🚨Insert Some Funny Memes or GIF🚨
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Inside the hotel, everyone gathered in a room, listening to Hikaru speak about his past and his inner thoughts.
It was the first time Jiraiya had heard about Hikaru's experiences, and he couldn't help but fall into deep thought.
Even Naruto could relate to Hikaru's words. Their parents had sacrificed their lives for the village, and they, too, had to keep moving forward — for the sake of the village, to carry on the Will of Fire.
Shizune's heart stirred with nostalgia as she listened. She had left Konoha at a young age, and her memories of the village had slowly faded with time. But Hikaru's words reignited something inside her.
Tsunade's expression was complicated. She and Hikaru had experienced similar losses, yet they had taken two entirely different paths.
She had chosen to run — to look away from the rot festering within the village's leadership. All she'd wanted was to escape the pain and leave that sorrowful place behind.
But Hikaru… Hikaru had chosen the opposite. He allowed the pain to temper his resolve, turning it into unshakable faith. He was determined to change the village — to save it from crumbling like a candle flickering in the wind.
With the blessing of the WordSpirit, Hikaru's voice carried even greater power, resonating deeply with everyone in the room.
Tsunade looked at Hikaru's spirited posture and handsome face. Something long buried deep inside her — a seed that had withered long ago — quietly began to stir back to life.
If her years of wandering had been a night without stars, then Hikaru was the spark that lit the way toward dawn.
She found herself drawn to his warmth — wanting to reach out, to feel it more closely.
Hikaru noticed the change in her expression. The hesitation, the disappointment — they had begun to fade. Now was the time to press forward and shatter her final resistance.
"Tsunade," Hikaru said with unwavering conviction, "as long as the Uchiha remain in Konoha, the darkness that once plagued the upper echelons will never return."
"If you agree to return and accept the role of Hokage, the Uchiha will stand behind you. We'll clear every obstacle in your path."
"You're a princess of the Senju clan — surely you understand what it means when I say this. Our clans founded Konoha together!"
"Come back to the village, Tsunade. Take up the mantle of the Fifth Hokage. Everyone is waiting for your return!"
Hikaru extended his hand toward her, firm and steady, his eyes full of unyielding passion — impossible to refuse.
But Tsunade, faced with Hikaru's intensity, found herself at a loss for words.
He had stirred her long-buried desire to rebuild the village. Yet, in this moment, she felt uncharacteristically flustered — like a young girl again. It was a strange, unfamiliar emotion.
Was she… shy?
No way! How could she, Tsunade of the Sannin, be shy?
It had to be something else. That's right — it must be the gambling debts! She still owed a fortune to various people. That had to be why she was uneasy.
She clung to that excuse with all her might, refusing to acknowledge the butterflies in her stomach. After all, she hadn't had a serious relationship since Dan. The years of loneliness, the empty nights… all of it had left her unprepared for someone like Hikaru.
So now, faced with these sudden feelings, she did what she always did — deflected.
"But I still have a mountain of gambling debt," she said awkwardly.
Jiraiya, who had been watching the whole thing unfold, blinked in surprise.
Tsunade? Acting like this?
But as soon as he heard her excuse, he immediately understood. Ah, right. The gambling debt. Of course.
Hikaru smiled gently, the corners of his lips lifting with warmth and calm.
"It's fine," he said. "The Uchiha will cover it."
The moment the words left his mouth, Shizune dashed to Tsunade, threw her arms around her, and burst into tears.
"Waaaah! Lady Tsunade, please go back and become Hokage!"
"No more running from debt collectors!"
"No more sleeping in caves because we can't afford a hotel!"
No one expected such a dramatic reaction from Shizune — not even Hikaru. It seemed she had endured far more than anyone realized during her years with Tsunade.
Despite being the one under Tsunade's care, Shizune had ended up taking care of Tsunade instead. Cooking, cleaning, organizing travel, managing finances — all of it fell on her shoulders. And when Tsunade got drunk, everything became ten times harder.
Shizune had grown up too fast — all to survive alongside someone who was supposed to be her guardian.
Tsunade looked down at Shizune clinging to her, and her earlier embarrassment was swept away. She felt both guilt and fondness for the girl.
But then it hit her — Oh no, my image!
She was about to become Hokage, and Shizune had just blurted out all of her worst habits!
Her face flushed crimson.
Ugh… I've totally lost face in front of Hikaru.
Wait… why did she care what Hikaru thought of her?
Another excuse surfaced: Of course I care. I'm Senju, he's Uchiha. Clan pride!
And with that, she swallowed her embarrassment, slowly stood up, and gently pulled away from Shizune's grasp.
She hesitated, but finally stretched out her hand toward Hikaru.
Their hands were about to meet — until a surge of unfamiliar chakra signatures flooded Hikaru's sensory range.
At least a dozen. Two of them matched the strength of Jiraiya — and they were closing in fast.
Jiraiya sensed it too. Without hesitation, he grabbed Naruto, leapt out the window, and disappeared into the streets.
Tsunade stood frozen, still battling her conflicted feelings.
Hikaru didn't wait. He grabbed her hand firmly, seized Shizune's wrist with the other, and followed Jiraiya straight through the window.
The five of them hit the streets, chakra flaring, moving quickly.
Outside, chaos erupted. Dozens of enemy shinobi leapt across rooftops, converging fast.
A fair-skinned ninja with light blond hair appeared beside the enemy commander, relaying information urgently.
"Lord A, the target's chakra signature is moving southeast at high speed! Karai can't keep up much longer — we must intercept them now!"
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