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After leaving the village, Kagaya remained unusually quiet for a while.
He knew that during his earlier argument with Tsunade, he had indeed been in the wrong. After all, he was the one who had actively sought her out and asked for her help with the transplant. His actions had essentially betrayed Tsunade's favor.
But Kagaya didn't regret it. Because that was simply his stance, and it wouldn't change. If he were to reconcile with Konoha just because he felt indebted to Tsunade, what about Shisui? What about his parents? What about the entire Uchiha clan?
He could let Konoha go now. But back then, who had been willing to let him go?
On this matter, Kagaya would never back down, even if it meant betraying Tsunade's kindness.' I've just finished taking my revenge, my hatred hasn't even faded yet, and you want me to reconcile? Where were you when Danzō killed my parents? Where were you when he killed Shisui?'
"Kagaya, where do we go next?" Karin asked, looking at him.
"To the sea," Kagaya replied immediately.
Now that the Mangekyō transplant was complete, the most important thing was to allow time for the eyes to fuse. And the sea was currently the best sanctuary, as Kagaya didn't know if Obito would continue his pursuit. To be safe, they needed to head out to sea.
"To the sea, huh?"
"Yeah."
After confirming, Kagaya's group set out for the sea once more. They would be spending the next period of time at sea.
Several days later, a visibly drained Orochimaru, supported by Kabuto, arrived at the village where Tsunade had been staying. However, after searching, Orochimaru couldn't find her.
"What's going on? The intel said Tsunade was in this village."
Orochimaru spoke with a trace of anger. The feeling of having both arms completely useless was unbearable; he didn't want to endure it for another moment. Ideally, Tsunade would appear before him the next second and immediately heal his arms. Now, after following the intel and almost reaching her, she wasn't at the destination. This angered Orochimaru, who assumed his subordinates' information was faulty.
Kabuto couldn't help but frown. He naturally understood the importance Orochimaru placed on this matter. If something went wrong, they would likely feel the full brunt of Orochimaru's wrath. "Lord Orochimaru, the issue likely lies with Tsunade's side."
Kabuto's meaning was clear: it wasn't their fault, but Tsunade's.
In fact, Kabuto guessed correctly. Because of Kagaya, Tsunade hadn't stayed in the village as she had in the original timeline but had instead set off to return to Konoha.
But Orochimaru didn't know this, nor did he care. He only knew he needed to find Tsunade quickly to heal his arms! "Keep searching!" Orochimaru ordered coldly.
Although Orochimaru could use "Living Corpse Reincarnation" to transfer his soul to another body and thus restore his arms, that technique had a cooldown period of several years, during which it couldn't be used again. So, Orochimaru wanted to try to wait, to hold off until Sasuke arrived before using the technique.
However, being without arms was simply too agonizing for Orochimaru. He couldn't just sit and wait for Sasuke. He couldn't bear it for a single moment more! Hence, this journey to find Tsunade.
Of course, what Orochimaru didn't know was that even if he met Tsunade and offered Dan's resurrection as payment, Tsunade would not heal his arms.
While Orochimaru was laboriously searching for Tsunade, Tsunade and Shizune, after several days of travel, were nearing Konoha.
Tsunade looked at the distant village with complex emotions. She had returned to this place once again.
Why had Tsunade left Konoha in the first place? To put it simply, it was because of war. During the Third Great Ninja War, Tsunade's lover, Dan, and her younger brother, Nawaki, had died. The sudden, immense blow was something Tsunade simply couldn't bear. Overwhelmed by grief, she defied everyone and left Konoha, taking Dan's niece, Shizune, with her.
After leaving, Tsunade spent her days finding pleasure in gambling. Even though she kept losing, for Tsunade, it was a form of happiness. Because as long as she was immersed in it, she wouldn't remember the deaths of her lover and brother.
Years passed. The pain that had once been unbearable for Tsunade had been diluted by time. Yet, she still hadn't returned to Konoha. It was simple: time had lessened her pain, but it had also lessened her desire to return. If not for necessity, Tsunade might have spent the rest of her life gambling, only sneaking back to Konoha on her deathbed to be buried alongside her brother and the others.
