Tsunade

Inside the Hyakunin Isshu Inn.

"I'm sorry, Lord Tsunade."

Naruto stood up and sincerely apologized, looking determined to reflect on his actions.

Surprisingly, Tsunade didn't get angry, or at least she wasn't upset that Naruto had lied. She just gave Naruto a deep look that made his scalp tingle.

It was as if I had seen him before; his gaze was as complex as an algebra problem.

With practiced ease, she tilted the glass, the clear liquid splashing into it. She took a sip, and before she even put the glass down, Tsunade spoke.

I already know about the events of the Third Hokage.

The atmosphere during Tsunade and Jiraiya's conversation was unusually heavy. Naruto silently ate his meal, and after finishing, he went to the counter to pay the bill and then went out for a stroll.

This is not something he can interfere with, and there's no point in just sitting there and listening.

Tsunade glanced out the window at Naruto, who wasn't wearing his Forehead Protector, her gaze complex, lost in thought.

"I'm not playing anymore."

She threw the cards on the table, feeling upset.

"It's been so long, and you're still so willful, Tsunade." Jiraiya glanced out the window, looking unhurried. "It doesn't matter if you don't play cards, but the village needs you to become the Fifth Hokage now."

"If we refuse, then the child will probably..."

"Jiraiya, don't play these childish games." Tsunade poured herself a glass of wine. "Who cares about that Nine-Tails brat?"

"About the Nawaki," Jiraiya said, picking up a bite of food.

"Don't Nawaki." Tsunade's eyes were sharp. "I have nothing left to lose. It would be too foolish to risk my life for the village."

"I'm really surprised you have this idea," Jiraiya said.

"It's only human nature." Tsunade continued drinking, her voice languid and her demeanor mature. "Orochimaru has gone mad, the Third Hokage is dead, and you've grown old."

"As for the Third Hokage dying at Orochimaru's hands, I'm not surprised at all. Orochimaru has no feelings left, but the Third Hokage still harbored illusions about him."

"After all, he was my most outstanding disciple." Jiraiya chuckled self-deprecatingly.

"Nobody wants that position." Tsunade, slightly drunk, slammed her hand on the table, then changed the subject, "And what's the deal with that brat you brought along?"

"The fourth generation's son." Jiraiya downed a shot of sake. "He's a lot like Nawaki, isn't he?"

"I told you not to Nawaki anymore," Tsunade, somewhat annoyed.

"Let's not talk about it. Naruto was originally kept in the village under the supervision of the Third Hokage and the Anbu. I went back for a while recently." Jiraiya's voice became serious.

"Naruto released the Nine-Tails."

Tsunade paused for a moment, but said nothing.

"This matter is somewhat related to Itachi Uchiha, but the situation is unclear right now, so it's hard to say," Jiraiya said. "I originally thought Naruto would grow up to have a personality like the Fourth Hokage, but now..."

"Tsunade, at our age, we really have nothing left to lose. There are some things we can't change, but there are some things we can change."

Tsunade a jug of sake, stared at Jiraiya for a long time.

After a long while, Tsunade got up and staggered out the door.

The streetlights in Tanzaku Town were bright, Tsunade didn't need to do anything; just standing there was enough to attract everyone's attention.

She wore a light blue robe, her beautiful face was no less stunning than that of a twenty-year-old girl, her waist was slender and her whole being exuded the aura of a mature and sophisticated woman.

Tsunade squinted, seemingly searching for something; her naturally cute expression created a stark contrast. A passerby, stunned, bumped into a lamppost, wincing and clutching their nose in pain.

Although her unapproachable image has vanished, no one dares to approach and speak to this woman with an eight-head figure and a bust size of 126.7.

A night breeze swept by.

Tsunade jumped onto the roof and saw Naruto practicing the Rasengan with one hand.

The Rasengan spun slowly but steadily. Naruto remained calm and unhurried, as if he were playing with a newly bought toy. He sat there quietly, staring expressionlessly at the spinning Rasengan.

"It spins too slowly and has no lethality whatsoever."

Tsunade commented casually, her voice tinged with drunkenness.

"Training requires patience." Naruto dismissed Jiraiya's platitudes, then looked up and saw Tsunade, immediately adopting a respectful attitude.

"That's Ninjutsu that Jiraiya taught you, right?" Tsunade shifted her gaze away from Naruto.

"I suppose so." Naruto stood up, bowed to Tsunade, and asked, "Lord Tsunade, will you return to the village to serve as the Fifth Hokage?"

"Oh?" Tsunade didn't answer directly, but leaned forward slightly, her face flushed and amusement on her face. "Do you really want me to become the Fifth Hokage?"

"Yes," Naruto said frankly. "If Lord Tsunade refuses to become Hokage, I will probably be imprisoned."

"Why should I help you?" Tsunade smiled and patted Naruto's shoulder hard.

"Lord Tsunade, I am the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, but I am innocent," Naruto said. "I didn't have a choice before, but now I just want to be a normal person."

"Besides, I haven't offended you, so you don't need to."

How do you know you haven't offended me before?

Naruto: "."

"What if I refuse?" she asked.

"Then I'll figure it out myself." Naruto spoke honestly and sincerely. "Nobody wants to become a monster."

Naruto paused for a moment, a smile appearing on his face.

"I don't care what the top advisors think, but it's time for Konohagakure to prepare for the loss of the Nine-Tails."

"The village really failed in pushing the Jinchuriki to this point." Tsunade withdrew her hand and muttered to herself, "Going back isn't out of the question, but I need to think about it for a few days."

Naruto looked at Tsunade and said "Okay".

"Thank you, Lord Tsunade."

He remained respectful to Tsunade, whom he was meeting for the first time. Naruto didn't think she would acknowledge his empty Will of Fire, because he didn't possess it at all.

Sincerity is the ultimate weapon; everything he just said was true.

Even if Tsunade didn't become the Fifth Hokage, with Jiraiya, Danzo wouldn't have a chance to Danzo. For Naruto, whether Tsunade became the Fifth Hokage was only related to the Seal Removal Method.

As for what Tsunade will choose—whether she goes to kill Orochimaru alone or simply returns to the village—we can only wait and see.

Sometimes preconceived notions can backfire. There's no point in overthinking it; I should just keep practicing the Rasengan.

The next day.

Naruto slept all day at the guesthouse, and when he woke up it was already dark. Jiraiya wasn't there, but Naruto didn't think much of it. After washing up, he went downstairs to find something to eat.

The three thousand ryo he earned from Jiraiya wasn't all spent yet; it was enough for him to eat his fill of sukiyaki, tempura, and ramen. After wandering around for a while, Naruto, carrying snacks and preparing to return to the inn, was suddenly attracted by something.

It was a dark shadow, or more precisely, a shadow huddled around the tall gatehouse of Tanzaku Town, above which hung Tanzaku Town. The shadow sat there, its long blue robe fluttering in the night wind looking somewhat familiar.

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