Tsunade

Jiraiya's mind went blank. "You bastard, who are you looking down on?"

Naruto stepped out and stood beside Jiraiya. He had not expected things to change. According to the situation in Awen's memories, Itachi Uchiha should have been the one knocking on the door. Now Jiraiya had arrived early, and Sasuke, who should have recklessly rushed out despite still being immature, had not appeared either.

Jiraiya chuckled as he looked at Itachi Uchiha and Kisame Hoshigaki. "I won't let you two get away..."

Jiraiya used the Summoning Jutsu to summon the esophagus of a great toad from Mount Myoboku.

The hotel corridor suddenly changed. Chunks of flesh grew from the walls and continuously pressed in on Itachi Uchiha and Kisame Hoshigaki. The corrosive gastric acid made Kisame Hoshigaki's expression change.

"Kisame, we're leaving!" Itachi Uchiha showed no expression. After glancing at Jiraiya, he began retreating with Kisame Hoshigaki.

"Heh... Trying to run? It won't be that easy. This is the stomach of the Rock-Dwelling Great Toad. No one has ever escaped from here!"

Boom...

Suddenly, a deafening explosion made Jiraiya freeze. He hurried over with Naruto, only to see a massive hole blasted straight through the wall, black flames still burning around it.

"What is this?" Jiraiya frowned and took out a scroll, while Naruto silently stood to the side without saying a word.

"Sealing Jutsu: Fire-Sealing Method!"

Jiraiya sealed away the black flames of Amaterasu and dispelled the Summoning Jutsu. Looking at the hole Itachi Uchiha had blasted through the hotel, the owner was probably going to curse them out.

Naruto asked, "Pervy Sage, that was Sasuke's brother, Itachi Uchiha, right?"

"That's right. He's the target of my revenge!" Sasuke Uchiha arrived late, his voice reaching them before he did. Slightly out of breath, he had heard Naruto's words and immediately responded. A vicious look appeared on his face as his Two-Tomoe Sharingan emerged.

"Sasuke! Why are you... here?" Naruto paused before asking.

"Kakashi was defeated by Itachi..." Sasuke's face darkened as he suppressed the anger in his heart. "I learned that their target was you, so I came after them. Have they left?"

Naruto pointed at the hole. He was surprised that Sasuke could restrain his hatred and not continue chasing Itachi Uchiha.

"Wata... Behold my Leaf Dynamic Entry..."

A sudden shout rang out. Naruto and Sasuke stared in shock, while Jiraiya was still confused, when Might Guy came flying in and planted a kick directly into his face.

Bang!

Naruto and Sasuke were dumbfounded. Jiraiya was kicked straight into the air, two streams of nosebleed spurting out.

Might Guy also realized that he had kicked the wrong person. His face changed drastically as he hurriedly apologized to Jiraiya. "I am truly very sorry! Because I forgot to bring a mirror, I used my forehead protector to observe the situation. But I couldn't see clearly through it. I saw a white-haired bad guy who seemed to be trying to harm two children, so the youth in my heart made me lose control, and I rushed straight over!"

With tissues stuffed in his nostrils and a glaring footprint on his face, Jiraiya looked rather comical. Hearing Might Guy's explanation left him even more speechless. "What kind of excuse for an apology is that?!"

Afterward, Sasuke and Might Guy left together, while Naruto and Jiraiya continued on their journey to find Tsunade, the future Fifth Hokage. In this disturbance, Kakashi was the only one injured, taken down by Itachi Uchiha's Mangekyo Sharingan genjutsu, Tsukuyomi.

On the road, Jiraiya said to Naruto, "Naruto, your strength has improved quite a bit, but it's still not enough against the Akatsuki. What you lack is time. Once we find the Fifth Hokage, I plan to take you out for training."

"Training away from home? Great, Pervy Sage!" Naruto immediately agreed.

Jiraiya broke apart a twin popsicle and handed half to Naruto.

After taking it, Naruto continued, "After meeting Orochimaru, I looked into the Three Sannin. That Tsunade seems to be addicted to gambling!"

"That's right... She's known as the legendary sucker. She loses every time she gambles..." Jiraiya seemed somewhat nostalgic for those old days.

Naruto narrowed his eyes and snarked, "Porn, gambling, and drugs—you Three Sannin each cover one of them. I really don't know how Grandpa Third taught you. Konoha's Three Sannin? You're practically the three plagues!"

"You little brat..." Jiraiya smacked Naruto on the head irritably. "How he taught us? Go ask the old man yourself. And what do you mean, three plagues? You're my student too!"

"It just came to mind. By the way, Pervy Sage, where exactly are we going? We can't search one place at a time, can we?" Naruto said with a grin, rubbing the back of his head.

Jiraiya said, "Of course not. Someone said they saw Tsunade in Tanzaku Town. That's where we're going!"

"If you know, then Orochimaru probably knows too. I heard Orochimaru was seriously injured by Grandpa Third. Could he go ask that granny to treat his injuries?" Naruto asked.

Jiraiya's expression changed drastically. He had not considered that. He had originally planned to travel at an unhurried pace, but after hearing Naruto's words, his expression turned serious. "You're right. That Orochimaru might really seek Tsunade's help. Naruto, let's go!"

"Okay... But that lottery seller is calling to me. I'm going to buy one and see!"

"Ha... A lottery ticket... As if you'll actually win..."

"Holy crap, Naruto, you really won the lottery..."

In Tanzaku Town, an amber-eyed woman sat before a gaming machine with a fiery air about her. Beside her stood a flat-chested but pretty black-haired woman, holding a pink pig in her arms. They were naturally Tsunade and Nemoto Shizune.

Tsunade watched as the pile of game tokens beside her grew larger and larger, yet she did not feel the slightest bit happy.

"Shizune, let's go!" Tsunade ordered.

"Okay..." Shizune happily took the game tokens to exchange for money, then left with her.

Tsunade and Shizune were walking down a street when Tsunade's gaze suddenly sharpened, her expression becoming extremely serious.

Orochimaru's arms hung limply at his sides, his face pale, while Kabuto Yakushi followed beside him.

"Tsunade, it's been a long time!" Orochimaru said with a smile.

"You... How did you end up like this, Orochimaru?" Tsunade asked with a frown.

Orochimaru grinned. "That is precisely why I came looking for you. Sarutobi-sensei did this to me..."

"That old man..." Tsunade sensed something unusual and said, "If this concerns medical treatment, you can leave. I no longer treat people."

"I know..." Orochimaru slightly raised his arm and bit his finger, blood flowing out. Tsunade's gaze trembled.

"Lady Tsunade!" Shizune shielded Tsunade behind her and watched Orochimaru with full vigilance.

Kabuto Yakushi was also surprised. "Hemophobia? The legendary medical master actually suffers from hemophobia? So that's why she gave up being a ninja!"