The morning sun filtered through the leaves, creating patterns of light and shadow on the path. The journey back to Konoha continued at a fast and steady pace, and Naruto walked close to Sakura while carrying Tonton cuddled in his arms. The piglet purred softly against his orange jacket, completely asleep.
"Hey, Tonton, look at that!" Naruto whispered as he pointed to a squirrel running along a branch. "Do you think it tastes good?"
Tonton opened one eye, let out an "Oink" of pure indifference, and went back to sleep.
"I'll take that as a 'maybe'," Naruto muttered to himself.
Kiba, walking a few steps ahead, turned around while Akamaru trotted beside him, ears drooping.
"Stop scaring the bacon, Naruto!"
"I'm not scaring him! I was just making a culinary observation!"
"Well, your observations are making Akamaru nervous!" Kiba pointed to his dog. "He won't stop trembling because he still smells last night's Ramen on you."
Naruto sniffed his sleeve. "I always smell a little like ramen!"
Kiba rolled his eyes. "Sure. Akamaru says his nose itches. How many bottles of sake did the old lady drink?"
"That's none of your business! And it was... less than the debt collectors wanted. That's what matters!"
Sakura walked beside them, but she wasn't in the conversation, as she was quiet and her gaze was fixed on the back of the woman setting the pace at the front of the group.
Tsunade walked with an elegant posture, a grace that didn't match the hangover Sakura knew she must be suffering, while Shizune moved beside her, her face pale and tense.
"Watch her, Shizune," Tsunade said in a low voice without turning her head.
"Y-yes, Tsunade-sama?" Shizune asked, startled.
"The pink-haired girl. Her chakra. Don't you notice anything?"
Shizune glanced back discreetly, her dark eyes landing on Sakura.
"Sakura-san? Well... she seems very worried about her friend. About Sasuke-san. And she seems exhausted. We all are."
"Worry is a distraction," Tsunade snapped. "I don't care about her mood, I care about what she did. That 'healing ability'."
"But it was amazing, Tsunade-sama. She saved..."
"It was an anomaly," Tsunade cut her off. "From what they've said, it's not a medical ninjutsu I know, and nothing taught in Konoha resembles it. Have you ever seen anything like it?"
"N-no, ma'am. But if it's a new ability..."
"New abilities are dangerous. Or they're frauds. I want to know which of the two this is. Did you see her chakra flow when I touched her last night?"
"No, Tsunade-sama. I was... keeping watch."
Tsunade sighed. "Exactly. You were panicking. I wasn't. Her control is... irregular, but that ability isn't from the academy. It's something different."
"A kekkei genkai?"
"From someone of civilian origin?" Tsunade glanced sideways at Shizune. "It's either a trick or an accident, and accidents in medical ninjutsu kill people. I want to know the truth."
Further back, Kakashi and Kurenai walked in professional silence.
"Tsunade-sama seems... interested in Sakura," Kakashi murmured, his voice barely perceptible.
"It's the only reason she's here, Kakashi," Kurenai replied. "It's not for the village, it's for the mystery of the medical ability."
"The medical ability..." Kakashi said. "Sakura is the key to all this, but she's also the one who gives us away the most."
"The 'awakening' story we told her was plausible. Desperation, stress... all of that can force chakra."
"Plausible for a genin, but not for a Sannin," Kakashi retorted. "She knows there's something more. Naruto said he told her about Sasuke."
"Yes. The medical curiosity seems to have her hooked. She can't let an Uchiha die without knowing why he isn't dead."
"And what happens if Tsunade-sama doesn't like this?" Kurenai asked. "What if she decides it's a fraud or a risk?"
Kakashi was silent for a moment. "Then we go back to Plan B."
Kurenai looked at him. "And what's Plan B, Kakashi?"
"Good question. I guess... we run."
Kurenai let out a small huff. "Great. I'm glad we have a solid plan."
Tsunade stopped.
The movement was so abrupt that the entire column stopped with her, and the tension spread quickly.
Kiba swallowed and crouched next to Akamaru. "What now? Did she smell a bar? I don't smell a bar, do you, Akamaru?"
Akamaru whimpered.
Shizune turned pale. "Tsunade-sama, what's wrong?"
Tsunade ignored the comments. Her head turned slowly, and her amber eyes passed over Naruto, Kiba, and Hinata.
They fixed on the pink-haired kunoichi.
"Pink-haired girl!"
The voice was loud and echoed in the forest's silence.
Sakura jumped, her heart pounding, and instinctively took a step that placed her almost behind Naruto.
Naruto tensed but didn't move from his spot.
"Y-yes, Tsunade-sama!"
