Naruto: The Nine-Tails' Legacy

Several days later, early in the morning.

Two graceful figures appeared on the road not far from Konoha's main gate.

"It's been a long time since I came back to Konoha..."

The woman walking in front possessed breathtaking beauty and an equally stunning figure.

She raised her light-brown eyes and looked through the village gates.

Beyond them stood the iconic Hokage Rock, carved into the mountain range overlooking Konoha.

"It doesn't seem much different from before."

A complicated expression appeared on her face as she murmured softly.

The woman appeared to be no more than twenty or thirty years old.

Yet her clothing was oddly old-fashioned.

Over a loose inner garment, she wore a green haori emblazoned with the character for "Gamble" on the back, while dragging along a heavy-looking suitcase.

The outfit somewhat diminished the elegance radiating from her beauty and instead added a hint of worldly practicality.

Even so, she remained the kind of stunning woman impossible for anyone to forget after seeing once.

She was none other than the famed "Legendary Sucker" among the Three Legendary Sannin—

Konoha's Princess Tsunade.

"Tsunade-sama, are you sure Jiraiya-sama will be okay if we just leave him behind like that? That medicine was pretty potent..."

Beside her, Shizune hurried to keep up.

One arm held Tonton the pig.

The other dragged a smaller suitcase.

Judging by her tired expression, she clearly had not slept well.

"...Shizune."

"This is really not the time to mention his name."

Tsunade turned toward her student expressionlessly.

"Can't you see you're ruining the mood while I'm trying to enjoy the feeling of returning home?"

Then her eyes narrowed slightly.

"Come to think of it..."

"You got up unusually early today."

"Were you planning to bring him the antidote?"

"Ahahaha... no, of course not."

Seeing that Tsunade was still furious, Shizune silently apologized to Jiraiya in her heart.

Sorry, Jiraiya-sama.

Looks like I can't help you this time.

"Besides."

"Didn't I leave Kakashi and Asuma behind to look after him?"

"The medicine only lasts a day."

"Let that idiot spend some time reflecting."

"Otherwise, bringing him back to Konoha would just create another problem for the village."

After saying that, memories of her reunion with Jiraiya the previous night resurfaced.

Instantly, the faint nervousness she had felt about returning home vanished.

The two women continued toward Konoha's gates.

Along the way, they greeted the village's famous "Gate Guardians."

Kotetsu Hagane had already noticed them approaching.

The moment he recognized the woman, his face lit up with delight.

"Y-You're..."

"Tsunade-sama?"

"That's wonderful!"

"The Hokage has been waiting for—"

"No need for formalities."

Tsunade waved him off.

"I'll go see Sarutobi-sensei first."

"He should be in the Hokage Office, right?"

Though she had been away from the village for many years, Tsunade was still the granddaughter of the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju.

Returning to Konoha felt no different from returning home.

The unfamiliarity she had felt moments earlier completely disappeared the instant she stepped through the gates.

Meanwhile, in a small town along the road...

"Jiraiya-sama, are you feeling any better?"

Standing outside an outhouse while pinching their noses, Asuma and Kakashi called out.

"Mmm..."

"Still need some time."

"Ugh..."

"My stomach is still revolting..."

"That woman..."

"Not only did Tsunade beat me up, she even poisoned me..."

"Well..."

Kakashi scratched his cheek.

"To be fair, Tsunade-sama wasn't entirely at fault."

"You did do something rather inappropriate."

"What kind of statement is that?"

Jiraiya exploded.

"Are you criticizing me?"

"I even paid out of my own pocket and treated everyone to such a high-class establishment!"

"Do you know how much money I spent last night?!"

His voice was extremely agitated.

Unfortunately, after spending the entire night suffering from explosive diarrhea, it sounded hoarse and exhausted.

"Who could've known I'd just happen to run into Tsunade while stepping outside for a bathroom break?"

"And wasn't that perfect timing?"

"She'd lost all her money and didn't even have a place to stay."

"Meeting us was lucky for her!"

"Otherwise she'd have been sleeping in the forest!"

