Inside the Hokage's office, Tsunade sat in silence, her hand gently resting on Jiraiya's severed arm.
Jiraiya, however, didn't stop talking—he was still rambling on, reporting the intel he'd gathered.
At the side, Shizune stood quietly, holding Tonton in her arms.
Naruto watched the two of them and sighed inwardly.
In his previous life, he had always blamed Granny Tsunade—Why did you let Jiraiya-sensei go alone into such a dangerous place?
He had always thought that if Jiraiya were the Hokage, he would never have let Tsunade take on such a mission by herself.
But now, looking at the scene before him, Naruto finally understood—
Even if Tsunade had tried to stop him, Jiraiya would have gone to the Hidden Rain Village alone anyway.
Sigh…
Naruto exhaled helplessly.
This perverted old man—his Jiraiya-sensei—had always been hopelessly in love with Granny Tsunade.
Tsunade frowned, her voice low and tight.
"Why did you have to be so reckless? If Naruto hadn't been there, you wouldn't have come back."
Jiraiya just laughed, carefree as ever.
"Well, isn't that good? You always lose your bets—this time, you finally win one!"
Smack!
Tsunade's palm struck his face hard. She bit her lip, tears sliding silently down her cheeks.
"You idiot! You damn fool!"
Jiraiya froze for a moment, then his eyes softened.
He raised his one remaining hand and gently covered the hand that had just slapped him.
Seeing this, Shizune quickly shot Naruto a look. Naruto blinked in understanding, nodded, and followed her out of the office.
Once outside, Shizune exhaled in relief.
"At least Lord Jiraiya made it back safely."
Naruto tilted his head. "What do you mean?"
As they walked down the corridor, Shizune hugged Tonton closer and said,
"You don't know this, but ever since Lord Jiraiya went to the Rain Village, Lady Tsunade has barely eaten. She's been depressed every day."
"Really?" Naruto asked in surprise.
It seemed his teacher held a far more important place in Granny Tsunade's heart than she let on.
Naruto thought about it and couldn't help but smile faintly.
Since he had managed to save Jiraiya this time, maybe—just maybe—his teacher and Tsunade could finally end up together.
And if they had a son or daughter someday, he could take that child as a student and train them to become the next Hokage.
The thought made Naruto grin with genuine anticipation.
Back in the office, Jiraiya's hand still rested on Tsunade's.
At that touch, all the tension in Tsunade's body seemed to melt away. She leaned softly into Jiraiya's chest.
Tsunade was, after all, still a woman.
Once upon a time, she too had been gentle—soft-spoken and shy before the one she loved.
But after losing her little brother, and then Dan, one after another… she had shut her heart away, even developing her phobia of blood.
To love someone meant being ready to lose them someday.
That pain—she never wanted to feel it again.
So, all these years, she had kept Jiraiya's love at arm's length.
Until that one day—
When Jiraiya and Naruto came to find her and begged her to return to Konoha as Hokage.
Back then, Naruto's unyielding spirit, his courage in facing Orochimaru and Kabuto, his fiery determination to become Hokage—
It had all reminded her of her brother Nawaki… and of Dan.
Especially when, though battered and broken, Naruto refused to die—refused to give up.
That gave Tsunade the courage to believe again.
That was why she gave him her grandfather's necklace—along with her hope, her faith in the dream Dan had once carried.
And now, Jiraiya had returned from the brink of death.
For the first time, Tsunade thought—maybe she could finally bury her lingering grief and accept Jiraiya's love.
As that thought crossed her mind, she lifted her head—
—only to catch Jiraiya staring right down at her chest with those lecherous eyes, his one hand twitching suspiciously.
"You idiot! You pervert!"
BOOM!
Tsunade's fist came crashing down on his skull, sending Jiraiya flying backward and straight into the wall, where he got stuck like a cartoon character.
"Oww! Damn it!" Jiraiya groaned, clutching his head. "You're trying to finish what Pain started! My wounds aren't even healed yet!"
Tsunade crossed her arms, snorting.
"Don't worry. If I break you again, I'll just heal you myself."
Jiraiya rubbed his head and muttered under his breath,
"Unbelievable… Just a second ago, you were in my arms, and now—bam! Tsunade's mood swings are deadly… Ow, ow, ow…"
Seeing his pitiful state, Tsunade couldn't help but chuckle softly.
He really was an infuriating man—always unserious, always teasing—
…and yet, somehow, she could never truly hate him.
Downstairs, just outside the Hokage building, Naruto and Shizune suddenly heard a loud crash from above.
Startled, Naruto immediately turned as if to rush back up, but Shizune grabbed his arm.
"Don't. Lady Tsunade's up there—you don't want to get caught in that crossfire."
Naruto thought for a moment and nodded.
Yeah… this was Konoha, after all. As long as Granny Tsunade was around, no one could hurt his master—
well, except maybe Granny Tsunade herself.
"Alright then," he said. "I'll head out first. If Tsunade or my teacher need me, tell them to send for me."
Shizune smiled. "I will. Take care, Naruto."
Naruto waved and strode off down the street.
There was somewhere he needed to visit—somewhere important.
As he walked through the bustling avenues of Konoha, familiar villagers greeted him one after another.
Thanks to his recent actions, Naruto had finally been accepted by most of the village.
No longer was he that lonely outcast everyone avoided.
If the timeline had followed its original course, Jiraiya would be dead by now, Pain would soon attack Konoha, and Naruto's victory would earn him the title of hero.
But now… things were different.
As Naruto passed through the lively market district, he clenched his fists and made a silent vow.
If he could save Jiraiya-sensei, then he could save Konoha too.
He would never let this peaceful village fall into ruin again.
Just then, he stopped.
He turned his head slightly toward a narrow alley behind him, the corners of his mouth curving upward.
Then, pretending" not to notice anything, he kept walking forward.
A moment later, from the shadowed alley, a figure stepped out—
wearing a dog-faced Anbu mask.
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