The Two of Them (II)

"By imperial decree?" Tsunade's beautiful eyes narrowed slightly, her gaze sharpening. "Don't treat me like a dictator... Besides, aren't we discussing this right now?"

"Who will ultimately become Hokage is a consensus reached by combining the opinions of me, the old man, you, and the other Jonin. It's not something I can decide just by Hokage someone."

The woman's voice was unhurried and gentle as she recounted her story.

Jiraiya remained calm and listened attentively to her explanation.

Tsunade wasn't in a hurry. Her slender fingers picked up a few roasted peanuts from the dish beside her and ate them leisurely. After a while, she stopped, licked her fingertips, and slowly said, "Of course, I don't deny that as the current Hokage, I have enormous influence in deciding the next Hokage, even to the point of having the final say—what you call 'appointment'. But before making a decision, I still hope to be convinced by you first... or, if you have a better reason, being convinced by you wouldn't be out of the question."

"After all, I'm an enlightened leader!"

The woman chuckled like a vendor selling melons, trying to ease the overly serious atmosphere.

Jiraiya, unusually serious, said with a solemn expression, "I don't have many reasons to convince you... I just want to remind you that Naruto's dream has always been to become Hokage, while Sakura has never expressed any longing for the Hokage. I think, regardless of who you prefer to be Hokage, the person in question's own feelings are also very important, right?"

He paused slightly, looked into Tsunade's eyes, and said in a deep voice, "Tsunade, you should know better than me... Does Sakura really want to be Hokage?"

The woman stopped drinking.

Her eyes were lowered, her gaze flickering.

No one knows a son better than his father, and no one knows a student better than his teacher. Tsunade, having spent so much time with her student Sakura Haruno is a girl with very contradictory traits; sometimes she's very easygoing, sometimes inexplicably arrogant, sometimes she's insightful about political issues, and sometimes she's like a clueless fool. She's a superb female ninja with a boyish, heroic spirit, yet also very gentle. And such an unconventional person, she doesn't seem to have any real interest in the Hokage position...

Unlike many ninjas in the village.

"I'll have to have a good talk with her when I get back," Tsunade thought to herself, realizing it was indeed an oversight on her part.

However, this does not mean that Jiraiya's words will convince her.

On the contrary, Tsunade always believed that people with overly pure hearts were not suitable to be Hokage, and this reason alone was enough for her to firmly vote against Naruto. Of course, she did not deny that the First Hokage was a great Hokage, although he was also quite stubborn... but her great-grandfather had Tobirama by his side to assist him, and his own strength was unparalleled in the Shinobi World.

If someone's strength exceeds a certain limit, like the First, then many rules no longer apply. But is it possible for Naruto to do that?

"I understand what you mean, Jiraiya," Tsunade a deep breath and said, "But..."

"You should know that politics is the art of compromise."

Jiraiya nodded.

Tsunade continued, "To put it bluntly, the resources of our environment are limited. If we want to live like human beings, want to obtain more resources, and want to leave a wider living space for our descendants, conflicts and contradictions of interest will inevitably arise, leading to mutual slaughter. This is struggle."

Too much fighting leads to war.

"The realization that war and killing cannot solve problems, and that one can only grit one's teeth and live under the same blue sky as others, and the various struggles and compromises made for this, constitute politics."

Unlike Jiraiya, who was indifferent to politics, Tsunade had been the Hokage for several years and had been influenced by the First, Second, and Third Hokage for many years, so she had her own unique understanding of politics.

While the Hokage position appears to grant her absolute power, with life and death in her hands and the ability to do as she pleases, Tsunade rarely acts unilaterally. She must consider various factors and make numerous compromises. Otherwise, why did Danzo and Root, despite their numerous atrocities, only have their problems resolved this year, until Danzo was defeated by Sakura and Shisui's eyes were taken, Danzo to his complete downfall?

If this is the case domestically, it's even less so internationally.

"Jiraiya, the old man once wanted you to become Hokage, but you refused," Tsunade said slowly.

"Because I'm not suited to be Hokage."

"That's right. Your personality is inherently unrelated to politics." Tsunade nodded. "Your Ninja Way is about perseverance and willpower; once you've made up your mind about something, you won't turn back. But as Hokage, there are many times you can't stick to anything. Politics requires you to compromise, otherwise you'll end up getting hurt because of your own stubbornness..."

Politicians need to uphold their principles, but they also need to be flexible in their tactics. Jiraiya possessed the former, because he was a pure and unyielding person. This pure fortitude enabled Jiraiya to grow to his current level, but it also made him unsuitable to become a Hokage.

Jiraiya remained silent.

He understood Tsunade, Tsunade naturally understood him too. The woman's assessment of him was spot on, and he didn't think she was wrong, so he had no way to refute it.

"Naruto is the same." Tsunade put down her wine glass, her intense gaze fixed on Jiraiya's face.

"His personality is too much like yours, Jiraiya. So... he's not suitable to be Hokage either."

