[NTU] [ARC-24] Chapter : 324

Outside a newly built, single-story Japanese-style home in the Uchiha compound...

"Sasuke? What brings you here today?"

Mikoto, in the middle of tidying up the house, looked up at her younger son. Her voice was warm, but there was a flicker of curiosity in her expression. His visits had become rare lately.

"Don’t just stand at the door—come in."

As Sasuke stepped inside, his eyes immediately landed on a young woman seated in the room. She looked to be around 18 or 19.

"Izumi-nee…."
He greeted her politely, though his eyes subtly scanned the house. The one he was truly searching for wasn’t there. His expression dimmed slightly.

"I heard Itachi has the day off... Is he not home?"

After exchanging formalities with his sister-in-law, Sasuke turned to his mother, unable to hide his disappointment. For reasons he couldn’t fully explain—even to himself—he never quite warmed up to Izumi after she married his brother.

Mikoto saw the shadow pass across Sasuke's face and immediately understood.

"Itachi’s not avoiding you," she said softly, her tone lined with sympathy. "I asked him to run an errand—he’s off to see Aunt Mei for some medicinal herbs. He’ll be back soon."

"Medicinal herbs?" Sasuke frowned. "Who’s sick?"

His gaze flicked toward Izumi, noting her healthy complexion and the gentle smile on her lips. She looked far from ill. Could it be something wrong with Itachi?

Before the questions could pile up, Mikoto cut him off gently.

"It’s not what you’re thinking."

She glanced toward Izumi, who lowered her eyes, cheeks tinged with a shy flush.

"Izumi’s pregnant."

A soft smile spread across Mikoto’s face, joy dancing in her eyes.
"Itachi went to get medicine to help stabilize the pregnancy."

It had only been a few months since Itachi and Izumi’s wedding, so the news wasn’t entirely unexpected—but it still felt momentous. The thought of becoming a grandmother left Mikoto both thrilled and slightly overwhelmed.

Turning back to Sasuke, her smile softened into a more serious look.

"I know losing to Naruto in the last Chunin Exam was a hard blow," she began, voice filled with maternal concern. "I’d asked Itachi to help train you during his vacation... but under the circumstances, I don’t want him distracted."

She explained gently, not wanting her younger son to feel overlooked.
"First-time pregnancies can be emotionally sensitive, and Itachi needs to be by Izumi’s side as much as he can right now. Please understand."

Sasuke’s defeat had stung—especially since Naruto had clearly outpaced him. He’d come today hoping his brother could help him get stronger. But now…

"Mom, really—it’s okay!"
Izumi quickly interjected, smiling despite the attention.

"Sasuke’s always welcome here. I know how much Itachi cares about him."
Though a touch of envy crept into her voice, it was buried under her genuine warmth.
"And there’s no need for you to fuss over me. I’m doing just fine."

"Nonsense," Mikoto said firmly, though she was clearly pleased with her daughter-in-law’s attitude. Harmony in the household mattered deeply to her.

"Either way," she continued, "don’t trouble Itachi right now. If you want someone to train with, go to your father. After the exam, he should have more time to work with you."

"Alright."
Sasuke nodded, but his gaze briefly fell on Izumi’s belly. He was surprised—of course he was—but he didn’t smile. The sting of defeat still clung to him, and joy was something he couldn’t quite grasp in that moment.

He was still trapped in the aftermath of failure, unable to shake the bitterness of losing to Naruto.

And now, more than ever, he was determined to find a way to surpass him.

In their last battle, the overwhelming orange chakra Naruto unleashed had been nothing short of terrifying. Sasuke knew, even if he turned to his father for training, it might not make much of a difference.

Even asking Itachi for help was more of a shot in the dark—he simply wanted to test whether more advanced genjutsu could affect Naruto at all.

But deep down, a quiet voice in his heart told him the truth.

It wouldn’t work.

