Inside a dirty and dingy room in the Senju compound, Tsunade lay strewn across the bed, her once-vibrant presence reduced to a hollow shell. The air was thick with the stale scent of alcohol and rotting take-out, a far cry from the clean, sterile smell of the hospitals she once oversaw.
Her blonde hair, usually a symbol of her strength and beauty, hung greasy and unkempt, tangled in knots that she hadn't bothered to comb out in days. Empty bottles clattered softly with every shift of her body, remnants of her attempts to drown the pain. Take-out containers, some moldering with age-old remnants of ramen and grilled meat, littered the floor and bedside table.
She stared at the ceiling, her hazel eyes dull and listless, as if the world had drained all color from them. What was the point of it all? In just a few short years, she had lost nearly everyone who mattered.
First, it was Nawaki, her little brother, full of dreams, stepping on that damned explosive tag during a mission. His death had shattered her world, a boy who wanted nothing more than to become Hokage, gone in an instant.
Then, there was Dan Kato, her lover. He bled out in her arms, his wounds too severe even for her legendary medical ninjutsu. She could still feel the warmth of his blood on her hands, the way his eyes had dimmed as she begged him to hold on.
And now, Kushina. The fiery Uzumaki girl she had come to see as a little sister, someone who reminded her so much of her own youth- stubborn, passionate, and unbreakable. But Kushina hadn't just left; she had taken Konoha with her in a blaze of vengeance.
Tsunade didn't harbor much love for the village anymore, not after the wars that took everyone she loved. But it was her grandfather Hashirama's dream, the land her great-uncle Tobirama had died to protect, the home her sensei Hiruzen cherishes with all his heart. And now, it was run by one of her last remaining friends: Jiraiya, the fool who had somehow stepped up when no one else could.
If you'd told her five years ago that Jiraiya- of all people- would become Hokage and actually be decent at it, she would've laughed until she cried. The man who peeked at women in baths and goofed constantly? Absurd. But credit where it was due: he was holding the remnants of Konoha together with sheer willpower.
Better than she could say for herself, rotting away in this room, a husk trudging through each day without purpose or will.
Tsunade sat up slowly, a few bottles tumbling to the floor with a clink that echoed in the silence. Her head throbbed from the hangover, but it was nothing compared to the ache in her chest. She needed to do something- anything- to pull herself from this pit.
Visiting Jiraiya felt like a start. Maybe seeing him, hearing about the village's progress, would spark something in her. Or maybe it would just remind her of what she'd lost.
Either way, stagnation was killing her faster than any battlefield ever could. If nothing changed, she'd probably...
It wasn't worth thinking about. She just needed to do something.
----
She didn't bother tidying up. What was the point? Her clothes were rumpled, her face unwashed, but with each passing day, she cared less about appearances.
She pushed open the door to the outside of the compound, the cool air slapping her face like a wake-up call. Konoha bustled around her- workers hauling beams, shinobi patrolling the half-built walls, children playing in the streets that had once run with blood. It was a miracle they had come this far, thanks to the Daimyo's generosity. But miracles didn't erase the pain.
Tsunade made her way to the Hokage Tower, her steps slow but determined. Passersby nodded respectfully, but she saw the pity in their eyes- the princess of Konoha, reduced to this. She ignored it, pushing through the tower's doors and up the stairs to Jiraiya's office.
She opened the door without knocking and found two people within: Jiraiya, looking as tired as she felt, and his student, Minato Namikaze. Minato had thrown himself into work after Kushina's betrayal, his blonde hair disheveled, and his blue eyes shadowed. He was a genius, but that was nothing in front of heartbreak.
Jiraiya looked up at her, his eyes widening a little at her appearance. A hint of melancholy rose in his eyes. "What brings you here?"
Tsunade smirked weakly, folding her arms. "What? I can't drop by to see my old teammate without a reason?"
Jiraiya arched an eyebrow. "You usually need a reason. And about three cups of sake."
Minato cleared his throat gently. "It's good to see you, Lady Tsunade. You… haven't been around much."
She shot him a glance, her lips curling faintly. "That's because you've been on missions pretty much every day, since..." Her words died in her throat at the reminder of that day.
Minato's eyes lowered, the faintest shadow crossing them at the mention of Kushina. "It's… easier that way," he admitted.
