Naruto: The Hidden Protector

185: Don't Worry I'm Just Stupid, Not Suicidal

From the shadows, Nanami walked out wearing her yokai commander uniform. Seeing that it was just her and not some enemy, Tsunade breathed a sigh of relief as she commanded the hidden Anbu ninjas to leave them.

" What do you mean by that, Nanami?" Tsunade asked as she looked at Nanami, who was clearly being overworked by a certain matriarch.

" I meant it, literally. If Jiraiya really tried to rescue those toads, then he would really join them. " Nanami said as she sat down on the couch, exhaling an exhausted sigh.

"Don't look at me like that, Tsunade," Nanami grumbled, rubbing her aching temples as she leaned back against the cushions. "I didn't want to come here either. But someone decided it would be a fantastic idea to sneak into a high-security auction house."

She shot a sharp, glaring look at Jiraiya, who was still standing stiffly against the wall, the sweat on his brow finally cooling down.

"The moment you set foot inside that building, Jiraiya, the detection seals flagged you," Nanami continued, her voice flat and tired. "If it weren't for the fact that you're Naruto's godfather, the automated defense arrays would have turned you into a puddle of blood before you could even say hello to Fukasaku. Izanami found out within seconds."

Tsunade's heart skipped a beat. She looked from Nanami to Jiraiya, the residual fear in her chest turning into a headache. "So Izanami sent you here to warn us?"

"Warn you? No. She sent me here to deliver a message because she didn't want to waste her breath on a frog," Nanami sighed, crossing her legs. "She wanted me to remind you that those toads are Naruto's property now. A gift is a gift. If anyone tries to steal from Naruto, they are stealing from her. And Izanami doesn't tolerate thieves."

"And take this as advice: I personally think you shouldn't talk about the toads in front of the matriarch. If I guess it's right, these two toads did something that made her very furious. Otherwise, sage animal clans wouldn't be subjected to this much torture. " Nanami spoke in a very quiet voice that only the three of them could hear.

Jiraiya gripped his fists so hard his knuckles turned white. "They are not property, Nanami! They are an ancient sage clan! Fukasaku-sama and Shima-sama have lived for hundreds of years, and now they are being treated like slaves."

"And they should be grateful they are still drawing breath to be stared at," Nanami snapped back, her eyes narrowing as a part of her aura leaked out, suppressing Jiraiya's words instantly. "Do you have any idea how much trouble the Toad Clan caused? They chose the wrong side, Jiraiya. They backed the old ghosts in the Pure Land, and this is the price of defeat. In our world, the losers don't get to keep their dignity. They are lucky Naruto only wants them to bow at doors and boost his sales."

Just as the atmosphere was getting too tense, Tsunade stepped forward, trying to cut through the heavy tension before Jiraiya said something that could truly seal his fate. "Nanami, I understand. Jiraiya won't interfere with the auction house. I will personally make sure he stays away from Naruto's business."

Hearing this, Jiraiya's mouth shot open to argue. But before a single word could escape his lips, Tsunade gave him some physical anesthesia. Her fist connected with his stomach, the sheer impact driving the wind completely out of his lungs and causing his knees to buckle instantly. He collapsed onto the floor in a silent, groaning heap, completely incapacitated.

After that, Tsunade smoothly adjusted her Hokage robes and gave Nanami a confident smile, as if she hadn't just put a person to sleep.

Nanami could only twitch her lips at the violent display, her exhaustion making her too tired to even comment on it. "Fine. As long as he stays down."

She stepped backward, her figure sinking back into the rippling shadows of the office until she vanished completely, leaving Tsunade and an unconscious Toad Sage.

Seeing Nanami leave, Tsunade released a tired sigh as she sat down on her seat. Then she skillfully opened a hidden compartment and brought a huge wine jug and began gulping it down like crazy.

And just like that, Tsunade kept on getting herself drunk to keep her own brewing stress and anxieties at bay.

After drinking for a while, Tsunade stopped her actions and spoke, " Okay, Jiraiya, you can drop the act. I didn't hit you that hard "

"You really didn't have to pull your punches that much, Tsunade," Jiraiya complained weakly, dragging himself over to a nearby chair and slumping into it. "I think you actually cracked a rib back there."

"Consider yourself lucky I didn't break all of them," Tsunade snorted as she gave another small wine jug to Jiraiya.

Jiraiya took the wine jug and began chugging it down just like Tsunade. Jiraiya didn't stop until the jug was completely empty. He wiped his chin with the back of his hand, letting out a long, burning breath as the alcohol hit his system. The physical pain from Tsunade's punch was fading, but the heavy pain of Nanami's words didn't lessen at all.

Tsunade didn't say anything but was just drinking alongside Jiraiya. She knew that no comfort would be needed. Jiraiya wasn't that fragile. She just needed to stay with him, offering her support.

" Jiraiya, I hope you can not do anything foolish. Although I don't know what really happened, I can probably guess that the Toad Clan tried to bring Naruto towards their side. This must be why Izanami took action, so for both of our sakes, don't try to interfere anymore. If you really want to help, try being nice to Naruto and have him give them some privileges. " Tsunade advised, making Jiraiya stunned. Then his eyes began to shine as he felt this idea was very good. Although Naruto's guardian was Izanami, he was still the nominal godfather. So he and Naruto actually have a very decent relationship. And Naruto, for his sake, he may actually help the Toad Clan.

"You're right..." Jiraiya muttered, a sudden spark of hope cutting through the alcohol-induced haze in his mind. He set the empty jug down, his thoughts racing. "Naruto, that kid, he might actually listen to me."

Tsunade took another slow sip from her jug, watching him carefully. "Just remember to keep your ego in check. Especially keep that child of destiny nonsense away. I don't want to hear you being killed by Izanami for trying to corrupt Naruto "

"Don't worry, I'm not that suicidal, Tsunade." Jiraiya said, quickly remembering the punishment Izanami gave him for not being a good godfather. 

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