In the forest beside Konoha Village, a meteor streaked through the sky and crashed to earth.
Boom. The impact dented the ground, cracks spidering outward.
Crack, crack. Trees around it toppled as if struck by a ninja's assault.
"Tsunade's monstrous strength is truly formidable." Tian Yuan rubbed his chest. He had braced himself with Armament Haki to harden his body, yet Tsunade's blow still shattered his Haki and sent him flying.
Though it hurt, he'd suffered no lasting injury—proof of his extraordinary defense and taijutsu. Even without opening the Eight Gates, he could unleash devastating air-cannon strikes.
"Now to see what I've received." Tian Yuan climbed from the crater to check the video he'd captured. He suspected an ordinary video would yield nothing—but might hold a pleasant surprise.
He activated the player and froze. "No way."
The video's title read Love Apartment. Tian Yuan frowned—what could an ordinary sitcom offer him? He shook his head. "Oh well. Let's extract it."
Ding: Acquired one container of Zhonghua soft-shell cigarettes.
A flash of light heralded the arrival of a massive shipping container, which plummeted from the sky, smashing through trees.
Tian Yuan's eyebrow twitched. "You say 'one container'—it's this huge?"
"Of course," the system intoned. "These cigarettes were just produced, bound for distribution nationwide." Tian Yuan detected a note of self-righteousness in its voice.
"So many cigarettes—I'd never finish them all in my lifetime." Tian Yuan eyed the colossal crate. Even with a lifetime of heavy smoking, he couldn't consume so many.
"And I suppose the container itself must be reclaimed?"
"Indeed."
"Alright." Tian Yuan shook his head and placed the cigarettes into the player's storage space. The container dissolved, leaving only the battle-scarred clearing behind.
He summoned a single pack of Zhonghua cigarettes into his hand. "Might as well try one."
Removing a cigarette, he placed it between his lips and formed hand seals.
"Fire Release."
A small flame danced in his palm as he lit the cigarette—and then dispersed the jutsu.
Any ninja witnessing this would surely spit blood: using ninjutsu to light a cigarette!
Inhaling deeply, Tian Yuan exhaled a perfect white smoke ring. "Ah—taste of nostalgia."
"Hm? Someone's coming." Tian Yuan turned and saw Jiraiya racing toward him.
"Tian Yuan, what happened here?" Jiraiya gaped at the devastation.
"Tsunade Jonin blasted me here—then it looked like this," Tian Yuan replied calmly.
"Right…" Jiraiya scratched his head in confusion.
"Tian Yuan, what's that you're smoking?" Jiraiya eyed the cigarette and clouds of smoke.
"Want one?" Tian Yuan flicked a cigarette to Jiraiya.
"Oh." Jiraiya caught it, mimicked Tian Yuan's hand seals, and placed it between his lips.
"Fire Release."
A small flame ignited on the ground, and Jiraiya, too, enjoyed a nostalgic smoke.
"Not bad," Jiraiya sighed, puffing. "Better than Hiruzen-sensei's pipe."
"It's called a cigarette," Tian Yuan said as smoke curled around him, memories of another world stirring.
"Cigarettes—quite nice," Jiraiya agreed. "Hiruzen-sensei would die happy if he had these."
In Tian Yuan's mind, Sarutobi Hiruzen was indeed a veteran smoker.
"By the way—you ran into Tsunade earlier," Jiraiya said.
"Yeah," Tian Yuan nodded. "That's why she blasted me here."
"I see." Jiraiya eyed him knowingly—Tian Yuan must have provoked her, or she wouldn't have unleashed such power.
"But you're unharmed—amazing, kid."
"Aren't I a genius?" Tian Yuan shrugged.
"Don't be arrogant—you'll always be my junior," Jiraiya teased.
"Want me to give you a—" Tian Yuan glanced at Jiraiya's groin.
"Kid, don't get any worse habits," Jiraiya laughed. Around Tian Yuan, he seemed the more innocent of the two.
"So, how was your mission with Orochimaru?" Jiraiya asked.
"Not much to tell…"
Together they smoked and chatted, cigarette butts accumulating at their feet.
"Phew—pass me a Red Bull." Tian Yuan handed a can to Jiraiya.
"Thanks." Jiraiya cracked it open, and they both guzzled.
"Let's go." Tian Yuan tossed aside the empty can.
"Hey, you got more of those cigarettes?" Jiraiya asked. "A smoke now and then isn't bad."
"Hang on—this pack's yours. I'll send you more later." Tian Yuan handed over a fresh pack.
This book is provided by FunNovel Novel Book | Fan Fiction Novel [Beautiful Free Novel Book]