"No! Absolutely not!"
Tsunade's rejection came sharp and immediate after hearing Jiraiya's proposal.
"The Akatsuki's higher-ups move like shadows. We don't even know what's really going on in the Hidden Rain Village. It's a dangerous place, and if you just barge in, you could die!"
Though Tsunade maintained the appearance of youth with secret techniques…
She was nearly sixty.
She had experienced more life-and-death separations than she could count.
At her age, she couldn't bear to lose someone else—especially not Jiraiya.
"Haha! The dragon dares to leap into the sea, and you think the sea can swallow him?" Jiraiya laughed heartily, brushing it off like it was nothing.
He acted like he didn't have a care in the world.
"That's not okay either!" Tsunade clenched her fists tightly. "If we're sure Akatsuki is based in the Hidden Rain, then worst case—we start a war!"
"A war?" Jiraiya shook his head. "Without evidence, that would just hand Iwagakure and Kumogakure the perfect excuse to attack us. Konoha would be a sitting duck, criticized by everyone."
"I've already made up my mind," Jiraiya added calmly. "I'll go to the Hidden Rain alone and gather the truth. Then we can plan the next move."
To be fair...
Under Tsunade's leadership, Konoha had bounced back in strength and stability.
But Iwagakure and Kumogakure were always watching for weakness.
If Konoha launched an attack based on nothing but a guess?
That would practically guarantee a Fourth Great Ninja War.
"Jiraiya's right. Peace is hard-earned. We shouldn't throw it away lightly, Lady Hokage," said Yamanaka Inoichi with a serious face.
Though the Ino-Shika-Cho trio had always supported Tsunade's leadership, something of this magnitude had to be weighed carefully.
"Then let me go with you!" Tsunade snapped, her voice tinged with emotion. "If we go together, it'll be safer."
She hesitated to even suggest it—knowing her own limitations—but if Inoichi and the others wouldn't support a military strike...
At the very least, she could go with Jiraiya to keep him safe.
"As Hokage, your place is in the village," Jiraiya said firmly. "You can't go gallivanting into dangerous territory."
"He's right, Lady Tsunade," Inoichi added. "Konoha's finally stabilized after everything. We can't risk losing our leader."
The Hokage's job wasn't to charge into battle.
It was to keep the ship steady.
Even if it seemed less glorious—that was what leadership truly meant.
"So I can't go. Naruto can't go. What, now you won't even let your son go with you?" Tsunade snapped irritably. "Then send Yoruha."
"Uh... well..." Inoichi's face twitched.
His son was strong.
But did he really have to throw him into danger like that?
"There's no need for all that," Jiraiya said, waving the idea away. "I'll go alone. Yoruha is Konoha's future—just like you. He's too valuable to risk right now."
Tsunade didn't reply, but her expression turned grim.
No matter how youthful she looked, she knew her own time was limited.
She'd used the Mitotic Regeneration Technique so many times—accelerating her cell division to recover from injuries instantly. It looked impressive on the outside.
But every use drained her lifespan.
Little by little.
So yes.
Yoruha really was Konoha's future.
…
And at this very moment?
The future of Konoha…
Was lounging at home.
Recovering.
Yoruha lay in bed with Samui resting peacefully in his arms, the two of them curled up after an intense moment of comfort and release.
After returning, Yoruha had told Samui what happened with Yugito.
Even though Samui's personality had changed after joining him, her friendship with Yugito was still real.
And the news of her best friend's death had shaken her deeply.
To calm her emotions… well, let's just say the two had found their own way of coping.
After the storm passed, Samui finally began to relax.
But grief still lingered behind her quiet eyes.
"Thank you for avenging her," she said softly, curled in Yoruha's arms like a gentle kitten.
Yoruha didn't respond immediately.
He just looked at her, guilt faint in his chest.
Because deep down, he knew…
The one he truly loved was Hinata.
And yet, things with her weren't complete.
Not yet.
With a quiet sigh, Yoruha sat up, got dressed, and carried Samui out to the yard in his arms.
He was hoping to just enjoy the clouds, get a bit of fresh air, and think about the future.
But then—
The familiar sound of an Anbu landing behind him.
"You again?" Yoruha said with a half-smile. "Didn't I just leave the Hokage's office an hour ago? Don't tell me—Tsunade wants me back already?"
He tossed a grape into his mouth and gave the Anbu a weary look.
"Uh… not exactly," the Anbu said, scratching the back of his head. "It's not Lady Tsunade this time. It's Shizune. She sent me—things are heating up in the office, and she thought you should come."
"Oh?" Yoruha raised an eyebrow. "What's going on now?"
"Something to do with Lord Jiraiya. And maybe you."
That got his attention.
Yoruha frowned.
Is this about the Hidden Rain?
With that thought, he activated Flying Thunder God—linking to the seal he had secretly placed inside the Hokage Building.
Whoosh!
He appeared instantly.
Right in the middle of a heated debate.
"Uh… Yoruha?" Inoichi blinked, his face still flushed from arguing with Tsunade.
Tsunade's eyes snapped to him—and she nearly exploded.
"You little brat! Where did you even place that Flying Thunder God mark!? If I'd known this would happen, I'd never have let you learn it!"
Clearly, she was still fuming from their argument.
"Ah, my bad. I was just testing a new technique and made a wrong jump," Yoruha said with a casual grin, refusing to rat out Shizune.
After all, she was the one who'd sent for him in secret.
"No big deal! I was just saying I want to retire and make you the Sixth Hokage—but your dear father over here threw a fit about it!" Tsunade huffed, shooting a glare at Inoichi.
"First, he won't let his son go on a mission. Then he won't let Naruto go. So? Just let your genius son be Hokage!"
She was clearly fed up.
"Lady Tsunade… please, don't act on impulse," Inoichi sighed deeply.
Yoruha? As Hokage?
Sure, the kid was powerful.
But Tsunade clearly didn't understand Yoruha's true nature.
Hand him the Hokage title?
There was a good chance Konoha would be completely restructured by nightfall.
Or just blown up for fun.