Tsunade's Return

Tsunade revealed a faintly seductive smile. "So you really are here, Naruto. That idiot Jiraiya dragged you here, didn't he?"

Naruto calmed down and replied, "That's right. The Pervy Sage just left. Grandma Tsunade, did you come looking for the Pervy Sage?"

"Looking for him? Hmph, I'm not about to make things easy for that foolish pervert!" Tsunade put one hand on her hip, tilted her head slightly, and looked at Naruto. "How's your training going? That guy Jiraiya probably just told you how to train, then left you to figure it out yourself!"

Naruto suddenly remembered something and asked, "Grandma Tsunade, the Second Hokage was a master of Water Release, right? Did he also train his Water-Nature Chakra by splashing water around like this?"

The image of Tobirama Senju playing with splashes was so out of place that Naruto hardly dared imagine it.

Tsunade smiled faintly, then, under Naruto's shocked gaze, took off her bath towel and stepped into the hot spring wearing a purple swimsuit.

"I knew it would be like this. Jiraiya wasn't born with Water-Nature Chakra, so he doesn't know that much about it. Of course he can't compare to my second grandfather!"

Tsunade swam over to Naruto and reached out with both hands to support the backs of his hands.

Kurama, Grandma Tsunade's swimsuit looks exactly like the swimsuit from that mobile game in Awen's memories! Naruto mentally transmitted to the Nine-Tails.

The Nine-Tails did not answer. He was silently watching the show in the inner world, thoroughly enjoying the drama!

Tsunade slowly said, "Naruto, Jiraiya's method works too, but there's another way. Remember this feeling!"

Naruto's expression changed. The backs of his hands felt cool as Tsunade guided the Water-Nature Chakra within him and gathered it in his hands. Under her control, his hands slowly sank into the water without causing a single ripple, helping Naruto learn how to control his Water-Nature Chakra more effectively.

Jiraiya naturally could not use this kind of chakra guidance method. Tsunade's medical skills stood unmatched in the shinobi world, and her control over her own chakra was extraordinary. Everyone had things they excelled at and things they did not. There were things Jiraiya could do that Tsunade could not, and vice versa.

"That's it, Naruto. Remember that feeling. This will save you a lot of time, so keep working hard!" Tsunade looked at him encouragingly, her gaze lingering briefly on the necklace around Naruto's neck.

"Yeah, I'll work hard!" Naruto controlled his Water-Nature Chakra according to the feeling from before, then fiercely slapped the water's surface.

Slap! Slap!

The splashes were much smaller than before. Tsunade said with satisfaction, "Not bad. Keep this up, Naruto, and it won't be long before you master the nature transformation of Water-Nature Chakra."

"I'll keep working hard, Grandma Tsunade!" Naruto slapped both palms against the water, making loud smacking sounds. The heat of the hot spring made both their faces feel flushed.

Feeling that he could not take it much longer, Tsunade said, "Naruto, it's not good to soak in a hot spring for too long. This isn't a place for training. We'll continue once we get back to Konoha!"

"Okay. The Pervy Sage said soaking too long was bad too. Grandma Tsunade, let's go!" Naruto gave the water two final slaps. Compared to the booming explosions from before, this was much better.

After Tsunade and Naruto came out, their faces were flushed from the hot spring. At the same time, Jiraiya had just finished his sauna and changed clothes. Seeing that Naruto had not come out yet, he was about to call for him when he happened to see Tsunade and Naruto walking out of the mixed bath one after the other.

Jiraiya pointed at them, staring at Tsunade as he stammered, "Y-you two... Tsunade, this... Naruto, you didn't..."

"Ah, that's right. Grandma Tsunade just guided my training in the hot spring! Pervy Sage, you didn't see it just now. Grandma Tsunade taught me how to control Water-Nature Chakra, and I improved by a huge amount!" Naruto patted his chest and boasted excitedly.

After giving Jiraiya a casual glance, Tsunade returned to the women's changing room. There was no need to think about what that idiot was imagining.

"No, no, no..." Jiraiya realized what he had missed and pounded the ground as he wept bitterly.

"Snowflakes drift, north winds blow, heaven and earth are vast and boundless... a solitary plum blossom..." In Naruto's mind, the Nine-Tails played One Plum Blossom as he gleefully watched the chaos unfold. Kurama had truly inherited the trait of loving a good spectacle.

Naruto silently replied in his heart, I can't solve this question. I really can't...

"HAHAHA!" The Nine-Tails clutched his stomach and laughed. "It fits this scene so perfectly! Hahaha... No wonder Awen and the others love watching drama so much. It really is interesting. It feels more fun than watching movies or playing games!"

After Naruto changed clothes, he dragged Jiraiya outside. There, they found Shizune standing and waiting with a suitcase in hand, panting and looking utterly lifeless.

"Big Sister Shizune, what happened to you?" Naruto asked curiously.

"Ah, Naruto and Lord Jiraiya... Hehe..." The light had vanished from Shizune's eyes.

Jiraiya also snapped out of it, stood up, and asked with a serious expression, "What's wrong? Did something happen?"

Shizune said, "Lady Tsunade's debt collectors found us!"

"What?!" Jiraiya exclaimed in shock.

Naruto remained expressionless. He had known this all along. Just the nickname Legendary Sucker was enough to show how much Tsunade lost gambling. Later, after Tsunade became Hokage, those debt collectors would even chase her all the way to Konoha.

"It's fine. Grandma Tsunade will handle it, Big Sister Shizune. You're worrying too much. After all, Grandma Tsunade has already made up her mind to become the village's Fifth Hokage," Naruto reassured her.

Tsunade also came out after changing clothes. "That's right, Shizune. You're panicking over something this small? How will you work after I become Hokage?"

"Is it really okay?" Shizune remembered exactly why she had been traveling everywhere with Tsunade. They had been fleeing debt collectors and could never stay in one place for long.

"It's fine, it's fine. Who do you think I am?" Tsunade said boldly.

After staying in Hot Spring Village for a day, they continued their journey the next day. Following a long and exhausting trip, they finally returned to Konoha.

Tsunade stood before Konoha's gates. Looking at the familiar streets beyond them, she could not help sighing. "After all this time, Konoha hasn't changed at all!"

Many people had gathered in Konoha's streets to catch a glimpse of Tsunade, one of the legendary Three Sannin. Many shinobi were so excited upon seeing her that tears filled their eyes. During the Shinobi World War, Tsunade had saved countless lives, and she held great weight in the hearts of Konoha's people.

Sasuke and Sakura were among the crowd as well!

"So that's Tsunade, one of the Three Sannin alongside Jiraiya and Orochimaru? She looks so young!" Sakura said in astonishment.

Sasuke had missed Itachi Uchiha, so he had not ended up bedridden. Seeing Naruto return, he revealed a faint smile.

Naruto also noticed Sasuke in the crowd. He suddenly remembered that Sasuke had said Kakashi had been knocked unconscious by Itachi Uchiha's Tsukuyomi!

"Grandma Tsunade, I have something to ask of you. Kakashi-sensei was hit by a genjutsu and is lying unconscious in the hospital!"