Isamu's whole body trembled with excitement as he stared at the token in Jiraiya's hand. His breathing quickened, almost as if he were a man who had been alone too long and suddenly encountered a breathtakingly beautiful woman.
Jiraiya instinctively took a step back, a little wary of Isamu's intense reaction. After a few moments, Isamu finally calmed down and, with some embarrassment, said,
"I'm sorry. I got a bit carried away. Lost my composure there."
Jiraiya nodded, understanding his current mood.
The Senju clan's position in Konoha was precarious. The clan's elder was nearing the end of his lifespan, and Uzumaki Mito, the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki, was in the same situation. Once they were gone, the clan's power would be significantly weakened.
Within the clan, Isamu was the only remaining jōnin—and while an elite one, he was still just one man. Standing alone, he couldn't resist the pressure from the village's leadership. The Senju clan's extinction seemed like a real possibility.
Now, Jiraiya had just been promoted to acting commander of the Anbu. He finally had the authority to speak up for the Senju and protect their interests. With his promotion, the Senju clan had a lifeline. Even if Jiraiya couldn't return them to their former glory, ensuring the clan's survival was almost guaranteed.
For the first time in a long time, things were looking up for the Senju.
"Not bad, Tsunade."
Isamu thought to himself that it was all thanks to Tsunade choosing Jiraiya as her partner. Her foresight had helped pull the clan back from the brink.
"Brother-in-law, come with me to see the elders. We need to share the good news," Isamu said, grabbing Jiraiya's hand with unrestrained enthusiasm.
Jiraiya quickly yanked his hand back, maintaining a healthy distance. The way Isamu was looking at him seemed… off. Suspicious, Jiraiya's guard went up immediately. He definitely had no interest in crossing that line.
He followed Isamu to meet the three elders of the Senju clan. When they heard that Jiraiya had been promoted to acting Anbu commander, they were stunned into silence.
They hadn't expected him to rise so quickly. In their minds, for Jiraiya to even qualify as Anbu commander, he would need the strength of an elite jōnin and several years of accumulated merit. They thought that process would take years, at best. But Jiraiya had achieved it in record time, and it was a huge relief.
Even their gaze toward him had shifted, tinged with admiration—and maybe a hint of something else. Jiraiya felt the hair on the back of his neck stand up.
What's with these looks?
"Elders, I'd like to formally announce my relationship with Tsunade," Jiraiya said, taking a deep breath.
The head elder frowned slightly. "Isn't it a little early to make your relationship public?"
Although Jiraiya and Tsunade's relationship was well-known, it hadn't been made official yet. As long as it stayed that way, there was still room for denial. Making it public would be irreversible.
The Senju were still seen as a threat by Konoha's higher-ups, and Jiraiya was only the acting Anbu commander. A public announcement could invite unnecessary trouble and political obstacles, something the elders wanted to avoid.
"Perhaps it would be better to wait a little longer?" the elder suggested in a diplomatic tone.
Jiraiya's position as acting Anbu commander gave him significant standing, and the elders now treated him with more respect.
"Elders, your concerns are understandable, but unnecessary," Jiraiya said firmly. "Publicly announcing our relationship won't hurt my political future. My teacher, the Hokage, supports our relationship."
The elders' eyes lit up at Jiraiya's words.
"The Hokage supports you and Tsunade?" the head elder asked, hardly able to believe it.
"Exactly. I assured my teacher that the Senju clan poses no threat to Konoha. If anything were to happen, I would personally lead the Anbu to deal with it. Because of that, he has no objections to my relationship with Tsunade or to my closeness with the Senju clan."
The three elders beamed with joy. Sarutobi Hiruzen's approval signified a softening stance toward the Senju. Without Jiraiya, there was no way he would've allowed such a close connection.
"Our Senju clan has always been loyal to Konoha. We've never harbored any ill intentions, and we'll prove that with our actions," the third elder declared solemnly.
"Jiraiya, from now on, the Senju clan is your family. You have full access to our resources and shinobi, and you're free to announce your relationship with Tsunade whenever you wish," the head elder said seriously.
Barring any surprises, Jiraiya was well on his way to becoming the official Anbu commander—a key figure in Konoha's leadership. The Senju elders were eager to secure his goodwill.
Jiraiya gave a small smile, satisfied with their sincerity.
"In a few days, I'll appoint you as an Anbu squad leader," he told Isamu.
Isamu had no official role in the village and spent most of his time within the Senju compound—or getting into trouble. As a skilled elite jōnin, it was a waste to leave him idle. Jiraiya intended to put him to work under his command.
"Thank you, brother-in-law!" Isamu exclaimed, clearly thrilled. Being an Anbu squad leader gave him real authority and the ability to discreetly support the Senju.
"We're family—no need to be so formal," Jiraiya said with a chuckle.
"Well, I'm off to find Tsunade."
Having finished the important matters, Jiraiya didn't want to linger any longer.
As he approached Tsunade's residence, Jiraiya's thoughts turned mischievous.
"Should we start with lotus position… or maybe old-man style? Decisions, decisions…"
He scratched his head, feeling a little conflicted.
----------------
Pls Drop some Power Stones
Read more than +100 chapters and support me on Patreon
Patreon(.)com/Jixo