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"Dammit, what was he talking about?" exclaimed Tsunade, slamming her fist onto the table, causing it to shatter into pieces.
"Lady Tsunade, please calm down," Shizune implored, trying to soothe her.
"I'm sorry about this; we will pay for the damages," Shizune apologized to the waiter.
"Let's go to another tavern," Tsunade said, standing up and leaving the restaurant.
After settling the bill for the damages, Shizune left the restaurant and caught up to Tsunade. She suggested, "Lady Tsunade, there's a historical castle here. We can go there; it might help you feel better."
"Whatever," Tsunade replied indifferently, and she followed Shizune towards the castle.
As they reached the castle, Tsunade suddenly felt a cold sensation and questioned, "What is this chilling feeling?"
In an instant, the castle crumbled, and a massive snake emerged from the wreckage, with Orochimaru and Kabuto perched upon it.
Initially, Orochimaru hadn't intended to arrive so soon. However, upon learning that Jiraiya was searching for Tsunade to offer her the position of the next Hokage, he swiftly embarked on the pursuit. Orochimaru understood that if Jiraiya persuaded Tsunade to become the next Hokage, she would never heal his hands at any cost.
Orochimaru and Kabuto landed before Tsunade. She inquired with clenched fists and a mocking smile, "Why are you here, Orochimaru? And what happened to your arms? Were you incapable of facing our former teacher?"
"You seem to be well-informed about the happenings in Konoha. I came here specifically so that you can heal my arms," Orochimaru declared.
"It's been years since I treated anyone," Tsunade remarked.
"How can that be? You are the person who is most accomplished in the field of healing. Even if you stop practicing for many years, you would still easily be able to heal anyone," Kabuto responded.
"If you can heal my arms, I will revive those two whom you were unable to protect in the war. They're the reason you developed a fear of blood," Orochimaru stated while making a small cut on his finger, allowing the blood to flow.
As soon as she saw the blood, her hemophobia kicked in, and she started trembling in fear.
"Tsunade, I'm giving you one week's time. After one week, I'd like to hear your answer," Orochimaru said before disappearing in a cloud of smoke with Kabuto. Tsunade leaned against the wall for support.
---
In a tavern, Tsunade was drinking and eating with Shizune by her side when a man with white hair entered, followed by a boy with yellow hair. They were Jiraiya and Naruto.
"Pervy Sage, what are we doing here in the tavern? This isn't a place for children. We should go to a Ramen Shop," Naruto commented.
"Tsunade!" Jiraiya exclaimed upon spotting her.
"What are you doing here, Jiraiya?" Tsunade asked in surprise.
"I came here searching for you," Jiraiya replied as he took a seat opposite Tsunade.
"Why are you here instead of mourning for the Third Hokage?" Tsunade inquired.
"So you know about the teacher's death. He was killed by Orochimaru," Jiraiya said with a sad expression.
"Yes, that blind boy told me everything. What was his name again? I forgot," Tsunade slurred, slightly intoxicated.
"His name was Jiryoku," Shizune supplied.
"What? He's here?" Jiraiya responded with surprise.
"From your tone, it seems you've fought him," Tsunade observed.
"Yes, I did, and I lost miserably even after using 'Sage Mode'," Jiraiya admitted.
"What!?" Tsunade exclaimed, standing up in shock.
Tsunade quickly sobered up, the effects of alcohol completely gone. She sat back down and asked, "Did you really lose to him?"
"Yes, and it wasn't like I was his first opponent. Before me, he fought the Hyuga Elders and won. Then he dropped a meteor on Konoha. After that, he fought Danzo and his ROOT ninjas, completely destroying them. Finally, he fought me, and he won again, injuring me severely. He was exhausted afterward and had to escape. But he left with an attack that took the combined efforts of elite ninjas to stop. It was comparable to an S-Rank ninjutsu," Jiraiya recounted.
"By the way, what did he want from you?" Jiraiya inquired.
"Shizune, tell him," Tsunade instructed.
Shizune proceeded to recount everything that Jiryoku had spoken about earlier.
"Is that so? It seems he also wants to master Sage Mode," Jiraiya mused.
"So, what's your decision, Tsunade?" Jiraiya asked.
"I haven't thought about it thoroughly," Tsunade stated.
Jiraiya nodded and announced, "Tsunade, you have been chosen as the next Hokage by the villagers of Konoha and the Daimyo of the Fire Country."
"Forget it. I will never be a Hokage. You can take that miserable title of Hokage. I'm not a fool like the Fourth Hokage and the Third Hokage, sacrificing myself for the village. Life is more important than the village," Tsunade retorted.
"You have to. No one is better suited than you to become a Hokage. Your achievements in the war are remarkable, and you're also the granddaughter of the First Hokage," Jiraiya argued.
"Hey, what's going on here? Who is this woman, and how dare she disrespect the position of Hokage and Grandpa Third Hokage?" Naruto exclaimed, standing on the table and lunging towards Tsunade, but he was restrained by Jiraiya.
"Kid, are you trying to challenge me? If you want to fight, then come outside," Tsunade taunted.
"Yeah, let's go outside," Naruto replied defiantly.
Both Tsunade and Naruto stepped outside the tavern and stood facing each other.
Tsunade raised her index finger and proclaimed, "With just one finger, I will defeat you."
"Hmph! I will defeat you and make you apologize for what you said," Naruto declared.
Naruto then attacked Tsunade with his kunai, but Tsunade easily deflected the kunai with her finger. The kunai flew up in the air, and Naruto stood defenseless. Tsunade flicked Naruto on the head, causing him to be thrown away and fall to the ground.
"Hmph. You are too weak to make me apologize," Tsunade jeered, her tone mocking.
"I will defeat you!" Naruto shouted. He began forming a blue sphere in his hand, creating an incomplete Rasengan.
Jiraiya, who had been standing nearby, was shocked. He had taught Naruto the Rasengan, but Naruto had only just mastered the first form of Rasengan earlier that morning. However, with this incomplete Rasengan, Naruto had evidently skipped the second part and managed to enter the third part of the Rasengan training.
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