Meanwhile.
In Konoha.
Tsunade, Kakashi, and the others returned to the village.
Seeing the familiar figure leading the group, the Chunin guarding the village gate rubbed his eyes and said to his companion:
"No way! Are my eyes playing tricks on me? Why am I seeing my goddess, the Fifth Hokage, coming back?"
"It's one thing to dream about your goddess, but now you're hallucinating too! You're beyond saving!" His companion sighed helplessly.
But soon, his eyes widened as he stared fixedly ahead, mumbling himself, "No way. Am I hallucinating too? I think I see the Fifth Hokage!"
"No, no, no! The goddess of my dreams is Kohana! Lady Tsunade may be a peerless beauty, but my love for Kohana will never waver!"
While the Chunin muttered in disbelief, Tsunade and the others headed straight for the Hokage Building.
Along the way, startled passersby turned to look.
"Look! That's Lady Tsunade! Lady Tsunade is back!"
"Heavens, it really is the Fifth Hokage, Lady Tsunade!"
"Our Lord Hokage is back!"
The villagers along the way cried out in surprise.
Before long, Tsunade arrived at the Hokage's office.
At that moment, a white-haired, one-armed man occupied the Hokage's seat. It was Jiraiya!
Jiraiya looked up at Tsunade's sudden appearance, his eyes filled with shock. "Tsunade, you're back?!"
Tsunade looked at his missing left arm, her expression darkening. "What happened to your arm?"
Jiraiya's expression dimmed, and he sighed. "I went to Amegakure a while ago and ran into those children from back then. I never imagined they would have changed so much."
"Who sent you on such a dangerous mission?" Tsunade demanded angrily.
"I chose to go myself. Earlier, the Akatsuki launched a surprise attack on Konoha and captured the Seven-Tails Jinchuriki, sending the Nine-Tails on a rampage. The village was almost