"What are you two doing?"
Jiraiya's surprised voice suddenly rang out, startling both Tsunade and Orochimaru in the middle of their bargaining. Neither of them had noticed Jiraiya's approach—was Tsunade's reaction really that entertaining?
Orochimaru suddenly felt he might not be that qualified as a ninja after all.
"We're developing a new jutsu."
Tsunade replied with utter seriousness, trying her best to bluff. She definitely didn't want Jiraiya to know she was being tied up by Orochimaru in some sort of bondage play. If word of this got out, how humiliating would that be? Where would the legendary name of Tsunade the Slug Princess even stand? How would she ever teach Jiraiya a lesson again with a straight face?
"This experiment is titled: 'How to Utilize Summoning Techniques for Effective Target Capture.' The course name is: 'Ninjutsu Application.' Supervising jonin: Hiruzen Sarutobi. Research group: Orochimaru and Tsunade. The experimental principle involves using the Summoning Technique to summon specific types of snakes to efficiently bind a target with minimal harm, achieving capture without injury."
"Sounds pretty amazing!" Jiraiya was clearly buying into it, wide-eyed with admiration.
"Of course!" Tsunade proudly tilted her chin upward. "I even volunteered to be the test subject."
"…"
Watching Tsunade beam with pride, Orochimaru really wanted to ask where exactly she got the confidence to think such a ridiculous excuse could actually work. Still, he had to admit, her explanation was pretty creative. Maybe he could use it as a standard format for future experiment proposals.
"Did the experiment succeed?" Jiraiya asked, completely convinced.
"It was a huge success, obviously! Do I look like I can move right now?"
To prove her point, Tsunade rolled across the floor like a log. She really couldn't break free.
Hearing this, Jiraiya finally took a closer look at her.
The "rope" binding Tsunade was actually made up of several slender snakes. The formation started by folding in the center, looping around her neck, then tying knots at her collarbone, between her breasts, along her sternum, and at her pubic bone. It wound beneath her hips, tied again at a slightly higher point on her back, looped back through the neck binding, split open at the sides, wrapped under her armpits, and came back around to the front. The result was a diamond-shaped pattern, ending with the "rope" tied neatly around her waist.
It was practically an artistic masterpiece of restraint—effectively sealing her ability to form hand signs or move, all while avoiding injury. Jiraiya had to admit—it was an incredible jutsu.
He felt as if a door had opened, revealing a whole new world to him.
But why did this jutsu feel oddly familiar?
Jiraiya quickly shoved that thought aside, enthusiasm burning in his eyes as he turned to Tsunade.
"Tsunade, what's this jutsu called?"
"Nine-Dragon Tortoise Shell Binding Technique!"
Orochimaru didn't even bother criticizing Tsunade's naming sense. The fact that she said it without hesitation made it sound like this was an actual, legitimate jutsu. Clearly, she didn't just come up with it on the spot. Orochimaru suspected she'd already had the name in mind four years ago when she used this same technique to tie up Jiraiya.
Looks like Tsunade's chuunibyou (delusions of grandeur) had been quite advanced even back then.
Watching Jiraiya get all fired up over their "newly developed" technique, Orochimaru started to feel a bit worried that Tsunade had completely bamboozled him. Reflecting on his own behavior, Orochimaru concluded that he used to be a lot cooler, colder, and manlier than this.
Of course, with how thick-headed Jiraiya was, he didn't notice Orochimaru's silent distress. He was still in full-on fanboy mode.
Developing new jutsu—only the most skilled and knowledgeable ninja could manage something like that.
"Amazing! Teach me this jutsu too!"
"No way!"
"Eh? Why not?" Jiraiya asked, disappointed.
"You don't have the capacity to handle this jutsu."
Like hell Tsunade would let Jiraiya master the Tortoise Shell Bind.
It was bad enough being on the receiving end of this from Orochimaru. If Jiraiya ever used it on her too…
Just imagining it made her shudder.
With Tsunade's firm refusal, Jiraiya quickly turned to Orochimaru, eyes full of hope.
"…"
Orochimaru nervously licked his lips, but after making eye contact with Tsunade's death glare, he made the smart choice and refused as well.
"To learn this jutsu, you first have to master the Summoning Technique. That's a jonin-level jutsu, and even among other jutsu at that level, it consumes an enormous amount of chakra. Are you sure you've mastered it already?"
And Orochimaru wasn't lying—the size of the summoned creature also depends on the user's chakra reserves.
Tsunade gave a satisfied nod at Orochimaru's explanation. Logical, convincing—definitely something only a top student like him could deliver.
"Ugh…"
Jiraiya was at a loss for words. The highest-level jutsu he knew was barely at the chunin level. To jump straight to jonin-level jutsu? Who knew how long that would take. And even if he learned it, his chakra reserves might not cut it.
Jiraiya instantly fell into despair at this bloodline-dominated world, sinking into gloom.
Seeing this, Tsunade wiped some sweat from her brow. Looks like I managed to bluff my way out of that one. Luckily it was just idiot Jiraiya—anyone smarter would've seen right through her.
Still, there was one unresolved issue: Hasn't Orochimaru had me tied up like this for an entire chapter and a half now…?
"Orochimaru, now that the new jutsu has been successfully tested, shouldn't you let me go already?"
Tsunade gave Orochimaru a pleasant, almost gentle smile.
Orochimaru thought about it for a second. Since Jiraiya was here now, it wasn't exactly the right time to keep discussing "those" topics. So he promptly released the Summoning Technique. The snakes wrapped around Tsunade vanished into a puff of smoke.
Tsunade felt like she had just been reborn.
"Oh right, Jiraiya—how did you escape from Sensei Sarutobi?"
Tsunade suddenly remembered. More importantly, after being released, Jiraiya hadn't immediately come to cause trouble. Something must've happened that she hadn't anticipated. Then she recalled the binoculars hanging from Sensei Sarutobi's neck at the time and instantly had a "There's only one truth!" moment.
That place might not have been just Jiraiya's secret hideout.
"What do you mean escape?" Jiraiya replied indignantly. "I walked out of the Hokage's building fair and square!"
"…"
No doubt about it—he and Sensei had struck some kind of shady deal. Sensei must've kept quiet about Tsunade, which was why things were so harmonious now.
But Tsunade didn't have time to dig deeper into it. She was busy working on her 'I Wanna Be a Straight-A Student – III' mission. Jiraiya not being a pain was actually saving her a ton of effort.
So, she let it go.
Then Jiraiya asked:
"But Tsunade, why didn't Sensei arrest you?"
Tsunade paused for a moment.
"Well… I am a girl."
Now it was Jiraiya's turn to go quiet for a beat.
"Being a girl is great… Please teach me that jutsu, Teacher Tsunade."
"…"
Tsunade began to regret ever teaching Jiraiya the Sexy Jutsu.
Her original plan was for Jiraiya to suffer at his own hands.
As for teaching him those two jutsu—well, she had promised, and Tsunade never went back on her word. But truth be told, this was her first time tutoring a boy… and the thought of it was oddly exciting.
Orochimaru looked at the two of them, completely confused. For some reason, he felt like he'd just been abandoned in some mysterious way by both Tsunade and Jiraiya.
(End of Chapter)
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