In the spring of Konoha Year 55, the village finally returned to its steady rhythm.
In front of the mission board, ninjas stopped occasionally to glance at new postings. More and more leave requests appeared each day—a rare sight after last year's endless wave of missions.
Gathering Team 5, Roshi announced his plan.
"I'm going to apply for a period of leave. I'll be training outside the Village for a while."
"Leave, huh?" Anko scratched the back of her purple hair, her tone easygoing. "Can't blame you. Last year we were running around nonstop—mission after mission—barely had time to breathe."
She grinned. "At least my savings look nice now. Taking a short break sounds good to me."
"Same here," she added after a moment, more serious. "I've still got several Ninjutsu to master—both from the village rewards and Orochimaru's leftovers. It'll take a while to get through all that."
Her expression hardened slightly. "Besides, I should start working toward Jonin rank."
Then she turned to Itachi, standing quietly beside her. "Speaking of which, the Chunin Exams are coming up soon. Itachi, you sure you'll be fine entering alone?"
Itachi's voice was calm as ever. "No problem."
And indeed, the ones who should be worried weren't Itachi but the other genin of his generation. If the number of available Chunin slots was limited this year, his peers would simply have to wait for the next exam.
"But still…" Anko tilted her head. "Why leave the Village, Roshi? You could train just as well here."
"To find someone."
The day after submitting his leave request, Roshi received a summons from the Hokage's Office.
Hiruzen looked older than he had the year before. The lines at the corners of his eyes seemed deeper, his presence quieter.
When Roshi entered, the Hokage rose from behind a desk buried under scrolls and paperwork. "Sit," he said, motioning toward the sofa.
"Your leave can be approved," Hiruzen began, "but leaving the village… where exactly do you intend to go?"
After a short pause, Roshi decided not to lie.
"I intend to seek out Lady Tsunade during my training—and try to persuade her to return to Konoha."
Hiruzen's pipe clicked softly as he filled it with tobacco. "Bringing Tsunade back, is it?" He gave a faint sigh. "You're aware of her current state, aren't you, Roshi?"
"Yes," Roshi replied simply.
Hiruzen leaned back, his gaze thoughtful. "A Hokage cannot fear blood… nor hide from the front lines."
He understood immediately what Roshi meant. It wasn't just a training trip—it was an attempt to find someone who could take his place.
If Jiraiya hadn't refused the position, and if Tsunade hadn't stayed away for so long, he himself wouldn't have needed to return to the Hokage's seat after the Fourth Hokage's death.
The Hyuga incident had shifted public opinion for now, but discontent within the village still lingered—and he knew part of that weight came from this very young man before him.
Still, he didn't mind. As long as Roshi's loyalty to the village remained firm, the rest didn't matter.
"The real problem," Hiruzen said at last, "is Tsunade's hemophobia."
"I'll find a way," Roshi answered.
Hiruzen studied him for a long moment, then nodded. "Very well. You may leave the Village—but don't take too long. I'll grant you three months."
He turned back to his desk, rummaged through several scrolls, and finally handed one to Roshi.
"These are our latest clues to Tsunade's whereabouts. Intelligence suggests she's currently in the Land of Hot Water."
Roshi unrolled the scroll. It listed Tsunade's gambling trail from the southern regions all the way north—along with her mounting debts. Even for someone of her stature, the total was… impressive.
As Roshi read, Hiruzen spoke quietly. "Her temper is quick, and she's hopeless with money. Between the two of them, I always thought Jiraiya was more suited for Hokage. But… given the state of things, if she's willing, perhaps it's worth another try."
He sighed, a rare note of regret coloring his tone. "I've disappointed many, and I know that. All this—it's the result of my own failings."
If only I'd died back then, the thought flickered through his mind.
Roshi carefully rolled up the scroll and bowed slightly. "You have your own considerations, Hokage-sama. Thank you for your understanding."
What he was proposing could easily be seen as rebellion—trying to find a replacement for the current Hokage. But because it was Hiruzen, he dared to speak plainly. And perhaps, somewhere deep down, Hiruzen himself longed for release.
"It's good," Hiruzen said softly, "that the younger generation still searches for ways to make Konoha stronger." His expression turned stern. "But Roshi—even if Tsunade returns, unless her hemophobia is cured, don't expect me to simply step aside."
"I understand."
"There's one more thing." The Hokage pulled another document from his drawer and handed it over. "You're on the black market's bounty list."
"The price is ten million. It's not high enough to attract S-rank assassins, but strong enough to draw attention. I've sent Anbu to investigate, but we couldn't find who issued it."
"A bounty…" Roshi murmured, glancing at the paper. His portrait stared back at him, neatly printed beside his name and rank.
He hadn't done anything that should've provoked such hatred. His missions had always been clean and efficient—no lingering grudges.
Perhaps another village. Or perhaps someone within Konoha still waiting for a reply.
He set the thought aside for now.
The bounty notice contained no details about his abilities—and besides, his recent mastery of the Flying Thunder God gave him more confidence than ever.
It had taken him months to refine, but he could now deploy the formula and teleport with decent accuracy. His range was still limited—only a few dozen meters at first—but after experimenting with Wood Release as a medium for his markings, his teleportation range had extended to several hundred meters.
By linking himself with Wood Release clones, he could even teleport to their location through shared sensory range.
He wasn't fast enough to fight like the Fourth Hokage, but that wasn't his intent. For Roshi, Flying Thunder God was a survival tool—not a weapon.
If the bounty hunters really came, he'd have a way out.
Roshi folded the bounty poster and tucked it away. "Thank you for the warning, Hokage-sama. I'll be careful."
"Good." Hiruzen waved a tired hand. "Go. Take care of yourself."
Roshi bowed once more, then turned and left the Hokage's Office, the spring sunlight spilling across the tiled rooftops of Konoha as he stepped outside.
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