A Promise

Inside the tavern, Jiraiya and Tsunade had both drunk quite a bit.

"Time has left quite a few marks on your face, Jiraiya..."

"But you're still as radiant and beautiful as ever, Tsunade..."

The two reminisced about the past, trading one remark after another.

"Stop beating around the bush. You wouldn't have come looking for me for no reason..." Tsunade said, looking at Jiraiya.

"Then I won't beat around the bush... The village hopes you'll become the Fifth Hokage..."

Jiraiya's words chilled the atmosphere around the table.

"So the old man really is gone..." Tsunade sighed.

"You knew?"

"Orochimaru told me. He killed my teacher..."

Naruto, who had been listening nearby, froze. A few seconds later, he suddenly shouted.

"Who is this Orochimaru you're talking about?! Why did he kill Third Grandpa?!"

Jiraiya glanced at Naruto, signaling Jimo to explain.

"Naruto, the two people in front of you are famous ninja from Konoha! These two, together with Orochimaru... are the Three Ninja, who were renowned throughout the Shinobi World during the Great Ninja War..."

"But if he was friends with the Pervy Sage, then he must have been a Konoha ninja! Why did he kill Third Grandpa? Why did he destroy Konoha?!"

"Who's this brat?" Tsunade asked, casting a glance at Naruto with her beautiful eyes.

"He's Uzumaki Naruto!"

Tsunade stared at him for a few seconds. Naruto's golden, spiky hair did look a lot like the Fourth Hokage's...

"But why should she become Hokage...?"

"Shut up, Naruto! Do you think this is some kind of ninja game? This is for the good of the village. The leadership has discussed it together. It's not something you can decide on a whim based on your personal preferences!"

Jiraiya's stern expression left Naruto stunned. He had never seen Jiraiya speak to him so seriously before.

"I... refuse!"

"Didn't we come out here to find her so she could heal Kakashi-sensei, Sasuke, and that bushy-browed guy? How did this turn into making her the Fifth Hokage?" Naruto said.

"Stop fooling around. She's the only suitable candidate to inherit the Hokage Position. To put it simply, she was instrumental in helping Konoha win the Great Ninja War, and no one can match her medical skills. To put it broadly, she's the granddaughter of the First and Second Hokage, who founded Konoha, and she has the purest Konoha ninja bloodline."

"Jiraiya, this brat is nowhere near as good as your previous student!" Tsunade said, giving the nearly fuming Naruto a faintly scornful glance. "Not in looks or talent. He's not even close in brains!"

Just as Naruto was about to blow up, Jimo grabbed him and held him back.

"Give it a rest! You really can't compare to Lord Jiraiya's previous student..."

"Who was that guy?! Why can't I compare to him?" Naruto protested.

"The Fourth Hokage! Can you compare to him?" Jimo's words stabbed Naruto straight through the heart.

"That hurt, Jimo..." Naruto's face twitched as he admitted the truth.

"Your student's not bad!" Tsunade said, looking at Jimo approvingly.

"He's good-looking and knows how to speak with tact!"

"Thank you for the praise, Lady Tsunade!" Jimo bowed to her.

"He's even more polite than this yellow-haired, spiky-headed brat!"

Tsunade paused, then spoke slowly. "Life and money aren't the same. The First, Second, and Fourth... They all died with regrets. The Fourth was so young... He gave his life for the village... Anyone who doesn't value life is a fool."

"You've changed, Tsunade..." Jiraiya fell silent, his expression grave. No one knew what was on his mind.

"Throwing your life away when you're already old? You're just asking to die. Hokage? Only an idiot would want to become Hokage!"

Tsunade slurred her words, drunk.

Hearing her insult the Hokage, Naruto charged at her in a fury, but a faster figure pinned him to the ground.

"Jimo, what are you doing?! She insulted Hokage Grandpa! I'm going to beat her up! Even if she's a woman, I'll still beat her up!"

"Shut up!"

Jimo's expression darkened.

"Naruto! You can act however you want most of the time, but not today! Of everyone here... Lady Tsunade is probably the one who's hurting the most..."

"Kid, let him go. I'll give him a chance to challenge me! It'll sober me up, too!"

Tsunade stood and walked outside.

Fortunately, it was the middle of the night, and the streets were already empty.

Naruto pulled out a Kunai and charged after her, but Tsunade flicked him flying with a forehead tap. Even his Forehead Protector went flying!

"Kid, why do you care so much about the title of Hokage?" Tsunade asked, looking at Naruto's resolute eyes.

"Because my dream is to become Hokage! I want everyone in the village to acknowledge that I exist!"

At that moment, Dan and Nawaki appeared before Tsunade's eyes. By the time she came to her senses, Naruto was already charging at her, a Rasengan spinning in his hand.

With a deafening BOOM, Tsunade drove one finger into the ground, cracking it open. Naruto, for his part, promptly fell into the ditch.

"You're nowhere near as good as the Fourth... You taught him this, didn't you, Jiraiya?" Tsunade said, glancing at Jiraiya, who looked ready to crawl into a crack in the ground.

"Uh... I suppose you could say that both this kid next to me and I taught him..."

Jiraiya pointed at Jimo, trying to share the shame.

"You'd better stop teaching him this technique. He'll never learn it!"

"What are you talking about?! I can already use the Rasengan! I just need both hands!" Naruto protested.

"Kid! War won't accept excuses. Since you love dreaming so much, let's make a bet. I'll give you one week. If you can form a Rasengan with one hand that satisfies me, I'll give you this necklace!"

As she spoke, Tsunade took a necklace made of green crystal from between her breasts!

"I don't need something like that!" Naruto said dismissively.

"That's the First Hokage's Necklace! You could probably buy three mountains with the money you'd get for selling it!"

"I'll win that bet!"

Naruto changed his tune in a flash, only to see a round, green toad appear in Tsunade's hand...

"If you lose, the money in this wallet is mine!"

"When did you—?!"

Ignoring Naruto's helpless rage, Tsunade turned to Jimo.

"Can this kid use the Rasengan too?"

"He figured it out on his own... I didn't teach him..."

Tsunade immediately grew interested!

"Come on, kid. Let's trade a few moves!"

Shizune dragged Naruto off to one side. Tsunade snapped her fingers, signaling the start.

Jimo flashed behind Tsunade, a Rasengan appearing in his hand in an instant.

"So fast!" Jiraiya and Shizune exclaimed.

Just as the Rasengan was about to hit, Tsunade kicked backward without even turning her head, sending him flying.

Jimo performed several midair twists before he managed to dissipate the force of Tsunade's monstrous strength.

"How did that kid do it?! He actually withstood Tsunade's monstrous strength!" Remembering how Tsunade had once sent him flying, Jiraiya couldn't help thinking that each generation produced its own talented people...