At dusk, Tsunade walked down the streets of Konoha with her head lowered, followed by two boys.
The smooth, glossy ponytail she usually wore had become somewhat messy and dull today. Tears shimmered in her eyes, and the occasional sob that escaped her made it obvious that Konoha's little princess was in an awful mood.
Jiraiya walked behind her with his head lowered as well. Seeing the girl he liked in such pain, he did not dare step forward. He could only follow her silently to show where he stood.
Orochimaru's face looked even paler than usual.
He understood Tsunade's feelings very well.
His own parents had also died in this cruel war.
More sensitive than most people, Orochimaru knew that what Tsunade needed right now was not only comfort, but companionship as well. Unfortunately, the words of comfort he knew were only a few simple lines, nothing compared to Jiraiya, who was usually so much better with words.
But sadly, Jiraiya was acting like a coward now.
At the very moment he should have stepped up, he had become a turtle hiding in its shell.
Then again, wasn't he the same?
So he simply kept following Tsunade too.
As her teammate, he would at least stay by her side.
Just as Orochimaru thought that, Tsunade suddenly turned back and forced out a difficult smile. Tears were already on the verge of spilling from her eyes, and the way she endured her grief made her look all the more pitiful.
Seeing that smile, one uglier than crying itself, Jiraiya finally could not hold back any longer and stepped forward to comfort her.
"Tsunade, you know how villagers love talking nonsense. Hokage-sama is so strong, there's no way he could really d..."
Before Jiraiya could finish the word "die," Tsunade cut him off.
Right now, she was terrified of hearing that word.
"Second Grandpa is the Hokage. Even Grandpa was usually a little afraid of him. He's so strong, nothing could happen to him."
"He knows so many forbidden techniques. Water Release, Fire Release..."
"..."
Tsunade said many things through sobs, as if trying to prove something.
But soon, she could no longer hold herself together.
Her tears burst out like a collapsing dam.
After hurriedly saying she'd see them tomorrow, she turned and ran toward home without looking back.
A young girl's pride forced her not to show her weakness too openly in front of her companions.
After all, she was the Hokage's granddaughter.
Before long, Tsunade had vanished from Jiraiya and Orochimaru's sight.
"Jiraiya, why didn't you say something earlier?"
Orochimaru looked at the dazed Jiraiya and could not help feeling annoyed at his uselessness.
Back then, Jiraiya had begged him to play the villain so he could act like a hero and save the beauty.
Yet at a time this important, he had frozen up like a block of wood.
"I... I..."
Jiraiya could not speak.
Just now, he had desperately wanted to say something, to do something, but for some reason, his mind had gone blank, like his soul had left his body.
"Tch."
Useless.
Orochimaru sneered coldly in his heart, then turned around and stopped paying attention to Jiraiya as he headed home.
Only Jiraiya remained standing in the street.
Under the glow of the setting sun, his shadow stretched long behind him.
He stood there blankly for a while before finally recovering from his failure.
Jiraiya walked home alone.
His mind was a complete mess the whole way back, and all kinds of comforting words kept appearing one after another in his head.
Unfortunately, they were useless now.
...
In the Senju Clan district, Tsunade ran through the front gate in tears, desperate to get to her grandmother, Mito.
Grandma Mito definitely knew the truth about Second Grandpa.
The moment Tsunade entered, she saw that familiar streak of red.
Mito was sitting at the table, and it was covered with dishes.
"Grandma... Grandma..."
"The people in the village are saying that Second Grandpa, he..."
Tears streamed down Tsunade's face as she threw herself into Mito's arms, crying so hard she could barely speak.
Mito embraced Tsunade and gently patted her back.
A wave of sorrow rose in her heart, and tears shimmered in her eyes as several thoughts flashed through her mind.
The news of Tobirama's death had leaked out this quickly?
Who was it?
Hiruzen?
Danzo?
Kagami?
Several faces flashed through Mito's mind.
But above all else, one thought was strongest.
Her granddaughter was truly pitiful.
"Did Second Grandpa really die?"
Tsunade raised her tear-streaked face and looked to Mito for an answer.
Looking at Tsunade's watery eyes, Mito desperately wanted to say that Tobirama was fine and that everything was only a rumor.
But she could not.
The truth was like fire, and lies were like paper.
How could paper ever wrap up flames?
A lie could never stay hidden from Tsunade forever.
If she deceived her now, it would only cause even greater pain later.
Better one sharp pain than a long one.
Mito looked at her granddaughter with aching tenderness. Countless words passed through her mind, but in the end, she only said softly,
"Tsunade, you are the Hokage's granddaughter. Do you remember what Grandpa and Second Grandpa used to tell you?"
"No matter what happens, you must stay strong."
"Grandma will always be with you."
After Mito said that, Tsunade's eyes widened.
The hope in her heart finally died.
A louder cry burst from her mouth, and tears flowed even harder.
Mito had no choice but to keep comforting her in a low voice.
The sun sank, and the moon rose above Konoha.
Pure moonlight spilled across the streets of the village, yet it illuminated almost no one.
On ordinary nights, the streets would still be lively until deep into the evening.
But tonight, only a few scattered people remained.
In just one afternoon, thanks to the Uchiha's tireless efforts, news of Tobirama's death had spread through all of Konoha like a virus at an unprecedented speed.
Konoha's Hokage was dead.
The man who had led them to victory in the First Shinobi World War had fallen at the border during negotiations, right before they were supposed to enjoy peaceful lives again.
How could anyone still be in the mood for pleasure?
Would Konoha's future still be as peaceful and prosperous as before?
With grief in their hearts and uncertainty about the future, the villagers shut their doors early.
Inside the room, time passed little by little.
Tsunade's voice gradually grew weaker.
After crying for so long, she finally wore herself out and fell asleep in sorrow.
The tear stains left on her face made it obvious that her dreams would not be happy ones.
Mito carefully carried Tsunade to the bed and tucked her in.
Every movement was gentle and cautious, as if she were afraid of waking her.
Looking at Tsunade in her sleep, Mito let out a sigh.
For ninja, partings through life and death were already a normal thing.
But life would still go on.
Just like the sun would always rise again each day.
"Tsunade, you must become stronger."
Mito murmured softly.
Then she walked out of the room, found a basin of water, and washed her face.
She had cried for a long time as well.
But now, she had more important things to do than cry.
Konoha's future was resting on her shoulders now.
"Motoki!"
At Mito's command, Motoki appeared at once, his expression calm and still like an ancient well.
He had already been waiting nearby for Mito's orders.
The crying inside had gone on all evening, and this was no time for him to slack off.
"Go bring those little brats here."
"Yes!"
(End of Chapter)
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