The trio passed the streets of the big town. Both Tsuyu and Jiraiya look at the wall surrounding a half destroyed castle. Something big definitely happened here…
That was what was left of Tsunade's punches yesterday.
Meanwhile, the Sound 4 was in the vicinity, constantly monitoring Tsunade's location and make sure she didn't just run off or hide elsewhere. Tayuya noticed the trio pair, observing the Leaf symbol of their headbands…
"Look. It's the shinobi of Konoha…".
"Wait… is that…", Kidomaru quickly took a small book from his pocket with his free hand. Flipping it quickly.
"Jiraiya… the legendary sannin…!".
"... Orochimaru-sama's plan would be ruined at this point, no?".
"Heh. Don't you forget our master is a sannin himself. Besides… he already…".
The Sound 4 look at each other, each has confidence in their master.
Jirobo looks at the blonde girl specifically.
"Isn't that… the person Orochimaru had taken interest in?".
The 4 of them look towards Tsuyu's direction. Kidomaru finally remembered. Tsuyu Uzumaki…
Tayuya looks at Tsuyu, trying to see what's so special about her to have Orochimaru-sama interested in her.
"Heh. She looks weak! Just a little girl. What does she have!".
"Who knows, maybe she's not what she seems on th-". Kidomaru was about to say something but-
"Hide!", Sakon quickly pulled everyone to lower their heads.
Tsuyu turned to look at her back, feeling like there's a gaze locking onto her. Maybe it was just her imagination, she thought.
"Tayuya keeps track of Jiraiya. Jirobo, Sakon, make sure Tsunade doesn't leave this place. I will report to Orochimaru-sama".
***
"Kidomaru… what's the matter…. Cough…".
"Orochimaru-sama… Jiraiya, the sannin is here".
Kabuto raised his glass, frowning, while Orochimaru's expression turned really ugly at the moment.
"Damn it! Cough…! To think he's here at this time…!". It's almost like fate is making a joke to him. Why can't Jiraiya come a week later?
"Orochimaru-sama! Please calm down…!".
"I also have other information. Jiraiya brought along two people with him. One is… Tsuyu Uzumaki, the one you mentioned before. The other seems to be her relative, I think. They look similar".
"Hn…hnhnhn… hahaha…!". Orochimaru suddenly laughed. His eyes went crazy all of a sudden. The current body he's using doesn't have much time left. Perfect… Jiraiya, to think you brought me such a gift!
"I don't want any interruption when I meet Tsunade. Kidomaru, I will have you and the others distract the ones he brought… but, do not kill her. I want her. Kabuto, I will leave Shizune to you. You four will stop them in their tracks while I deal with Tsunade… cough… remember, even all of you cannot defeat Jiraiya. Use the others as your target… he won't just ignore them…".
"Understand, Orochimaru-sama!".
"Hnhn… good… cough...".
***
Jiraiya and the others went around, and it's clear Tsunade is here but they just never found her at all. Naruto is already grumbling and hungry.
"Ero-sennin! Let's stop searching and eat first!".
"Haih. Okay okay… this brat…". Just as he entered the izakaya, his eyes locked with a beautiful figure with light blonde hair and plump chest.
"Y-You!". Both Jiraiya and Tsunade stood and pointed at each other at the same time.
Tsunade, Shizune, Jiraiya, Naruto and Tsuyu sat on the same table. Jiraiya poured some alcohol for himself, then for Tsunade. It's a reunion after tens of years for them.
Naruto looks at Tsunade. She looks beautiful and young! And her chest… She's 50 years old for real…?
Tsunade takes a big gulp of sake, sighing.
"Recently… I keep seeing old friends…".
Jiraiya's expression turned a little serious. He take another sip of sake, before making his guess.
"It's Orochimaru wasn't it… what happened?".
Tsunade looks at Shizune viciously, as if warning her to shut up about the trade between her and Orochimaru.
"Nothing really… we just exchanged greetings…". Tsunade took out cards from her bosom, shuffling them before placing it on the table.
