alright."

"By the way, didn't Kato support the concept of squad medical ninjas you proposed at the Jonin meeting?"

"You two should have plenty of common topics."

Sarutobi Hiruzen still said with a smile, looking just like a patriarch who always urges marriage during festivals.

Hearing Sarutobi Hiruzen's words, Tsunade didn't know how to refute for a moment; in fact, this was also the reason why Tsunade had agreed to let Kato Dan accompany her to the Land of Iron earlier.

Still the same saying, one must bear the weight of the crown; the title of Princess of the Senju clan meant Tsunade could not refuse so willfully.

What's more, other high-ranking officials of the Hidden Leaf were present, so Tsunade couldn't easily give others a handle.

"Oh my!"

"Old man, you're really biased!"

"When did the village start assigning partners? You can't forget me for such a good thing!"

"When will you introduce a beautiful young lady from a good family to me? You have to be fair!"

Just then, Jiraiya suddenly interjected, his rough face full of lecherous expressions.

Seeing this situation, a "(chcc)" appeared on Sarutobi Hiruzen's forehead.

"Bang!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen mercilessly raised the staff in his hand and knocked Jiraiya on the head.

Instantly, Jiraiya hugged his head and squatted on the ground, a bump of at least three centimeters rising on his head.

"If you're not going to introduce one, then don't..."

"Why are you being so fierce?"

Jiraiya squatted on the ground, looking at Sarutobi Hiruzen with resentful eyes.

"Idiot!"

On the other side, Orochimaru looked at Jiraiya with disdainful eyes and cursed without any cover.

Only his gaze shifted inadvertently between Jiraiya and Tsunade, as if he had seen something.

After cursing, Orochimaru stopped looking at Jiraiya on the ground and closed his pair of snake pupils.

In these cold vertical pupils, a trace of imperceptible pity flashed at the last moment.

"Hahahaha!!!!"

Seeing this harmonious scene of a kind master and filial disciple, Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu burst into laughter.

What the two didn't notice was that in the eyes of the four master and disciples, there were completely different scenes.

Although Sarutobi Hiruzen's face was kind and gentle, what flashed in his eyes was profundity and coldness.

On Jiraiya's funny and cheerful face, his eyes were full of sadness and melancholy.

Although Tsunade's expression remained noble and cold, she felt relieved in her heart.

And finally, although Orochimaru had his eyes closed, he seemed to know everything.

After a while, Sarutobi Hiruzen's three disciples left the Hokage's office together.

The Sannin stood in front of the Hokage building and looked at each other; this was their first meeting since they had separated, and they hadn't seen each other for a long time.

For some reason, this time there seemed to be an invisible barrier between the three old teammates.

"I have things to do."

Orochimaru didn't say much, just turned and left without any hesitation.

After Orochimaru left, Tsunade turned to look at Jiraiya, who had returned from his studies at Mount Myoboku and had undergone earth-shaking changes, and revealed a warm smile.

"You guy, thanks for just now."

Tsunade thanked him straightforwardly; she could naturally see just now that Jiraiya's funny act was to help her out of a tight spot.

"Haha, it's nothing..."

Jiraiya blushed, touched the back of his head, and shook his head nonchalantly.

"Not bad lately, Jiraiya."

"Looks like you've been training very hard."

Tsunade smiled and praised her old teammate, her emerald eyes full of sincerity.

"That, I..."

Hearing this, looking at Tsunade who was close at hand, a hint of excitement flashed in Jiraiya's heart, and a long-suppressed emotion surged to his throat, as if he could no longer endure it.

Now, Jiraiya wanted to tell Tsunade loudly that the reason he was training desperately at Mount Myoboku was for her.

It was so that a worthless dead-last could be worthy of the brilliant golden princess.

"Of course, you are my most trusted teammate."

But before Jiraiya could say the words he had suppressed for so long, Tsunade suddenly said to Jiraiya with a light smile.

Her emerald eyes were full of trust and encouragement, but there was not a hint of emotion beyond friendship.

Hearing Tsunade's words, the strength in Jiraiya's whole body relaxed; the courage he had finally mustered was like a punctured balloon, instantly dissipating completely.

"Yeah, yeah..."

"We are the best teammates..."

Jiraiya forced a smile.

"Uh-huh!"

"Then, I'll go back and prepare first, Jiraiya."

Tsunade smiled and waved at Jiraiya, then turned her back to Jiraiya and walked in a completely different direction.

And what Jiraiya didn't know was that the moment Tsunade turned around, a hint of profundity and apology flashed in her eyes.

While walking forward, Tsunade reached her hand to her neck and gently stroked the hexagonal snowflake pendant on her chest.

"Ryosuke..."

She whispered the name of her beloved, and suddenly felt her heart filled to the brim, no longer able to hold anyone else.

In front of the window of the Hokage's office, Sarutobi Hiruzen watched the Sannin leaving in three directions, his eyes full of coldness and profundity, like a still well.

How could he not know that Jiraiya's act just now was to help Tsunade out of a tight spot?

With his keen eyes, how could he not see through Jiraiya's feelings for Tsunade?

But still the same saying, so what?

On the road to power, everything that forms an obstacle to power must be abandoned.

Let alone just the feelings of Jiraiya and Tsunade; for the power in his own hands, even Sarutobi Hiruzen's own son could be abandoned.

The matter between Kato Dan and Tsunade was the result of layers of games between the Hidden Leaf's high-level officials and the Senju.

The Senju clan needed to absorb fresh blood to expand the clan's population.

And the Kato clan's special Yin Release bloodline formed a perfect combination with the Senju clan's Yang Release bloodline.

At present, the Senju clan's population is withering, and this is a necessary move that must be taken.

It is also a necessary condition for the Senju to continue to support Sarutobi Hiruzen's succession to the Hokage position.