"Besides, we were already looking for her."

"We saved a lot of effort."

"Now that she knows what's happening in the village, she's definitely gone back to help."

"Yes, yes."

"We understand."

Asuma sighed deeply.

As the only truly mature man among them with an actual girlfriend, he felt obligated to speak.

"After being separated for so many years, of course you wanted to catch up with an old friend."

"But..."

"Even accounting for the fact that you were drunk..."

"Taking Tsunade-sama to a hostess bar was a little excessive."

"...You people don't understand her."

"She never refused!"

"And I even gambled with her for several rounds."

"She willingly participated."

"Later on she seemed to be having fun too!"

"Before you started calling over girls, she did seem to be enjoying herself."

Kakashi added helpfully.

"More accurately..."

"I don't think it was after multiple girls."

"If I remember correctly, Tsunade-sama's face darkened the instant you called over the first one."

"Now that I think about it, that explains why she suddenly offered you a drink."

"The medicine was probably mixed into it at that moment."

Asuma delivered the finishing blow.

The White-Haired Sage, one of Konoha's legendary Sannin, now sat crouched over a toilet.

Not only was his stomach in chaos, but his face was also covered in bruises.

"So she responds by destroying the entire establishment?!"

"She escaped just fine."

"I got beaten half to death and still had to pay compensation afterward!"

Listening to their teasing, Jiraiya became increasingly furious.

"Get lost!"

"Both of you!"

"Your mission is already finished anyway!"

"Go back to Konoha!"

"Stop standing around irritating me!"

"Or I'll drag both of you in here so we can suffer together!"

Inside the Hokage Office.

Looking at his disciple whose appearance had barely changed despite the years, Hiruzen momentarily felt transported back into the past.

"Tch."

"Sarutobi-sensei, you really should retire."

The first thing Tsunade said upon seeing him caused Shizune to nearly jump in fright.

"Look at all those wrinkles."

"At your age, how many peaceful years do you think you have left?"

"Are you planning to work yourself to death sitting in that Hokage chair?"

Considering the identity of the person standing before them, Shizune found Tsunade's tone terrifying.

After all—

That was the Hokage.

Yet Hiruzen showed no anger whatsoever.

Instead, he laughed warmly.

"Still the same temperament, Tsunade."

"What?"

"Do I really look that terrible to you?"

Even without examining you, I can tell you'll collapse sooner or later if you keep this up.

Tsunade thought silently.

But she chose not to say it aloud.

Instead, she changed the subject.

"So?"

"You called me back."

"What do you need?"

"How much did Kakashi tell you?"

"Not much."

"I was too busy beating up a certain idiot."

"I only know the village is in trouble and that the ANBU situation has become complicated."

"Is that so?"

"Even Jiraiya..."

"Then I'll explain everything from the beginning."

As Hiruzen recounted the recent events, Tsunade's brow furrowed deeper and deeper.

Confusion gradually filled her face.

"What?"

Hiruzen noticed her expression.

"Even you think treating them will be difficult?"

Tsunade glanced at him carefully, as though trying to see through something.

"Although I no longer have any desire to practice medicine..."

"This situation is an exception."

"I'll examine them afterward."

"But what really interests me is something else."

She pointed directly at the core issue.

"Sarutobi-sensei."

"What exactly are all of you thinking?"

"In a situation where threats exist both inside and outside the village..."

"You're deliberately choosing to play along and continue with the Chūnin Exams?"

"Aren't you afraid things will spiral beyond your control?"

"Can Konoha truly withstand your plan in its current state?"

"What exactly is giving you confidence?"

Hiruzen wasn't surprised by the question.

Despite appearing youthful, Tsunade was already over fifty years old.

She was a veteran hero who had fought through two great ninja wars.

Naturally, she could see the connections between these events and immediately identify the problems.

Her political instincts were second to none.

In Hiruzen's eyes, all three of his disciples possessed the qualifications to become Hokage.

Therefore—

He had no intention of lying to her.

Instead, he answered honestly.

"I don't know either."

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