Tsunade

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Tsunade (纲手)
Alias(es)	Legendary Sannin; “Sannin Princess” 7 24
Species/Race	Human
Gender	Female
Affiliation	Konohagakure; resides at the Senju Clan compound after returning to the village 53
Occupation/Role	Sannin; medical-nin; founder of Konoha's medical-ninja system 7 12
Status	Alive
First Appearance	Mentioned in Chapter 5; appears in person in Chapter 8 5 8

Background

Tsunade is one of Hiruzen Sarutobi's three disciples and one of Konoha's Sannin. Konoha celebrates her as a powerful healer, a founder of the medical-ninja system, and a legendary combatant who fought alongside Jiraiya and Orochimaru. Her medical system substantially improved Konoha's recovery capacity and was copied throughout the ninja world. 7 12 152

Shortly after the Second Shinobi World War, the successive deaths of Nawaki and Dan Katō led Tsunade to leave Konoha. She developed severe hemophobia, making her vulnerable despite her reputation and combat ability. 6

Appearance

Tsunade is presented as one of the ninja world's most beautiful women. Her use of the Yin Seal preserves a youthful appearance despite her actual age. 6

• Pale golden/blonde hair; she is seen wearing it over one shoulder and, later, in twin ponytails. 54 140
• Stands a little over 1.6 meters tall, with notably balanced proportions. 21
• Has snow-white skin and an alluring appearance. 19 55
• When first found in Tanzaku Town, she is visibly exhausted: her hair is tangled and split at the ends, her eyes bloodshot, and her face haggard from gambling and lack of sleep. 8
• After recuperating in Konoha, her complexion improves and she regains weight. 54

Personality

Tsunade's first impression is dominated by her gambling addiction. After losing her remaining money in Tanzaku Town, she immediately tries to borrow more, and later asks Jiang Feng for as much as one or two hundred million yen. She is blunt about money, debt, alcohol, and gambling, and can be shamelessly forward around people she has only just met. 8 9 10

Her coarse behavior conceals a compassionate and deeply burdened conscience. When a girl from the Land of Rain approaches her, Tsunade recognizes the suffering inflicted by the major villages' wars and cannot bring herself to defend Konoha's role. During the subsequent assassination attempt, she tries to protect the girl rather than kill her, even after being attacked. 10 11

Tsunade is also perceptive and experienced. She immediately recognizes the impracticality of Yahiko's peace ideal, though Jiang Feng's response forces her to reconsider whether idealists already understand the difficulty of their path. 22

Her hemophobia remains her greatest emotional weakness. The sight and smell of blood can leave her trembling, nauseated, and unable to fight, feeding her loneliness, shame, and sense of spiritual emptiness. 11 19

Abilities & Skills

Medical Ninjutsu

Tsunade is regarded as the ninja world's foremost medical-nin and created Konoha's medical-ninja system. Her medical expertise makes her a strategic asset whose return strengthens Konoha's wartime endurance. 6 12

• Her medical system improved Konoha's recovery and resilience and was imitated by other villages. 12
• Kumogakure considers capturing her worthwhile because of both her medical ability and influence. 12
• Her hemophobia severely limits her ability to function in bloody combat situations. 6 11

Sannin-Level Combat Ability

Tsunade is a renowned Sannin who has fought major figures including Chiyo and Hanzo of the Salamander. Her physical ability is sufficient to integrate Body Flicker movement into combat without the usual stopping lag, a feat associated with taijutsu masters. 11 14

• Protects and restrains a hostile civilian attacker while avoiding attacks from other assassins. 11
• Is considered a high-value target by Kumogakure, which deploys a force of jonin and elite chunin specifically to kill or capture her. 12
• During the Kumogakure encirclement, Jiang Feng must carry her while escaping, reflecting her impaired condition at the time. 17

Yin Seal

Tsunade cultivates the Yin Seal, which maintains her youthful appearance. Hiruzen compares its effect to Mito Uzumaki retaining the appearance of a woman in her twenties until near her death. 6

Story Role / Major Arcs

Retrieval from Tanzaku Town

Hiruzen assigns Jiang Feng's team an S-class mission to retrieve Tsunade from Tanzaku Town. Konoha needs her as both a medical leader and deterrent as another war looms. 6

The team finds her broke and desperate in a gambling den. Tsunade recognizes Jiang Feng from Jiraiya's descriptions, then unsuccessfully attempts to borrow a massive sum from him. 8 9

Land of Rain Assassination Attempt

A group of Land of Rain assassins ambushes Tsunade, seeking revenge for Konoha's actions during the Second Shinobi World War. Tsunade tries to shield the young female attacker from harm, but her hemophobia leaves her unable to defend herself once blood is spilled; the girl stabs her twice before Kurenai kills the attacker. 10 11

Devastated by the girl's death, Tsunade asks Jiang Feng for money to bury her. 11

Kumogakure Pursuit

Kumogakure's forces identify killing Tsunade and Jiang Feng as sufficient success for their operation. Jiang Feng and Tsunade escape the encirclement together after he sends the others away to warn Konoha. 14 17

Land of Rain and Akatsuki

While visiting the Land of Rain, Tsunade stands beneath a cherry blossom tree counting its sparse flowers. Jiang Feng correctly identifies her loneliness and inner emptiness. 19

She feels ashamed before Yahiko, Nagato, Konan, and the other Akatsuki members because they show gratitude and forgiveness despite suffering from the wars involving Konoha. 19

Return to Konoha and Relationship with Jiang Feng

After returning to Konoha, Tsunade settles at the Senju Clan compound and repeatedly gambles with Jiang Feng. Their gambling sessions leave her owing him over 120 million yen. 53 55

When Jiraiya confronts them over rumors, Tsunade states that she and Jiang Feng are only at “the very beginning stage,” while Jiang Feng plainly describes their situation as trying to date. 56

Tsunade later invites Jiang Feng and Minato to her home to address their apparent conflict. Once Jiang Feng explains Minato's staged defection and tailed-beast plan, she supports the strategy and recognizes Jiang Feng's immense growth after mastering Sage Art and Flying Thunder God. 139 140

She remains jealous of Jiang Feng's involvement with Kazahana Koyuki, though her anger softens when he gives her attention. 152

Relationships

• Uchiha Jiang Feng — Initially assigned to retrieve her from Tanzaku Town; their connection develops into an explicitly acknowledged early-stage dating relationship. 6 21 56
• Hiruzen Sarutobi — Her master; he sends Jiang Feng's team to retrieve her and considers her return vital to Konoha's security. 6 152
• Jiraiya — Fellow Sannin and longtime suitor. He previously failed to bring her back to Konoha and is unsettled by her relationship with Jiang Feng. 6 53 56
• Orochimaru — Fellow Sannin and fellow disciple of Hiruzen Sarutobi. 152
• Kurenai Yuhi — Member of the team sent to retrieve Tsunade; Kurenai kills the young Land of Rain attacker after Tsunade is stabbed. 6 11
• Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan — Akatsuki members whose forgiveness and optimism intensify Tsunade's guilt over the Land of Rain's suffering. 19
• Nawaki and Dan Katō — Their successive deaths prompted Tsunade to leave Konoha after the Second Shinobi World War. 6

Notable Quotes

“Lend me some money...” 11

“In truth, we're probably at the very beginning stage.” 56