**Chapter 29: Naruto vs. Tsunade**
"Tsunade, Tsunade! Where is this Tsunade you keep talking about, Perverted Sage?"
After walking until his sandals were nearly worn through, Naruto glared at Jiraiya, his face flushed with frustration.
"Why are you in such a hurry, kid? Can't you take your time?" Jiraiya replied calmly, a smug grin spreading across his face. "Heh, after you showed off like that earlier, you deserve this!"
"Perverted Sage, are you trying to get revenge? We've just been circling around these entertainment districts and going in and out of the same places..." Naruto eyed Jiraiya suspiciously.
"What do you know, kid?" Jiraiya's face flushed slightly. "Tsunade loves gambling. She might be in one of these places. Even if she's not, we can gather information..."
"But... why are we just going around in circles in this small area?" Naruto stared at Jiraiya with a deadpan expression.
"Uh... ha ha, it's to gather more detailed intelligence, of course!" Jiraiya's forehead began to sweat.
"But... why haven't we gathered a single piece of information yet?" The deadpan expression on Naruto's face deepened.
"Uh... that's because, because..."
Jiraiya's expression turned awkward, and he snapped, "Why does a brat like you need to know all this? If I say it's right, then it's right!"
"Oh, then I'll be going. You can keep searching by yourself," Naruto said lazily, turning to leave.
"Hey, wait! Don't go!" Jiraiya grabbed Naruto, forcing a placating smile. "How about I treat you to dinner? Don't be so childish."
"Fine! Just because you're my teacher." Naruto nodded, then delivered the crushing blow under Jiraiya's hopeful gaze: "Nothing fancy—just enough to replenish all the energy I burned off."
"Perverted Sage, that was a great meal. Thanks!" Naruto said, picking his teeth with a toothpick, his face radiating satisfaction.
"I emptied my wallet, and all I get is 'great'..." Jiraiya groaned in despair.
"Heh, don't be so stingy! You can always earn more money later..." Naruto grinned, completely unconcerned.
"You..." Jiraiya took a deep breath, then exhaled in defeat. "Just my luck..."
"Hmm... Where's the sake? Another bottle..."
Suddenly, a shrill, unsteady voice pierced the air, its tone both delicate and unusually loud.
It was obvious someone was drunk.
"Tsunade?"
Jiraiya and Naruto both snapped to attention simultaneously.
The difference was that Jiraiya shouted the name aloud, while Naruto only expressed his surprise inwardly.
"Naruto, the person we're looking for is inside! Hurry up and go in!" Jiraiya urged, lifting the curtain and stepping inside first.
Unable to contain his curiosity any longer, Naruto followed closely behind Jiraiya.
"Huff... Tsunade, you still love your sake so much..." Jiraiya sighed, sitting down across from the tipsy beauty and gazing helplessly at Tsunade, who could barely distinguish up from down.
"Lady Tsunade, you shouldn't drink any more," Shizune said, snatching the nearly empty sake bottle from Tsunade's hand with a worried expression.
"Wow, Tsunade... I finally get to see you in person!" Naruto's eyes scanned Tsunade up and down. "I can't believe it... You've managed to pull off this youthful facade so perfectly, so flawlessly."
"Hmm... Is that Jiraiya?" Tsunade squinted blearily at the man across from her.
"Yeah, it's me. You still remember your old friend, huh?" Jiraiya chuckled. "Tsunade, I've come to ask you to be a candidate for the Fifth Hokage. After all, Teacher Sarutobi is getting too old."
"I refuse!" Tsunade declared without hesitation.
"Heh, I knew you'd say that," Jiraiya chuckled, waving Naruto over. "Hey kid, come here!"
"Huh? Me?" Naruto, who had been studying Tsunade, paused, then walked over with a puzzled expression. "Perverted Sage, what do you want?"
"She's Princess Tsunade, the one we've been searching for all this time," Jiraiya said, pointing at Tsunade.
"Oh, hello," Naruto said, turning to Tsunade with a bright, sunny smile.
"Huh? That smile..." Tsunade's beautiful eyes widened, instantly sobering her up. "Nawaki... Dan..." Her gaze turned momentarily distant, but the trance quickly passed. In the next moment, her eyes reverted to their usual lazy indifference.
"Heh heh, quite similar, isn't he?" Jiraiya grinned at Tsunade, his expression radiating confidence.
"Jiraiya, who's this brat?" Tsunade asked, glancing at Naruto with feigned disinterest.
"His name is Naruto Uzumaki, and his dream is—to become Hokage!" Jiraiya's voice rose sharply at the end.
"Become Hokage..."
For a fleeting moment, Tsunade's gaze toward Naruto held a piercing intensity before returning to its usual indifference. "Tch, wanting to become Hokage? That's practically idiotic."
"Who are you calling an idiot?" Naruto glared at Tsunade, his face flushed with anger. Being called an idiot upon first meeting someone would infuriate anyone.
"You, you brat! What about it?" Tsunade's beautiful eyes narrowed as she stood up, placing one foot on the long bench.
"Hey, don't think you're so great just because you're a woman!" A dangerous glint flashed in Naruto's eyes.
"What? Want to fight?" Tsunade's lovely face moved closer to Naruto's, her eyes blazing. "Outside!"
"Fine, let's go!" Naruto retorted, meeting her glare without backing down.
"Move!" Tsunade barked, striding out first.
.....................
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(End of Chapter)