"Come here."
The tone didn't invite refusal; it wasn't a request.
Sakura looked at Naruto for a fraction of a second, and he gave her a quick, almost imperceptible nod.
"It's okay, Sakura-chan," he whispered, low enough for only her to hear.
Sakura took a deep breath, stepped out from behind Naruto, and obeyed. She walked nervously to the front, every step bringing her closer to the legend.
Tsunade watched her approach without saying anything, just sizing her up. When Sakura was in front of her, Tsunade grabbed her hands.
The grip was firm, almost rough, and her hands were surprisingly warm, making Sakura flinch.
"Hands."
Tsunade turned Sakura's palms over, examining them. Her amber eyes scrutinized every detail of the skin, every line, almost trying to see the chakra flow with her naked eye.
"Soft," Tsunade murmured. "Not a fighter's hands. No real calluses. You haven't spent your life punching wooden posts."
Sakura swallowed, but her voice came out a little firmer than expected.
"No, ma'am. I trained very hard in the Academy, Tsunade-sama. My sensei always said my chakra control was my only strength."
Tsunade raised an eyebrow, a hint of skepticism in her voice.
"A 'single strength.' How convenient. What do you do in training?"
"I... I train my control, ma'am."
"One that, coincidentally," Tsunade continued, ignoring her, "allows you to 'heal' fatal wounds."
Sakura felt cold sweat run down her back. "I... I don't know how I did it. Sasuke-kun... he was... I just..."
"You just 'reacted'," Tsunade interrupted. "Out of 'desperation.' Tell me, 'genin with admirable control,' what is the name of this extraordinary healing ninjutsu?"
"It doesn't have a name, Tsunade-sama." Sakura held her gaze, which took all her effort. "It was... as you said. An anomaly. My chakra... it just reacted. I put my hands... and... and my chakra... it just came out. It knew where to go."
Tsunade held her gaze for a second, then two, then three.
The pressure was immense. Sakura felt her knees wanting to buckle, but she forced herself to stand firm.
Finally, Tsunade let her go.
"You're lying," Tsunade said, her tone sharp. "Or half-lying, which is almost the same."
She turned and started walking again, without looking back.
"Interesting. Let's keep moving. We're wasting time."
Sakura remained standing there, trembling from the relief and adrenaline of the interrogation.
Naruto walked up and gave her a gentle pat on the shoulder.
"Hey, you did great! You didn't even blink! Well, you blinked a little, but it was a very brave blink!"
Sakura let out the breath she didn't know she was holding. "Thanks, Naruto."
A small smile of relief appeared on her face.
"See? You survived," Naruto said, grinning. "Now, come on! Kiba owes us a race to the next tree!"
"What?! I don't owe you anything!" Kiba yelled from up ahead.
"Last one there is a fool!"
"That's not fair, you started first!"
The team made camp by a loud river, where the sound of the rushing water helped mask the camp's sounds.
A fire crackled in the center, lighting the group's tired faces.
Kiba and Naruto were arguing loudly while roasting fish over the fire.
"My fish is bigger than yours, Naruto!" Kiba shouted, holding his stick with his chest puffed out. "It means I'm a better tracker and hunter!"
Akamaru barked energetically, while Tonton, who was curled up in Naruto's lap (much to Shizune's surprise), let out an annoyed grunt at the noise.
"Liar!" Naruto retorted, his mouth full. "It's not the size! It's... the grilling technique! Mine is perfectly golden! It has more scales! More scales mean more nutrition! I'm stronger than you! And smarter!"
"Eating scales is for idiots! And yours is burnt!"
"It's not burnt, it's... caramelized!"
"It's black, Naruto! Akamaru wouldn't even eat that!"
Akamaru barked, confirming.
"Traitor!" Naruto shouted. "Tonton, you'd eat it, right?!"
Tonton let out an "Oink" and snuggled deeper, turning his back to him.
"Great! Even the pig hates me! Well, more for me!" Naruto took a loud bite of the burnt fish. "...It's a little crunchy."
Kiba laughed. "Loser! Hey... is that my fish?"
Naruto looked at the second fish he was roasting. "It was closer to my side of the fire! It's the law of the jungle!"
"I'll teach you 'law of the jungle,' you idiot! Give it back!"
"Catch me if you can!"
Naruto took off running around the fire, with Kiba chasing him.
A few feet away, Shizune watched the scene with a tired smile.
"I've never seen Tsunade-sama tolerate so much noise," Shizune told Hinata quietly.
Hinata blushed a little. "They're... lively."
