Chapter 72: Being a Gentleman Tonight
[By the time you arrive, Tsunade has already met with Orochimaru. Orochimaru has promised to use a forbidden jutsu to resurrect the person she longs for, and she is wavering because of it.]
[You go to an izakaya to talk business. Jiraiya invites her to become Hokage, but she refuses. When speaking of the Hokage who sacrificed themselves for Konoha, Tsunade claims that anyone who would so easily sacrifice themselves is a fool.]
[This enrages Naruto, who swings his fist at her. However, you block his punch and claim that she is right. This piques her interest. She asks Jiraiya who you are, and now it's his turn to be confused.]
[After Jiraiya explains your origin, the already depressed Tsunade focuses all her attention on you. She cannot believe someone would impersonate her disciple. She grabs you by the collar, throws you into the sky, and warns you that you must tell the truth, or she will beat you into a pulp.]
[You remain composed, address her as 'Teacher', and express your hope for a long-overdue spar. An enraged Tsunade attacks you, and you meet her with your full power.]
[In terms of strength, chakra quantity and quality, and even mastery of the Yin Seal and taijutsu, you are no match for her. But in speed alone, you are her equal, which prevents your swift defeat.]
[Furthermore, seeing you use the same Chakra Enhanced Strength as her, Tsunade is intrigued and decides to test your true strength. The two of you fight outside the town until the earth cracks and the sky shakes, destroying the entire landscape.]
[You are soon at a disadvantage, bleeding from your wounds. Seeing the blood triggers her hemophobia, but she still forcefully demands your surrender. Unflustered, you use the Mystical Palm Technique to heal your external wounds, tear off your blood-stained shirt, and activate your Yin Seal.]
[At the same time, you ask with confusion why her hemophobia has relapsed when it was supposed to have been cured. A furious and bewildered Tsunade battles you for dozens more exchanges before finally knocking you down and pinning you.]
[At this point, Tsunade has fallen into a state of deep confusion and chaos. Not only have you learned all of her moves, but you are also privy to all her secrets. She cannot understand what is happening.]
[You insist that she is your teacher. You not only mention her hemophobia, but also her younger brother and Dan Katō. Just as you are about to bring up some anecdotes from her childhood, a blushing Tsunade claps her hand over your mouth.]
Seeing this, Makoto couldn't help but laugh out loud. This was one of the methods he had prepared to handle her. If she still didn't believe him, he could use the Transformation Jutsu to turn into a younger version of her and imitate the whiny, cutesy way she used to scam people out of money. Although she might go crazy, she would also probably start to suspect that she really was getting old and suffering from amnesia.
Of course, that was mostly a joke. The real ace up his sleeve to ensure she would acknowledge him was that he would tell her about Jiraiya's future death. He was even willing to undergo a mind-read from Yamanaka Inoichi for it. He'd like to see if she would believe him then.
[Tsunade warns you not to leak her private matters, and you nod. Then, as she releases you, you ask with confusion why Jiraiya is still alive and well when, according to what she told you, he was supposed to be dead.]
[She immediately realizes the gravity of the situation. She pulls you into a small grove and demands you explain everything. You then describe a future version of her, which makes her realize that after becoming Hokage in the future, she might have experienced something that sent her back in time to meet you.]
[To further confirm your identity, she demands you demonstrate all the ninjutsu you learned from 'her'. You naturally hold nothing back. When you display the self-created Restorative Life Reincarnation Jutsu, the look in her eyes is no longer doubt, but pure shock.]
[Tsunade quickly decides to acknowledge you as her disciple. Your talent is too astonishing; you are the first and possibly the last person who can inherit her legacy. She laughs, claps you on the shoulder, and says that was all just a test. As for the matter with Jiraiya, she was just drunk and talking nonsense.]
[Tsunade, who had been depressed and unwilling to become Hokage, has her mind changed by your appearance. For Jiraiya, and for you, the disciple who will inherit her legacy, she will become Hokage. Her transformation shocks Jiraiya, who can only give you a thumbs-up.]
Seeing this, Makoto smiled. He had passed the test smoothly. Through his continuous simulations, he had gradually established a principle for himself: reasoning was useless; creating a fait accompli was more effective. Hiruzen cleaning up Danzō's messes time and again, Orochimaru killing Hiruzen, Kabuto starting the Great Ninja War—none of them were ever truly held accountable. This was enough to prove that when a person's value was great enough, others would choose to forgive them even when they did wrong.
He would not become the next Danzō; he would never consider a dark title like "the Darkness of Shinobi" to be a reward. But at least in a simulation, with sufficient strength, he didn't mind using more drastic actions in exchange for a higher potential return.
[Her mindset changed, Tsunade explains the situation with Jiraiya, and you all decide to confront Orochimaru. That night, she meets with you alone and asks how her hemophobia was cured. Your method is simple: you teach her the Restorative Life Reincarnation Jutsu.]
[At the same time, you promise that you will treat all of Konoha's wounded together with her in the future. Before you die, you will not let anyone die in front of you. Her hemophobia was always a psychological trauma. You have given her a chance to reclaim everything with life itself. Tsunade has found her redemption.]
[That night, she drags Jiraiya out for a night of drinking. The blackout-drunk Tsunade does not return to her own room, but instead crawls into yours, using you as a pillow. She feels you are a blessing from the Sage of Six Paths. She did nothing, yet she gets to enjoy the hope you've brought her. Therefore, she decides she will take good care of you from now on.]
Reading this, Makoto was at a loss for words. Drunk again, another night raid... with her being so young and vigorous, would something happen between them...? Well, he should have that much self-control, right?
[That night, you did not initiate, but you did not refuse her advances. She held you, crying and laughing, telling you stories for half the night. Finally, as dawn approached, the mood struck, and she pulled you into a hot spring with her. The next day, after standing guard over her until noon, you were punched out of the inn by the disheveled woman.]
Seeing this, Makoto felt a sense of solemn respect for his simulated self.
Indeed, he was a true gentleman!
Ahem... since it was a simulation, he could have actually been a bit bolder. After all, it's only human for a Hokage to take a long vacation after working so hard. Eh, why did he forget to use a guidance just now...? Indeed, his real self must also be a gentleman!
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