Tsunade and Shizune were sitting on one side of the booth, with Jingyi seated opposite them. Two bottles of sake rested on the table between them.
"Brat, teenagers shouldn't drink. You should focus on training instead," Tsunade said, pulling one of the bottles toward her.
Jingyi was speechless.
If she wanted another bottle, she could've just said so. It's not like he was being stingy he could afford it.
"Lady Tsunade, he is...?" Shizune asked curiously.
"Oh, I forgot to mention. This is Jingyi. The old man Hiruzen mentioned him in a letter a few days ago. Barely a distant relative."
Tsunade's tone softened a little after taking a sip of sake. The kid was annoying when he got serious, but he was generous and respectful something she appreciated.
"So the Hokage sent the letter… No wonder I was assigned to lead this mission," Jingyi said.
"Lead the team?"
Tsunade blinked, giving him a once-over. "You're a Jonin?"
"Yes, I was promoted recently," Jingyi replied with a nod.
Tsunade's eyes lingered on him for a few moments. Then her expression darkened slightly, and she downed another cup of sake. Shizune glanced at her with concern.
Definitely family.
But...
Jingyi's demeanor reminded her more of her great-uncle, the Second Hokage, than her grandfather, the First.
Tsunade finished the bottle, opened the second one, and poured herself another drink. Her tone turned more serious.
"Let me guess. The old man sent you to drag me back to the village?"
"No. I didn't even know I'd run into you."
In truth, Jingyi had considered finding Tsunade mostly to learn from her and possibly get some medical ninjutsu training but he hadn't planned to act on it yet. That was his own idea; the Third Hokage wouldn't have known.
Tsunade narrowed her eyes. "So it's a coincidence? Hmph. I get it now."
She sneered slightly and poured him a drink.
"Sorry, I don't drink."
Even though most ninja alcohol was light, Jingyi had never developed a taste for it ,not in his previous life, and certainly not now.
Tsunade blinked in surprise, then shrugged and poured the drink for herself.
After a long sip bang!
The bottle shattered on the table, wine dripping through the cracks.
Shizune flinched.
In three years, she had never seen Tsunade drink in such a foul mood.
What had gotten into her?
"Enough. I've lost the mood. Let's go," Tsunade muttered, grabbing her green jacket and stepping away from the table.
Jingyi rose and followed her silently.
As they walked across the street, Tsunade paused near a work site where three children were training under adult supervision.
"Those kids… the one with the cigarette is Sarutobi Asuma, isn't he?"
"Yes. The girl is Kurenai Yuhi, and the short one Uchiha Shisui. He's the descendant of Uchiha Kagami."
Tsunade stared for a moment.
"Uchiha Kagami… no wonder. That kid's got good eyes. So, jingyi do you want to be Hokage?"
Her sudden question caught him off guard. It was blunt but serious.
Jingyi thought for a moment, then shook his head. "No. I'm not interested. Honestly? I just want to be a teacher."
Tsunade raised an eyebrow. "Really?"
She hadn't expected that. But something in his tone told her he was being honest.
"Why?" she asked.
"Hokage's a demanding job. If I took it, I'd have no time for my own research, no time to teach. That's how I feel now. Maybe it'll change in the future, but not right now."
Tsunade smiled faintly, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "The Senju clan's blood may be diluted in Konoha, but you still carry something real. Your attitude... it's a lot like Uncle Tobirama."
"My grandmother used to say the same," Jingyi replied.
"No," Tsunade said, shaking her head. "Not just in blood. I mean your discipline. Your seriousness. Tobirama was always like that always studying, always working. He didn't have the warmth of Hashirama, but he had vision. Structure."
Shizune listened silently.
Jingyi… could he have inherited some part of the Senju's strength?
That might explain why Tsunade had changed her plans and come back from the Land of Waterfalls. She'd claimed it was a whim, but now it made sense.
At just fifteen, he was already a Jonin.
Very impressive.
Tsunade glanced at the medical text hanging from Jingyi's belt, then reached into her pouch and pulled out a key.
"Here. This is to my mansion in Konoha. There are some jutsu scrolls and medical texts. You might find them useful."
"I'm not returning to Konoha, though," she added, tossing him the key.
Jingyi caught it and quickly averted his eyes.
He hadn't meant to stare, but Tsunade's casual lean against the railing had caught his attention.
Clearing his throat, he replied, "You're free to travel, but you really should stop gambling. It's not doing you any good. And frankly, your luck isn't great."
"Brat!" Tsunade growled, baring her teeth. "I just complimented you and now you're talking back?!"
"There's a lot of trouble in gambling houses. Especially for someone with poor luck and zero skill," Jingyi said with a shrug.
To demonstrate, he flicked a playing card from his sleeve and performed a quick sleight-of-hand trick flipping and changing the card between his fingers.
Tsunade's eyes gleamed.
Shizune checked her pocket those were her cards!
"You're fast!" Tsunade said with a smirk. "Didn't think you had tricks up your sleeve."
"These are just small games," Jingyi replied, flipping the card one more time before tucking it away. "But seriously gambling isn't your thing."
Tsunade ignored that part.
"Little Jingyi, you've got skills. I should have you teach me some of those techniques for self-defense, of course. How do you handle dice?"
Jingyi just sighed.
She wasn't trying to quit gambling.
She was trying to win.