Shindai had already completed the puppet intended for Jiraiya.
Feeling a bit tired, he finished off the cold food he'd left behind and then went to bed.
The next day, Shindai slept in until well after sunrise.
Shortly after waking up, Jiraiya came rushing into Shindai's tent.
Jiraiya couldn't wait to ask, "Shindai! How is it? Is it done?"
Shindai simply puckered his lips slightly and pointed toward the side.
Jiraiya followed his gesture with his eyes.
When he saw the puppet Shindai had made, he couldn't look away anymore.
Right now, Jiraiya's two eyes were shining like lightbulbs.
He quickly walked up to it, reached out a trembling hand as if to touch it, but immediately pulled back as though shocked by electricity.
Then he circled the puppet several times, studying every inch of it.
"Perfect… absolutely perfect! This is practically a masterpiece! Shindai, you're a genius—you must be a genius!"
Shindai was completely impressed too. Someone who could create such an incredibly lifelike puppet—how could he not be a genius?
"Not really," Shindai replied modestly. "There's still a lot of room for improvement."
Though his words were humble, pride was clearly visible on his little face.
Jiraiya suddenly made a 'tch' sound. "But this face…"
Shindai asked doubtfully, "Is there something wrong with this face? I modified it from Lady Tsunade's mature style into a sweeter look. And it's only slightly similar around the eyebrows anyway. I think this face looks really nice."
Jiraiya shook his head, sighing, "Young Tsunade was violent but also adorable. Her style was super similar to this face you made. Seeing this face makes me think of how Tsunade looked when she was young. Thinking about it, this face really does resemble her childhood face too much."
Arching an eyebrow, Shindai replied, "Ah, I see. Then I'll make some adjustments. Then again…"
With a lecherous grin, Shindai suggested, "Lord Jiraiya, if you remember young Tsunade's face so clearly, doesn't that mean you've liked Lady Tsunade since childhood? So before I modify it, why don't you give it a kiss? That way, you can fulfill your childhood dream."
Jiraiya blushed slightly and stammered awkwardly, "Well… this probably isn't a good idea."
Shindai crossed his arms and argued confidently, "Why not? Only me and Lord Jiraiya are here. If neither of us says anything, no third person will ever know. Also, I can turn around while you kiss it. That should work, right?"
After thinking for a moment, Jiraiya suddenly let out a strange chuckle.
Understanding immediately, Shindai turned around and pretended to admire the tent, exclaiming, "Man, this tent's fabric is premium stuff!"
"Ah! That first-love vibe!"
Jiraiya puckered his lips, blushing as he slowly leaned toward the puppet's mouth.
Meanwhile, Shindai subtly turned his head, just enough to catch sight of Jiraiya's actions with his peripheral vision.
Tch... Can't even find the words.
"Tsunade, I just saw Jiraiya entering Shindai's tent," came Rin Nohara's voice suddenly from outside the tent at the very moment Jiraiya kissed the eerily lifelike puppet's small lips.
The curtain of Shindai's tent was suddenly lifted.
Shindai quickly turned his head and saw Tsunade and Rin Nohara standing at the entrance.
At the same time, Jiraiya also looked toward the entrance, though his mouth hadn't reacted yet and remained attached to the puppet.
Their eyes met. Suddenly, the atmosphere inside the tent became awkward and heavy.
But both Jiraiya and Shindai had already started trembling in their legs.
Rin Nohara stared wide-eyed at Jiraiya kissing the human-like puppet's lips.
Meanwhile, Tsunade stood with arms crossed, squinting at Jiraiya—the sharp narrowing of her eyes exuding an extremely intimidating gaze.
Jiraiya's face turned pale in an instant. He hastily took several steps backward, creating distance from the puppet.
He stammered nervously: "Tsu-Tsunade, listen, it's not what you're seeing."
Tsunade glared at Jiraiya with sarcasm dripping from her tone: "Oh? Not what I'm seeing?"
She glanced at the lifelike puppet created by Shindai: "Hmmph, looks quite like me."
Jiraiya immediately betrayed Shindai without hesitation, pointing at him and saying, "No, no—it's Shindai! Shindai just finished making this puppet and asked me to help test its performance!"
Shindai widened his eyes, unable to believe what he was hearing.
You've gotta be kidding me—would anyone actually do that?
Tsunade sneered coldly, "Is that so? Testing performance all the way down to lip contact?"
Jiraiya mumbled incoherently, completely unable to explain himself regarding that one particular action.
Right now, Shindai felt chills running down his spine. Even though Tsunade wasn't looking directly at him, he clearly knew—he'd definitely be next after Jiraiya!
He needed to save himself!
If Jiraiya could act this shamelessly, then why should he worry about appearances anymore!
Clutching his courage, Shindai shouted toward Tsunade, "Lady Tsunade, don't fall for Jiraiya's tricks! I am also a victim! When Jiraiya saw my puppet 'Kannazuki,' which looks indistinguishable from a real person, he forced me into making it. I strongly opposed it, but under Jiraiya's coercive pressure, I had no choice!"
Jiraiya too widened his eyes in disbelief, staring at Shindai.
This guy's trying to get him killed!
Shindai glared back at Jiraiya with equal intensity, his expression clearly saying, "Don't blame me if you betray me first."
"Clap clap clap. There, there."
Tsunade suddenly started clapping her hands. "Marvelous! Simply marvelous! You two really are talents."
Tsunade pulled out a cloth strip and tied it around her head, covering her eyes.
Jiraiya looked at Tsunade in horror. "Tsu-Tsunade, what are you planning to do? Don't act recklessly!"
Tsunade gave a bright smile and said to Rin Nohara beside her, "Rin, go call some Medical Ninjas over. Tell them we're about to have two serious injuries here."
When Jiraiya and Shindai heard Tsunade's words, they had their hair standing on end—truly meant it.
Rin Nohara was about to speak up for Shindai and Jiraiya, but Tsunade said in a deceptively gentle tone, "Sweetheart, go now."
Rin shivered involuntarily at the sound of Tsunade's seemingly "gentle" voice. After giving Shindai and Jiraiya a helpless look, she turned and ran off to fetch the Medical Ninjas.
Jiraiya and Shindai, now terrified, kept stepping backward, begging for mercy with every step.
"Tsunade, calm down! Just calm down!"
"Tsunade, I'm just a kid!"
Tsunade rolled her wrists and reassured Shindai and Jiraiya in a sweet voice.
"Don't worry, I've already called for Medical Ninjas. You won't die."
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