Tsunade

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Tsunade (纲手)
Alias(es)	Princess Tsunade; one of the Three Ninja
Gender	Female
Affiliation	Konohagakure; Shinobi Allied Forces
Occupation/Role	Fifth Hokage; medical-nin; instructor
Status	Alive
First Appearance	Chapter 31

Background

Tsunade is a renowned Konoha ninja who fought alongside Jiraiya and Orochimaru as one of the Three Ninja during the Great Ninja War. She is the granddaughter of Konoha's First and Second Hokage, and her medical skills are credited as unmatched among Konoha's ninja 33.

After losing people precious to her, Tsunade left Konoha and withdrew from medical work. Orochimaru later exploited that grief by offering to revive the two people she loved in return for healing his damaged arms 32 34.

Jiraiya, Naruto, and Jimo locate her in Short Book City to request both her medical aid and her return as Konoha's Fifth Hokage 31 33. Though initially tempted by Orochimaru's proposal, Tsunade ultimately rejects him, affirming that the wishes of the deceased should not be distorted through resurrection 34.

Appearance

Tsunade is a golden-haired woman with a curvaceous figure and a notably youthful appearance despite her long history as a war veteran 31 116.

• Often wears the diamond-shaped seal of the Strength of a Hundred Technique on her forehead when releasing its stored chakra 35 180.
• Her appearance visibly ages when her stored chakra is exhausted after extensive healing 94.
• Her physical strength is repeatedly described as monstrous, even by Jiraiya 33.

Personality

Tsunade is blunt, forceful, and easily provoked, particularly when her authority as Hokage or her disciples are threatened. She openly confronts Danzo when he attempts to recruit Jimo into Root and refuses to yield her authority to him 49.

Despite her harsh manner, she is deeply protective of Konoha and its ninja. She places faith in Naruto's potential, rejects proposals to confine him solely because he is a jinchūriki, and vows to stake her life on protecting the village if her judgment fails 67.

She retains a playful, teasing rapport with Jiraiya and Jimo, though alcohol can make her careless and more uninhibited 33 42 83.

Abilities & Skills

Medical Ninjutsu

Tsunade is Konoha's foremost medical-nin and the founder of its medical-ninja unit 33 111.

• Diagnoses injuries that ordinary treatment cannot resolve, including Rock Lee's severe nerve and bone damage 36.
• Uses medical chakra to repair her own severed muscle tissue and blood vessels during combat 34.
• Can disrupt an opponent's nervous system with precise strikes, leaving them unable to control their movements 34.
• Trains Jimo and Sakura in medical ninjutsu; both advance from theory to practical application under her instruction 42 43.
• Recognizes the limits of conventional medicine, including the high risk of Lee's surgery 36.

Monstrous Strength

Tsunade possesses overwhelming physical power and can destroy terrain or incapacitate opponents with single blows.

• Knocks Naruto away with a flick to the forehead during their challenge 33.
• Sends Jimo flying with a backward kick despite his attempted Rasengan ambush 33.
• Continues attacking Orochimaru even after Kabuto damages her legs 34.
• Strikes Madara directly in close combat during the Five Kage battle 157.

Strength of a Hundred Technique

Tsunade stores chakra in the forehead seal and releases it for extreme regeneration.

• Activates the technique to heal herself and overcome the immediate effects of her hemophobia during the confrontation with Orochimaru 35.
• Survives the strain of the Heavenly Transfer Technique through rapid regeneration 153.
• Its healing accelerates cell division and can heavily drain her life force when overused 154.
• Sakura later manifests the same forehead seal and uses the technique in battle 180 181.

Summoning Jutsu

Tsunade can summon a giant Slug, one of the three summons associated with the Three Ninja.

• Fights alongside Jiraiya's toad and Orochimaru's snake summon against Manda 35.
• Coordinates with Sakura and the Slug to provide large-scale treatment to wounded Allied Forces ninja 181 193.

Hemophobia

Tsunade suffers from hemophobia, which can immobilize her when exposed to blood.

• Kabuto exploits this weakness by splashing blood on her during the battle with Orochimaru 35.
• She overcomes the fear after Naruto protects her and releases the Strength of a Hundred Technique 35.

Relationships

• Jiraiya — Former teammate among the Three Ninja. Their long friendship is marked by teasing, mutual concern, and unresolved emotional tension 33 83.
• Orochimaru — Former teammate and adversary. His offer to revive Tsunade's loved ones nearly sways her, but she ultimately chooses Konoha over him 32 34 35.
• Jimo — Personal disciple in medical ninjutsu. Tsunade is protective of him, publicly rejects Danzo's attempt to take him into Root, and relies on his strength during crises 42 49 121.
• Sakura Haruno — Medical-ninjutsu student trained alongside Jimo. Tsunade's teachings help Sakura develop her medical expertise and destructive strength 42 43 51.
• Shizune — Close companion and assistant who travels with Tsunade and assists her in medical and administrative matters 31 67.
• Naruto Uzumaki — A ninja in whom Tsunade places great trust. She supports his freedom to take missions despite the elders' objections and believes he will not be defeated by Akatsuki 33 67.
• Danzo — Political rival who repeatedly challenges Tsunade's authority. She confronts him directly when he targets Jimo and later opposes his attempts to control Naruto 49 67.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Search for Tsunade

While traveling with Shizune in Short Book City, Tsunade senses danger shortly before Orochimaru attacks. He seeks her medical expertise to restore his arms and offers resurrection in exchange 31 32.

Jiraiya asks her to return as the Fifth Hokage, while Naruto challenges her over her dismissive view of the title. Jimo recognizes that Tsunade's hostility toward Hokage stems from grief and argues that her love for Konoha has not disappeared 33 34.

Battle of the Three Ninja

Tsunade drugs Jiraiya to keep him from interfering in her meeting with Orochimaru. She initially agrees to treat him if he spares Konoha, but rejects the arrangement after reflecting on the wishes of the dead 34.

Kabuto triggers her hemophobia with blood, but Naruto's defense gives her the opening to recover. Tsunade releases her forehead seal, heals herself, and joins Jiraiya against Orochimaru and their summoned beasts 35.

Fifth Hokage and Medical Instructor

As Hokage, Tsunade treats Konoha's wounded and begins training Jimo and Sakura in medical ninjutsu 36 42. She also assigns Jimo to lead genin on missions, recognizing that his abilities are better suited to both medicine and combat 43.

She asserts her authority against Danzo when he tries to force Jimo into Root, declaring Jimo to be her personal disciple and refusing to hand him over 49.

Akatsuki Crisis

Tsunade directs Konoha's response to Akatsuki, relying on Jimo's intelligence to keep scouts from engaging the organization directly 77. She refuses Konoha's elders' demand to restrict Naruto's movement, arguing that confinement would not protect him from Akatsuki 67.

During Pain's assault on Konoha, Tsunade distributes most of her chakra to protect the village, leaving her visibly weakened after the destruction caused by Shinra Tensei 94.

Fourth Shinobi World War

Tsunade helps organize the Allied Forces' medical and logistical preparations before the war 139. She later joins the other Kage against Madara, continuing to fight despite severe injuries and Madara's regenerative abilities 154 157.

She works with Sakura to summon the Slug for battlefield-wide treatment and supports the Allied Forces' advance against the Ten-Tails 181 193.

Notable Quotes

“I am the Hokage of Konoha!” 49

“Naruto won't be defeated! I believe in him!” 67

“The wishes of the departed! They will never wither!” 34