Yes, that had been Tsunade's blueprint for the latter half of her life.
But Kagaya's arrival shattered all that. Tsunade had originally intended to try and mediate the hatred between Konoha and Kagaya during the village's weakened state. What she hadn't expected was Kagaya's unyielding attitude—and the fact that she had even helped him fuse the Eternal Mangekyō!
Tsunade was not one to shirk responsibility. So, despite her reluctance, she had returned.
"I wonder how that fool Jiraiya is managing things," Tsunade muttered softly before walking towards Konoha with Shizune.
Konoha had just survived a great calamity, with its higher-ups almost wiped out. If not handled properly, unrest could erupt at any moment.
However, Tsunade still trusted Jiraiya's abilities. Though he was a lecherous, disgraceful fellow, she had great confidence in his competence.
"At least he's far better than that Orochimaru."
Shortly after the Third Great Ninja War, the legendary Sannin had all left Konoha. But among them, only Orochimaru had defected as a rogue ninja. For this, Tsunade deeply resented him. Yet, their past friendship prevented her from completely hating him.
Not long after, Tsunade and Shizune entered Konoha. The news quickly reached Jiraiya, the village's temporary highest authority. Without a second thought, Jiraiya rushed out, his face beaming with excitement.
'Talk about perfect timing!' Jiraiya was utterly sick of the administrative duties, which gave him a headache every day. Yet, he couldn't leave Konoha for the time being. Not long ago, he had decided he absolutely had to find Tsunade to succeed as Hokage. Who would have thought that just over a month later, Tsunade would come to Konoha on her own?!
How could Jiraiya not be thrilled? The moment he learned Tsunade had arrived, he saw a vision of his former carefree self, free from these damn administrative headaches.
Tsunade, however, was thinking something entirely different. Unaware of Jiraiya's struggles, when she saw him running towards her with an excited expression, she instinctively assumed his "perverted" tendencies were acting up again. So...
BOOM!
The excited Jiraiya was sent flying by a punch from Tsunade.
Tsunade rolled her eyes. "Long time no see, and your guts has grown, Jiraiya."
They were at Konoha's main gate. Jiraiya had been punched straight through the gate, leaving a human-shaped hole and kicking up a cloud of dust.
Cough, cough, cough. Jiraiya waved his hand, clearing the dust from his mouth. "Tsunade, it's been years. They've gotten even bigger, huh."
Even though he'd been misunderstood, Jiraiya didn't care! He didn't care at all! Even if he didn't tease her now, he'd definitely tease her before they parted ways again.
Misunderstood or not, it suited his purposes just fine!
Tsunade's eye twitched. She knew exactly where Jiraiya's gaze was fixed. She clenched her fist. "You'd better get to the point. Quickly."
Jiraiya might be a pervert, but Tsunade knew he wouldn't forget serious matters just because of it. While his eagerness to see her might have a perverted element, it certainly wasn't the only reason.
Jiraiya also knew that if he kept looking, Tsunade would explode. So, he walked out of the dust, straightened up, and put on a dignified air. "Tsunade, your return now is truly timely. As you can see, Konoha's current state..."
He paused briefly, his eyes sneaking another glance there.
"...You can see, it's truly massive... I mean, it's a state of recovery! Administrative duties and such, I'm really not cut out for them, nor do I want to be. So..."
Tsunade raised an eyebrow. "So, you want me to take over?"
Jiraiya immediately nodded vigorously. "Yes, yes! I want to recommend you to become the Fifth Hokage!"
Even though the Third Hokage had died not long ago, as the successor, Tsunade could only be the Fifth. That's because the Fourth Hokage had died before the Third, and the Third had reassumed the position after the Fourth's death.
A trace of resistance flickered instinctively in Tsunade's eyes.
Asking Tsunade to help Konoha? Fine, she would do that. But asking her to become Hokage? Tsunade was deeply resistant.
Because both her brother and her lover had once aspired to become Hokage. In the end, they had both died. This made Tsunade resistant to the position of Hokage—not exactly disgusted, but strongly averse.
