Hokage Office.
Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi took off his Hokage hat, put on ordinary clothes, and left the office to find Jiraiya, who was currently guiding Naruto's cultivation.
He called Jiraiya aside and got straight to the point.
"Jiraiya, I'm getting old."
Jiraiya looked at the increasingly obvious white hair at his teacher's temples and the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes. After the recent turmoil and recovering from his injuries, the Third Hokage's figure appeared even more stooped. Jiraiya's playful expression vanished, and he remained silent.
"The great ship of Konoha needs a younger, more vigorous helmsman."
The Third Hokage's gaze swept over Naruto, who was practicing nearby, before returning to Jiraiya.
"I hope you can take up this burden."
Jiraiya shook his head almost immediately, a bitter smile appearing on his face.
"Old Man, stop joking. I'm used to being idle. Writing books, gathering intelligence, or teaching Naruto is fine, but tying me down in the Hokage Office to deal with mountains of paperwork? That would be more painful than killing me. I'd lead Konoha to ruin."
The Third Hokage seemed to have expected this reaction and sighed.
"I knew you'd say that. Then, who do you think is suitable? Danzo?"
Jiraiya's brow furrowed instantly.
"No way. That old fellow... Konoha cannot be handed over to him."
"True..." The Third Hokage nodded.
"So, there's only one candidate left, and that's Tsunade."
Hearing that name, Jiraiya's expression became complex. Tsunade, his teammate and the granddaughter of the First Hokage, possessed top-tier Medical Ninjutsu and Monstrous Strength. In terms of power, status, and prestige, she was more than qualified to be Hokage. However... ever since Dan and Nawaki passed away, she had left Konoha, numbing herself with Medical Ninjutsu and gambling. She even suffered from Hemophobia. Would she be willing to return? Would she be willing to shoulder this responsibility?
Jiraiya was uncertain; he couldn't be sure.
The Third Hokage knew what Jiraiya was thinking. His gaze sharpened with trust.
"Jiraiya, only you have a chance of convincing her. I'm entrusting the future of Konoha to you."
Seeing the deep expectation and the hard-to-hide exhaustion in his teacher's eyes, all of Jiraiya's excuses got stuck in his throat. He took a deep breath and nodded heavily.
"I understand, Old Man. I'll find her and do my best."
...On a forest path outside Konoha Village, Jiraiya and Uzumaki Naruto walked one after the other. Unlike the relaxed atmosphere of their usual training, this journey carried a clear and heavy purpose.
"Pervy Sage, where exactly are we going to find that granny named Tsunade?"
Naruto couldn't help but ask again. Over the past few days, they had traveled through several towns but had yet to see their target.
"According to intelligence, she should be appearing around the Tanzaku Quarters lately."
Jiraiya picked his ear, but his eyes sharply scanned the surroundings.
"That woman is a notorious gambler. She's deep in debt, and her whereabouts are very elusive."
Naruto muttered.
"Seriously, can a gambling granny really become Hokage?"
"Hey! Naruto, don't you dare say that to her face!" Jiraiya warned quickly.
"Her fists are no joke." He paused, his tone becoming serious.
"Listen, Naruto. Once we find her, no matter what she says, don't be impulsive. Convincing her to return to the Village and take over as Hokage is an important task the Old Man gave us."
Although Naruto didn't quite understand the complex details, he nodded seriously upon hearing it was a request from Grandpa Third.
A few days later, outside a noisy casino in the Tanzaku Quarters.
"This is the place." Jiraiya sensed that familiar Chakra, took a deep breath, and led Naruto inside.
The casino was bustling with noise. At the largest gambling table in the center, they spotted their target at a glance—a mature woman with blonde hair, a stunning figure, and exquisite beauty, playing with a few chips.
Beside her stood a nervous young girl holding a small pink pig.
It was indeed Tsunade and her Disciple, Shizune.
The person gambling against her looked like they had found treasure, their spirits high. It was obvious without even thinking that they must have won a lot.
Jiraiya led Naruto straight over, chased away the gambler, and sat down opposite Tsunade.
Naturally, the person who was chased away was unwilling, but under Jiraiya's pressure, they chose to leave.
"Yo, Tsunade, long time no see." Jiraiya tried to keep his tone light.
Tsunade lifted her eyelids, a faint, mocking smirk tugging at the corner of her mouth.
"It's you. What, out of money for writing books, so you came to the casino to try your luck?" Her gaze swept over Naruto, she froze for a moment, then returned to her indifferent state.
"I've come on behalf of Konoha," Jiraiya said, getting straight to the point.
