Asuma walked into the Hokage's office with a dejected look after Lin Yu left.
"Hm? Asuma, what are you here for? Did you finish your training for today?" Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned as Asuma entered. What foolish thing had this brat done now! He truly worried him, his father. Asuma, in his rebellious phase, found his father, the Third Hokage, quite irksome. Although Asuma looked like an uncle, he was genuinely in his rebellious phase!
"Hokage-sama, I want to become one of the Twelve Guardian Shinobi!" Ever since Asuma learned that Lin Yu was Kurenai's "boyfriend," he had tried to comfort himself. He felt Kurenai must be using Lin Yu as a shield. The age difference between them was so vast, surely he, Asuma, was a better match for Kurenai! However, one day, Asuma saw Kurenai being brought home by Lin Yu, and she didn't come out for the entire night. Asuma was utterly despairing, tears streaming down his face on the spot! He couldn't stay in this Leaf Village filled with sad memories anymore; he had to leave! Just as this thought occurred, Asuma remembered Chiriku, whom Lin Yu had mentioned. He decided to investigate if he could find a breakthrough from him! That's right! He was Sarutobi Asuma, the son of the Third Hokage; he couldn't give up so easily! Kurenai! You must wait for me to return. Once I've thoroughly investigated this Chiriku, I will return to marry you!
"Twelve Guardian Shinobi? Are you serious, Asuma?" Hiruzen was shocked. How had his rebellious son suddenly become so serious? This was unscientific!
"Old man, just tell me if you agree or not!" Asuma was a bit anxious. He just wanted to thoroughly investigate Chiriku as quickly as possible, then return to the village to expose Lin Yu and marry his beloved Kurenai!
"Asuma, are you sure?" Hiruzen asked gravely. The Twelve Guardian Shinobi served as bodyguards to the Daimyo, and they were not positions anyone could take lightly, nor could they resign at will.
"I've made up my mind. I, Asuma, must become one of the Twelve Guardian Shinobi!" Asuma had found out that Chiriku was also participating in the preliminary selections for the Twelve Guardian Shinobi, and he absolutely could not miss this opportunity!
Hiruzen sighed and said with relief, "Alright then. Tomorrow, I'll write a letter of recommendation to the Daimyo. Whether you're selected will depend on you." Asuma clenched his fist, turned around, and his face was filled with excitement. "Once I've thoroughly investigated Chiriku... Heh heh!" Hiruzen watched Asuma's retreating back, a feeling that his son was venturing on a path of no return, but he dismissed it as a mere illusion! The Hokage's office fell silent again. Hiruzen looked up at the sky outside the window. Hmm? Is it autumn? These chrysanthemums are so beautiful!
...In the Leaf Village bathhouse, a lecherous figure was stealthily crouched on the rooftop, seemingly searching for a crack to satisfy his voyeuristic desires. *Slap!* "Jiraiya! I knew you'd be here!" Jiraiya, who was peeking, was startled by the sudden voice. He stomped down "heavily." *Splash!* He landed directly into the bathhouse pool. A lecherous smile spread across Jiraiya's face as he quickly said, "Oh, ladies, don't be afraid. I'm a good person. I just accidentally fell from the roof. I'm leaving, I'm leaving!" However, when Jiraiya opened his eyes, the scene before him made his backside ache. Why were there all men! And older than him! Damn it! He went into the wrong bathhouse! Before the burly men in the bathhouse could react, Jiraiya vanished in a puff of smoke. After a while, one of the burly men muttered, "That young man's backside was quite shapely. I wonder who he'll end up with? Sigh!" By the river, Jiraiya glumly roasted his clothes. How could he have entered the wrong bathhouse? This shouldn't have happened!
"Hey, Jiraiya, what are you running from?" Jiraiya looked at Lin Yu, who had appeared before him, with annoyance. He pointed at Lin Yu and said, "It's all your fault, Lin Yu! Otherwise, how could I, the great Jiraiya, have fallen into the men's bathhouse! I've lost so much face!" Lin Yu sat on a nearby stone stool and chuckled, "This isn't my fault. Perhaps you subconsciously wanted to peek into the men's bathhouse!"
"Nonsense!" Jiraiya pointed to the sky, vowing, "Impossible! Absolutely impossible! I, Jiraiya, swear to the heavens, if I ever peek at men bathing again, I'll... I'll never be able to marry a wife in this lifetime!" A thunderclap resounded, startling Jiraiya. No way? Even the heavens don't believe me? Just as Jiraiya was about to ask Lin Yu for advice on what to do, his eye twitched violently. He said indignantly, "You've gone too far, Uzumaki Lin Yu! Why did you use Lightning Style out of the blue?" Lin Yu dissipated the chakra in his hand and smiled, "How is it? This is a Lightning Style ninjutsu I invented called 'Lightning Induction.' It's meant to be used in conjunction with another Lightning Style technique. I'll show you when I have time."
Jiraiya shouted, "Not good at all!" "Kid, if you have nothing else to do, then I, the great Jiraiya, need to go gather material. Don't follow me!" Jiraiya put on his roasted clothes and sternly warned Lin Yu not to disturb him from his important business! Lin Yu feigned grievance, "I came to fulfill my promise from last time. If you don't want it, then forget it."
"Promise? What promise?" Lin Yu reminded him, "Ahem, the hot springs!" Jiraiya's eyes lit up, and he clapped his hands. "That's right! I remember! Lin Yu, why did you take so long to come? No matter what, today must be done my way!" Lin Yu replied, "No problem, but not today. The hot springs are closed for renovation for three days. After three days, you can do whatever you want!"
Jiraiya rubbed his hands, his lecherous expression becoming more pronounced. "Heh heh! You said it yourself. I won't be polite then!" "My taste is very high! I must choose them personally then!" Lin Yu waved his hand. "No problem!" Seeing Lin Yu agree so readily, Jiraiya grew suspicious. "That's not right! Why did you agree so readily, kid? Is there a trick?" Lin Yu coughed twice. He realized he might have been too obvious and quickly argued, "How could that be? I, Lin Yu, am a man of my word. Besides, you're the one choosing. How could I possibly tamper with it!" Jiraiya's lecherous smile reappeared as he mused, "That's right! I, the toad sage Jiraiya, have impeccable taste! Lin Yu, kid, you really suit my taste! Hahahaha!" Lin Yu breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, Jiraiya was an idiot. If it were someone else, he might have been exposed already! He needed to be more cautious in the future. Yes! He would go home and carefully study "An Actor's Preparation" again!
...In a certain underground base in the Leaf Village, Orochimaru's weary figure emerged from the laboratory. His already pale complexion looked even more ghastly, but there was a hint of joy in his eyes, indicating that the experiment had likely made progress. Orochimaru took a sip of tea, glanced at the hot spring VIP card on the table, twisted his sore neck, and walked back into the laboratory. He'd go for a soak in the hot springs in a couple of days.