059 Naruto Mobile Game

Tsunade had been somewhat absent-minded these past two days.

Ever since that day when Orochimaru appeared on the public screen claiming he had become a Kage, she had been like this.

Jiraiya noticed it, and after a moment of thought, he understood why.

During breakfast, Jiraiya took out several bottles of sake and placed them on the table.

Tsunade sat across from him and waved her hand at the sight.

"What are you drinking sake so early in the morning for?"

"What does it matter? Isn't there a saying? It doesn't matter the time when drinking sake. If you want to drink, just drink!" Jiraiya said as he poured himself a cup.

Tsunade propped her cheek with one hand, took the cup with the other, but didn't drink.

Her eyes simply lowered, quietly watching the sake, which seemed to ripple slowly in the cup.

Jiraiya smiled, "Come to think of it, we've been drinking together these past few days."

"Isn't that just because someone shamelessly insisted on staying here?" Tsunade retorted.

Since they had met a while back, they had been living together, drinking or playing every day.

For the two of them, indulging themselves was nothing out of the ordinary, considering how indulgent they usually were.

Eating, drinking, gambling—there was nothing they weren't skilled at.

Shizune was out for a bit, so it was just Jiraiya and Tsunade.

Suddenly, neither spoke. Jiraiya drank, and Tsunade drank as well.

"Aren't you someone who doesn't drink?" Jiraiya asked.

"Stop babbling! Didn't someone say, if you place sake in front of a non-drinker, she'll drink it!" Tsunade said, finishing her cup in one gulp.

"Hey, hey! You're not supposed to drink it like that!" Jiraiya hurriedly stopped her.

Of course, Tsunade didn't listen, tossed the small cup aside, and grabbed the sake bottle, tilting it back to drink straight from it.

The sake flowed down her lips, wetting the slightly exposed fabric of her chest, seeping into the bottomless peaks beneath.

Jiraiya couldn't look away, though he feigned a few coughs.

Once again, neither spoke; they just drank.

"Did Orochimaru say something to you?" Jiraiya suddenly asked, and the atmosphere changed slightly.

Tsunade paused, not answering.

Jiraiya continued on his own, "That guy is now the wealthiest person in the ninja world. Gold Coins, Coupons, and all that…"

Bang!

A loud crash suddenly echoed through the tavern. Other patrons instinctively turned their eyes toward them.

The sake bottle had been placed back on the table, partially dented at the bottom. Tsunade gripped it tightly, her head lowered so her expression was hidden.

Jiraiya sighed, "How should I put it… Although players from the Land of Fire usually don't give me points, I've been climbing ranks every day!"

"You mean you can get Coupons later too? Stop showing off." Tsunade pursed her lips.

That seemed like an admission.

Jiraiya remained seated silently. After a while, Tsunade pulled out her phone and casually tossed it to him.

He glanced at her, and Tsunade resumed drinking while he looked down at the phone.

The screen showed a chat page from a friend.

[Orochimaru: Tsunade, it's been a long time since we've talked like this, but thanks for agreeing to be my friend.]

[Gamble: Get to the point.]

[Orochimaru: I've already figured out how many Coupons are needed to revive someone. Now, I'm probably the only one in the ninja world who can manage it.]

[Gamble: Didn't I tell you to be direct?! Stop beating around the bush!]

[Orochimaru: Hehehe~ I'm busy these days. One competent assistant isn't enough.]

[Gamble: Go away!]

[Orochimaru: Don't worry. You really want to see Nawaki and Dan, right? Compared to those who have naturally passed, reviving them shouldn't disturb the rest, right?]

Jiraiya read this, and there was nothing further.

Tsunade didn't reply to Orochimaru, but she was obviously affected. Jiraiya could guess some of it in advance.

After all, what could make Tsunade this down except her already deceased brother and lover?

"Do you believe what that Orochimaru guy said?" Jiraiya returned the phone to Tsunade.

"Revival can't be fake." Tsunade muttered.

Hearing this, Jiraiya silently nodded.

Indeed, no matter what Orochimaru's schemes were, anyone revived with a Revival Card had to be real.

Now, many speculated that Uchiha Mikoto had probably also come back using a Revival Card.

But until someone actually used a Revival Card, it was hard to fully convince anyone.

Once again, the two remained silent, continuing to drink...

…

Meanwhile, the Akatsuki organization was stirred by a new trailer released for the Ninja Mobile Game.

[Mysterious Ninja Approaching—]

[An Abyssal Terror Descends Upon the Ninja World!]

"This shadow… is that Orochimaru? The next High-Class A Ninja?"

"Idiot, it's an S Ninja!"

"What? Why the hell is Orochimaru an S Ninja? What strength does he have?"

"Because among the Three Legendary Sannin, Jiraiya is also an S Ninja."

The Akatsuki held a regular meeting, with all nine members gathering using the Illusionary Body Technique.

Why gather using the technique when everyone was in Ame? Well, some techniques always have to be used!

Besides, using this trick meant they didn't have to leave home.

The meeting, however, was hijacked by the sudden trailer update from the Ninja Mobile Game.

"Orochimaru? Recently it's all about him… By the way, why did that guy leave Akatsuki before?" Deidara asked Sasori.

"Because Itachi ditched him," Sasori replied calmly.

"Huh? Really?" Hidan's head was full of question marks as he looked at Itachi across the room.

Itachi's expression remained blank, no reaction at all.

If it were the usual Hidan, he might have provoked casually. But now… forget it.

[Uchiha Itachi] still ruled the dueling arena! That said enough.

"It seems Orochimaru developed a technique to steal others' bodies. He wanted to take Itachi's body but failed," Kakuzu said in a strange tone.

"Ran away in shame, huh?" Kisame laughed.

"Then why is Itachi ranked A and Orochimaru S? The failed guy has a higher rank?" Deidara was puzzled.

No one could answer that. Maybe… Itachi was deliberately held back? Or Orochimaru was being measured against Jiraiya?

"Don't worry about Orochimaru. Just continue investigating. How are your ranked matches going?" Pain scanned the others, speaking gravely.

Since the plan was temporarily halted, climbing ranks had become an assigned task by Akatsuki.

You had no choice but to play!

Most members already had high ranks, basically all Chunin or higher, and some with decent skills had joined the Anbu.

"Hey, why are you guys so fast? How do you fight that Uchiha Itachi guy?" Chunin Hidan yelled.

True, he wasn't dumb, but one couldn't call him particularly smart either.

"Just block him," Zetsu said.

"Hidan still Chunin? Didn't Kakuzu help him? What a heartless partner," Kisame teased.

"No, I promoted him to Jonin, but the system found the substitute player, so he fell back to Chunin," Kakuzu said indifferently.

"Kakuzu! Didn't we agree to keep it secret?!" Hidan angrily cut off the Illusionary Body Technique.

A few seconds later, Kakuzu also severed contact.

The others were speechless, probably already guessing what had happened.

Konan hadn't spoken all along, but suddenly remembered something and scanned the room…

"Did Tobi not come?" she asked.

"Speaking of which, that guy is just a rookie but often doesn't show up!" Deidara complained.

Tobi had joined Akatsuki early as a rookie, currently Zetsu's partner.

Mainly, Akatsuki's in-game organization in the Ninja Mobile Game had one missing spot. His joining completed the ten-person roster.

"Zetsu?" Pain looked at Zetsu.

"I'm not sure either. That guy has been acting weird lately, preparing something, I guess," Zetsu replied honestly.

Pain nodded, said nothing, and after announcing dismissal, the members gradually dispersed.