"The Old Man is planning to retire. The Village needs a new Hokage. Tsunade, you are the most suitable candidate."
The surrounding noise seemed to quiet down for a moment.
Hearing this, Tsunade acted as if she had heard an incredibly absurd joke, letting out a burst of crisp but cold laughter.
"Hokage? Hahahaha! Jiraiya, since when did you learn to tell such unfunny jokes?" She slammed the chips in her hand onto the table with a "thwack."
"I have absolutely zero interest in that position!"
"Tsunade!" Jiraiya raised his voice. "This isn't a joke! Konoha needs you now. There's no one else who can take that position. You're the First Hokage's granddaughter; who else is more suitable than you?"
"The First Hokage's granddaughter..." Tsunade's eyes suddenly became sharp and pained, her voice carrying suppressed rage.
"Just because I'm his granddaughter, I have to burn myself out for the Village like Grandpa and Second Great-Uncle? Dan and Nawaki... they paid the price with their lives for the Village, and what did they get in return? Hokage? It's nothing more than a hollow title decorated on a tombstone!"
Her words were like cold knives, carrying deep-seated sorrow and resentment, making the surrounding air feel as if it had frozen. After saying this, she seemed to glance at Naruto.
Listening to these words, a strong sense of defiance rose in Naruto's heart.
"No! You're wrong!" Naruto suddenly stepped forward and retorted loudly, drawing Tsunade's gaze.
Tsunade's gaze turned coldly toward him.
"Brat, this is no place for you to butt in."
"I'm going to say it anyway!" Naruto held his head high stubbornly, fire burning in his azure eyes.
"Hokage isn't a hollow title! It's the role model for all the Ninjas in the Village! It's someone who puts their life on the line to protect what's important! Like Iruka-sensei, like Kakashi-sensei, and like Grandpa Third! I don't care if you're the First's granddaughter or whatever, but someone like you who runs away from responsibility because they're afraid of losing has no right to badmouth the Hokage! And you're not fit to be the Hokage!"
"Naruto!" Jiraiya thought to himself that this was bad and tried to stop him, but it was too late.
Tsunade was completely enraged by Naruto's blunt words, especially the phrase "runs away from responsibility because they're afraid of losing," which pierced like a needle into her deepest scar.
A terrifying Chakra pressure suddenly erupted from her, and the temperature of the entire casino seemed to drop several degrees. The surrounding gamblers retreated in fear.
"You brat... what do you know?!" Tsunade's eyes were icy.
"How could a kid like you understand the pain of losing someone important! Talking big about protecting things? Wait until you've actually experienced that feeling of helpless despair, then see if you can still say such pretty words!"
The powerful pressure made Naruto's stress multiply, but he gritted his teeth and continued to glare stubbornly at Tsunade.
Looking at Naruto's unyielding eyes, Tsunade momentarily felt as if she were seeing the figures of her brother Nawaki and her lover Dan. They, too, had possessed such burning and determined gazes, which caused the anger and pain in her heart to intertwine even more violently.
Jiraiya's expression was grave, knowing that things had become difficult to resolve peacefully.
Shizune stood to the side, holding Tonton without saying a word.
The low-pressure scene lasted for a while before Tsunade finally spoke again.
"Fine! Since you want me to go back and be that ridiculous Hokage so badly," Tsunade pointed a finger at Naruto, "then let's make a bet!"
"Bet on what?" Jiraiya asked in a low voice.
"Let's bet on this brat's strength!" Tsunade said coldly. "If he can touch me once in a real fight—even just the corner of my clothes! Then you win, and I'll return to Konoha with you and consider taking over as Hokage!"
"What?!" Shizune cried out in surprise.
Jiraiya also furrowed his brow. Letting the current Naruto touch Tsunade? That was simply a fantasy.
"Of course, if he can't do it..."
"Then you will disappear from my sight immediately and never mention the Hokage matter again! Also, Jiraiya, you will compensate me with all your Manuscript Fees to make up for the mental distress of disturbing my gambling mood!"
These stakes could not be considered light.
Without waiting for Jiraiya to answer, Naruto stepped forward, a strong fighting spirit burning in his eyes. "I'll bet! I'll definitely touch her!"
Looking at Naruto's determined eyes and then at Tsunade's indifferent "you're bound to lose" expression, Jiraiya smiled bitterly in his heart.
He knew this might be the only way to break the deadlock. Although the hope was slim, this kid Naruto always managed to create miracles.
"Fine! Tsunade, this gamble, we accept it!"
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