"Tsunade, have you made up your mind?"
Naruto's calm yet commanding voice came through the receiver.
Tsunade stared at the small communication device in her hand — one of the many innovations the Umbrella Organization had brought to the world — then lifted her gaze to the horizon. The world was changing, and though such change hadn't been seen in a thousand years, she was not one to be left behind.
She knew better than anyone that Naruto was like a storm — a force driving the entire era forward.
The shinobi world was already stirring, and perhaps… she too could become part of that storm.
After a moment of silence, Tsunade's voice grew firm.
"Yes, I've decided. I'll help you. Let's start by taking control of Konoha."
She didn't fully understand why those words came so easily. Konoha had been founded by her grandfather, and her feelings for it ran deep. But the village today… was no longer the Konoha her grandfather envisioned.
Jiraiya's earlier words had lingered in her heart, but what he hadn't expected was how decisively she would act.
Tsunade wasn't just willing to cooperate with Naruto — she intended to bring the entire village of Konoha under Umbrella's banner.
Ending the call, she looked down at the darkened screen for a long moment. Then, with renewed resolve glinting in her eyes, Tsunade turned and strode out of the hospital's main doors.
The tavern was quiet when she arrived at the meeting place. Inside, Jiraiya sat alone, a faint smile tugging at his weathered face. Time had carved light wrinkles into his once-youthful features, though his eyes still held their old spark.
Tsunade, on the other hand, looked almost unchanged — her youthful appearance defying the years, though the weight of time lingered quietly in her gaze.
"Tsunade, long time no see," Jiraiya said warmly, spreading his arms as if to hug her.
He half-expected a fist to the face — but to his surprise, she only gave him a calm glance before taking a seat.
"Enough of that. Let's talk."
Pouring herself a glass of sake, Tsunade's lips curved into a faint smile.
Jiraiya chuckled softly. "It seems you've finally decided to face life again."
He took a sip of his drink before continuing. "The Second Hokage asked me to find you. He wants you to take over as Hokage. Judging by the urgency, I'd say his Edo Tensei is running out of time."
Tobirama Senju had likely been preparing the groundwork for her return all along.
"I'm not interested in becoming Hokage," Jiraiya said, swirling the sake in his cup.
"Besides, you're the one who truly fits that role. You can handle the people in the village better than I ever could."
Tsunade raised an eyebrow, her tone teasing.
"You just don't want the job yourself, do you? Trying to dump it on me again?"
Jiraiya laughed sheepishly.
"No, I mean it. You're more suited for the position. The village needs someone strong enough to keep the elders in line."
"Hmph." Tsunade snorted softly.
"You and your excuses. What's so great about being Hokage anyway, that so many people fight for it? The Third, Danzō, the others — all clawing for power…"
Her words trailed off.
Jiraiya fell silent for a moment, then refilled both their glasses. His eyes softened as he looked out the window.
"Tsunade… how long has it been since we just sat down like this? Do you remember when we were kids?"
He smiled faintly.
"I was always the slow one. You and Orochimaru outshone everyone. Sensei's jutsu — you'd always master it first. And me… I could barely keep up."
His smile faded into a sigh.
"Orochimaru wasn't like this back then either."
He took another sip before continuing.
"When the Hokage selection happened, I knew Minato didn't have the political support to win. The Third gave him command on the battlefield — that was his way of grooming him for the role. And Minato… he truly had the talent."
"But maybe," Jiraiya said bitterly, "if things had gone differently — if Orochimaru had become Hokage instead — maybe he wouldn't have left. Maybe Minato would still be alive. Maybe Naruto wouldn't have…"
He stopped mid-sentence. His eyes shimmered with unshed tears.
Tsunade's voice softened. "Jiraiya, when did you become so sentimental? There are no 'ifs' in this world."
Yet her eyes, too, glistened faintly — his words had struck a chord.
"Orochimaru won't come back," she said quietly, shaking her head. "He's not the same person anymore."
Jiraiya let out a bitter chuckle.
"Yeah… I suppose it's hard to go back."
Tsunade caught the subtle phrasing — hard, not impossible. She didn't call him out on it.
Deep down, she knew Jiraiya still held on to a sliver of impossible hope.
And strangely, Tsunade recalled Naruto's words — about a future where bonds could be reforged. Perhaps… even that dream wasn't completely out of reach.
"Hahaha! Enough of this gloomy talk." Jiraiya suddenly laughed, raising his cup.
"Let's drink! I must be getting old — waxing nostalgic like this."
Tsunade smirked and raised her glass.
"Old? You've always been like this."
Their laughter echoed softly through the tavern — two Sannin, bound by time, loss, and memories of a village they both still loved.
"Let's talk about Konoha."
"Hmm. With Nidaime-sama back in Konoha, I'd imagine that by the time you arrive, he'll have already cleared away any obstacles for you to assume the position of Hokage."
Jiraiya had no reason to doubt Tobirama's methods.
Tsunade nodded slightly, a faint smile playing at her lips. It was time for the windmill to start turning once again in Konoha.
Since she had already acknowledged Naruto—and accepted the existence of the Umbrella Organization—she might as well lend her support.
It wasn't just Naruto's words that had moved her; it was also her yearning to see the world her grandfather had once dreamed of. According to Naruto, the future he envisioned would be an exciting one.
Although Tsunade hadn't seen Nidaime-sama in many years, she still remembered his decisive and pragmatic nature.
Yet, neither of them realized that a new conspiracy was already brewing.
In the depths of Konoha, inside the Root base, a shadowy figure appeared before Danzo.
Danzo's eyes narrowed as he studied the strange, entirely black, humanoid form that had suddenly materialized before him.
He couldn't tell what it was.
Human?
It didn't look like one. Could this thing be one of Orochimaru's creations?
"Elder Danzo," the dark figure spoke in a low, eerie tone, "have you decided whether or not to cooperate with me?"
This was Black Zetsu.
Naruto's growing influence had made him uneasy—more cautious than ever. He was closer now than he had ever been to achieving his grand design, and he would not allow anything—or anyone—to disrupt it.
Danzo's expression darkened.
"Are you a messenger sent by Orochimaru?"
He spoke in a cold, guarded tone, his mind already analyzing the creature. What unsettled him most was the unmistakable presence of Hashirama's cells within it.
They were even more refined—more stable—than anything Orochimaru had ever managed to create.
"Orochimaru?" Black Zetsu's tone dripped with disdain.
"He was once merely a member of our organization—Akatsuki."
Black Zetsu deliberately invoked the Akatsuki name, knowing well that Danzo was aware of their existence.
Danzo's pupils constricted slightly, his cautious gaze sharpening.
Of course he knew of the Akatsuki. Itachi was still acting as his spy within their ranks.
But hearing that Orochimaru had once been one of them only deepened his wariness.
Danzo knew Orochimaru well—too well. Even when they had worked together, Danzo had always been on guard.
Orochimaru was a venomous serpent, and any dealings with him could only end in poison.
...
TN:
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