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"...."
If he could, Ronglin really wanted to say one thing to Tsunade: Screw you!
But he didn't dare. If he actually said that, Tsunade would undoubtedly transform into an enraged mother dragon!!
"I'm curious."
Tsunade smiled brightly as she looked at Ronglin. "Why would you ask such a question? Do you think I'd send all of you back to school to continue studying?"
Ordinary people wouldn't dare ask this kind of question. In fact, many new students were so nervous around her that they barely dared to breathe. Shimura Ying and Haruno Yuxi were prime examples.
This made Tsunade somewhat curious about Ronglin. This kid didn't act like a typical seven-year-old at all.
"Because, from what I know, I've never seen an apprentice ninja exam this difficult, requiring a Kage-level expert to take it seriously."
Ronglin had come across some information in the school library. Certain pieces of data, which weren't considered secrets, were openly available for everyone to read. Unfortunately, before graduation, very few students bothered to look at these extracurricular books.
"A regular teacher would test their students' adaptability, current strength, and teamwork skills. But isn't that boring?"
Waving her hand dismissively, Tsunade spoke with complete indifference, as if no one else but her would dare to say such things.
"So, for today's test, I intentionally changed a few things. As for your current strength… one word—weak!
Your adaptability is even worse. You, little guy, have some redeeming qualities, but teamwork? Honestly, that's not something a bunch of kids who've only known each other for less than half an hour can achieve."
Shaking her head regretfully, Tsunade twirled a small bell in her hand, a playful smirk on her face.
"Well then, congratulations—you've officially joined Team Tsunade. Be prepared mentally because my teaching methods are a bit different from others. Go home and rest now, pick up your forehead protectors, and meet here tomorrow morning."
As Tsunade yawned and left the training ground, Shimura Ying and Haruno Yuxi looked utterly confused. What did this mean? Did they pass?
"She really didn't hold back."
Ronglin muttered under his breath, though the excitement in his eyes lingered. Deep down, Ronglin was someone who craved battle.
"See you two tomorrow."
Ronglin turned away and strode off confidently.
"Hey!!"
As Ronglin walked away, Shimura Ying and Haruno Yuxi were left dumbfounded. It seemed the three of them had passed the test, but what time were they supposed to meet tomorrow morning?! Tsunade-sensei hadn't specified!
Not specifying the time was one of Tsunade's most infuriating habits. If she arrived early, she could say they were late. If she arrived late, she could say they were too early. Either way, she'd always be right, and there'd be no room to argue. As for her "different" teaching methods, Ronglin could only hope she wouldn't drag the three of them to hot springs or casinos.
Tsunade hadn't lied. Ronglin went directly to the Hokage's office building and collected his forehead protector. Team Tsunade was officially formed.
However, the news of Tsunade taking on apprentices hadn't spread widely yet. Only a handful of people knew about it—the participants themselves. Even Jiraiya and Orochimaru, the other two members of the Legendary Sannin, hadn't heard the news yet.
Orochimaru was busy with various experiments. Unless necessary, you rarely saw him in the village.
Jiraiya, on the other hand, could often be found wherever there were hot springs—or by the river behind the village. These places were popular spots for bathing beauties.
"I've become a rookie teacher today. Team Tsunade has been formed."
Inside a modest-looking tavern, Tsunade sipped her drink delicately and spoke nonchalantly.
Orochimaru paused, a faint smile curling the corner of his lips. He remained silent.
The boisterous Jiraiya's eyes widened in shock. "When did this happen? Why didn't we hear anything about it?!"
"It happened a few days ago. The Third specifically requested me."
Her voice carried a hint of frustration and anger. Truthfully, she didn't want to take on this task, but she had no choice.
"Are there any special kids?"
Orochimaru hit the nail on the head. Without a promising candidate worth nurturing, the Third wouldn't have asked Tsunade to take on the responsibility.
"This batch doesn't seem to have any outstanding kids. The next batch has Kakashi Hatake, who's quite remarkable, but he graduated too early. It wasn't good for his growth. I heard the Third plans to let Minato take over."
At the mention of Minato, Jiraiya's face lit up with pride, causing Tsunade and Orochimaru to roll their eyes.
After all, Jiraiya had trained Minato, while neither Tsunade nor Orochimaru had produced such a prodigy under their tutelage.
This was a sore spot for Jiraiya, who couldn't resist bragging about it every chance he got. Each time, it made Tsunade and Orochimaru grind their teeth in irritation. While it was true that they were all working for the village, matters of personal pride—even for someone like Orochimaru—couldn't be ignored.
"You just wait. You'll be surprised."
Smirking confidently, Tsunade stared at Jiraiya without blinking, making his heart race. Unable to help himself, he asked, "You mean..."
"More or less. Otherwise, why would the Third ask me to take this on? As for the future, who knows?"
"But the kids in this batch…"
Jiraiya had reviewed the files and hadn't found anyone particularly noteworthy. So where was Tsunade's confidence coming from? Was she planning to nurture another genius who could rival Minato?
"They're from Kakashi's batch, but they're more low-key. They didn't stand out as much as Kakashi, but their grades across all subjects were just as impressive."
"You mean Uchiha and Hyuga?"
Orochimaru caught on. Besides Kakashi, the only other standout in Kakashi's batch was Ronglin. The incident involving Ronglin's parents had caused quite a stir, and if the Third hadn't intervened, it wouldn't have been resolved so easily.
"Mm-hmm."
Tsunade nodded smugly and glanced at Jiraiya. "The little guy awakened his Sharingan at seven years old—or maybe even earlier. If the Third hadn't accidentally seen it, he probably would've kept hiding it. Plus, he's sharp-minded. I have high hopes for him."
Did she have to rub it in like that?
Jiraiya forced a bitter smile. It was no secret that he liked Tsunade, but as fellow members of the Legendary Sannin, winning her favor wasn't easy. They constantly competed in every aspect, including their disciples.
Though inwardly unhappy, Jiraiya couldn't help but put on an air of indifference.
Currently, Tsunade's attention was focused on someone else—Kushina Dan!!
This made Jiraiya regret his decision. If he had known this would happen, he might have joined the medical department too. To think Kushina Dan had swooped in and stolen his chance.
"Oh."
Orochimaru thoughtfully swirled the wine in his glass, his eyes narrowing slightly as he pondered something. As for the emotional entanglements between Tsunade and Jiraiya, he had no interest whatsoever.