Chapter 11: Truce with Tsunade

Tsunade sighed as she finished drying her golden locks, rubbing the towel over her hair with a tired expression. The warm steam from her bath still clung to her skin, and for the first time in a long while, she felt refreshed.

She turned her head slightly, only to see Naruto staring at her with those big, round blue eyes, his tiny hands reaching out. His lips curled into a small, toothless smile—the kind that had the power to melt even the coldest hearts.

Tsunade hesitated. "So now you're trying to get close to me?" she muttered, raising an eyebrow. "Weren't you the one who cried and pushed me away earlier?"

Naruto didn't answer, of course. But instead of getting upset, he simply tilted his head, his tiny eyebrows furrowing slightly. Then, as if sensing her reluctance, he pouted, his eyes shimmering with an unspoken plea.

Tsunade's breath hitched.

Damn it.

Something about that look—so small, so innocent, so full of warmth—tugged at something deep inside her, something she had tried to bury long ago. She thought of the people she had lost. The warmth of a child's touch, the laughter of those she loved, the gentle embrace of a family that no longer existed.

Her heart clenched.

"Okay, okay," she muttered, sighing in defeat as she stepped closer. "I'll forgive you. Just… don't give me that look."

Tsunade sighed, running a hand through her hair as she cradled Naruto against her chest. The warmth of his tiny body against her own was strangely comforting. She had resisted at first—she always did when it came to getting attached. But Naruto had a way of breaking down walls, much like his mother.

Looking down at him, she saw his innocent blue eyes staring up at her, filled with something she couldn't quite place. Trust? Comfort? Maybe even affection. She huffed. Damn brat.

As she stepped into the kitchen, Kushina turned around, her red hair tied back, a rare expression of triumph on her face. A pot of steaming food sat on the stove, and while it wasn't perfect, it was better than before. She had worked hard to improve, for Naruto's sake.

When she saw Tsunade holding her son so naturally, a small smirk crossed her lips. "Oh? Are you two already getting along? I thought you'd be the last one to hold him."

Tsunade scoffed, shifting Naruto in her arms as he nuzzled against her. "Tch, don't get the wrong idea. He just knows how to get what he wants." 

Kushina smirked, placing a plate of food on the table. "He's my son, after all. Of course, he knows how to charm people." 

Naruto, despite being an adult inside, let out a small coo and snuggled closer to Tsunade. Inside, he was grinning. "Who wouldn't want to be spoiled by one of the strongest and most beautiful women in the world?" he thought. 

Tsunade sighed, gently patting his back. "You better not turn into a little heartbreaker when you grow up," she muttered, though there was a soft smile tugging at her lips. 

Kushina raised an eyebrow. "What, afraid he'll behave like a certain white-haired pervert we know?" 

"Ugh, don't even joke about that," Tsunade groaned. "The last thing we need is another Jiraiya running around." 

At that moment, Jiraiya peeked into the kitchen. "Oi, I heard that!" 

Both women ignored him, focusing instead on the baby in Tsunade's arms. 

Naruto, feeling victorious, gave another cute giggle. "Tsunade's soft... This baby's life isn't so bad after all," he thought to himself.

The days passed in a strange, warm blur. 

Naruto, who had once clung only to Kushina, now latched onto Tsunade with an iron grip—tiny fingers grasping onto the fabric of her robe, his bright blue eyes always searching for her. 

At first, she brushed it off as a childish attachment, something fleeting. But the more time she spent with him, the more she realized how much she enjoyed it. 

She loved the way his little hands would pat her cheek as if to make sure she was still there. She loved the way he would giggle at the smallest things, his laughter echoing in her heart in a way that made her feel… whole. It had been so long since she had felt this way—since she had let herself care for someone so small, so fragile. 

And just like that, Naruto had unknowingly begun healing the cracks in her heart. 

Jiraiya had noticed it, too. "Looks like you've found yourself a new favorite," he teased one evening as Tsunade sat with Naruto cradled in her arms. 

Tsunade scoffed, rolling her eyes, but she didn't argue. Instead, she ran her fingers gently through Naruto's soft blond hair, watching as he dozed off peacefully against her. 

When the time came for both Jiraiya and Tsunade to meet with Hiruzen, the old Hokage smiled at their presence. He could see something different in Tsunade—a softness in her that hadn't been there before. 

"We will spend the next few days here, then decide what to do, Teacher," Jiraiya said. 

Hiruzen nodded. "Take your time… and take care of yourselves." 

During these days, Mikoto also visited often, always bringing little Itachi with her. 

Itachi, curious as ever, tried to approach Naruto, extending a small hand toward him. 

Naruto, however, took one look at him—then scrunched up his face. 

"Waaaaaaaah!" 

Itachi blinked, his tiny hand retracting. His dark eyes flickered with quiet confusion as he turned to his mother. 

Mikoto chuckled as she gently rocked Itachi in her arms, watching Naruto cling stubbornly to Tsunade like a little koala. "Looks like he's already decided who he wants in his life," she mused, her warm eyes glimmering with amusement. 

Tsunade smirked, holding Naruto securely. "Smart kid. He knows quality when he sees it." 

Jiraiya crossed his arms, pouting. "Oi, this isn't fair. What did I ever do to you, brat?" He leaned in slightly, only for Naruto to tighten his grip on Tsunade and bury his face into her as if Jiraiya were the scariest thing in the world. 

Itachi, still a toddler himself, tilted his head in confusion. He had been eager to meet Naruto, yet the moment he got close, the baby's face scrunched up, and the wailing began. 

Mikoto sighed, shaking her head. "Well, that settles it. Boys are out of the picture." 

Kushina burst out laughing from the kitchen. "You guys should just give up already! Naruto's been like this since day one." 

Tsunade glanced down at the tiny blond in her arms, his chubby fingers gripping her sleeve. She hadn't planned on staying in Konoha for long, but something about this child made it harder to leave. There was a warmth in his presence, an unspoken bond that filled a space she hadn't realized was so empty. 

Maybe staying a little longer wouldn't be so bad. 

Jiraiya watched the scene unfold, rubbing the back of his neck. "Tch. Looks like you've stolen another heart, Naruto," he muttered, but there was a rare, soft smile on his face. 

For the first time in years, Konoha didn't feel so heavy.