**Chapter 28: Searching for Tsunade**
Naruto glanced at the hazy, half-lit sky, took a few deep breaths of the crisp morning air, and turned to dash back home.
"Heh, Haku really loves his sleep..."
He leaped through the window into the room and gazed at Haku's serene sleeping face, a fond smile spreading across his own. Gently sliding into the bed still warm from Haku's body heat, Naruto pulled Haku into his arms and drifted back to sleep.
"Hey, brat! Get up! Get up! Get up! Wake up already!"
Through his groggy haze, Naruto heard the deafening shouts from downstairs.
"Naruto-nii is still sleeping, Uncle Jiraiya. Please don't disturb him," Haku's sweet, gentle voice chimed in.
"Ugh... Damn it! What's so great about that brat anyway? Why would such a cute and beautiful girl like you protect him like this?!" Jiraiya's resentful voice boomed.
"Hey, Perverted Sage! What's with all the racket this early in the morning?!" Naruto, his face contorted with fury, threw back the covers, leaped out of bed, and stormed outside to yell at Jiraiya.
"Early morning? Brat, it's already noon! Everyone's finished lunch, you know!" Jiraiya stared at the snarling Naruto with an expression of near-collapse.
"Uh... Haku, is it really noon already?" Naruto asked, his face blank with confusion as he turned to Haku beside him.
"Yeah, Naruto-nii. But you looked so peaceful sleeping, I didn't want to wake you," Haku said with a gentle smile, his face radiating innocence.
"Mm, Haku's always such a good boy," Naruto said, giving Haku a quick peck on the cheek.
"Hey, you brat! Enough with the mushy stuff! Let's get going!" Jiraiya roared, his voice tinged with jealousy.
"Naruto-nii, hurry up and wash up, then go with Uncle Jiraiya," Haku urged, straightening Naruto's slightly rumpled clothes with concern.
"It's okay, Haku. Take your time. We won't be late," Naruto said, ruffling Haku's long hair before heading inside to wash up.
...
"Heh heh, Perverted Sage, still mad?" Naruto asked with a grin as they walked down the road.
"Half an hour to wash up, half an hour to eat, and half an hour to cuddle!" Jiraiya listed Naruto's activities since noon, his tone growing angrier with each point.
"And to make matters worse, you spent an entire hour in the bathroom!" Jiraiya glared at Naruto. "Are you constipated or something?!"
"Heh heh, sorry about that. I wasn't feeling great this morning, and the Earth's gravity is so weak here, it just took longer than usual," Naruto said, conjuring up a flimsy excuse on the spot.
"Alright, you little rascal..." Jiraiya sighed, staring at Naruto in exasperation. "Always coming up with these ridiculous excuses."
"Heh heh, I knew you wouldn't mind, Perverted Sage."
Naruto showed not a shred of remorse, his face still beaming with mischief.
"Alright, let's hurry! We need to reach Tanzaku Street by noon tomorrow," Jiraiya urged, quickening his pace with a sigh.
"Wow, is this Tanzaku Street? It's so lively..." Naruto craned his neck, gazing around in wide-eyed wonder at the bustling crowds.
"Heh heh, now you see why following me was such a brilliant idea?" Jiraiya's smug expression was unmistakable.
"Tch, you probably didn't even know it was this lively before, did you?" Naruto shot Jiraiya a disdainful look.
"Wh-who said that? This handsome guy has picked up more girls here than you've even seen in your life! Of course I know how lively it is!" Jiraiya retorted, his tone forceful but his expression betraying a hint of guilt. *Seriously... how come I never noticed it being this lively before, even after coming here so many times? Is this kid just lucky?*
"Alright, Perverted Sage, you can't even lie properly. Look at that miserable face of yours..." Naruto glanced lazily at Jiraiya.
"Naruto!" Jiraiya roared in fury.
"Wow, lamb skewers..."
Naruto's eyes lit up as he turned his head, and he immediately began pushing his way through the crowd.
"Uh..."
Jiraiya stared speechlessly at Naruto's wolfish hunger.
"Huff, I'm so full..." Naruto patted his slightly rounded belly, licked the greasy oil from his lips, and wore a look of pure satisfaction.
"Kid, eating that much will make you burst..." Jiraiya said with mock seriousness, "A real man should have a perfect physique, not let himself get out of shape from eating. Look at me, heh..."
He flexed his arms inward, arching his back slightly to make his chest muscles bulge. "Heh heh, see that? That's what a real man looks like."
"What's so special about that?" Naruto scoffed, glancing disdainfully at Jiraiya. "Watch this."
"Hah! Hunk Transformation Jutsu! *Poof!*"
A cloud of white smoke erupted around Naruto. In the next moment, a strikingly handsome Naruto with a perfect physique and sun-kissed skin appeared on the bustling street.
"Wow... that man is so hot..."
Gasps of admiration rippled through the crowd. Lovestruck girls blushed like peach blossoms, their faces flushed with longing as they cast lingering glances at Naruto.
"Heh heh, Perverted Sage, what do you think? *This* is what a real man looks like."
Naruto flashed a dazzling smile with his chiseled, rugged features, turning to face the crowd of girls.
"Wow... he's seriously so handsome and stylish!"
The girls clutched their chests, hearts fluttering.
"Damn it... brat! No using transformation jutsu!" Jiraiya glared jealously at Naruto, his eyes practically bulging out of their sockets.
.....................
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(End of Chapter)