Dusk settled over Konoha.
Tsunade walked along the village streets with her head lowered, her steps unsteady.
Behind her followed two boys.
Her usually sleek, high ponytail had lost its shine, strands falling loose in quiet disarray. Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears, and from time to time, soft sobs escaped despite her effort to suppress them.
The little princess of Konoha…
Was barely holding herself together.
Jiraiya trudged behind her, shoulders slumped. Seeing her like this, he wanted to step forward—wanted to say something.
But he didn't dare.
All he could do was follow.
Silently.
Orochimaru's face looked paler than usual.
He understood.
Better than most.
His parents had died in this very war.
He knew grief.
Knew what it meant to lose someone important.
And he also knew—
Tsunade didn't just need words.
She needed presence.
But words were never his strength.
What little comfort he could offer felt hollow.
And Jiraiya—
Who was usually so loud, so reckless—
Now stood there like a coward.
So Orochimaru chose the only thing he could.
Stay.
As a companion.
That alone… would have to be enough.
Then suddenly—
Tsunade stopped.
She turned back.
A fragile smile forced its way onto her face.
It looked worse than crying.
Tears brimmed at the edges of her eyes, threatening to spill over at any moment.
Jiraiya couldn't take it anymore.
"Tsunade… you know how villagers are. They always spread rumors."
"The Hokage is so strong. There's no way he would—"
"Don't."
Tsunade cut him off instantly.
She didn't want to hear that word.
Didn't want it spoken into existence.
"My granduncle is the Hokage… even Grandpa used to respect him."
"He's so strong. Nothing will happen to him."
"He knows so many techniques… Water Release, Fire Release…"
Her voice trembled.
She kept talking.
As if listing those things could prove something.
As if saying it enough times would make it true.
But her voice soon broke.
She couldn't hold it together anymore.
Like a dam giving way—
The tears came all at once, unstoppable.
"See you… tomorrow…"
She choked out the words and turned, running.
She didn't look back.
Her pride—
Would not allow her to fall apart in front of others.
She was the Hokage's granddaughter.
And so—
She fled.
Within moments, her figure disappeared from sight.
Jiraiya stood frozen.
Watching.
Helpless.
Orochimaru glanced at him, eyes cold.
"Why didn't you say anything?"
There was irritation in his voice.
Even disappointment.
The same boy who once begged him to play the villain so he could "rescue" Tsunade—
Now couldn't even speak.
"I… I…"
Jiraiya stammered.
Nothing came out.
He had wanted to say something.
Do something.
But in that moment—
His mind had gone blank.
"…Tch."
Useless.
Orochimaru turned away, no longer interested, and walked off.
The street grew quiet.
Only Jiraiya remained.
The setting sun stretched his shadow long across the ground.
He stood there for a long time.
Then finally—
Moved.
On the way home, words flooded his mind.
One after another.
Things he could have said.
Should have said.
But now—
They were meaningless.
—
Senju Compound.
Tsunade rushed through the gates, her steps hurried and uneven.
"N-Grandma… Grandma…"
"People in the village are saying… that Granduncle…"
She couldn't finish.
Tears streamed freely down her face as she threw herself into Mito Uzumaki's arms.
Mito caught her gently, one hand stroking her back.
A deep sorrow rose within her.
Tears shimmered faintly in her eyes.
But her mind—
Was already moving.
The news had spread this fast?
Who leaked it?
Hiruzen?
Danzo?
Uchiha Kagami?
Faces flashed through her thoughts.
But in the end—
One feeling overwhelmed all others.
Her granddaughter…
How pitiful.
"Is it true?"
Tsunade looked up, her face soaked in tears.
"Did Granduncle… really…"
Mito looked at her.
For a moment—
She wanted to lie.
To say it wasn't true.
To say everything was fine.
But she couldn't.
Truth was fire.
Lies were paper.
Paper could never contain flame.
If she deceived Tsunade now—
It would only hurt her more later.
Better—
A sharp pain now.
Than a deeper one in the future.
"Mito…"
She gathered her thoughts.
Then spoke softly.
"Tsunade… you are the Hokage's granddaughter."
"Do you remember what your grandfather and granduncle always told you?"
Tsunade's lips trembled.
"…To be strong. No matter what."
Mito nodded.
"That's right."
"I will stay with you."
Those words—
Were answer enough.
Tsunade's eyes widened.
The fragile hope she had clung to—
Shattered completely.
Her cries grew louder.
More desperate.
Unrestrained.
Mito held her, gently comforting her as best she could.
—
Night fell.
The moon rose over Konoha.
Silver light bathed the streets—
But the usual liveliness was gone.
Where crowds once lingered deep into the night—
Now only a few figures remained.
In just one afternoon—
The news had spread like wildfire.
Tobirama Senju was dead.
The Hokage who led them through the First Great War—
Had fallen just before peace.
Who could celebrate now?
Doors closed early.
Homes fell quiet.
Grief and uncertainty weighed heavily on every heart.
Would Konoha still have a future?
—
Inside the room.
Time passed.
Tsunade's cries grew softer.
Weaker.
Until exhaustion finally claimed her.
She fell asleep—
Tear stains still marking her face.
Her dreams would not be kind.
Mito carefully lifted her onto the bed.
Gently.
Slowly.
As if afraid even the slightest movement might wake her.
She tucked her in, watching her for a long moment.
Then sighed.
For shinobi—
Life and death were constants.
But life went on.
Just as the sun would rise again.
"Tsunade…"
"You must become stronger."
Her voice was barely above a whisper.
Then she turned—
And left the room.
She washed her face with cool water.
She had cried too.
But now—
There were more important things to do.
The future of Konoha—
Rested on her shoulders.
"Senju Soma."
Her voice was steady again.
Calm.
Unshaken.
Soma appeared immediately.
He had been waiting nearby the entire time, not daring to slack off.
The cries from inside had lasted all night.
He hadn't moved.
"Bring them."
Mito's eyes were cold once more.
"Those children."
"Bring them here."
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