"Ahaha… she's still as hot-tempered as ever."
Outside the scene, Jiraiya wiped the sweat off his forehead.
Terrifying. Absolutely terrifying.
"Is that really just taijutsu?"
Uchiha Sasuke stared at the image of Tsunade shattering an entire wall with a single punch.
If it had been ninjutsu, that level of destruction would have made sense.
But pure physical strength?
One punch?
Was that even reasonable?
Kabuto tried to appeal to Tsunade's old teammate bond, but she didn't budge in the slightest.
If she had been completely certain she could kill Orochimaru on the spot, she would have done it already. There would have been no need to waste time talking.
When Tsunade remained firm and told them to get lost, Orochimaru calmly revealed his true offer.
"I can bring back the brother and the man you loved. I will use the forbidden technique I developed."
The words struck dead center.
"Since we're still alive, shall we assume negotiations are possible?"
Not only did the Tsunade in the video freeze, the people watching from outside went silent as well.
To revive someone you loved…
How many people could honestly say they wouldn't be tempted?
Well.
Uchiha Itachi could.
After all, he was the one who killed them.
Even if he tossed and turned at night, even if he woke from dreams filled with the curses of his clan, he had never once considered reviving his parents.
Or Izumi.
That would be… awkward.
What would he say when they asked why?
"I've realized you're all… surprisingly stubborn. Truly."
"Father… Mother…"
Uchiha Sasuke murmured the words under his breath.
He finally understood why, in the original future, he had chosen to follow Orochimaru.
It wasn't just because he'd been beaten and cornered.
The temptation had been overwhelming.
Even now, if someone offered him the chance to trade his own body for his parents' return, he knew he would agree without hesitation.
But after reading Kaede Kitahara's diary for so long, he understood something else.
The revived wouldn't truly be his parents.
And Impure World Reincarnation required sacrifices.
Not just one life.
Countless.
The technique couldn't last forever. If he wanted them to remain in this world permanently, how many lives would it take?
That wasn't something he could accept.
Back in the video, Tsunade's mind filled with the faces of Dan and Nawaki.
"If I heal your hands," she asked quietly, "what do you intend to do?"
"I dislike lying," Orochimaru replied evenly. "Once I obtain what I want… this time, I will completely destroy Konoha."
He didn't even bother to hide it.
"So?" Kabuto smiled. "What is your answer?"
"Lady Tsunade, you can't be fooled by such sweet talk," Shizune blurted urgently. "Nawaki and Uncle Dan would never want you to do this."
Tsunade stood there in silence.
"Their dream was you," Shizune pressed on. "Have you forgotten your own dream?"
"Enough."
Tsunade cut her off sharply.
Orochimaru's malice was obvious. He had just casually declared he would destroy Konoha again.
And yet Tsunade, drowning in the grief of her brother and lover, showed no immediate reaction.
Then suddenly, Orochimaru lifted his arm with effort, bit into his finger, and let the blood drip down.
That was when everything changed.
The Tsunade who had stood so firm began trembling uncontrollably.
This was Orochimaru's true trump card.
The reason he dared stand in front of her despite knowing she could kill him.
Among the Legendary Sannin, it had always been hard to say who was stronger between Orochimaru and Jiraiya.
But the weakest in direct combat had always been Tsunade. Her path had focused on medical ninjutsu.
That weakness, however, was relative.
She was still firmly within the Kage Level realm.
Even with his arms unusable, she could have killed him with ease.
But Orochimaru knew something only a few in Konoha's upper ranks were aware of.
The greatest irony of all.
The famed medical ninja, Princess Tsunade, suffered from Hemophobia.
A medic afraid of blood.
It sounded like a cruel joke.
But after watching Nawaki and Dan die before her eyes, something inside her had broken.
From that day on, blood triggered terror.
And Orochimaru could exploit that with nothing more than a drop.
"It seems you still haven't overcome it," he said, satisfied. "Afraid of blood."
