"Try dealing with hundreds, maybe thousands, of critically injured patients and see how good you look afterward," She snapped.
"Well, good thing I'm not a medical ninja. Got anything to eat? I'm starving."
"Nope. Go grab something from the supply unit and make something yourself. While you're at it, make me something too. I'm starving. The food here is terrible."
Even as she complained, Tsunade let out a huge yawn. She looked like she was on the verge of passing out right there.
Seeing her nodding off at the desk, Xin shook his head. He grabbed a white coat, draped it over her, and headed for the supply unit to pick up some ingredients.
Luckily, he always carried cooking tools in his sealing scrolls, just in case.
As the smell of simmering meat filled the air, Tsunade woke up. After a short nap, she seemed a bit more lively.
Tearing into the stew with satisfaction, Tsunade grinned.
"I thought the old man wouldn't let you take the jonin exam. But not only did he let you, he sent you here to the camp."
"Wait, I took the jonin exam because of you?" Xin asked, looking up at her, confused.
He had been wondering why he, at such a young age, had been allowed to take the exam. At the very least, he thought he'd have to wait another couple of years.
Turns out, it was all because of Tsunade.
Cheeks puffed with food, Tsunade gave her chest a light tap and swallowed before replying.
"You think I wanted to do this? The old man wanted me, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru to negotiate with Hanzo. But Orochimaru doesn't want to see Hanzo because of that 'Three Legendary Ninja' title, and Jiraiya doesn't want to go either, so that leaves just me."
"So I suggested you take the jonin exam and come help me out here. The old man actually agreed."
Xin was speechless.
This woman really knew how to dig a hole for someone.
Not that it mattered much to him. Even before his promotion, the missions and tasks he handled weren't any different from what a jonin did.
Finishing up his meal, Xin asked, "So, does that mean I'm part of the negotiation team?"
"Team? It's just going to be you, me, and a few members of the Anbu," Tsunade replied. Tsunade had originally wanted to bring Nara Shikashige over from the Land of Rivers to handle the negotiations. But, of course, the Third Hokage had refused.
With Danzo unable to move and the two elders, Koharu and Homura, never willing to dirty their hands, the job fell to the Sannin. But with Orochimaru's refusal and Jiraiya's desire to rest, the burden ended up on Tsunade's shoulders.
Honestly, this should've been a job for the Nara clan.
Was Shikashige really the only smart one in the entire clan?
It was clear the higher-ups didn't want the Nara clan to rack up too much credit.
"Oh, by the way, I spotted someone interesting in the camp earlier. Let's bring him along."
"Who?"
"Nara Shikaku."
As one of the prominent members of the Ino-Shika-Cho trio, Shikaku couldn't just hang out in the village forever. His family had tossed him into the camp to learn the ropes of leadership.
Ever since that time when Kushina scared him off, Xin hadn't seen the guy in a while.