Chapter 111

Here's @riojiyo131, your trusted writer.

You can now get early access to Chapter 122 of Re: Naruto Uzumaki on my Patreon. You can also read up to Chapter 40 of Satoru Senju: Conquering the Omniverse!

patreon.com/riojiyo131

-----------------

A few days later, before beginning their return journey to Konohagakure.

Away from Naruto, Nawaki, Karin, Karura, and Shizune, Tsunade and Jiraiya walked off to talk in private.

Tsunade had already discussed Orochimaru with him a few days ago. This conversation, however, wasn't about him...

Luckily, Jiraiya had already recovered from Orochimaru's death.

"What do you want now, Jiraiya? You don't need to convince me anymore. I told you I'd return to the village. Aren't you happy?"

Tsunade had finally made the decision to return to the village and assume the title of Fifth Hokage after Orochimaru's death.

"I'd be even happier if you agreed to go out with me," Jiraiya said with his typical smile, trying his luck.

Tsunade stopped in her tracks and looked at him as if she had just heard a blasphemy.

"Not even dead. You're an old man. If I had to choose, I'd prefer a young, handsome guy."

Tsunade didn't even remember how many times she had rejected Jiraiya over the years.

Jiraiya raised an eyebrow, as if he had just been stabbed in the heart.

"We're the same age... In fact, you're a couple of months older, if I remember correctly."

Tsunade rolled her eyes and leaned against a tree trunk, arms crossed.

"Yes, but I age like wine. You, on the other hand, are like vinegar. How many wrinkles do you have? I can't even count them."

"They're marks of wisdom!" Jiraiya protested, patting his cheeks. "And at least I don't cheat like you to look younger!"

Tsunade conveniently ignored his comment and smiled mischievously. "I'm sure you're a dirty old man because, at fifty, you're still a virgin."

Jiraiya flinched as if a bucket of cold water had been thrown on him. He opened his mouth, offended, placing a hand on his chest.

"I've been with lots of women!" he exclaimed. "So many I can't even remember all their names!"

"I'm sure those women you talk about only exist in your books," Tsunade muttered with an amused smile.

Jiraiya pointed at her indignantly.

"You've never been with a man because they all end up unconscious before the second drink, you drunken hag! You scare them off with that tomboy temper!"

Tsunade blushed, furious, but didn't back down. She stepped forward, facing him.

"I don't like where this conversation is going, Jiraiya!"

"Me neither!" he said, looking around for nonexistent support among the trees, noticing Tsunade was genuinely upset by that last comment. "I'm really scared right now...!" he admitted openly, without shame.

Jiraiya stepped back, but then...

Both fell silent for a moment, exchanging glances.

Only then did they burst into laughter.

"Now I'm the Fifth Hokage. You better show respect to your superior!" Tsunade said more firmly, reminding him of her new position, wiping a tear from the corner of her eye.

Jiraiya looked away and waved his hand dismissively.

"Until we get to Konoha, it's not official. Technically, you're still not my superior."

Tsunade raised an eyebrow. Then, without warning, she stomped the ground hard. A crack opened beneath her feet, spreading like a web of destruction. The rift stopped just inches from Jiraiya, shaking the ground beneath his sandals.

Jiraiya swallowed, raising both hands in a peace gesture.

"Alright, alright... Hokage-sama."

Tsunade gave him a satisfied smile.

Jiraiya coughed nervously, returning to a more serious tone. It was time to set jokes aside.

"Actually, I wanted to talk to you about the prophecy, Tsunade."

His voice no longer had its earlier playful tone. It had become grave, heavy. Tsunade noticed it immediately, and her expression changed too.

"The prophecy...?" she repeated, lowering her arms.

Jiraiya nodded. His gaze slowly moved toward Naruto Uzumaki.

Seeing where Jiraiya was looking, Tsunade raised an eyebrow, following his gaze to Naruto.

"Are you trying to tell me that brat is the Child of the Prophecy...?"

Tsunade had heard about the prophecy before. As an old friend of Jiraiya, it wasn't the first time he brought it up.

The first time he thought he'd found him was during the Second Ninja World War, with an orphaned boy from Amegakure. If she remembered correctly, his name was Nagato, a lost member of the Uzumaki Clan.

Tsunade had never wondered what had happened to him. Until now.

The second time was with Minato Namikaze himself. Jiraiya also believed he was the chosen one. But Minato died young, protecting the village, and with that, Jiraiya ruled him out.

Now... did he believe he'd found him again?

Tsunade looked at Naruto, and for a moment she thought she saw Minato's shadow behind him.

They had the same smile. Same sparkle in their eyes. The same tendency to get into trouble.

But Tsunade hardly believed in the prophecy's existence...

"Good luck. They say third time's the charm."

Tsunade knew Naruto was strong. Very strong for his age. Brave, stubborn, and with incredible power.

But from there to being the Child of the Prophecy... The one who would save or destroy the world...

"The prophecy changed, Tsunade. I still don't understand it well, but... apparently, the Great Toad Sage was wrong. The Child of the Prophecy was never meant to be my student."

