"Should I meet Tsunade directly right now?"
Jiraiya's face showed complex emotions as he spoke. He desperately wanted to see Tsunade, but at the same time, he feared the meeting. He didn't know what he'd say.
Naruto turned his head to look at Jiraiya. "Jiraiya-sensei, what's wrong with you? We came here specifically to find Tsunade and bring her back to Konoha."
"It's nothing. I'm fine." Jiraiya steadied himself.
Suddenly, Naruto's expression turned mischievous. "Jiraiya-sensei, don't tell me you like Sister Tsunade?"
The instant those words left his mouth, eight eyes—Kakashi's, Sakura's, Sasuke's, and Kurama'—locked onto Jiraiya with undisguised interest, practically gleaming with gossip.
"What? No! I didn't—don't talk nonsense!" Jiraiya's head twisted to the side. If his body could move, his entire frame would be contorting in denial.
"Hmph!" Seeing Jiraiya's twisted, defensive reaction, anyone with eyes could tell the truth. Naruto, Sasuke, Kakashi, Sakura, and Kurama all expressed their disdain simultaneously.
"Hey! You won't believe me unless I spell it out?" Jiraiya's face flushed red as he spoke indignantly.
"Yeah, I'd sooner believe a ghost than you, you perverted old man." Naruto's tone dripped with sarcasm. He continued, "Jiraiya-sensei, let me be blunt with you. Since you like Sister Tsunade, you need to seize the opportunity as soon as possible. Otherwise, when the chance slips away, you'll regret it."
"Besides, you're already so old. If you keep delaying your confession, in the future, even if you do end up with Sister Tsunade, you'll be... powerless."
In the Boruto timeline, Naruto had deduced from various sources that Jiraiya loved Tsunade. In that world, Jiraiya's cowardice had prevented him from ever confessing. So after Jiraiya's death, it had become one of his greatest regrets.
In this world, Jiraiya wasn't dead. More than that—with Naruto around, Jiraiya wouldn't die. Therefore, Naruto should act as a catalyst, pushing Jiraiya to confess bravely.
In this world, aside from training, nothing mattered more than love.
Or rather, the purpose of cultivating strength was to compete for courtship priority.
Naruto's words sent Jiraiya into contemplative silence. He thought about what Naruto had said and found it made sense. If this truly became his lifelong regret, the feeling would be unbearable. But Tsunade had always loved Kato Dan.
That was why Jiraiya had never found the courage to confess.
Tsunade loved Dan. If she didn't love him back and he confessed anyway, wouldn't that be guaranteed failure?
Jiraiya spoke rather dejectedly. "Naruto, you don't understand. The person Tsunade has always loved is Dan, not me. A confession is the victory song of the winner, not the signal to charge forward. If I confess now, I'll definitely fail."
Kato Dan. Naruto knew about this person from his research. So this was the source of Jiraiya's worry. After considering for a moment, Naruto said, "Dan has been dead for over ten years. Sister Tsunade has already accepted that reality. Let me put this bluntly—love doesn't care who came first. First love doesn't always win, and childhood friends can't compete with fate. Jiraiya-sensei, when Dan was alive, you didn't dare compete fairly. Now that he's dead, are you still afraid you can't compete with a dead man?"
"Besides, it's been so long. Maybe Tsunade's heart has already moved past all of this. Maybe she's just waiting for your confession, Jiraiya-sensei. But you're too much of a coward and have never dared to say anything."
"Tsunade is waiting for my confession?" Hearing Naruto's bold analysis, Jiraiya looked utterly unconvinced.
"Of course! Then tell me this—why has Tsunade been single for over ten years? Isn't it because she's waiting for you?" Naruto spoke with absolute certainty and conviction.
"Really?" Jiraiya still felt uncertain in his heart. Though he subconsciously hoped everything was exactly as Naruto described, doubt gnawed at him. He turned his head to look at Sasuke, Kakashi, and Sakura. "Is it really like Naruto's analysis?"
Seeing that Jiraiya remained timid, Naruto immediately raised his voice. "Jiraiya-sensei, it's useless asking those three! They're all single and don't understand love at all. Among everyone here, I'm the only one who's not single. Hinata from the Hyūga clan and I have an agreement—we'll get married when we turn sixteen. So don't you believe me?"
"This is my experience as someone who's been there."
Being called out so nakedly, Kakashi's, Sakura's, and Sasuke's expressions all soured on the spot.
"Naruto, that's your business. Don't drag us into it..." Kakashi said with a dark expression.
