Chapter 99 – The Fugitive Princess of Konoha
An antique-scented room.
Tsunade, Jiraiya, Orochimaru, Naruto, Shizune.
Five people and one pig sat facing one another.
Years beyond counting later, the legendary Sannin were reunited.
Truly a cause for celebration… my foot!
This scene was downright bizarre!
Forget it, one more look.
Naruto glanced at Orochimaru; the man's right leg was in a cast wrapped with bandages.
He must've been hurt in the fight against Uchiha Itachi.
And it couldn't be an ordinary leg injury—otherwise he wouldn't have sought Tsunade.
Fine, seek her if you must, but what's going on now?
Calling Tsunade "big sister" with a cutesy face.
Where's your aloofness? Your image? Your dignity?
Oh, right—this face isn't even your own.
Naruto wondered if Orochimaru had been influenced by The Fool.
That leg of yours was probably snapped by flirting.
The longer you live, the weirder it gets.
Naruto felt twelve going on a hundred—he'd seen lifetimes of weirdness.
Orochimaru frowned.
He hadn't expected Jiraiya and Naruto to track him down.
Especially the Nine-Tails brat who'd seen his true face.
Yet Naruto hadn't exposed him.
And kept stealing glances at him.
Too strange.
Something felt off.
"Who's the kid?"
Tsunade took the sake cup Orochimaru offered, sipped, and asked.
"He's Uzumaki Naruto—my apprentice."
Jiraiya picked up his own cup.
But the titles differed: Tsunade was "sister," Jiraiyawas "uncle."
Jiraiya chuckled, "You can call me big brother, no need for uncle."
Veins bulged on Tsunade's fist.
Boom—
Jiraiya was embedded in the wall.
"She's not someone you hit on."
"…"
Naruto didn't know what to say—he'd have to pry Jiraiya out later.
With his tenacious vitality, Jiraiya didn't mind.
He'd been beaten by Tsunade since childhood.
"You're an Uzumaki?"
Tsunade looked at Naruto.
Thought of Minato and Kushina.
"Mm, Tsunade sister."
Naruto copied Orochimaru and called her sweetly.
Couldn't lose out.
Facing the ultimate healer, what's wrong with "sister"?
Who hasn't begged a healer for their life in a game?
"What sister?"
Jiraiya slapped his shoulder. "You're messing up the generations—call her granny!"
"…"
Naruto watched him fly into the wall again.
This is the romance skill you boasted was ten times mine?
Get a clue, old man!
He pried the guy out once more.
"It's fine, just call me sister—I like it."
Tsunade smiled.
What woman wouldn't enjoy that?
Naruto nodded obediently.
Jiraiya shot him a glare.
Hmph, little brat!
He turned to Orochimaru. "Who's she?"
Tsunade had just defended her so fiercely.
Some special identity?
"Let me."
Orochimaru took over and told his tale.
She was a princess of a minor country who fell for a rogue Ninja, got pregnant out of wedlock.
Unforgivable in her homeland.
She fled untold hardships, but the rogue turned out to be a scumbag.
He cruelly broke her leg and left.
"???"
Naruto's jaw dropped.
What the hell?
Thought the fugitive princess was Tsunade? Nope—it's me, Orochimaru!
I can't—
He couldn't hold back the roasts.
Naruto felt his Make complaints energy could one-shot the Ten-Tails.
Jiraiya looked ashamed.
He chased women, but never ruined decent ladies.
Especially one with such a tragic story.
His gaze turned solemn.
"Tsunade, let's get serious."
Jiraiya drained a cup, voice heavy. "The council's decided—you're the next Hokage, Fifth Hokage."
Tsunade froze; the sake suddenly tasted like water.
"What about sensei?"
"Dead. Orochimaru killed him."
Jiraiya ground his teeth. "You bastard!"
"…"
Naruto stared at his cup.
Yep, the sake you just drank was poured by the bastard you cursed.
He felt the Make complaints energy might suffocate him.
Orochimaru flicked a glance.
Call me bastard? Noted, Jiraiya.
And it was happening live.
Naruto mused: I was there—saw Orochimaru do it.
Yet Sarutobi Hiruzen probably died content.
After all, he got front-row seats to this circus.
Silence fell.
"Here, sister."
Orochimaru handed Tsunade another cup.
"Thanks."
After sipping she asked, "Why me?"
"You know why."
Jiraiya gave a wry smile. "Being Hokage was never my dream; my wandering life doesn't fit."
In the Ninja World he whored till he dropped off the map.
If this guy became Hokage, Tsunade feared her grandpa Senju Hashirama would climb out and clobber him.
If Naruto knew her thoughts… well, Hashirama had indeed just popped out—to smack Sarutobi.
"But you can, Tsunade."
Jiraiya said earnestly.
"…"
Tsunade stayed silent.
Without Orochimaru's menace from canon, her thoughts were different.
Hokage.
Her grandpa, her lover, her little brother.
So many people's dream.
All dead.
"How about this."
Jiraiya pulled out a deck of cards. "One game. If I win, you come back and be Hokage."
Well played!
Naruto inwardly cheered.
Who knew this bushy-brow could be so slick.
"Fine, but I only become Hokage if I win."
Tsunade smiled and took the cards.
So you do know you lose every bet.
Naruto sighed: since when was Hokage a cabbage?
Orochimaru felt the same.
But his take was different.
Record this and show it to Danzo—should be hilarious.
Jiraiya's mouth twitched.
If you don't want the job just say so.
In all these years I've rarely seen you win.
"Bring it."
Tsunade started shuffling.
Naruto quickly snatched the deck and, while "helping," slipped Jabami Yumeko's card to her.
"I'll deal—fairer that way."
He grinned.
"Sure."
Tsunade didn't object.
Thus, with Naruto as dealer, Orochimaru as spectator, and Tsunade vs. Jiraiya, the high-stakes gamble for Hokage began.
Tsunade's relaxed look slowly turned grave.
She won by an overwhelming margin.
"Tsunade, you're not thinking of backing out, are you?"
Jiraiya watched her expression, delighted.
For once the heavens favored him!
Tsunade set down her cards and said coldly, "We leave now—danger's coming."
"What danger? Two of the Sannin are here—who'd be crazy enough—"
Jiraiya trailed off.
Flames erupted outside, sky-high.
Rampant Chakra swept everything indiscriminately.
Many thanks to Mu Guang He Chen, Xiao Meng Lai La, Kong Shan Xin Yu Wan Lai Qiu 3, and Xiao Xiao Liu Lang Hu for their generous tips. P.S.: These two days are the critical queue period for Sanjiang. I beg all you great gods to keep following—read to the latest chapter daily. If we make it to Sanjiang, I'll add five extra chapters after going premium.