Tsunade looked at him, surprised.

"You know I've never believed much in those things..." she murmured, crossing her arms.

She was incapable of believing in fairy tales like the prophecy.

Jiraiya kept his eyes on Naruto.

"The Child of the Prophecy was never supposed to be my student. He was someone I was simply meant to guide."

"Well, congratulations. Good luck guiding that brat." Tsunade patted him on the back, ready to walk away.

The path to Konoha wasn't going to walk itself, after all.

But Jiraiya didn't let her go.

"Do you really not care?" he said more seriously. "I'm telling you that this time I'm sure. Naruto is the Child of the Prophecy. At first, I had doubts, but the more I watched him... the clearer it became. I'm going to need your help when we get to Konoha. We have to keep an eye on him. Make sure he doesn't take the wrong path. He must become the savior, not the destroyer..."

Tsunade looked down. She was silent for a second before responding in a low voice.

"You talk just like Sarutobi-sensei, Jiraiya..." She glanced at him, frowning. "But I'm not going to be like him."

"I won't be the Hokage you expect me to be."

Tsunade said nothing more. She turned and walked away, leaving Jiraiya alone with his thoughts.

Watch him??

Make sure he doesn't take the wrong path??

Tsunade clenched her teeth, saying nothing. But inside, her blood was boiling.

Watch Naruto? Guide him like he couldn't make his own decisions? That was exactly the kind of mindset she hated.

She clicked her tongue sharply.

Jiraiya was starting to sound like Sarutobi-sensei. Always believing he knew more than everyone else. Always pulling strings from the shadows, justifying it as following the Will of Fire.

Tsunade closed her eyes for a moment. No, she wouldn't follow that path. She wouldn't become someone who used pretty words to manipulate others, not even "for their own good."

Naruto wasn't a tool, or a weapon to be watched, or a child that needed to be controlled from a distance like he was a danger or a monster.

No. She wouldn't be like her teacher.

And she certainly wouldn't do it just because Jiraiya asked her to.

That was when she heard quick footsteps, and without warning, Nawaki ran toward her and threw himself into her arms.

Tsunade caught him effortlessly. She held him tight, as if she needed to remember why she did all this. A warm smile spread across her face, more sincere than any she had shown in years.

If there was one reason she was returning to the village... it was Nawaki.

It wasn't for the village. It wasn't for the Hokage title. Or to fulfill anyone else's dream.

It was for him.

Because deep down, Tsunade knew: she had to build a safe place for Nawaki. A place where he wouldn't end up with his name on a cold tombstone, like last time.

This time, she would be there to protect him. To make sure he grew up without fear. That he lived.

That would be her way of changing things.

And along the way, she would make sure other kids like Nawaki didn't suffer the same fate.

That included Naruto.

"Aren't you too old to act like a brat already?" she asked, raising an eyebrow, still holding him in her arms.

"And weren't you too old to cry like a little girl the other day when we reunited?" Nawaki replied with a mocking smile.

Tsunade let out a short laugh, shaking her head, amused.

Of course Nawaki would hit back. He didn't know how to keep his thoughts to himself. He was just as she remembered...

Only then did he let go of her, though he gave her a small shoulder bump first.

"I knew you'd come back to the village with me in the end, Tsunadezilla."

She rolled her eyes.

"We'll talk about that ridiculous nickname you gave me later."

Nawaki paled at Tsunade's words. He swallowed and glanced at Naruto, with an expression that screamed: "I'm in trouble."

Naruto, calm, gently shook his head. He made a quick hand gesture, as if saying, "Don't you dare rat me out."

Tsunade looked at both of them, squinting. They were up to something. She knew it.

But she decided not to say anything... for now.

Nawaki looked away, playing innocent. Though the sweat on his forehead gave him away completely.

Naruto, noticing the atmosphere was getting tense, stepped in to shift the conversation.

"So... this is where we part ways," Naruto suddenly said, pointing at Karura with a cheeky smile. "I still have to take my new wife back to Sunagakure."

Karura let out a soft laugh, taking Naruto's words as a joke.

"She laughs, but she doesn't know I'm serious," said Naruto, winking.

"Oh, stop it, you rascal..." Karura replied, covering her smile with her hand, amused.

Though she didn't say it out loud, Karura liked Naruto's compliments.

It was a shame Naruto wasn't a few years older, Karura thought.

"It's going to be weird when Temari calls me daddy..." Naruto muttered under his breath. "Though I hope she doesn't... It'd be even weirder if Gaara or Kankurō copied her and did the same..."

Karura still heard his words, and her eyes widened, shining with emotion.

"You can take my daughter Temari as your wife in my place..." she said, very seriously, too seriously. "As long as she agrees. She's going to be a beautiful woman, I'm sure of it. I promise you won't regret it..."

Naruto laughed, thinking she was joking.

At that moment, he didn't know Karura was serious.

"Not in your dreams!" shouted Karin, clinging to Naruto's arm, as if trying to pull him away from Karura by force.

Tsunade had to step in to separate them before Karin jumped, this time, directly on Karura, like a cat.