"Stop talking… just stop talking—!"
BOOM!!!
Before the words had even fully settled, an earth-shattering explosion erupted.
The city walls trembled violently, cracks spreading like spiderwebs across their surface. Even the ground behind them shook as though struck by an earthquake. Not far away, an already dilapidated ancient building could no longer withstand the shockwave—it collapsed instantly with a deafening roar.
Rocks tumbled, bricks shattered, dust billowed into the air, and debris scattered in every direction.
"I'll kill you!"
Tsunade's voice rang out, filled with fury.
Her punch had just landed—and its power was nothing short of terrifying.
Yakushi Kabuto's pupils shrank sharply, his usually calm expression cracking for the first time.
"Such monstrous strength…"
Cold sweat trickled down his back.
"If I had taken even one of those punches head-on… I would've died a hundred times over."
Even for someone as composed as Kabuto, the sheer destructive force was enough to instill genuine fear.
Yet, standing at the center of it all, Orochimaru remained completely unfazed.
Not a trace of panic appeared on his pale face.
"Tsunade… why must it come to this?"
His voice was calm, almost gentle—completely at odds with the chaos surrounding them.
"I only wished to invite an old friend… to stay as my guest for a few days."
A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
"Besides, you never wanted to become Hokage in the first place, did you? This wouldn't be a loss for you."
Tsunade's eyes turned ice-cold.
"No one can force me to do anything I don't want to do."
Her fists clenched tightly, veins bulging along her arms.
"And even if I refuse to become Hokage…"
She stepped forward, her killing intent surging like a storm.
"I would never follow your twisted path!"
Orochimaru let out a soft sigh.
"Did things really have to end like this?"
For a brief moment, something genuine flickered in his golden eyes.
"Tsunade… you're the only one I don't want to kill."
Those words were not a lie.
For someone like Orochimaru, deception was unnecessary when stating something so simple.
But Tsunade didn't believe him.
Not even for a second.
"Orochimaru… I wouldn't hesitate to kill you."
Her voice was resolute.
The air between them seemed to freeze.
Then—
Their killing intent exploded.
Invisible yet overwhelming, their auras clashed violently, distorting the atmosphere itself. The tension grew so dense it was almost suffocating.
A battle between two of the Legendary Sannin was about to erupt.
Kabuto and Shizune, standing nearby, both went pale.
Their throats felt dry as they instinctively swallowed.
Was today… the day the Sannin would truly fight to the death?
And just as the situation reached its breaking point—
"Hahahahaha!"
A loud, carefree laugh echoed through the battlefield.
"Hahahaha! What timing…"
"It almost feels like a reunion."
Both Tsunade and Orochimaru froze.
They turned simultaneously toward the source of the voice.
And there he stood—
A tall figure with long white hair, a confident grin, and a presence that felt both familiar and overwhelming.
"Ji… Jiraiya?!"
Tsunade's voice trembled slightly.
Shock, nostalgia, irritation—countless emotions flashed across her face all at once.
Orochimaru's eyes narrowed.
"Jiraiya… are you here to interfere again?"
Jiraiya laughed heartily, completely unbothered.
"Orochimaru, shouldn't I be the one asking that?"
Then, his gaze shifted to Tsunade, softening slightly.
"It's been a long time, Tsunade."
For a brief moment, silence lingered between them.
Nearby, Naruto stood frozen, utterly confused.
"Perverted Sage… you mean… that old lady is Tsunade?!"
His jaw nearly dropped.
"How is that even possible?!"
Jiraiya grinned mischievously.
"She uses a special technique to maintain her youthful appearance."
He gave Tsunade a teasing glance.
"What do you think? Pretty, right?"
"And her figure hasn't changed either—"
Naruto's face immediately twisted with indignation.
"Isn't that basically cheating?!"
A vein popped on Tsunade's forehead.
"Jiraiya… who is this rude brat?!"
Jiraiya scratched his cheek, laughing awkwardly.
"This kid?"
"He's Uzumaki Naruto."
Tsunade's expression shifted instantly.
"Uzumaki… Naruto?"
Her gaze sharpened as she looked him up and down, as though reassessing everything.
Jiraiya nodded.
"Yes. Exactly who you think he is."
