Tsunade Returns to the Village

Just as those two were preparing to lay hands on Tsunade, a voice rang out, stopping them in their tracks.

"Stop."

The two thugs, annoyed at being interrupted, turned around and cursed furiously.

"Which bastard is that? Haven't you heard of the Trio Gang? How dare you meddle in our business?"

"Are you tired of living?"

The moment they turned to see who it was, they froze. A white-haired man dressed as a ninja stood before them—it was Jiraiya.

A voice filled with terror erupted from both of them simultaneously.

"Ni... Ninja-sama?"

Their grip on their knives faltered instantly.

They had never imagined that this cowardly, blood-phobic female ninja would have a companion, let alone one who would arrive at such a critical moment. Had they known, they wouldn't have dared to act this way even if they had ten times the courage.

Realizing that escape was impossible, the two immediately knelt and begged for mercy, pleading for Jiraiya's forgiveness.

After all, in their eyes, all ninjas were the same: cold-blooded killers who didn't blink when taking a life.

Jiraiya had intended to kill them both with shuriken, but seeing Tsunade curled up in fear, he chose to let them go; he did not want to commit violence in front of her, given her hemophobia.

The two men were overjoyed to be spared and scrambled away as fast as they could.

Just as they thought they had escaped death and smiles began to form on their faces, they felt a sharp pain in their chests.

Looking down, they saw two shuriken had pierced their hearts, blood slowly seeping out to stain their clothes.

They collapsed to the ground, unwilling to the end. Their deaths terrified the nearby vendors, who immediately packed up their stalls and fled, fearing that whatever had happened might befall them next.

The person who had thrown those shuriken was, of course, Jiraiya; after all, someone capable of such acts could hardly be considered a good person.

More importantly, they had dared to harbor malicious intent toward the woman he, Jiraiya, loved. They were truly courting death.

Jiraiya calmly picked up Tsunade and departed in the opposite direction.

They hadn't gone far before Tsunade, no longer surrounded by the sight of blood, began to recover. Her face flushed, and she forced herself out of Jiraiya's arms, insisting she could walk on her own.

Jiraiya could only rub his nose and let her down.

He was not the type to be overbearing, especially not toward the woman he loved.

The two then walked together toward the inn they had rented.

Back at the inn, Tsunade had completely calmed down. She looked at Jiraiya and asked, "Tell me, what is it?"

"You wouldn't have come looking for me at that time otherwise."

Hearing this, Jiraiya recalled the situation, his expression turning serious. "The Fourth World War is about to break out."

"Spies from Konoha have reported that the other four great ninja villages have reached a secret agreement."

"They are all mobilizing simultaneously, organizing massive armies to march toward the borders of the Land of Fire."

Tsunade was stunned.

"How is that possible?"

"That shouldn't be. Usually, there is at least a decade of peace after every conflict."

"Why so soon this time?"

"And how could the feudal lords of each country possibly agree to this?"

Jiraiya could only wave his hands helplessly, indicating he didn't know.

The two fell into a heavy silence.

Hearing this news, Tsunade fell into a state of internal conflict. She knew the village her grandfather had built with his own hands needed her, but she loathed returning to the place that had caused the two people she loved most to disappear.

She didn't even dare to investigate their deaths, fearing she wouldn't be able to handle the truth.

She couldn't overcome that mental barrier, and she couldn't face her teacher or herself, which was why she couldn't shake her hemophobia.

Even though Jiraiya had told her that Danzo was dead.

Agitated, Tsunade picked up the wine gourd on the table, took a deep swig, and walked outside with a hint of drunkenness on her face.

"Let me think about it."

"Tomorrow... I will give you an answer tomorrow."

Watching Tsunade leave, Jiraiya felt a pang of regret for coming to find her.

But what else could he do?

She was the only one with the qualifications to inherit the position of Hokage.

As for himself, Jiraiya had always understood that he was not suited for the role.

Night fell.

Tsunade sat alone on a rooftop, gazing quietly at the moon in the sky.

In its glow, she seemed to see her grandfather, her younger brother, and her lover once more.

The village, the title of Hokage—these were the things they had loved, their dreams.

Was she truly going to sit by and do nothing?

Was she even capable of doing anything?

"..."

In the end, Tsunade drank herself into a stupor right there. In her dreams, she seemed to encounter her grandfather, grandmother, brother, and lover again.

And Jiraiya, who had saved her that day.

Perhaps I really cannot keep running away. I should go back.

Early the next morning.

Dressed and ready, Tsunade shed her usual demeanor. She tossed her belongings to Shizune and spoke to Jiraiya.

"Let's go. Back to the village."

Hearing Tsunade's decision, Jiraiya excitedly grabbed the still-bewildered Uzumaki Naruto, and they set off on the road home.

Land of Earth.

On the border of the Land of Grass, at the encampment of the Sarutobi Clan.

Having arrived at the front lines, Sarutobi Hiruzen saw the message delivered by his summoning animal and revealed a rare smile.

Because Tsunade was returning. With her status and prestige, even if Uchiha Fugaku wanted to contend for the position, it was no longer a certainty.

After all, Tsunade carried the final remnants of the Senju Clan's authority.

Furthermore, Sarutobi Hiruzen intended to rotate the position of Hokage before the war concluded, catching Uchiha Fugaku off guard.

Even if Uchiha Fugaku led the Uchiha Clan to victory in the war, so what?

He still would not be able to secure the seat of Hokage.

Following this, Sarutobi Hiruzen sent messages to his two former teammates, Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu, instructing them to coordinate with his maneuvers.

Uchiha Fugaku, who had just arrived in the Land of Hot Water, received this news, albeit a little late.

Tsunade had returned to the village?

The incident with Orochimaru had never occurred, so why would she choose to return?

Even with Uzumaki Naruto present, without the attack from Orochimaru and Naruto risking his life to save her, how could she have moved past her trauma?

It seemed he would have to adjust his plans.

If Tsunade had returned earlier, Uchiha Fugaku might have chosen to concede; after all, she was not Sarutobi Hiruzen and would not deliberately target the Uchiha Clan.

But now that he possessed the system tasks, Uchiha Fugaku was determined to claim the position of Hokage.

However, was simply returning enough?

Uchiha Fugaku summoned a subordinate and used a Ninja Cat to relay a message to the Great Elder back in the clan.

He instructed him to spread some rumors throughout the village.

At that very moment.

Black Zetsu, who was secretly gathering intelligence for the Akatsuki, used a massive bounty on the black market to post a mission to assassinate Uchiha Fugaku.

The moment this mission appeared, Orochimaru, who had long coveted the Sharingan, took the job himself.

Sasori, who still held a deep grudge against the two, set off for the Land of Hot Water, heading straight for Uchiha Fugaku.

The next day.

The Uchiha Clan, having arrived at their encampment in the Land of Hot Water, set up their base along the essential route to Kumogakure.

They continued to guide their members in the cultivation of Sage Mode.

Finally, that afternoon, two more Uchiha clansmen successfully mastered the technique.

As their strength leveled up, the overall power of the Uchiha Clan finally met the criteria for the first-stage reward, granting them one designated draw.