Chapter 226 Jiraiya's Engagement

The battle lasted from noon to sunset. Everything around the river had been destroyed, just like a typhoon passing through. Trees were broken, stone pillars collapsed, and there were potholes everywhere.

The two people who were in a brief confrontation were in completely different states.

Zinaye was already exhausted, but Jiraiya was still able to handle it with ease. Apart from his face and clothes being a little dirty, he didn't even breathe heavily.

It was clear that the outcome was decided.

The difference in strength between the two is not small. It can be said that if Jiraiya had not wanted to kill Shinaye, she would have died long ago.

Shinaye stared at Jiraiya in front of her, while barely holding the hilt of the sword with trembling hands.

At this time, Jiraiya raised his right hand.

Zinaye thought he was going to give her a fatal blow, so she immediately blocked her chest with her sword: I must block it!

It turned out that she was overthinking it, Jiraiya just made a stop gesture.

Zinaye felt insulted and asked coldly, "What do you mean, sir?"

It's no wonder she thought so. Jiraiya could defeat her completely with just one strike, but he gave up. It was obvious that he didn't take her or the Nadeshiko Village seriously.

Jiraiya chuckled, "Don't get me wrong, don't get me wrong, you're great, you have the looks, the figure, and your strength is pretty good too. Nadeshiko Village is also great, there are so many beauties there that I can't count them all. The reason I stopped here is because I already have someone in my heart."

Zinaye couldn't accept it anymore after learning the reason.

She considered herself to be quite pretty, but she actually lost to a man she had never met before. She couldn't help feeling jealous: What kind of extraordinary woman could this be, that the unruly ninja madman would fall in love with her so wholeheartedly and abandon me and the entire Nadeshiko Village like grass?

Zinaye put the sword back into the sheath, pretending to be nonchalant, and said with a smile: "I am not an unreasonable person. Since Your Highness already has someone in his heart, I will not force you. But, if possible, can I hear the story of Your Highness and her?"

It was the first time that Jiraiya met someone who wanted to hear his story of unrequited love, and he couldn't help feeling a little surprised. Perhaps it was because the emotions that had been pent up in his heart for so long without anyone to confide in were too painful, or perhaps he thought it would be nice to tell a chance acquaintance about his unrequited love, so this bohemian and infatuated man actually sat down and started telling his story.

"As for me, I met her the year I graduated from the Ninja Academy, and I've been in love with her ever since. Unfortunately, I was too young at that time, and I was too frivolous. I had no idea what attitude I should have towards someone I liked. You don't even know that when we first met, I confessed my feelings to her with a smile like a fool. Now that I think about it, I was really as stupid as I could be.

After that, the Third Hokage accepted the four of us as disciples, and she and I became fellow disciples.

As for me, I have been an orphan with no parents and no relatives since childhood. My teacher taught me everything and showed great love and care for me, and my classmates also took care of me sincerely. This made me feel at home for the first time. Since then, she has another identity in my heart besides my beloved, that is, a family member.

In the next ten years, she and I trained together, carried out missions together, went on adventures together, and played around together. I was rather reckless and liked to rush forward when encountering problems, always putting myself in danger. She was a medical patient and therefore saved my life many times, and my feelings for her grew deeper and deeper.

But the older I got, the more cowardly I became. Apart from some inappropriate and funny remarks, I didn't dare to express my feelings seriously even once. Even my best friends couldn't stand it and created opportunities for me time and time again. Unfortunately, I wasted them all. Isn't it a failure?

Originally, I thought that as long as I persisted, stayed by her side, and loved her, one day, she would see it, one day she would notice it, one day, but, but..."

The unrestrained hero Jiraiya paused. For the first time, he revealed the bloody scars hidden deep in his heart in front of a stranger he had just met.

Jiraiya was extremely melancholy, his eyes filled with infinite sadness. He squatted down and scooped up a leaf from the river with his heavy hands and placed it in front of his eyes. The setting sun shone on the leaf, which was very beautiful, just like the smile of a beautiful woman. He just looked at it, looking at the maple leaf and also looking at the beauty in his heart.

Although Jiraiya didn't say it explicitly, Shinaye, who was lying next to him, already understood that the ending of the story was tragic.

