48: Chapter 48 The Only Confidant and an Epic GainA deathly silence reigned over the ruins of Tansaburo.
The psychic contract between the giant snake and the toad had long been broken.Their enormous bodies transformed into two huge plumes of white smoke, dissipating on the ravaged battlefield.
All that remained were the buildings razed to the ground and the gamblers wailing in despair.
Jiraiya stood amidst a pile of rubble, panting heavily; his red coat was tattered and torn.
Not far away, Shizune was frantically giving the injured person emergency treatment; her face was filled with relief at surviving such an ordeal.
All eyes, seemingly unnoticed, were drawn to the blonde woman.
Tsunade.
She slowly withdrew her fist, which was powerful enough to shake mountains.The chilling killing intent faded, and she stood there like a newly born god.
Then, she moved.
She ignored the wounded and paid no attention to Jiraiya, who was exhausted both physically and mentally.
She strode across the rubble, each step firm and steady, until she reached the boy who had stood calmly the entire time.
Naruto Uzumaki.
Tsunade stopped and looked at him intently.
The boy's calm face was reflected in those clear brown eyes.
There were too many complex emotions surging within her: gratitude, shock, relief, and a deep dependence that she herself was unaware of.
She didn't say thank you.
Any words seem utterly inadequate in the face of the miracle the young man had just performed.
She simply reached out her hand—the same hand that had just contained destructive power—and now it was incredibly gentle, with the solemnity and care one would show to a rare treasure.She gently placed it on Naruto's head, stroking his brilliant blond hair.
[Ding!A torrent of top-tier positive emotions has been detected from [Tsunade]!]
[Ding!You have received 28,000 units of ultimate gratitude from Tsunade!]
[Ding!You have received 26,500 units of ultimate [Trust] from Tsunade!]
[Ding!You have received 24,000 units of Ultimate [Hope] from Tsunade!]
[Ding!Glory Points harvesting efficiency has been boosted to peak!]
On Naruto's system panel, a series of golden notifications flashed across the screen, and the numbers surged at an unprecedented rate.
I see.
Naruto made his conclusions without any emotional fluctuation.
The harvesting of negative emotions is intense yet fleeting, like harvesting leeks.
This top-tier positive emotion, which originates from the salvation of the soul, is more mellow, more lasting, and of higher quality.
This is a long-term investment with an amazing return.
Tsunade withdrew her hand, turned around, and faced her white-haired companion who was still in a daze.
"Jiraiya." Her voice regained its clarity, carrying an undeniable decisiveness.
"I agree to become the Fifth Hokage."
Jiraiya was jolted, his face, which always wore a sly smile, now filled with incomprehensible elation and astonishment."You.you mean it?Tsunade!"
"However, I have one condition," Tsunade interrupted his excitement.
Her gaze returned to Naruto, her determination unwavering.
"I need Naruto to stay by my side as my advisor and assistant."
The air froze.
Consultant Assistant?
Jiraiya's mind went blank for a moment."Are you kidding me!He's just a twelve-year-old brat!What kind of advisor can he be for you?"
Why would you appoint a low-ranking ninja as the Hokage's assistant?
This is absolutely ridiculous.
Tsunade simply looked at him calmly and, in a matter-of-fact tone, uttered a sentence that sent shivers down Jiraiya's spine.
"This brat is the only one who can cure me."
She paused, then added, each word resounding with conviction.
"He is also my only confidant."
[Ding!You have received 15,000 of Jiraiya's ultimate [Disruptive] power!]
[Ding!You have received 13,000 Extreme [Confusion] from Jiraiya!]
confidant.
Jiraiya was completely speechless.
He stared blankly at Tsunade, then at Naruto.
He suddenly realized that he might have just been a guide all along.
A tool who brings a patient named "Tsunade" to a doctor named "Naruto".
This kid's status among Konoha's higher-ups will reach an unimaginable and unshakeable height because of this simple sentence.
Naruto reaped the expected political benefits and calmly filed them away.
A most solid political backing.
A treasure trove of knowledge about medical ninjutsu and top-tier sealing techniques, available for free use.
This deal is very worthwhile.
The group set off to return to Konoha.
The scenery on the road we came from and the road we returned from remained the same, but the atmosphere was completely different.
Jiraiya felt isolated.
Tsunade walked almost the entire time beside Naruto.She was no longer the decadent gambler, but had returned to being the intelligent and powerful female ninja.
She would naturally chat with Naruto about some unbelievable questions about the nature of chakra.
"Naruto, you said that since chakra is a combination of mental and physical energy, if the proportion of mental energy is increased to the extreme, is it possible to ignore the laws of physics?"
Naruto always manages to give her a seemingly simple yet insightful answer that leaves her pondering for a long time.
"I think it depends on your definition of 'rules.' Whether you change them or create new ones."
Jiraiya couldn't understand a single word of their conversation.
He tried several times to crack a joke or tell a few dirty jokes to ease the strange academic atmosphere, but Tsunade only gave him a cold warning to shut up.
He, one of the legendary Sannin, was now practically an unnecessary bodyguard.
Naruto really enjoyed the atmosphere.
Having just achieved her goal of "mental reshaping," Tsunade is continuously providing high-quality [content/resources].The emotions of trust and exploration.
Meanwhile, Jiraiya, standing to the side, contributes a steady stream of [Confusion] and [Self-Doubt].
Two emotions, double the joy.
A few days later, the familiar and imposing main gate of Konoha Village finally appeared on the horizon.
The feeling of coming home made everyone unconsciously breathe a sigh of relief.
A rare complex expression of trepidation, like a feeling of returning home, appeared on Tsunade's face.
She was going to return to the place she had fled from for half her life.
Just as they were about to step into the village.
A dark figure descended from the sky with a sharp whooshing sound.
He is an ANBU ninja who wears an animal mask.
He knelt on one knee, his movements swift and decisive, raising a scroll high above his head with both hands.His voice was hoarse from the extreme exertion of running around, yet it was filled with an undisguised panic.
"Lady Tsunade!Lady Jiraiya!Urgent information!"
Jiraiya and Tsunade's expressions simultaneously hardened.
Tsunade reached out and took the scroll, quickly unrolling it.
The next second, the gentleness that had just appeared on her face vanished without a trace.
Jiraiya leaned over for a look, and froze on the spot.
The scroll contained few words, yet they were shocking.
The ANBU ninja raised his head and, in a trembling voice, almost shouted, confirmed the final conclusion of the intelligence report.
"Uchiha Sasuke has defected!"
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