Chapter 9: Going to the frontlines
It was the second time Jiraiya came so close to death in his life.
Hiruzen Sarutobi: (Keeping a flower vase near Jiraiya's hospital bed) "Jiraiya, you are the true hope of us gentlemen. Your sacrifice will be remembered."
...
Going to the frontlines
"Tsunade, you have finally returned....." Hiruzen greeted his student with a gentle smile on his face. Due to the increasing tension in the border of land of fire and The land of grass, Hiruzen had called back his student. Tsunade, with a weakness like haemophobia, was not suited to fight in war. But as one of the three legendary Sannins, she could increase the morale of their shinobi, just by being present on the battlefield.
"Old man....." Tsunade let out a tired sigh.
She owed Hiruzen, har former teacher, quite a few favors. Especially to cover up many of her big and small mistakes in the past.
Back when she first lost her brother Nawaki, Tsunade was completely devastated. She didn't know how to cope with her loss. Finally after hearing a suggestion about drinking, she went to a random bar to drink as much alcohol as possible. That night she got her alcohol addiction. But that's not the only thing she got. The next day when she woke up with a massive hangover, she found herself naked in a random inn. Her transformation was undone and her virginity was taken. After that one night stand with a random guy whose face or name she didn't remember, she found herself pregnant with a baby. That was the time when Hiruzen came forward to help her. But around three months into her pregnancy, Dan Kato came into her life. Fearing that he might not accept her after finding out that she had a baby, Tsunade had dumped the child in the hands of her teacher without even seeing its face. Back then, Hiruzen had taken advantage of the situation and had taken a promise from Tsunade. Once she abandoned the child, she will never be able to claim her as her. But back then, Tsunade was young and had made a lot of mistakes. And abandoning her blood was one of her biggest mistakes that she still regrets to this day.
After remaining with Dan in a relationship for a year, Dan left the world and she developed her haemophobia.
"I hope you have taken enough rest before coming here ?" Hiruzen asked her.
"Yes. You can go straight to the topic. You know about my weakness very well. I can't even read injured shinobi properly. So exactly what do you want me to do ?" Tsunade asked the old hokage.