Chapter 171: Serenity

On an early morning in Konoha, a blonde-haired woman, a blonde teen, and a white-haired man walked around the Village in its early hours.

These three, Tsunade, Naruto, and Jiraiya, were basking in the enjoyment of the Village's peace.

Many villagers saw them and spoke kindly to them, making Tsunade feel a special type of warmth.

She closed her eyes, feel that she was back in her own childhood, being walked while on Tobirama's shoulders and heading towards the Hokage's building.

That was the time before she had to worry about anything, being able to enjoy peace with her new family.

However, feeling a slight tug on her arm, she opened her eyes and looked to see Naruto looking at her with an expression of concern on his face.

She simply gave him a reassuring smile as she continued at their steady pace, peacefully enjoying the calmness that they were experiencing.

The trio walked all throughout the town before they arrived at a nice apartment complex, with Jiraiya stating that the place was his home.

"You guys should come in! The kids would love to see you and Naruto again." Jiraiya said to Tsunade, with her agreeing due to his excitement.

They entered to find a nice and tidy home, with three children who possessed orange, blue, and red hair sitting at the kitchen table eating cereal.

Their eyes seemingly shimmered with excitement as they saw Jiraiya enter, though Jiraiya ran towards them expecting a hug.

"It's okay kids, your lovely father has come home to give you all a big hu-"

Jiraiya's words were cut off as all three delivered punches to him, sending him flying into the wall near the door.

"BASTARD!! You promised to bring us ramen last night!!" Yahiko yelled in anger at his surrogate parent.

After the end of the Second Great Shinobi World War, Jiraiya chose to adopt the three children he chose to save, making him the closest thing that the trio would be able to once again call a parent.

The three had become citizens of Konoha and changed to become shinobi of Konoha.

And only at the age of 12, the trio had become Chunin of Konoha, showcasing their immense talent.

They were Jiraiya's pride and joy, as both his students and his children.

But, he was currently regretting all his life choices up to that point.

"Pervy-Sage, if you can't keep promises about ramen, what kind of shinobi are you?!!" Naruto said as he joined the trio in their anger after learning why they were mad.

Tsunade merely smiled as the interaction while Jiraya was dogpiled and abused by the children, with her seeing it as nothing more than the childish antics of children.

"Well, it's partially my fault since he got stuck at our house for dinner last night. Though next time I'll make sure he brings you guys. But how about I make it up to you? I usually don't allow it, but I'll make an exception and cook you guys some ramen for breakfast." Tsunade said with a smile, making the four turn their attention towards her with faces filled with happiness.

"Well, only because it's you." Yakiho says while the others nod in agreement.

Tsunade stepped into the kitchen and quickly utilized her culinary skills from her past life to make some excellent bowls of ramen, and after around twenty minutes, she served it to the five people who all sat around Jiraiya's dining table.

"WOW!! Mom, I didn't know you could cook ramen this good!" Naruto said, though he quickly shut his mouth after a quick glare from Tsunade.

"You have to come live with us!! If we could eat this every day, we'd be in heaven!" Konan said as she slurped another noodle.

"Well, Tsunade has her own fam-" 

"Even if I did live with you or the other way around, you wouldn't be allowed to eat ramen whenever you wanted. It's not healthy. That's why I don't let Naruto eat it all the time." Tsunade said, while his brain short-circled as he thought of Tsunade living with him or the other way around.

He then looked around to see all of the children as well as the smiling Tsunade, making him feel as if he had a family already.

He then looked at Tsunade, feeling his heart beat faster as he thought about something he hadn't thought about in quite some time.

But before he could expand on it, Tsunade spoke again.

"I have to begin my students training today, so I'll be leaving Naruto here with you guys. Make sure you all take care of yourselves. In fact, Jiraiya, bring them and join us for our family dinner tonight, we'd love to have them." She said before giving Naruto a kiss on the forehead and leaving, all the while Jiraiya still sat in his stupor.

Nagato seemed to be the only one to notice as he stood beside Jiraiya and timidly whispered

"You know dad, to be Jiraiya the Gallant, you're quite stupid."

Jiraiya couldn't agree more.