Jiraiya clearly saw the resistance in Tsunade's eyes. As a childhood companion, he naturally understood why. He quickly spoke up. "Tsunade, this time, Konoha needs you!"
Tsunade fell silent, unable to answer, or rather, not knowing how to answer.
By now, a crowd had gathered around. The return of one of the Sannin was not something to be hidden. In fact, considering Konoha's current situation, the news should be spread to stabilize morale. So, Jiraiya hadn't concealed Tsunade's arrival. Consequently, many villagers, hearing the news, had come to the gate to see the legendary Sannin.
Looking at the Konoha villagers around her, Tsunade knew that if she agreed to become Hokage, she would have to follow through. Therefore...
"I'm sorry, Jiraiya. I... I really can't become Hokage. I don't want to be Hokage."
Bowing her head slightly, memories of her brother and lover surfaced. She added unconsciously, "Only a fool would want that!"
She was cursing her own brother and lover. If they hadn't had that dream of becoming Hokage back then, perhaps they wouldn't have fought so fiercely on the battlefield. Perhaps they wouldn't have died.
Jiraiya looked at her with a bitter expression. He had many arguments prepared in his heart, but in the end, none came out.
Ultimately, Jiraiya had never lost a brother or a lover. He hadn't experienced the same pain as Tsunade. Without that experience, he had no right to ask her to let it go.
What right did he, Jiraiya, have to persuade Tsunade? On the matter of Hokage, his only advantage over her was not having lost a brother or lover. But was that something to be proud of? If Jiraiya were in Tsunade's position, who could guarantee he wouldn't also resist becoming Hokage?
In some matters, when others can't measure up to you, it's not necessarily because they are inferior. Perhaps they were simply unlucky.
Jiraiya had no right to blame Tsunade.
It was like Sasuke in the original story. Many in Konoha initially couldn't understand his decision to defect. But try massacring their entire clan. How many could remain calm?
How many could stay composed?
To boast about one's own better circumstances and then harshly blame the other party is absolutely wrong.
"Tsunade, can you really not overcome this?" Jiraiya finally managed only this sentence. He had no right to persuade her to let go, nor to blame her. He could only hope Tsunade could overcome this psychological barrier herself.
Tsunade shook her head with a bitter smile. "I can't do it, Jiraiya."
Jiraiya also smiled bitterly. "I see."
But just then, a shout suddenly erupted from the crowd.
"Hey, you! What gives you the right to look down on the Hokage?!"
A blond-haired Naruto stepped forward, indignantly addressing Tsunade.
Today was Naruto's "release" day. His earlier outburst had thrown all of Konoha into panic, making people even more afraid of him. To prevent a repeat, after suppressing the outburst, Jiraiya had confined Naruto, continuously reinforcing his seal. Of course, while it was confinement, Jiraiya wasn't Danzō. Naruto was well-fed and cared for, with the only restriction being that he couldn't run around until the seal was fully reinforced.
The entire village had poured its efforts into reinforcing the seal on top of the Fourth Hokage's original one. It had taken over a full month before Naruto was released.
Fresh out, hearing news about one of the Sannin, Naruto naturally came to see the commotion. But to his surprise, this so-called Sannin actually looked down on the Hokage! Even said only a fool would want to be Hokage?
Unacceptable! So, Naruto immediately jumped out. Who cares if you're one of the Sannin or not? Even if you were one of the Five Sannin, if you talk about the Hokage like that, I, Uzumaki Naruto, will never agree!
"Don't think just anyone can become Hokage! Someone like you could never become one!" Naruto declared boldly to Tsunade.
Tsunade turned to look. A blond boy came into view. She smiled slightly and replied, "Kid, seeing how worked up you are, let me guess... your dream is to become Hokage, right?"
Naruto straightened his back. "So what if it is?"
Tsunade raised an eyebrow. "Tch. Another fool."
Naruto was stunned for a second, then furious. "You're the fool!"
In the end, even though history had changed and Tsunade had returned to Konoha on her own, these two were still inevitably drawn together by the topic of "Hokage."
The gears of fate had begun to turn once more.