Jiraiya sighed and leaned back in his chair, studying the two of them. "We're all just finding our own ways to keep moving, huh? Some of us drown in paperwork, some of us drown in sake, and some of us drown in-"
Tsunade cut him off sharply, glaring. "Finish that sentence, and I'll break your jaw."
A tense silence followed, but then Minato chuckled softly. It was the first sound of levity in the room. "You two haven't changed at all."
Jiraiya chuckled, "I wouldn't say that. Tsunade... you look like hell. When's the last time you consumed something that didn't come from a bottle or a box?"
She waved a hand dismissively, though her stomach betrayed her with a low growl. "Spare me the lecture, pervert. I've had enough of those from the old man. What's got you two looking so serious? Another Uchiha tantrum?"
Minato stepped forward, his blue eyes filled with concern. "Lady Tsunade, it's good to see you. We've been discussing the latest reports from our scouts. Akagakure... it's growing faster than we expected. Their fuinjutsu barriers are nearly impenetrable now."
Tsunade snorted, leaning back. "So, the red-haired menace is building her empire. What a surprise. And let me guess- Jiraiya's got some harebrained scheme to stop her?"
Jiraiya sighed, rubbing his temples. "Not harebrained, Tsunade. Necessary. The Uchiha are pushing for action, and with the other villages talking alliance... we can't sit idle. But I need you. The village needs you. Your medical expertise could turn the tide if it comes to war."
She laughed bitterly, the sound echoing hollowly. "Me? In a fight? I can't even look at blood without freezing up. Nawaki, Dan... Kushina's rampage. It's all too much. Why not ask Orochimaru? Oh wait, he's slithered off somewhere."
Months ago, Orochimaru suddenly disappeared. No one quite knew where he went, but it wasn't all that surprising to the rest of the Sannin and Hiruzen. He had long been disillusioned, and he only grew colder and colder after Nawaki's death.
Minato's expression softened. "Lady Tsunade, Kushina was... she was my friend too. But she's changed. The Nine-Tails must have twisted her. If we don't act, more will die."
Tsunade's eyes flashed with pain. "Twisted? She was like a sister to me. And now... now she's the monster who took everything. But what do you want from me? I'm broken, kid. Just like this village."
Jiraiya leaned forward, his voice earnest. "We're all broken, Tsunade. That's why we need each other. Help me train the medics. Help me find a way to counter her seals. You're the best there is."
She stared at them, the weight of their words sinking in. She thought about the stagnation destroying her from the inside out. "Fine. But if this blows up in our faces, I'm blaming you, toad boy."
Jiraiya grinned. "Deal."
Tsunade's reluctant agreement was heartening, but Jiraiya's mind was already racing to the next crisis.
He stood, moving to the window, staring out at Konoha's half-built skyline. The village was a patchwork of hope and ruin, and now, a new decision loomed.
"Minato," Jiraiya said, his voice low but firm, "call a council meeting tonight. We can't delay anymore."
Minato turned, his blue eyes narrowing. "The alliance?"
Jiraiya nodded, his jaw tight. "We've been in talks with the other Kages for the past year. Kumo's Raikage wants her head for his father, and Iwa's still scared of her potential. Even Suna and Kiri are offering support, though I don't trust their motives. If we don't join forces, they'll move without us- and we'll be left in the dust."
Tsunade scoffed from her chair, her voice rough. "An alliance? With those snakes? You're betting on people who'd rather see Konoha burn than share victory."
"Maybe," Jiraiya admitted, turning to face her. "But alone, we're no match for Akagakure. Not with Kushina's mastery of the Nine-Tails' chakra and... whatever she's planning." His thoughts flickered to the Great Toad Sage's prophecy- a child with red hair and fox ears, a threat to the shinobi world. He still believed it was related to Kushina.
"Not to mention, Iwa offered collateral. Ōnoki's son will stay in Konoha as a hostage until we're finished. The other villages offered something similar, since we're in the weakest position."
Tsunade's eyes widened, and she muttered, "His son..."
Minato stepped closer, his voice steady. "Sensei, if we join the alliance, we commit to war. Are we ready for that? The village is still healing."
Jiraiya's eyes hardened. "We don't have a choice. Tonight, we vote to join the Kage alliance. For Konoha's survival- and to stop her before it's too late."