"They're crazy," Shizune corrected. "Normally, she would have already hit them both and used them as bait for bigger fish. It must be the 'luck' of the kid accompanying her."
Shizune sighed, rubbing her temples.
"I hope we get to Konoha soon. I don't know how much longer I can last without a real bed."
"Are you... worried, Shizune-san?" Hinata asked shyly.
"Worried is an understatement. We're running from debts in three countries. Tsunade-sama lost all our money, except for what she won off Naruto, and now... going back to Konoha? It's complicated."
"But... Naruto-kun trusts her," Hinata said, her gaze fixed on the boy who was now dodging Kiba. "And Kakashi-sensei. And... and so do I."
Shizune looked at her. "You're sweet, Hinata. Don't let this world take that from you." She glanced back at Naruto and Kiba. "Even if it drives you crazy."
At the camp's perimeter, Kakashi and Kurenai were speaking in low voices.
"Sakura's story is... unconvincing," Kakashi said, his eyes narrowed.
"Totally," Kurenai agreed. "'My chakra just came out.' Tsunade-sama almost laughed in her face."
"But she didn't," Kakashi replied. "She called her a liar and kept walking. That's good."
"Good? She called her a liar."
"Exactly. She didn't call her 'useless.' She didn't dismiss her. She called her 'interesting.' Curiosity is the only thing that brought her here. And right now, Sakura is the most curious thing in the world to her."
"And Sasuke," Kurenai added. "Don't forget Sasuke."
"Right. The last 'loyal' Uchiha who needs urgent medical attention." Kakashi leaned against a tree. "It's a perfect cocktail for her. A medical mystery and a reminder of the past. She won't be able to resist."
"Let's hope so," Kurenai said. "If not, all of this will have been in vain."
Tsunade was sitting a bit apart, by the riverbank. Sakura was nearby, sitting alone too, hugging her knees. The Sannin watched Naruto and Kiba, who were now sharing the burnt fish, complaining with every bite, and an involuntary smile formed on Tsunade's face.
Sakura was also watching them, lost in thought.
"He's an idiot," Tsunade said suddenly.
Sakura startled. "What? Oh... yeah. Yes, he is."
Tsunade looked at her. "But you worry about him. Him and the other one. The Uchiha."
"He's... my teammate," Sakura said, looking down.
"Right. Teammates." Tsunade took a swig from a sake bottle. "The Uchiha. The loud brat. And you. What a team."
Sakura said nothing. The sound of the river filled the silence.
Tsunade raised her sake bottle, almost empty, and offered it to Sakura.
"Drink."
Sakura looked at her, surprised, her eyes wide.
"No! I... I'm still too young, Tsunade-sama."
Tsunade let out a bitter laugh. "And you're a ninja. Don't be ridiculous. It doesn't heal the pain," she said, cutting her off, "but it calms it for a while. It makes it more bearable. It pushes it away temporarily."
Sakura shook her head, blushing slightly. "No, thank you, Tsunade-sama. I need to keep my mind clear."
Tsunade stared at her. "A clear mind. What a luxury."
She set the bottle down. The silence stretched.
"That's the difference between you and me, kid. I no longer believe a clear mind is good for much."
Sakura looked at her, confused.
"When your head is clear, you think," Tsunade said, her gaze lost in the dark water. "And when you think, you remember. And that... that's worse than any hangover."
Sakura remained quiet.
"Did you hear about my brother? About Nawaki? About my fiancé, Dan?"
Sakura flinched. She had heard the names, but never the pain behind them. "Tsunade-sama, I... I've heard the names, ma'am."
"Names." Tsunade spat the word. "They were people. They were... everything. And I watched them die. With a perfectly clear head. I was there. I saw my brother... bleed out from parts I couldn't even find."
Her voice became a hiss.
"I saw Dan... bleed to death in my arms. And I, the 'great medical-nin,' the genius... I couldn't do anything. I couldn't even stop the bleeding. My hands were covered. And I failed."
"I'm sorry, Tsunade-sama," Sakura whispered, visibly moved. "I... I didn't know."
"No, you didn't know." Tsunade's eyes turned cold. "And you don't need to, but learn this, kid. In this job, people die. Your friends die. The ones you love... they die first. It's the only rule that always holds true."
Tsunade raised the bottle. "The rest..." she motioned with the bottle toward Naruto and Kiba, who were now laughing at a stupid joke, "is just noise."
The look in her eyes was so ancient and sad that Sakura was left speechless.
********
It was late at night, and the camp was silent, except for Kiba's snores and the soft crackling of the embers.
Tsunade was sitting alone, keeping watch. The bottle of sake beside her was half-consumed because she couldn't sleep. Her memories were more insistent than ever.