Zinaye didn't know why, but just by listening to the story of a playboy's failed secret love, she became hopelessly infatuated with this man.

If she just wanted to find a backer for Fushiko Village before, now there is no doubt that she is moved by it herself.

Zinaye barely suppressed the surging emotions in her heart and asked calmly, "Don't you plan to win her back? Your Highness is so outstanding, I believe there is still a great possibility."

Jiraiya laughed at himself when he heard that. "Ahaha, it's impossible. Failure is failure. Besides, the person she loves is very good and treats her very well. She is very happy now, happier than anyone else. I have to admit that the person is more suitable for her than me. All I can do is wish her the best and protect her silently."

The leaf in his hand was blown away by the wind, fell back into the water, and was carried away by the waves of the river.

Zinaye looked at the pitiful man in front of her and felt so distressed. She really wanted to tell him that he could actually take his eyes off that man a little bit. Maybe, maybe there was a good person behind him too?

But these words cannot be said no matter what.

"I see. How about calling this duel a draw? Let our disciples continue the fight in the future. How about that?"

Jiraiya stood up and breathed in the fresh evening air. He felt intoxicated unconsciously. After saying what he had been holding in his heart for a long time, he felt indescribably relieved.

But just as he was about to agree to Zinaye's request, he suddenly felt dizzy: What was going on? Did I get angry just now?

Jiraiya turned to look at Shinaye, "Hey, Shinaye, how come you've become two?"

"what?"

Shinaye was a little confused. Just as she was about to speak, Jiraiya fell to the ground with a thud and lost consciousness.

"What's wrong with you! Your Highness Jiraiya!"

Shinaye hurried forward to check on Jiraiya's condition, her anxiety evident on her face.

At this time, Xuanwu, who had not been seen for a long time, appeared behind Zinaye, "He is fine, he just fainted because of the knockout drug."

Shinaye picked up Jiraiya and quickly retreated, drawing his sword and pointing it at Xuanwu: When did this person appear behind me, and I didn't even notice it!

"Who are you!"

Faced with a strong enemy, she did not run away alone, but instead wanted to save the enemy. This woman is quite interesting.

Xuanwu gave a friendly smile, "Don't be nervous, I'm his good friend."

Shinaye did not let down his guard, and stared at the powerful enemy in front of him without saying a word: Good friend? Are you kidding me? Good friend knocked Jiraiya down right away? However, why did this person look familiar, as if I had seen him somewhere before.

Xuanwu felt helpless that the little girl didn't believe him.

"The art of spiritualism"

Toad Jian makes another brilliant appearance.

"Xiaowu, what do you want from me?"

"Fourth brother, please prove to this beautiful lady the relationship between Jiraiya and I."

"Although I'm clumsy, I'll try my best to explain."

Gamaken gradually shrank to the size of Fukasaku, jumped in front of Shinaye and said honestly, "You are the lady who chased Jiraiya just now, right? We have met before. The person with the bandage on his eyes is called Akimichi Genbu, a good friend of Jiraiya. Please believe me, although I am clumsy, I never lie."

In fact, when Gamaken appeared again, Shinaye had roughly guessed Xuanwu's identity. After all, there were only three people in the ninja world who could summon the toads of Myoboku Mountain, and they were all from Konoha. And she also remembered why the person in front of her looked familiar. He was Konoha's Takemiya Raijin, one of the top ten people on the bounty list.

Zinaye relaxed, but what she said was really shocking. "Your Highness Xuanwu, can you fight me in exchange for marriage?"

Xuanwu was shocked. He shook his hands like rattles. "No, no, no, no, no, I'll let it go. If I really provoke you, my wife won't let me go easily. I'll be considered tough if I can be put in the ICU."

Zinaye was feeling a little depressed. It was bad enough that she was rejected by the person she fell in love with at first sight, but she finally met someone more handsome. She wanted to fulfill the duties of the leaders of Fushiko Village, but it turned out that the other person was already taken.

However, Xuanwu changed the subject and said, "Although it is very presumptuous, what I want to say is that you lost the duel just now, right? So I want Jiraiya to fulfill your previous agreement. How about that?"

"Huh~?"

Zinaye was a little confused.

"Don't you understand? What I mean is, I will make the decision and let Jiraiya marry you and become your partner. How about that?"

"ha???!!!"