Tsunade and Jiraiya

The person Jiraiya spoke of was, without a doubt, Tsunade, who sat deep within the casino, reeking of alcohol.

Kakashi had not expected that a single mission would lead him to encounter two of the Sannin.

Ever since her younger brother Nawaki and her lover Dan Katō had died in battle one after another, Tsunade had developed a severe case of hemophobia. She had abandoned her life as a ninja, drifting from place to place and whiling away her days in various casinos and taverns.

Kakashi stood silently behind a wooden pillar outside the casino, his gaze passing through a gap in the paper door to watch Jiraiya's back as he pushed his way inside.

Although he said nothing on the surface, he did not oppose Jiraiya's proposal to bring Tsunade back.

Tsunade was one of the Sannin.

She was a symbol of Konoha's military might. Now, with the Shinobi World on the brink of chaos and undercurrents surging, the situation was dire.

Having one more Kage-level combatant return to the fold was a beacon of hope for Konoha, not a burden.

Moreover, Tsunade was also a top-tier medical ninja...

Kakashi watched the commotion inside the casino in silence.

He saw that the moment Jiraiya sat down and barely managed to get a few words out, he was sent flying by a thunderous punch. He smashed through the wall and landed heavily, kicking up a cloud of dust.

Boom!

Wine cups rolled across the floor, and a corner of the casino fell into instant silence.

Tsunade stood where she was, her drunken stupor still lingering, yet an overwhelming pressure radiated from her entire being.

"What does the destruction of the Shinobi World have to do with me?"

Her voice was hoarse, carrying a hint of drunken recklessness.

"Being Hokage or whatever... it's the most boring thing imaginable."

This statement made Kakashi feel vaguely displeased for a moment...

Jiraiya had certainly mentioned the position of Hokage during this trip, bringing up Hiruzen Sarutobi's age and the need for a Fifth Hokage.

But Tsunade... had refused.

She had refused fiercely, in a manner that was incredibly direct, even bordering on a desperate attempt to tear herself away from the past.

Kakashi couldn't help but glance at Jiraiya.

Jiraiya was brushing the dust off himself as he stood up from the ground, his expression one of helplessness.

He was clearly accustomed to the volatile temper and the way his former comrade kept everyone at arm's length.

Then, Tsunade's gaze suddenly shifted toward Kakashi.

"Kakashi, you seem... very dissatisfied with me?"

Her tone was subtle; the drunkenness had not faded, but her voice had leveled out.

Kakashi's expression remained as calm as water: "Not at all. The Hokage merely ordered me to bring Jiraiya back to the village."

In his words, he had pointedly omitted her name.

Tsunade raised an eyebrow, looking at Jiraiya with a mocking smile: "Jiraiya, did you hear that? He said he's only here to take you back."

Jiraiya hurriedly waved his hands: "No, no, that's not it. If the old man knew, he would certainly hope for you to return as well."

Tsunade let out a cold snort: "Hmph... hoping is one thing. I think you're just feeling guilty."

Could they even have a proper conversation at this rate?

Kakashi turned to leave this chaotic scene, but he didn't expect to hear Tsunade mutter behind him: "Look, he doesn't seem to agree with you, Jiraiya."

Her tone carried a hint of clicking-tongue regret and sarcasm, yet it was also laced with a deeply hidden loneliness.

Kakashi paused, glanced at Jiraiya, then back at Tsunade, but ultimately said nothing.

This woman was no longer the high-spirited Princess of Konoha.

Trapped by the past and imprisoned by her pain, her self-destructive behavior was, in truth, nothing more than her locking herself in a cage from which she could not escape.

But precisely because of that... it showed that she still cared about Konoha.

Otherwise, she would not have denied it with such intensity.

Silence stretched through the air for a long time, broken only by the creaking of the wind against the shattered walls and debris.

Kakashi finally regained his focus and turned to look at the woman sitting by the broken table, her drunkenness still lingering.

"Lady Tsunade..."

Though he felt a deep sense of aversion, Kakashi kept his tone remarkably calm on the surface.

"Konoha is your home, and the Hokage is your teacher."

"And you are the most excellent medical ninja in the Shinobi World."

"If a great catastrophe comes in the future, the role someone with your power can play will far exceed that of most combat-oriented ninja."

Tsunade raised an eyebrow and replied indifferently: "Heh... starting with the grand speeches again?"

It was impossible to tell from her tone whether she was mocking him or simply being indifferent, but a faint ripple appeared in her eyes.

Seeing that Tsunade had reacted...

With a hint of mockery in his heart, Kakashi's voice dropped even lower: "Hokage..."

He took a soft breath, as if murmuring to himself: "There was a guy who used to go on and on about wanting to become Hokage."

"He always laughed without a care in the world and acted more impulsively than anyone... but he was the type who, once he made a decision, would give everything he had to see it through."

He looked up into Tsunade's eyes: "So, what might seem boring to you... perhaps, in the eyes of others, is the most precious dream."

He paused, his gaze drifting toward the dilapidated ceiling of the casino.

"I, too, once thought that one day... if it were possible, I would also like to become Hokage."

As soon as these words left his lips, both Tsunade and Jiraiya were stunned.

Tsunade narrowed her eyes, her tone subtle: "You?"

Jiraiya, who had remained silent until now, suddenly whipped his head around, his eyes filled with shock.

"Kakashi... you actually harbor such thoughts?"

"I didn't expect to say it out loud either."

Kakashi covered his eye mask...

At this very moment, his Sharingan began to throb with intense pain...

"But... perhaps it's the influence of that guy. I used to think he was too loud, too foolish, and too unreliable, but now..."

The image of that boy's immature handwriting, filled with a burning passion for his Hokage declaration, flashed through his mind.

It was Uchiha Yuan's writing, a short essay written for the future, for Konoha, and for hope.

He couldn't even fathom why he remembered it so clearly.

That essay was like a seed, taking root and sprouting deep within his mind without him even realizing it...

It made him start saying things like "I also want to become Hokage"...

Words that would have been impossible for him to utter before.

Tsunade tilted her head slightly as she looked at him; the alcohol made her appear languid, yet a trace of complex emotion flickered in her eyes.

"You've changed, Kakashi. I used to think you were like a creature without feelings... but it seems you have days where your blood runs hot, too."

Kakashi did not answer, merely gazing at the darkening sky beyond the broken wall...

"Hokage is not about power, nor is it about fame; it is about responsibility."

"To protect everyone—even if only one person remains alive, you cannot let them walk on alone."

This sentence left Tsunade frozen.

It was as if certain memories had been struck by these words, resurfacing in her mind.

She said nothing, only lowered her head and continued to drink the now-bitter sake in her hand.

"Let's go..."

Hearing this, Jiraiya burst into laughter...

"That's the spirit, Kakashi."

Although the atmosphere grew increasingly relaxed, Kakashi failed to notice that his closed Sharingan was experiencing a massive surge in ocular power...

But...

So, I also wanted to become a Hokage...

Parts of his past memories gradually blurred, while others grew increasingly clear.

Truth and falsehood... indistinguishable from one another.