Jiraiya rose from the floor and rubbed his still-aching back.
The group walked over to the tatami and sat on either side of the low table.
Shizune skillfully poured hot tea for all five of them, not even forgetting Naruto's cup.
Tsunade picked up her cup and slowly sipped the tea.
Naruto, meanwhile, sat beside Jiraiya with an indignant look on his face, arms crossed and head turned aside, doing his best to keep Tsunade out of his sight.
Like Tsunade, Senya slowly savored the tea Shizune had brewed.
The room remained silent for over a minute before Jiraiya finally broke the quiet and spoke first.
"Tsunade, the old man is ready to step down. He hopes you'll return to the village and take up the position of Fifth Hokage."
Tsunade set her teacup on the table and looked calmly at Jiraiya.
"I thought I made myself clear. I'm not going back to become Hokage."
"Whoever wants the position can have it. Shizune and I are doing just fine outside the village right now, so why should we go back?"
Tsunade spoke calmly.
Hearing Tsunade's words, Jiraiya fell silent.
"Is it because of Dan and Nawaki...?"
Hearing Jiraiya bring up those people from the past once more stirred up the memories Tsunade most wanted to escape.
Impatience appeared on Tsunade's face, along with a trace of anger.
"Enough. Don't bring them up again. No matter what, I won't return to that village that disappointed me."
Faced with Tsunade's firm rejection, Jiraiya did not know what to do for a moment. Under the table, he poked Senya with a finger.
It seemed he really wasn't good at this sort of thing. He should leave it to Senya—this guy always came up with all kinds of unexpected ideas.
Senya calmly set down