"I never thought something like this would happen in Konoha."
In a corner of an izakaya in Konoha, Jiraiya found Tsunade drinking alone. He sat across from her and sighed.
Tsunade said nothing. She just drank one cup after another.
Seeing her like this, Jiraiya thought she was too troubled to put her feelings into words. As he had done before, he picked up an empty cup from the table and poured himself a drink.
"Why didn't you punish Sasuke? Was it because of Itachi?"
Jiraiya drained his cup and continued, but Tsunade still did not answer.
"Oh, right. Where's Naruto? This time, I'm keeping him in Konoha! And then—"
Jiraiya shot to his feet, but his whole body had gone limp. He dropped back into his seat with a thud.
Slumped against the chair, he stared at Tsunade in disbelief and asked weakly,
"Tsunade, what's going on? Why... why did you drug me?"
"Let me answer that, Jiraiya-sensei."
Naruto's voice came from the izakaya entrance. By then, only the three of them remained.
Jiraiya's heart sank. He studied Tsunade across the table, searching her face for an explanation.
"Jiraiya-sensei, we meet again." Grinning, Naruto sat beside Tsunade, across from Jiraiya.
Jiraiya fell silent and fixed him with a sharp stare.
Tsunade kept drinking without looking up.
"You can leave now, Lord Hokage." Naruto patted Tsunade on the shoulder.
Tsunade tipped back her head and finished her last cup. A tear slipped from her eye, and she vanished in a flash.
"Jiraiya-sensei, I mean you no harm. I just want to change some people's fates so they can live better, freer lives."
Naruto leaned back comfortably and looked at Jiraiya.
At last, Jiraiya spoke. "Whose fates do you want to change?"
"Lots of people. Your students, Pain and the others,