Tsunade studied Naruto carefully for a few seconds before snorting dismissively.
"He looks completely ordinary."
"Just another loud, annoying brat."
Naruto exploded.
"Who are you calling annoying?! You're clearly an old woman pretending to be a big sister!"
"If anything, you're way more annoying!"
He didn't hold back in the slightest.
Even knowing she was one of the Legendary Sannin didn't stop him.
He said whatever came to mind.
Tsunade's fist tightened.
"You little punk… what did you just say?!"
Jiraiya quickly stepped in, trying to defuse the situation.
"Alright, alright, Tsunade. Why argue with a kid?"
"Shut up!"
Tsunade snapped.
"Jiraiya, I already know why you're here."
She crossed her arms, her tone firm.
"But you can forget about it."
"I'm not going back to Konoha to become Hokage."
Naruto froze.
"What?!"
His eyes widened in disbelief.
"Did you just say… Hokage?!"
He turned sharply toward Jiraiya.
"Perverted Sage! What's going on?!"
"You dragged me all the way here to find this old lady, but you never said she was supposed to become Hokage!"
"What happened to the Third Hokage?!"
Jiraiya sighed helplessly.
"Naruto… these are complicated matters."
"Even if I explained everything, you might not understand."
Naruto clenched his fists.
"How could I not understand?!"
Jiraiya rubbed his temples before finally explaining.
"In simple terms… the Third Hokage is preparing to step down."
"And Tsunade is the most suitable candidate to succeed him."
Naruto blinked.
"…So that's why you're looking for her."
Jiraiya nodded.
"Exactly."
Naruto crossed his arms, staring at Tsunade with a dissatisfied expression.
"Even if there's going to be a new Hokage… it shouldn't be this old woman, right?"
Jiraiya chuckled.
"Oh? Then who do you think it should be?"
Naruto grinned confidently.
"Obviously… me!"
Tsunade burst out laughing.
"You?"
"A brat like you wants to become Hokage?"
"What big words."
Her expression turned mocking.
"I may hate the very idea of Hokage…"
"But someone like you could never become one."
Naruto's face darkened.
Everything else could be ignored.
But this—
This was his dream.
His most important dream.
And now, someone was mocking it right in front of him.
"What did you say?!"
"You're not just looking down on me… you're looking down on Hokage itself!"
Tsunade scoffed.
"So what if I am?"
Jiraiya smirked slightly.
"Naruto, there's no need to argue."
"She's not entirely wrong."
"As the granddaughter of the First Hokage and the student of the Third…"
"If Tsunade wanted the position, she could've taken it long ago."
Naruto shook his head fiercely.
"I don't care!"
"Even if she doesn't respect the title… I won't let her insult my dream!"
Tsunade paused.
Something in Naruto's words stirred something deep within her.
"Hokage… is your dream?"
Naruto met her gaze without hesitation.
"Yeah!"
For a brief moment, Tsunade's thoughts drifted.
Two figures appeared in her mind—
But she forced the memories away.
"…Even so," she said coldly, "you'll never reach that level."
That was the final straw.
Naruto stepped forward.
"Why do you have to say things like that?!"
"I challenge you to a fight!"
There was a moment of silence—
Then Tsunade burst into laughter.
"You?"
"Challenging me?"
She wiped a tear from her eye.
"How amusing."
Naruto stood firm.
"That's right—me!"
"If I win, you have to acknowledge my strength!"
"And apologize for what you said!"
Tsunade smirked.
"What arrogance."
She glanced at Jiraiya.
"Is this really your student?"
"Quite different from before."
Jiraiya shook his head.
"No… you're wrong about that, Tsunade."
His expression grew serious.
"I believe Naruto is one of a kind."
"…Just like Minato."
Tsunade froze.
Minato.
That name alone carried immense weight.
In his time, Namikaze Minato had outshined even the Legendary Sannin.
Even Orochimaru chuckled softly.
"Tsunade… you'd better not underestimate him."
"Or you might end up embarrassed."
Tsunade's shock deepened.
Even Orochimaru… was saying this?
Jiraiya's praise could be dismissed as a teacher's bias.
But Orochimaru?
He wasn't someone who gave compliments lightly.
Tsunade looked back at Naruto.
For the first time—
She truly began to take him seriously.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)