"Kid, what are you laughing at?"
Lady Tsunade, clearly exasperated, grabbed Jaxon by the back of his collar and effortlessly lifted him into the air. With her strength, it was like hoisting a feather.
Jaxon dangled in front of her, completely unfazed.
"You're being a bit unreasonable. What does my laughter have to do with you?"
Even while hanging in midair, Jaxon showed no fear or concern. Over the ten or so days they'd spent together, Tsunade had experienced firsthand just how mischievous this little brat could be.
Seeing she was getting nowhere, Tsunade let out a sharp breath and reluctantly set him down. Her eyes flicked toward Kato Dan.
Dan immediately understood her unspoken cue and said quickly, "Lady Tsunade, I'll report the mission status to Hokage-sama first. When I get the chance, I'll treat you to dinner!"
Jaxon watched Dan walk away and scrunched his nose.
"He looks decent, but he's too effeminate—definitely seems like someone who'll die young. If you're picking a boyfriend in the future, you'd better not choose one like him!"
Tsunade's eyes widened, stunned. "You little brat! Don't speak about our village's comrades like that in front of me!"
Her rage flared, and a powerful chakra aura burst from her.
Jaxon tilted his head slightly and sneered. "I just said it. What can you do about it?"
"You damn brat!" Tsunade growled. "Even if I don't take this mission, I'll make sure you learn your lesson—"
She raised her fist, ready to pound him into the ground.
But before her punch could land, a gust of wind blew past.
A figure appeared in a blur, standing between her and Jaxon.
Tsunade froze.
She hadn't sensed the approach at all. The speed was unreal.
A man stood before her, dressed in gray, with white hair and a long katana tucked at his waist. A white Anbu mask covered his face.
There was no need to ask who it was—only one man fit the description.
Sakumo Hatake.
"Lady Tsunade," Sakumo said sternly, "as a ninja, you must never raise your hand against an employer. I don't need to explain the consequences that could have for Konoha Village."
His voice was calm, but carried the weight of unquestionable authority.
Though Tsunade outranked him in seniority, Sakumo was Anbu—an enforcer of the Hokage's direct orders.
Tsunade clenched her fists, trembling with frustration, but she could only take a deep breath and suppress her anger.
"Considering your intent to harm the employer," Sakumo continued, "you are no longer suitable to complete this mission. I will—"
"What the heck?"
Before Sakumo could finish, Jaxon interrupted with a frown.
"As the employer, I haven't even said anything yet. Lady Tsunade will continue as the escort on this mission."
He flashed a sly smile and turned to Tsunade. "Honestly, I never expected Konoha's ninja training to be so poor. Is violence your answer to everything?"
Tsunade's face alternated between red and white. He'd turned her personal outburst into a village-level disgrace. And he said it all with that smug little grin.
Sakumo was silent as he watched the boy.
From the moment he arrived, he had only been observing for ten minutes. Yet in that short time, he'd seen Tsunade—a Sannin—completely lose her composure.
Clearly, this kid had no intention of changing his choice of escort.
"…I'll report everything to Hokage-sama. If you have any other requests, I can pass them along on your behalf."
Sakumo looked down at Jaxon, who barely reached his thigh.
Jaxon waved him off. "No need. I issued the mission, and I chose the personnel myself."
He smiled innocently—like a proper three-year-old should—and then casually turned and waddled away, his tiny legs carrying him down the street.
Tsunade stared after him, letting her arms drop helplessly to her sides. She didn't say a word, only sighed heavily and followed after him with a drained expression.
If escorting a woman on a shopping trip was a man's worst nightmare, then escorting this hyperactive kid through the streets of Konoha was Tsunade's personal hell.
And after just one hour of trailing Jaxon through the village, Tsunade slumped down onto the steps of a shop, utterly exhausted.
Meanwhile, Jaxon stood nearby, holding several snacks in his tiny hands, as energetic as ever—without a single drop of sweat on his brow.
In that short span of time, he had practically explored all of Konoha Village.
The village wasn't large yet, with the central areas occupied mainly by the Uchiha and Senju clans. Their territories were vast, but restricted—outsiders weren't allowed to enter family compounds freely.
So an hour was enough to cover the rest.
"Kid, we've explored the whole village by now," Tsunade grumbled, barely able to lift her head. "Shouldn't you go take a nap? We can continue tomorrow…"
She looked like she was about to keel over. If she could choose, she'd rather fight in a warzone than babysit this little monster again.
Jaxon looked over at her with sparkling eyes.
"Big Sister Tsunade, are you tired? If you're tired, we can take a rest!"
His voice was sweet and innocent, his eyes wide and full of childlike concern. He blinked as he spoke, tugging on her heartstrings—if her heart wasn't already shriveled with exhaustion.
Tsunade's hair stood on end. She twitched as she scooted away from him slightly. His adorable expression was pure nightmare fuel, and his tone… more like a demon's whisper.
"Big Sister Tsunade, I—"
"Stop!" she cut in quickly. "I beg you. Just get to the point!"
She threw up her hands in surrender. She couldn't bear another second of that fake-sweet voice.
"…Tsunade."
"Say it normally or I swear I'll beat you to death."
"Tsunade," Jaxon corrected himself with a laugh. "I'm interested in ninjas. Why don't you show me some ninja techniques? And maybe guide me on how to extract chakra and stuff like that?"
He plopped down beside her on the steps, wrapping his small arm around hers as he gazed up at her expectantly.
Tsunade glanced down at him, defeated.
She no longer had the energy to argue.
Just how did she end up stuck with this gremlin?
Øóffer going on for diamond tier
pàtreøn (Gk31)