Hearing that the other three were single, Jiraiya abandoned his plan to ask them. He fixed his eyes on Naruto and praised, "You're right, Naruto. I didn't expect you to be just like your father in this regard."
"Can I really trust you?" Finally, Jiraiya asked hesitantly.
"Trust me, Jiraiya-sensei!" Naruto slapped his chest hard, producing a loud thump. "We're family. Would I actually harm you?"
Hearing Naruto's words, Jiraiya felt immediately encouraged. His previous worries evaporated. "Naruto, when I see her later, should I confess directly?"
The moment Jiraiya finished speaking, Kakashi and Sasuke exchanged meaningful glances beside him.
"No." Naruto denied Jiraiya's decision to confess immediately. He patiently explained, "Jiraiya-sensei, the timing's wrong. Think about it—your confession will definitely succeed. If it succeeds, you need to strike while the iron is hot and follow through. But with your current physical condition, you can't do anything except worry."
Jiraiya suddenly understood. He nodded. "Naruto, what you're saying makes perfect sense. I didn't think it through. Then I'll confess after my body recovers."
"Good. Let's go. Let's head outside the city quickly and wait for Sister Tsunade. We'll pretend it's a chance encounter." Naruto said.
After those words, the group set off rapidly. Jiraiya's face carried a joyful expression. In his heart, he could already imagine his successful confession and the beautiful life he'd share with Tsunade.
On a road outside the city, Naruto, Kakashi, Sasuke, and Sakura pushed Jiraiya in his wheelchair. They walked out of the city first, then turned around and began walking back toward it, as if they'd been traveling from the opposite direction.
"Naruto, what if Tsunade doesn't want to return to Konoha? What will you do?" Jiraiya suddenly asked.
Hearing the question, Naruto said, "I'll reason with Sister Tsunade."
"Reason with her?" Jiraiya looked startled, then smiled. "I never thought Naruto was someone who liked reasoning. Not bad, not bad at all."
Hearing Jiraiya's compliments toward Naruto, Kakashi, Sasuke, and Sakura beside him all wore expressions like they'd seen a ghost. Naruto never reasoned with people.
Oh, wait—no. Naruto was very good at reasoning. It was just that his fist was his reason.
When Naruto had helped Neji-nii, he'd discovered that reasoning was actually very simple. As long as you went through the process once first, the other party became remarkably willing to reason with you afterward.
Therefore, he'd explain to Tsunade what was in everyone's best interests. Everything was for Konoha's development.
After a short while, as if by pure coincidence, they ran into Tsunade leaving the city, accompanied by the pig-holding girl Shizune.
Seeing Jiraiya sitting in a wheelchair, Tsunade's expression became extremely complicated for a moment. She'd never imagined that after so many years, she'd suddenly encounter Jiraiya again.
"Tsunade, long time no see!" After they stared at each other silently for a long moment, Jiraiya finally broke the silence, greeting Tsunade with a smile.
"Jiraiya, why do you look like such a wreck?" Looking at Jiraiya confined to the wheelchair, Tsunade couldn't help asking.
Hearing this, Naruto stepped forward. "Sister Tsunade, hello. Jiraiya-sensei's injury was caused by me. He tried to go to a hot spring hotel to spy on girls bathing, so I beat him up."
Hearing Naruto expose his shameful past, Jiraiya's face darkened on the spot. Okay, Naruto. While you're encouraging me to confess, you're also exposing my embarrassing history and making my confession difficulty level hell.
However, Tsunade looked delighted. First, Naruto had called her "sister." Among the group, the tallest and most handsome boy was calling her sister—how wonderful! Second, hearing that Jiraiya had been beaten for peeping made her even happier. Tsunade said with a smile, "Good! That's exactly what he deserved. That's how perverts should be treated. Hmph!"
"Tsunade, I've reformed completely. I'll never do that kind of thing again. Right, Naruto?" Jiraiya raised his head, hinting at Naruto with his eyes to stop talking nonsense.
Naruto nodded and addressed Tsunade. "Sister Tsunade, don't worry. Jiraiya-sensei really won't do bad things anymore. I supervise him. As long as he does something inappropriate, I'll beat him until he can't take care of himself."
Jiraiya's face darkened further. This is you helping me? But he still had to follow Naruto's lead. "Yes, Naruto will supervise me."
"What you do is none of my business. Hmph." Tsunade didn't give Jiraiya any face. But she turned to Naruto with a smile. "So your name is Naruto. What are you all doing here? Traveling?"