Naruto looks at these two. This nee-chan… is she really the one who can heal any injury…?.
Tsuyu remained quiet, silently eating her food while observing the interaction of those two.
"What about you, what do you want from me….?", Tsunade asked. Her hand picks and chooses a card, placing it on the table.
"I will be straight. The village has decided to make you the Fifth Hokage".
Naruto almost spat the fish in his mouth out.
Fifth Hokage!? What!? Tsuyu suspected this so she wasn't surprised.
"Did you know about Lord Third?", Jiraiya ask, to see if Tsunade is even aware of what's going on with the village. She had been secluding herself and probably aren't aware that two third of Konoha is even destroyed.
"Ah… I know. I heard about him from that person".
"Orochimaru did it… wasn't it…". Tsunade's expression is almost too calm, as if an ex friend killing their teacher is nothing at all.
Seeing Tsunade seemingly don't care at all, Naruto felt annoyed and even angry.
"Aren't you a sannin too! He killed the Hokage! How are you so relaxed-ttebayo! That person… that person killed Hokage jii-chan!". Naruto suddenly stood to protest.
"Just be quiet, nii-san". Tsuyu glared at him with cold eyes.
"But-". Tsuyu's glare turned colder, making Naruto shut up and sat down.
Naruto crossed him, grumbling silently in dissatisfaction. She's not sure why Naruto is attached to the 3rd Hokage to react like this. That guy only visited once in a while and pretended to be nice. If Naruto knew the decisions Hiruzen made and the way he neglected him, would Naruto still care? Tch. Tsuyu thought Naruto was quite gullible. He considered anyone who's nice to him even slightly as someone close to him.
"Hmph… and these two brats are…?". Tsunade looked at the two. It's clear enough the two were siblings from appearance.
"This girl is Tsuyu Uzumaki, that one is Naruto Uzumaki".
Tsunade looked at Naruto first, having a thought… The jinchuriki…!
She looked at Tsuyu, then at Naruto. Observing the siblings.
"You are really diff-".
"MO! SHUT UP!!! I know!", Naruto's sudden outburst surprised everyone on the table. It's as if Naruto already heard the full sentence of Tsunade wanting to say Tsuyu is different from him whatever whatever-ttebayo!!! He heard that sentence his whole life it could drive him insane.
"Tsunade-sama, I hope you can pardon my brother's rudeness…", Tsuyu said respectfully. Damned brat! Everyone would want to learn and make connections with the sannin, what the hell are you doing!?
She glared at Naruto as if wanting to chew him alive.
"Hmph. At least one is sensible". Tsunade looks at Naruto with a mocking gaze.
"Wa!! You…!".
"Enough, Naruto!". Jiraiya's words manage to stop Naruto. He sat quietly, grumbling again.
After seconds of silence, Jiraiya ask again.
"So, what's your answer?".
Tsunade look at the cards on her hands… seeing she's losing, she dropped all of them on the table.
"That's impossible. I refuse".
Ha!?!? Naruto listened in disbelief. How could someone just turn down the Hokage position! If she don;t want it, just give it to me!
Jiraiya smiled slightly. "I heard those words before… when I asked you out, you said the same thing".
Naruto looks at Jiraiya in shock again. "Waa!!! I don't get it…!".
"Ah! And she refuses too!".
"There's no one else other than her… Tsunade had made a lot of contributions during the Great War. Her skills in combat and medical ninjutsu are unparalleled".
"During the war, she created antidotes for various poisons used by Sunagakure. Rendering their advantage useless. She becomes the core reason Konoha won against Suna", Tsuyu added.
"Hmph… kid, you are informed…". Tsunade looks into Tsuyu, noticing she's different from what an 11 year old brat is supposed to be.
"I admire geniuses like you and Jiraiya-sama. Your feat and achievement make me want to chase your heights".
"Hahaha!", Tsunade suddenly laughed.
"What a sweet talker". Tsunade looked at Tsuyu with a little satisfied expression.
