The name Jiraiya had spoken earlier needed no clarification.
The person he intended to bring back was none other than Tsunade Senju—legendary Sannin, granddaughter of the First Hokage, and a woman who, at this moment, reeked of alcohol inside a noisy casino.
Kakashi, standing silently in the shadows outside, could hardly believe it. On this single mission, he was encountering not just one, but two of the Legendary Three.
His single visible eye, calm as ever, peered through the gap in the paper sliding doors of the casino. Inside, beneath the haze of smoke and alcohol, Jiraiya was already walking toward the figure who sat hunched over a wooden table, her golden hair falling loosely over her shoulders.
Tsunade.
Once celebrated as the "Princess of Konoha," a woman whose name inspired both awe and respect. Yet, after the deaths of her younger brother Nawaki and her beloved Dan Kato, tragedy had devoured her from within. The once-proud kunoichi, who had charged across battlefields without fear, was now shackled by a crippling hemophobia. Unable to endure the sight of blood, she abandoned the way of the shinobi entirely.
From then on, her days were spent in taverns and gambling dens, drowning her past in sake, each spin of the dice or flip of a card nothing but a desperate distraction.
Kakashi observed quietly, his gaze sharp but expression unreadable.
Although he had said little when Jiraiya proposed bringing her back, inwardly, he had agreed.
Tsunade was not just another missing shinobi. She was one of the Sannin, a woman who symbolized Konoha's former glory. Her return would mean hope, not despair.
The ninja world was on the brink of calamity, with dark forces moving beneath the surface. For Konoha to survive, every ounce of strength mattered.
And Tsunade's strength was unique.
Not only was she a Kage-level fighter, but she was also the greatest medical ninja in the world. Her presence could heal more than wounds—it could give Konoha a fighting chance when disaster finally struck.
Inside, Jiraiya sat across from her, speaking in his calm, persuasive tone. Yet before Kakashi could even make out their words, the entire casino shook.
BOOM!
A blur of movement.
Tsunade's fist, faster than a lightning strike, had smashed into Jiraiya's chest. The great toad sage was sent flying through the wall in an explosion of wood and dust, rolling across the ground in a rather undignified heap.
The entire casino fell silent.
A single sake cup tipped over on the table, spinning slowly until it clattered to the floor.
Tsunade, swaying slightly from the alcohol, stood in place with her arms crossed. Despite her drunken state, an overwhelming pressure radiated from her, pressing down on everyone like a physical weight.
"What does the destruction of the ninja world have to do with me?"
Her hoarse voice carried disdain, mixed with the kind of bitter arrogance only born from deep scars.
"Hokage? That's the most boring thing in existence."
Her words cut sharp, like a blade across old wounds.
Kakashi felt his chest tighten with irritation.
So Jiraiya must have mentioned the Hokage seat, Hiruzen's waning strength, and the need for the next leader of Konoha. He could picture the conversation clearly.
And Tsunade… had rejected it outright.
Not just rejected. She had torn it apart with words that were dripping with indifference.
Kakashi's gaze shifted to Jiraiya, who was pulling himself up from the ground, dusting off his robes. His face showed no anger, only a helpless smile.
He was used to this. He had known Tsunade too long to be surprised by her temper, her sharp tongue, or the way she pushed people away before they could draw too close.
Still, her eyes drifted to the entrance.
Her hazel gaze locked on Kakashi, piercing through the dim light.
"You, Kakashi… you seem displeased with me?"
Her tone was tipsy, her words dragging slightly, but beneath the alcohol there was a sharpness that made it clear she hadn't missed his reaction.
Kakashi remained calm, his voice as even as still water.
"No. Lord Hokage merely ordered me to escort Jiraiya back to the village."
He did not say you.
Not once did he imply she was part of the mission.
Tsunade noticed instantly. Her lips curled into a bitter smile as she turned to Jiraiya.
"Did you hear that? He said he's only here for you."
Jiraiya raised his hands in protest, laughing awkwardly.
"Don't be like that. You know as well as I do—the old man would be overjoyed if you returned too."
Tsunade scoffed.
"Hmph. Hope is hope. Reality is different. I think you're just guilty, Jiraiya. You want to drag me back to ease your conscience."