"No, you're wrong, Tsunade." Jiraiya put down his wine glass, his gaze resolute as he looked back at Tsunade, and said in a deep voice, "I'm not arguing with you... Naruto is a lot like me, but there's one major difference."

Naruto always dreamed of becoming Hokage.

Jiraiya, was just a lazy bum with no dreams.

Jiraiya had a special place in Naruto's heart. Jiraiya had many outstanding disciples throughout his life, including the Fourth Hokage and his son. However, the Fourth and Pain were too exceptional, so they went their own way.

Naruto, however, was exceptionally clumsy yet incredibly tenacious, much like Jiraiya in his younger days. Therefore, he followed in Jiraiya's footsteps, inheriting his clumsiness and perseverance, even his lecherous nature. Naruto was the only child among all of Jiraiya's disciples to inherit everything about him. One had never had children, and the other had never had a father; during their two years of wandering outside the village, their relationship, though not that of father and son, was stronger than that of father and son.

Naruto... in Jiraiya's heart, he was probably more like a son or grandson?

Regardless, Jiraiya was determined to fight for Naruto.

Even if he were facing Tsunade.

Tsunade stared intently at him. Men who are serious are the most handsome, and when she met Jiraiya's unwavering Jiraiya, Tsunade suddenly realized that this man's eyes could become so clear.

When the usual lecherousness, cynicism, and other dross disappeared from the man's eyes, Jiraiya's diamond-like, clear and unwavering will through them, Tsunade suddenly Jiraiya become charming and masculine.

It seemed she had drunk too much sake; a blush crept onto Tsunade's face, like peach blossoms in bloom, making her pretty face even more radiant and beautiful.

She lowered her eyes, breaking the long stare with a smile, "Ha! Jiraiya, you're still as stubborn as ever!"

"Forget it, no more of this, it's pointless." Tsunade and shook her head. "We'll worry about the future later! There's still plenty of time!"

Jiraiya laughed and clinked his glass with Tsunade 'Tsunade: "That's right... Cheers!"

"Dry!"

Tsunade the drink in one gulp and then boldly wiped the water from the corner of her mouth with her hand.

"It's my fault for getting up too." She put down her wine glass and smiled faintly. "I originally called you back to the village so you could rest for a while, but I ended up making you worry about these trivial things."

Jiraiya glanced at Tsunade with some surprise.

"I thought the village was just worried about Naruto's safety..."

Tsunade her head. "Naruto is only one part of the reason..."

Jiraiya, on the other hand, was brought back by Tsunade because the situation was becoming increasingly perilous, and she wanted Jiraiya to return to protect the village. On a personal level, Tsunade wanted Jiraiya to be able to return home and rest instead of wandering outside.

"The village and I owe you so much. Now that the younger generation is growing up, you can worry less and confidently hand over the responsibilities to them."

Jiraiya sensed Tsunade's feelings to some extent, and his heart warmed slightly, but he smiled boldly, "Haha! This is just my mission! I'm willing to risk my life for this mission at any time, that's what makes this old man so cool!"

Is it because he's handsome? Yes, Jiraiya is actually quite handsome like this...

"Hmph, as long as you don't always try to show off by being tough!" Tsunade scoffed, but couldn't help but curl her lips into a slight smile.

The two of them started arguing skillfully.

They talked about the past, about their disciples, about their memories...

As the sun gradually sank behind the western mountains, night fell.

As dusk settles and the full moon rises, the city lights begin to twinkle.

The atmosphere relaxed, Jiraiya started being cheeky again.

"Haha! Who would have thought that the 'washboard princess' of yesteryear would now be a busty Hokage?" Jiraiya slurred, reeking of alcohol, "Times really do change!"

"You, who were so beautiful back then, are now an old woman over fifty, with a disciple who is even more beautiful, more capable, and flatter-chested than you. And me? I also have a disciple who is just like me in every way...! I really look forward to seeing them grow up!"

Tsunade, her eyes glazed and face flushed, shook her head and said, "Idiot... Sakura and Naruto probably have no chance. Instead of hoping for them, we should focus on the present...!"

"At least Sakura is relatively gentle with Naruto, unlike you who's so fierce..."

"You bastard... do you deserve a beating?"

"Look at you... here you go again!"

Strangely enough, even though it was late autumn in Taiwan with a chilly breeze, Tsunade found the sake to be exceptionally delicious, warming her stomach and with a hint of sweetness.

On the streets of Konoha beneath the Hokage Rock, the streetlights were lit, their dim yellow light shining up from below, casting a warm and ambiguous glow on the night.

The moon is beautiful tonight.

[I don't know if you guys have seen "White Snake," it's a really good movie recently. Unfortunately, I went to see it alone in the theater...]

[The last sentence is a meme, but it doesn't look good when it's spoken aloud.]

[Two chapters of side quest content will be inserted here; the next chapter will return to the main storyline.]