Tsunade, as the granddaughter of the First Hokage, was the epitome of a Third Generation Fire Shadow. Beyond her striking appearance and flawless figure, she possessed extraordinary strength and unmatched medical ninjutsu.
Such perfection was unique in the ninja world, and from childhood through adulthood, she had many admirers.
Even Shikaku had once told Hayashi how much he admired women like Tsunade, those who combined beauty and power. At that time, Shikaku had been just seven years old—an age where some children worry about the village, while others begin to feel love. Seven was a magical number indeed.
But despite her many admirers, Tsunade had very few suitors. The gap between her and ordinary men was too great, leaving many feeling inadequate.
Four years ago, Jiraiya had acted recklessly, forcibly taking Tsunade's first kiss. She had fought back, breaking four of his ribs, nearly ending his life. After that, few dared to pursue her.
Yet after the Rain Country War, Jiraiya did not return to the village. Many saw an opening, including Dan Katō, who finally mustered the courage to approach her.
It was understandable. Tsunade had reached an age suitable for marriage. She was a perfect partner, making any pursuit reasonable. Without Hayashi's subtle guidance, the original timeline might have seen Tsunade romantically involved with Dan Katō. Upon Jiraiya's return, he would have discovered that the woman he admired for over a decade had moved on, forcing him to withdraw.
Whether Dan Katō was a suitable match was not Hayashi's decision, and he had no right to interfere. All he could do was provide guidance, leaving Tsunade to make her own choices.
With these thoughts, Hayashi and Tsunade arrived at Konoha Hospital.
Inside the ward, Kushina lay with her eyes closed. Hayashi knew this room well—he had spent several weeks here the year prior. Now it was Kushina's turn.
He approached the bedside, bending down to pick up a book tucked under the pillow. Its pages were disordered, clearly put aside in haste.
"Alright, stop pretending. If you don't wake up, we're leaving," Hayashi said.
"…Don't go," Kushina whispered, smiling.
Tsunade glanced at the book's cover: Twenty Routines for Boys to Pursue Girls.
"How old are you to be reading this?!" she exclaimed, snatching it from Hayashi and flipping through the pages.
"I'm just reading it for fun," Kushina said coquettishly.
Tsunade, catching a spark of inspiration, quickly put the book away. "This isn't suitable for children! I'll keep it for you."
"Tsunade-neechan, that book is expensive!" Kushina pouted.
Unmoved, Tsunade pocketed the book. Hayashi met her gaze meaningfully, and she glanced aside. "Ahem… Kushina-chan seems fine. You two can chat. I'll go see other patients."
After she left, Kushina tilted her head. "What's wrong, Tsunade-neechan?"
Hayashi sat on the edge of her bed, picking up an apple from the table to peel.
"I'm telling you something, but you mustn't tell anyone," he warned.
"Okay!" the little fox nodded, eyes sparkling. "I won't tell anyone!" She thought, however, of exceptions: Mikoto, Nono, Inuzuka Tsume, Hyūga Himeji…
"Someone is pursuing Tsunade-sensei," Hayashi whispered.
"What? Who?!" Kushina's curiosity spiked.
"Dan Katō," he said quietly.
"The name sounds familiar…" Kushina murmured. "Is he Katō Rei's older brother?"
"Who is Katō Rei?" Hayashi asked, confused.
"She's part of one of our organizations," Kushina said mysteriously. "It's normal you wouldn't know her."
Indeed, it was Hayashi's fan club, with Kushina and Mikoto both members.
"Okay. Kushina, who do you support, Jiraiya-ossan or Dan Katō?" Hayashi asked.
"…Jiraiya-ossan is excellent, but his peeping habit is unbearable. If he can correct it, I'll support him," Kushina said, curling her lips.
A fatal flaw indeed, Hayashi thought with a sigh.
Kushina, watching him peel the apple, continued her thoughts: she would protect her future children from Jiraiya-ossan's mischief.
Meanwhile, in a small Rain Country house, a white-haired man sneezed twice.
"Jiraiya-sensei, are you sick?" Konan asked, folding paper carefully.
"Maybe the cooler weather… let's wear thicker clothes," Yahiko suggested, though his disgust betrayed his true feelings. He just wanted an excuse to escape the awkward frog suit he wore.
"What do you think, Nagato?" Yahiko nudged the red-haired boy.
"…I actually like this frog suit. And I like green," Nagato said quietly.
Yahiko groaned, realizing he was the only sane one in the room.
Jiraiya, thinking for a moment, suddenly said, "It must be Tsunade thinking of me!"
"Sensei, is Konoha really as beautiful as you said?" Yahiko asked, curious.
"Of course. But I believe you can also change this weeping country, making it as beautiful as Konoha," Jiraiya said, draping an arm over Yahiko's shoulder.
Yahiko hesitated, doubting his own power, yet images of the boy named Hayashi from the cave—listening attentively to his dreams while rain pattered outside—refused to leave his mind.
For some reason, that scene was unforgettable.
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