He didn’t know how he knew—he just did. Instinctively, he felt Naruto had grown beyond illusions like his.

"Were you talking about me just now?"

Itachi stepped into the house, dressed casually, a large paper bag in hand. The scent of strong herbs trailed behind him.

"Sasuke, this is a surprise. What brings you here today?"

His eyes landed on Sasuke, who sat silently on the sofa. He smiled warmly.

"Let me take care of these herbs first. We’ll talk in a bit."

Noticing Sasuke’s hesitation—his need to speak but inability to voice it—Itachi almost reached out to give his brother their familiar forehead poke. But with the herbal smell still on his hands, he thought better of it and turned toward the kitchen.

These days, Itachi’s world was shifting. Though he cared deeply for Sasuke, his thoughts were now filled with fatherhood, with Izumi... with the child they were expecting.

Sasuke could wait.

"I’ll help you!"

Izumi’s voice rang cheerfully as she followed Itachi into the kitchen, her smile radiant with joy. The two stood close, moving as one.

Sasuke watched them disappear behind the doorway, the image lingering in his mind. For the first time, he felt like a stranger in their world—as if his visit had no place here.

Meanwhile, at the Hokage’s office…

Jiraiya, who moments ago had been brimming with excitement, now stared at the document in front of him as his expression gradually turned to stone.

"Is this… real?"

After more than forty years of pining, he had finally made a breakthrough. Tsunade had agreed to date him—not marriage, but still the closest he’d ever been to winning her heart.

And yet...

"Yep. Every word."

Toshiro, unmoved by the older man’s heartbreak, confirmed the details with casual certainty.

Jiraiya let out a pained sigh, his voice trembling with despair.
"This is... such a cruel joke."

Toshiro, enjoying the scene far too much, leaned in with a smirk.
"Having second thoughts?"

"Sure, the debt and interest are a bit overwhelming, but hey..."
He patted Jiraiya on the back.
"With your strength, you just might manage to pay off Tsunade’s debt within your lifetime."

Toshiro wasn’t about to let Jiraiya buy Tsunade’s affection with clever schemes. Not on his watch.

"So, still up for it? Still want to shoulder her debt?"

He added, mockingly generous,
"Tell you what—given all you two have done for the village, I’ll waive the interest. Just repay the principal."

As it turned out, Jiraiya had grand plans: pay off Tsunade’s debt, propose while the moment was still warm, and sweep her away on a romantic trip.

But that dream had crumbled fast.

"I thought my royalties and mission savings amounted to a fortune..."
He groaned.
"Turns out it’s not even half of what she owes."

He’d been misled—though not intentionally. Shizune, unaware of the exact numbers, had seen Jiraiya’s bank book and assumed it was enough. Jiraiya believed her.

"So, what now? Still want to go through with it?"

Toshiro didn’t care either way. If Jiraiya wanted to chain himself to Tsunade’s mountain of debt, he’d let him.

He knew gamblers too well. Tsunade, for all her brilliance, wasn’t immune.

"Could I… maybe pay off part of it first?"
Jiraiya asked, sheepishly.

Now that was love.

Toshiro wasn’t surprised in the slightest.

"Sure! Pay whatever you can."
After all, the less money Jiraiya had, the harder Toshiro could push him into work. Otherwise, with his personality, he might vanish again at any moment.

As Jiraiya staggered out of the Hokage’s office, legs weak, he looked down at the pitiful balance in his passbook.

"I can’t let her manage the money… Not ever."
The thought alone made his stomach churn.

And then another fear crept in:

"She can’t be left idle, either. If she is, she’ll definitely end up gambling again!"

As he wandered the streets, he began plotting a new strategy—a shared future where he could keep Tsunade focused.

"The best way to keep a woman busy is..."

He trailed off, a smile creeping back onto his face. His eyes lit up with a new sense of purpose.

The staff at the Hokage building looked on from the windows, convinced Jiraiya had finally proposed to Tsunade... and succeeded.