"Tch… what's so good about her… hmph", Naruto mumbled.
"Besides, she is the granddaughter of the 1st Hokage. No matter the status or contribution, she had it all. Once she became the Fifth Hokage, she would return to the village and help treat Kakashi too". Jiraiya added.
Naruto contemplated. While he's not so convinced about other points, he stll want Kakashi to wake up.
"Jiraiya… compared to your previous apprentice… I see that one is similar. The other, completely different… Hmph. Such a bad mouth, rude, and not handsome". Tsunade is saying this as comparison to Minato naturally.
"What did you say?!", the veins on Naruto's forehead bulged.
"Hahah… it's tough to compare to Yondaime… he had all the qualities of a great shinobi. Talent in jutsu, a bright mind, and… as handsome as me too! It's difficult to compare… though…", Jiraiya looked at Tsuyu for a second. Tsunade too noticed Jiraiya's look.
If Jiraiya can give her so much praise to compare her to Yondaime, it seems that Tsuyu is a genius of the current generation. So Minato does leave his gene behind huh.
Naruto realised these two were praising Tsuyu silently. He felt alienated and even down a little.
Hmph! I will prove to them I am talented too-ttebayo!
"But no matter… Yondaime still died so quickly… so young… using his own life. Life isn't like money. To take such a huge risk and lose it... What a fool". Tsunade said with a mocking tone.
"Even the 1st Hokage and 2nd… both of them try to stop wars… end up both of them died in vain". Tsunade shrugged.
"Sarutobi sensei too… he's already so old. But he still wants to be a hero. No wonder he died".
Jiraiya was taken aback. Tsunade's words were traitorous enough. His eyes showed panic as he turned to Tsuyu, afraid she would be offended since she knew Yondaime is her father. If Naruto knew he would have probably stood and tried to beat Tsunade for talking about his father's sacrifice like that.
Tsunade just noticed Jiraiya's panic, then she realised what her mouth just muttered about Yondaime earlier.
Does she know?
Tsuyu looks completely unaffected, as if her words are not personal at all. Maybe it's just her imagination. But instead of Tsuyu that gets angry… it's someone else.
"Hokage is such a bother. Only a fool would take that position". Tsunade ended her rant.
"What did you say!", Naruto stood up violently, the table shook from his anger. To diss the Hokage's effort…! Even if Naruto dislikes the Fourth Hokage, he understood he did it for the village. And he died saving the village! Hokage jii-chan also died to protect the village! This Tsunade!!!
"Grr-", Naruto stepped on the table and is about to pounce on Tsunade-
Just then, two hands grabbed Naruto's back, holding him in place.
"Let me go!". Tsuyu and Jiraiya just pulled him back to his seat.
"Anyone who talks shit about Hokage jii-chan and Yondaime… I don't care if you are a woman! I will beat you up!". Naruto clenched his fist, he's so pissed off at this woman.
Seconds of silence passed. Even Tsuyu is in disbelief at such brazen words. That's the sannin… not a random woman on the street. What the hell are you saying!?
Tsunade smirked in amusement. She stood and raised her leg on the table, looking at Naruto mockingly.
"Hm. Fine! Let's take it outside then!".
"Grr…".
Sigh.
Sigh.
Jiraiya and Tsuyu sighed at the same time.
***
"I may not look like it but I am a sannin. Why would I take a genin brat like you seriously?".
"What did you say!?".
Tsunade suddenly showed one finger.
"I will just use one finger. This is enough to defeat you".
"Well~ Come on brat~", Tsunade furled her finger, taunting Naruto.
"Grr… Don't look down on me!!". Kagebunshin no Jutsu!
Tsunade's eyes flashed a surprise slightly. Okay, she cannot just use one finger to settle all these clones… once the shadow clone attacks her, she moves at ease, dodging easily.
Huh, chunin level… interesting.
"I take my word back. But a punch is enough".
Tsunade punched one clone, sending it flying and crashing to all of them including Naruto accurately.