"Sister Tsunade, my name is Uzumaki Naruto. This is my friend Sasuke and Sakura. This is my sensei, Kakashi. We're not here to travel—we came specifically looking for you. What a coincidence, finding you here." Naruto made the introductions while maintaining the pretense of a chance meeting.
"Looking for me? What do you want from me?" Tsunade asked.
"We came to ask Sister Tsunade to return to Konoha," Naruto said directly.
"Return to Konoha?" Tsunade's face darkened. She immediately refused. "No." After speaking, she gestured to Shizune. "Shizune, let's go."
Sure enough, Tsunade doesn't want to go back to Konoha... Thinking this, Naruto flickered forward, standing directly in Tsunade's path. "Sister Tsunade, Konoha needs you right now."
"Needs me? So what if they need me? I still don't want to go back. Naruto, don't think you can stop me just because you're handsome. Be careful, or I'll hit you." Tsunade spoke angrily.
"Sister Tsunade, I don't want to stop you. I just want to reason with you." Naruto stood firm in front of Tsunade, blocking her path forward.
"I don't want to hear any reasoning. Get out of the way." Tsunade's anger rose.
"Listen to my reasoning first, and then I'll get out of the way," Naruto refused.
"Heavenly Foot of Pain!"
Tsunade's irritation peaked. She launched a devastating kick directly at Naruto.
Seeing this scene, Jiraiya immediately shouted urgently, "Naruto! Didn't you say you were very good at reasoning? Please hurry up and talk to her!"
"Okay, Jiraiya-sensei. I'll reason with Sister Tsunade right now." Naruto responded quickly, then launched his own kick to meet hers.
BOOM.
A thunderous impact rang out. Tsunade staggered back five or six steps, feeling numbness spread through the sole of her foot. But Naruto didn't retreat a single step. His expression remained unchanged. Which was stronger became obvious in a single exchange.
Naruto's figure flickered. He appeared directly in front of Tsunade again and threw a punch.
"Naruto, aren't you supposed to be reasoning? Why are you fighting?" Seeing Naruto and Tsunade exchange blows, Jiraiya grew immediately anxious.
"Jiraiya-sensei, don't worry. Naruto is reasoning with Lady Tsunade." Kakashi spoke with a completely expressionless face.
"This is called reasoning?" Jiraiya looked at Kakashi in disbelief.
"Yeah!" Kakashi, Sasuke, and Sakura all nodded heavily in unison.
"Sensei, stop fighting!" Shizune hugged Tonton and came to Jiraiya's side, afraid of being caught in the crossfire. She shouted anxiously.
Tsunade's face showed nothing but grievance. She didn't want to keep fighting, but Naruto was beating her completely. She couldn't help but follow his rhythm. Moreover, his punches carried a strange vibration. The frequency was so high that Tsunade felt both ashamed and furious.
"Naruto, don't you want to reason? Tell me! I'll listen!" Tsunade finally capitulated. She felt that if the fight continued, she wouldn't be able to suppress the strange sensation that was about to emerge.
"No, Sister Tsunade. I'm reasoning with you right now." Naruto spoke calmly. He'd practiced this. Only after going through this process would the other party calmly listen to his reasoning.
BANG. CRASH. THUD.
Ten minutes later, Tsunade's face had been punched at least fifty or sixty times. Her entire face had swollen dramatically.
"Okay, Sister Tsunade. We can reason properly now." Naruto stopped his hands, looking at the crumbling Tsunade.
Tsunade gasped for breath, her face flushed deep red. She placed her hands on her knees, looked at Naruto, and felt utterly wronged. She'd actually been beaten by a child today. How infuriating!
"Hmph! I won't go back to Konoha, even if I die!" Tsunade declared resolutely.
Seeing Tsunade's resolute attitude, Naruto laughed. "Sister Tsunade, don't force me to use my trump card."
"Go ahead!" Tsunade spoke bluntly.
Well, then don't blame me, Sister Tsunade... Naruto flickered behind Jiraiya's wheelchair. He pulled out a kunai and called out loudly, "Sister Tsunade, look over here!"
When Tsunade raised her head reflexively, she saw Naruto stab the kunai directly into Jiraiya's arm, then pull it out. Bright red blood gushed from the wound.
"You... despicable..." Seeing the bright red blood, Tsunade's eyes rolled back. Her legs went weak, and she collapsed unconscious to the ground.
"Ow!" Everything had happened so suddenly. When Jiraiya came back to his senses and felt the pain in his arm, he immediately cried out, "Naruto, why did you stab me?"
Sasuke, Kakashi, Sakura, and Kurama all looked at Naruto with curious expressions.