That brat... Naruto, she thought, observing the boy's sleeping form. The way he talks about being Hokage. About 'love for the village.' The same stupidity that made Nawaki and Dan die. Idiots, all of them. Why is his conviction still so pure? It's frustrating. And... unsettling.
She took an old, wrinkled photo from her jacket. The moonlight illuminated the younger faces of herself, Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and the Third, while her fingers traced Jiraiya's outline, then Orochimaru's.
We've seen a lot, Jiraiya. We've lost a lot. Orochimaru... you wanted absolute power. But this kid... Naruto... he just wants to be part of something. To be a 'family.' He's the only one who's said it out loud. The only one who keeps believing.
The way he talks about being Hokage... it's not to be the strongest, it's to protect them all. Is he really stupid or incredibly perceptive?
She stood up and looked toward the dark horizon.
And the Uchiha, on the brink of death. The same cold blood of his clan, but with a determination that goes beyond hatred. And that healing energy in her... in Sakura... where does it come from? And if that energy is what's keeping him alive... it's a mystery I can't ignore. I can't let him die. Not without understanding.
She closed her eyes tightly, and a single, hot tear slid down her cheek. The cold of the night seemed to accentuate the grief on her face.
Nawaki... Dan... If I had had power like that? If someone could have 'awakened' that healing in me sooner...? No. No more regrets.
Gentle, barely perceptible footsteps approached from behind. Tsunade tensed, her Sannin senses on alert, but she didn't move because there was no threat.
"Grandma Tsunade..."
Naruto's voice was a whisper, stripped of its usual noise, full of overwhelming sincerity.
She flinched but didn't turn. She felt the boy's warmth, which stood out in the cold camp.
"You can't sleep, can you?" he said, stopping beside her.
He had been awake in his sleeping bag, feeling the same unrest in the air that kept him from sleep. He saw her, alone, and for the first time, he didn't see "Grandma Tsunade" or the "Sannin." He just saw a wounded woman, with an immense loneliness.
"What do you want, brat? Come to give me another sermon about being Hokage?" she said, her voice rough.
"No," he said. He sat beside her, hugging his knees. "I... I also know what it's like to be alone. What it's like to feel like nobody has your back. Like you have no place to go home to. Like nobody really sees you."
His voice broke slightly, the words coming from deep inside him.
"I've been alone all my life. No parents. No friends. Shouting for someone to see me, even if it was just to scold me."
Tsunade felt the truth in his words, a truth so pure it impacted her strongly. It was the same loneliness she dragged around, hidden by cynicism and sake, but in him, it was open and raw.
"But..." Naruto continued, lifting his head, "you're not alone anymore."
She turned slowly. Her amber eyes, clouded with unshed tears, met Naruto's determined blue ones.
"And I... I'm not alone anymore," he said, his voice gaining strength. "We have friends. We have Sakura-chan. Hinata. Shizune-san. The old man Hokage. Iruka-sensei. We're all... a family. Aren't we? A real family."
He took a step, his hand reaching out, hesitating for a moment. Then, with firm resolve, he hugged her.
It was an awkward, sideways hug from a kid who didn't know how to comfort. A silent acknowledgment of shared pain.
Tsunade stiffened for an instant. Her body, accustomed to blows, to sake, and to the coldness of her own indifference, didn't know how to react to this unexpected warmth. The photo slipped from her hand and fell softly to the dirt, forgotten.
For the first time in decades, the comfort she felt didn't come from alcohol or forgetfulness, but from the simple, true contact of another person. She felt a deep relief and a long-held internal tension, maintained for years, beginning to yield.
She didn't cry; she simply leaned on him, for the first time, without reservation. Naruto's head rested on her shoulder, and the murmur of the sleeping camp surrounded them.
Naruto... what kind of kid are you? she thought, with a clarity that surprised her. For the first time... I feel... that maybe the past doesn't have to be an obstacle. That maybe... there can be something more than just grief. Is this... the 'Will of Fire' the old man talks about? The same stupidity that made me want to run from everything? It's the same stupidity... but this time... it feels different. It feels... like I'm not alone.
She returned the hug, barely perceptibly, with a trembling hand that rested softly on the boy's back. The sake bottle, half-consumed, sat alone on the ground, completely ignored.
Konoha... I'll give you a chance. And you, brat. I'll give you a chance. For now. The Uchiha will live. And the Haruno... will learn. And I... I'll drink less sake. Just for now.
The dawn, a faint pink ray of light, began to peek over the horizon. And for the first time in years, Tsunade welcomed it without bitterness.
*****
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