Her words carried mockery, but beneath it was something more fragile—resentment laced with sorrow.
The atmosphere grew tense.
Kakashi exhaled softly and turned to leave, unwilling to get dragged into their old wounds. But just as he moved, her voice came again, softer this time, muttering almost to herself.
"See? He doesn't agree with you either, Jiraiya."
Her tone was a strange blend of sarcasm and loneliness.
Kakashi stopped in his tracks.
He turned his gaze back to the woman slouched at the table. The proud, unshakable princess of Konoha… reduced to this. Yet despite her rejection, despite her words that pushed them away, Kakashi could feel it—her pain was proof that she still cared.
If she truly felt nothing for Konoha, she wouldn't need to speak so harshly.
Silence stretched across the ruined casino, broken only by the creak of broken wood and the faint chatter of gamblers who dared not approach.
Finally, Kakashi spoke.
"Lady Tsunade."
His voice was calm, though inside, part of him recoiled from the conversation. He didn't like being the one to persuade. He preferred silence, duty, and action. Yet here, he couldn't remain quiet.
"Konoha is your homeland. The Third Hokage is your teacher. And you… are the greatest medical ninja this world has ever seen."
His words cut through the still air.
"If disaster truly comes, your strength will matter more than most armies. You could save countless lives where others would only watch them fall."
Tsunade raised an eyebrow, swirling the sake cup in her hand.
"Heh… big speeches, is it? Don't waste your breath."
But her eyes betrayed her. A subtle ripple moved within them, too small to notice for most—but Kakashi saw it.
A chink in her armor.
Kakashi pressed on, though his voice softened.
"Hokage…"
He inhaled deeply, almost as if the words were for himself rather than for her.
"There was once someone who always talked about becoming Hokage. He was loud, foolish, reckless. But when he decided on something, he gave everything to it. No hesitation. No regret."
For the first time, Kakashi looked straight into Tsunade's eyes.
"What you call boring… might be the most precious dream in someone else's world."
The memory of that boy's voice, his childish handwriting full of determination, flickered in Kakashi's mind.
Uchiha Gen.
His essay—immature, simple, yet filled with a burning will. I will become Hokage, for the sake of Konoha, for the sake of everyone.
Why did Kakashi remember it so vividly? Why did it echo now, louder than ever?
That essay had planted something inside him, a seed that had unknowingly sprouted roots.
And now, before Tsunade, it had bloomed into words he never thought he would speak.
"I… once thought that maybe, if the chance came, I too would like to be Hokage."
The words fell like a stone into still water.
Tsunade blinked, startled.
"You?"
Even Jiraiya, usually so relaxed, whipped his head toward Kakashi, his eyes wide with shock.
"You, Kakashi? I never thought you'd say that!"
Kakashi gave a faint, almost weary smile.
"I didn't expect it either. But… maybe it's his influence. That boy's words won't leave me."
His covered eye throbbed beneath the headband, his Sharingan reacting unconsciously.
"That essay, his laughter, his dream… it lingers."
He paused, his voice lowering.
"Hokage is not power. It is not glory. It is responsibility. It means protecting everyone. And even if only one person is left, ensuring they are never forced to walk on alone."
The words struck Tsunade like a hammer against her chest.
Her hand trembled slightly as she gripped the cup tighter. Memories she had long buried resurfaced: Nawaki's bright smile, Dan's passionate ideals, the dream of Hokage they once shared.
Her heart clenched.
She tilted her head, hiding her eyes beneath her bangs, and downed the bitter sake in silence.
Jiraiya finally chuckled, breaking the heavy stillness.
"As expected of you, Kakashi. You never cease to surprise me."
The tension in the air eased slightly.
But Kakashi failed to notice one thing.
The Sharingan beneath his headband pulsed faintly, its power amplifying without his awareness. Something within him was changing, just as words had changed Tsunade's heart.
Outside, the evening sky grew darker. Shadows stretched across the streets.
And though none of them said it aloud, in that moment, the three of them—Jiraiya, Tsunade, Kakashi—were bound by an invisible thread of fate.
A fate that was pulling them toward the storm to come.
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