Kabuto was the only one present who hadn't known.
"That's enough. Let's go, Kabuto. I'll await your good news, Tsunade."
With that, Orochimaru and Kabuto vanished in a Body Flicker.
The viewers outside the scene were stunned.
Aside from Jiraiya, none of them had known that one of Konoha's Legendary Sannin feared blood.
"So you're still relying on cheap tricks, Orochimaru," Tsunade said with a cold laugh.
She wasn't surprised.
Just as Orochimaru knew her inside out, she knew his habits and temperament equally well.
This was exactly the kind of thing he would do.
But it was a serious problem.
Over the years, she had avoided Konoha's watchful eyes, drowned herself in alcohol, drifted between bars and casinos.
Hemophobia was one of the main reasons.
A ninja who had to step onto the battlefield yet feared blood.
The irony was almost laughable.
Then the scene shifted.
Jiraiya entered a small tavern with Uzumaki Naruto, where Tsunade sat drinking.
"Seems like today is a reunion day," she said after finishing a cup.
"It was Orochimaru, wasn't it? What happened?" Jiraiya asked.
"Nothing. Just a greeting."
She avoided the topic and pulled out a deck of cards, shuffling them smoothly.
"So what do you want?"
"I'll be direct," Jiraiya said. "The village wants you to become the Fifth Hokage."
Tsunade paused briefly, then continued dealing the cards.
"The Third Hokage…" Jiraiya began.
"Orochimaru did it," she cut in. "He told me himself."
Naruto exploded.
When the Third Hokage had died, Naruto hadn't been present. He had chased Gaara outside the village and missed everything. No one had told him Orochimaru was responsible.
He had only known that the Third Hokage had died at the hands of a powerful enemy.
He had never imagined it was one of Konoha's own Legendary Sannin.
But neither Tsunade nor Jiraiya seemed interested in explaining further.
"I'll say it again," Jiraiya said. "The village has decided. You will become the Fifth Hokage."
"So?" Tsunade replied coolly. "What's my answer supposed to be?"
Jiraiya studied her. "Will you accept?"
Her thoughts were still tangled around Orochimaru's offer.
Help him, and Dan and Nawaki could return.
Refuse him, and she would never see them again.
"How about it, Tsunade?" Jiraiya pressed.
"I refuse."
Shizune's heart skipped a beat. Was she planning to accept Orochimaru's deal instead?
Jiraiya, on the other hand, wasn't surprised at all. He even joked that her tone sounded exactly like when she had rejected his confessions years ago.
Naruto was practically vibrating with frustration.
"Calm down," Jiraiya told him. "She's the most suitable candidate for the Fifth Hokage. During the wars, she made enormous contributions to Konoha's victories. In both combat and medical skill, no one can compare to her right now. She's the granddaughter of the First Hokage. With her ability and background, who else could take the position? If she becomes Hokage, she'll return to the village. Just like you said, she'll have to treat those two."
He glanced at Naruto.
"And this decision comes from Konoha's highest authorities. The advisors. You're just a Genin. This isn't your place to argue."
He had told Naruto to shut up, yet he still took the time to explain everything carefully.
Tsunade snorted.
"Jiraiya, this student of yours is nothing like your previous one. No brains, no eloquence, and not much to look at either."
Naruto flared instantly.
Jiraiya only laughed.
"Compared to the Fourth Hokage, anyone would look lacking. That guy had the best qualities of any ninja in history. Talent, intelligence, and, obviously, looks. Just like me."
Tsunade's expression didn't change.
"And he still died young," she said flatly. "He gambled his life for the village. Life isn't the same as money. Throwing it away so easily… only idiots do that."
Her gaze turned distant.
"My grandfather and the Second Hokage both dreamed of ending the era of war. And what happened? They died for the village without ever achieving it."
Her tone was icy.
To her, the title of Hokage meant nothing.
Anyone who desperately wanted it…
Was a fool.