Nnh… damn it.
Before Naruto could dash to Tsunade again, a Kunai sent flying right before his foot. Naruto stopped in his track, looking at Tsunade angrily.
"Before I beat you up, why are you so worked up on the mention of Hokage?". Tsunade's words were stern and loud.
"... Because… unlike you… I will bear the name Hokage no matter what! Because…".
"Being Hokage is my dream!".
Tsunade had a little gasp inside. Hearing the sentence, the image of Nawaki overlapped Naruto at this moment. She turned her eyes away, feeling her heart touched at the similarity.
Huh? She seems to be affected… regardless. I cannot tackle her head on. My clones does nothing. 9 tails…no, this is outside the village… then… I can only use that!
Naruto hold both his palms together, spinning and gathering chakra into a ball.
Tsunade is shocked to see the jutsu of Yondaime.
"This jutsu…!".
Even Tsunade cannot take Rasengan head on unless she unleashes her Yin seal and uses Creation Rebirth to heal herself.
"Grr… Take this!!!", Naruto dashed while holding a semi-finished Rasengan. Tsunade regained her composure and quickly use her strength and punch the ground, creating ten of meters crack and split the ground.
Naruto stumbled and fell, causing the semi-finished jutsu to blast onto the ground.
Huh… it's incomplete.
While Naruto is coughing up dirt and tended by Shizune. On the other hand, Tsuyu was observing Tsunade's technique and strength. It's amazing really.
"Jiraiya! Are you the one who taught him that jutsu? You know only Yondaime and you can use it! To give false hope to your student. No wonder he had the idea of Hokage nonsense!".
"It's not nonsense-ttebayo! Stupid! Stupid!". Naruto gets mad again at her.
"If you give me three days.. I will definitely master it!".
"Heh. You said it brat. Men don't take back their words".
"Hah! I stand by my words. Because, that's my ninja way!".
Tsunade snickered. "Then what about a wager. 1 week. If you can master that jutsu, I will acknowledge you had the potential to be Hokage. And I will give you the necklace of 1st Hokage".
"Ha!? Who cares about a damn necklace!".
"Naruto, that necklace is worth a fortune…you could buy three mountains with it".
"Suge… F-Fine then. I will take it-ttebayo".
"Tsunade-sama… but that necklace is…", Shizune wanted to retort. That necklace had a curse of death on it… First it's Nawaki, then Dan. Now it's like she's asking Naruto to die too.
"Hmph. I already decided. Let's go".
"I will master it in one week! Just you wait!".
Naruto returned to his own room, already planned to rest well and train hard tomorrow Just then, someone knocked on the door. It's Shizune, Tsunade's assistant.
"Excuse me Naruto. I know it's late but I want to talk to you. I don't want you to misunderstand Tsunade… and that necklace….".
"Hmph. What do I care about that old woman!".
"Lady Tsunade is not the person you think she is! You know nothing about her!", Shizune raised her voice, frustrated.
She talked about Tsunade's past afterwards… about the kind brave person she was. About Nawaki, and Dan. That the necklace meant so much for her… and the deaths surrounding the necklace.
Naruto feels solemn, his heart feels really heavy for Tsunade knowing her entire story. He clenched his fist… the stakes… the bet…
Naruto walks past Shizune.
"Naruto! Where are you…".
"I am going to train…".
***
Tsuyu looks at Naruto, practicing hard with his clones, throwing incomplete Rasengan after another.
Tsuyu isn't sure if this is a good thing or a bad thing. She knows how hard it is to master rasengan. Even she who had better chakra control could see it would take a few weeks based on her results and cheating use of shadow clones. How could Naruto master it in one week?
That night, Naruto trains super hard, multiple shadow clones making Rasengan throughout the night until he falls into exhaustion and collapses.
Sigh. Idiot brother…
Tsuyu had to collect his body afterwards, letting him rest. But the next morning Naruto is 100% fine. That had always been the norm. Naruto went to train again - until he can win!
***