On the streets of Konoha.
"Alright, Anko, Iruka, go home. I'm not a patient." Tengen said to the two trailing behind him. "Besides, my house is just ahead."
"Fine, but stay safe." Anko said reluctantly. "Oh, are you coming to school tomorrow?"
"Of course, nothing scary about that." Tengen replied.
"Cool, see ya!" Anko waved and left.
"Tengen, I'm heading off too." Iruka said.
"Got it." Tengen nodded. After watching Anko and Iruka disappear from his sight, he changed direction, bypassing his home and heading toward a crowded part of Konoha.
It wasn't random, he had detected a system signal. It was only an ordinary signal, but it was the first one Tengen had found, and it was in Konoha. Naturally, he had to seize it.
Signals didn't last long, a day at most, so time was of the essence.
Tengen's signal map showed other signals outside Konoha, even ultra-clear ones, but he knew those places were beyond his reach. Even within Konoha, some areas were too dangerous for him.
He was just a student, not even a genin, which was expected.
Most academy graduates barely reached fresh genin level. The future monsters like Naruto's generation were exceptions.
Many ninjas never surpassed chunin in their lifetime.
In the Naruto world, jounin were a dividing line, elite forces valued by the five great ninja villages.
Soon, Tengen arrived at the signal's location.
"The signal's coming from the women's bathhouse?" Tengen froze. A men's bathhouse would've been manageable, but the women's?
"Let me double-check." Tengen circled the area, confirming with absolute certainty that the signal was indeed from the women's bathhouse.
"But how do I get in?" Tengen muttered, crouching on a small hill.
"Kid, didn't expect you to be men of culture also." A voice said beside him, startling Tengen. He hadn't noticed anyone nearby.
Though his skills were modest, someone sneaking up like this meant they were formidable.
Turning, he saw a white-haired man with an oil-symbol forehead protector. Tengen's jaw dropped. If he wasn't mistaken, this was Jiraiya.
"You know me?" The white-haired man grinned smugly. "Guess my fame's pretty big if even a kid like you recognizes me."
"Of course, the Pervy Sage Jiraiya," Tengen blurted out the nickname without thinking.
"Uh…" Jiraiya's smile stiffened. "Kid, where'd you hear that name?"
Jiraiya didn't believe Tengen came up with it himself.
"Dunno, just heard it somewhere." Tengen said, feigning innocence.
"Damn it, must've been Tsunade." Jiraiya growled, then squinted with a grin. "So, kid, wanna head over together?"
"Together?" Tengen shook his head. "Jiraiya-sama, we're not on the same path. I'm out."
With that, Tengen scurried off.
Joking aside, sticking with Jiraiya was dangerous. There was a good chance Tsunade was in that bathhouse.
The usual outcome? Jiraiya getting launched into the sky by Tsunade's monstrous strength.
Tengen's small frame couldn't withstand her power. Staying with Jiraiya was absolute death.
"Ugh, finding a true comrade is tough." Jiraiya sighed, disappointed. "Guess I'll go alone."
...
Meanwhile, Tengen brainstormed other plans.
"Hm, Transformation Jutsu?" He considered, then dismissed it. "No good. If Tsunade's in there, her perception might see through it."
"Then…" Tengen caught his reflection in a nearby pond. "I gotta admit, this face is kinda cute."
"Got it! For the signal, I'll go all in!" Determination flashed in Tengen's eyes. He dashed off, and ten minutes later, a cute little girl appeared.
"This is humiliating." Tengen, now disguised as a little girl, grumbled. To receive the signal, he'd thrown his dignity out the window.
Before entering the bathhouse, he heard a familiar scream, followed by a figure rocketing into the distance.
"Jiraiya..." Tengen muttered, his eye twitching. Not teaming up with him was definitely the right call.
"But Tsunade's really in there. I need to be careful." Tengen approached the bathhouse. The attendant didn't stop him, likely assuming his family was inside.
Wrapped in a towel, he stepped into the misty bathhouse. Checking the system's signal, Tengen groaned.
The signal was in the bathing pool itself. He'd have to enter the water; he was just out of range otherwise.
"Quick and clean." Tengen gritted his teeth, stepping into the pool. Within the signal's range, he watched the system process a video fragment slowly forming.
[Check in complete.]
When his system announced. Tengen sighed in relief. "Time to bail. I'll check it later, too risky here."
"Hey, girl, you alone? Where're your parents?" A voice came from behind. Tengen turned stiffly, spotting a familiar face, Tsunade. His heart pounded.
"I'm going to find them now." Tengen said, forcing a smile, ready to bolt.
"Wow, what a cute girl!" Tsunade lunged, grabbing him. "Tell onee-san, how old are you?"
Ignoring his protests, she dragged him to her bathing spot with brute strength.
"Can we not?" Tengen wailed internally. The longer he stayed, the higher the chance of being exposed.
Tsunade was something else, calling herself 'onee-san' at her age.
"Shizune, look, this girl's cuter than you!" Tsunade said to the girl beside her.
"Hm, younger than me," Shizune nodded, eyeing Tengen.
"I gotta go." Tengen said weakly.
"Stay with onee-san a bit longer okay?" Tsunade pinched his cheek, terrifyingly enthusiastic.
"I'll endure." Tengen thought helplessly.
"Eh, no need for the yukata, just take it off!" Tsunade's voice spelled doom. A massive force yanked the towel from Tengen's body.
"I'm fucked up."
***
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