Chapter 47: Looking Up From Behind the Canopy, the Hero Jiraiya Appears!

Yakiniku Q.

It was dinnertime, and the restaurant was packed with guests. Most were jōnin and chūnin, very few genin could afford to eat here.

Yugao and Yami sat in a corner, their table piled high with premium beef, totaling tens of thousands of ryō.

Yami only focused on eating, while Yugao handled the grilling. She even refilled his milk from time to time and wiped the corners of his mouth.

In truth, Yugao only appeared cold and distant to outsiders. Once familiar, she was a gentle and traditional woman—like a Yamato Nadeshiko.

As for Kurenai… she looked more mature and elegant on the outside, but mentally, she was still a little girl. She and Yami constantly bickered.

The two of them had argued nearly every day recently. Hizashi was at his wit's end listening to it all—he felt like he was running a kindergarten.

...

"Ahhh, that hit the spot…"

After finishing the twentieth plate of barbecue, Yami took a big gulp of milk, sighed with satisfaction, and ended the "battle."

The meal had been incredibly relaxing. He hadn't had to think about anything else.

Every slice of meat had been grilled by Yugao to perfection,not too rare, not overcooked. He could just pop it into his mouth.

"Yugao, your cooking's really good."

Yugao smiled softly. "My father used to go on missions often. I learned to cook, clean, and take care of myself from a young age."

"If you ever have the chance, you should try my home cooking too. I make a lot of simple dishes."

"It's a deal then. Tomorrow… no, the day after tomorrow, I'll come over for dinner."

Thinking of how the ninja school would be on break the next two days, Yami remembered he had to spend time with Izumi, so he postponed the free meal.

Izumi hadn't been around that afternoon, and as a result, his Mind's Eye of the Kagura training had slowed down.

"I'm fine with that." Yugao nodded and didn't ask what kind of food he wanted. He had already mentioned that he wasn't picky about meals, and she had remembered it.

"Come back home with me later," Yami said. "I've got a recipe for a medicinal bath. Using it long-term will increase your cell activity and strengthen your body."

Yugao's expression changed slightly. "Yami, I can't accept that. Elder Danzō wouldn't approve."

This kind of formula was a treasured family inheritance. Even if it couldn't create a Kage-level powerhouse, it could significantly raise the clan's baseline strength.

"Don't worry." Yami waved it off casually. "The old man already uses it on Root shinobi. It's not something passed down by the Shimura clan. I don't even know where he got it from."

Most of the good stuff in Danzō's hands was stolen from everywhere.

Some from extinct ninja clans, others from foreign nations. You could say he was well-stocked.

"Thank you, Yami. I'll do my best to complete any task you assign me," Yugao said gratefully.

"We'll talk about that later. Your top priority right now is getting stronger." Yami patted his belly and hopped down from the sofa.

The two of them left the barbecue restaurant and walked toward the Shimura compound. Neither spoke along the way.

Yugao was silently thinking about how to repay Yami, while Yami was considering what gift to prepare for little Izumi tomorrow.

"Hehehe… so big… so white… gulp!"

At that moment, an extremely perverted voice floated into their ears. Though quiet, Yami instantly pinpointed the source with his sharp intuition.

On the roof of a nearby bathhouse, a white-haired man was lying flat on the tiles. His long white hair was like a hedgehog, twitching slightly, and he let out lecherous giggles from time to time.

It was already dark, and that part of the street didn't have any lights. Without sharp eyes, you wouldn't have noticed anything.

Yami snorted and quickly formed hand seals.

Wind Release: Gale Cutter!

Several thin wind blades shot from Yami's mouth and streaked toward the white-haired man.

The man had sensed the technique early on, but didn't bother to form any hand seals. The white hair on his back instantly stiffened and expanded, wrapping around his body for defense.

What he didn't expect was, the wind blades weren't aimed at him at all, but at the tiles beside him!

Swish!

The tiles shattered instantly, large pieces crashing down into the bathhouse below.

A chorus of panicked screams erupted.

The white-haired man jumped up in a frenzy, darted down in a few steps, and landed in front of Yami and Yugao. He yelled angrily, "Brat! Do you know you just ruined a historic moment!? Countless readers will send you razor blades!"

"I just stopped a pervert," Yami said flatly. "If your wife was bathing in there and someone peeped at her, how would you feel?"

"Oh—wait."

Yami suddenly slapped his forehead, "How could a sleazy old man like you possibly have a wife?"

Yugao saw his face and the forehead protector engraved with the word "oil," and her expression changed immediately.

She stepped back in shock, instinctively shielding Yami behind her.

She still looked scared.

And who could blame her?

If it were an enemy, she'd be ready to die to protect Yami—but this…

Any woman would be terrified.

"S-Since you're… Jiraiya-sama…" Yugao stammered nervously.

Yami frowned. "Why do you call everyone 'Master?' Does he deserve it?"

"What?!" Jiraiya leaned back dramatically, then leaned forward and glared at Yami with wide eyes.

"You don't even know who I am?!"

"How could I not? You're just an old pervert, right?"

"You brat! Listen up!"

Bang!

A giant toad appeared in a puff of smoke. Standing on its back, Jiraiya struck an exaggerated, flamboyant pose.

"North and South and East and West!"

"I'm the white maned toad charmer and one of the legendary Sannin whom even celestial beings can't defeat!"

"I am no other than Master Jiraiya."

"Well? You get it now?!"

Jiraiya folded his arms proudly, waiting for Yami to show his awe and admiration.

Yami glanced around slowly, as if thinking. Just as Jiraiya was getting impatient, Yami finally asked, "Are you the Jiraiya who wrote The Tale of the Utterly Gutsy Ninja?"

"You know that book?!" Jiraiya's chest puffed out even more. He tried to act modest but couldn't hide the smugness in his tone.

"That humble little work of mine… I didn't think a kid your age would understand such a profound story. I'm very optimistic about you! You've got real fan potential!"

"Who's your fan?" Yami said, annoyed. "I only read it when I have insomnia. I fall asleep in under a minute. I don't even remember what it's about."

Pfft!

Jiraiya spewed blood and collapsed on the toad, unable to get up.

(To be continued.)

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