Tanzaku Town—a place where one of the legendary Sannin, Tsunade, was said to be.Naruto and Jiraiya had just arrived, and they had already found their target.It wasn't a matter of luck. Rather, Tsunade was simply too conspicuous to miss."The big fat sheep has appeared!" Naruto exclaimed.As the crowd around them whispered and pointed, Naruto looked ahead and spotted a woman with long, light yellow hair.Emblazoned across her back was the bold kanji for "gamble."Naruto blinked in disbelief.This… this is the legendary Sannin?!She embodied every vice Jiraiya had mentioned—gambling, drinking, and even a questionable past. What troubled Naruto most, however, was the fact that this "fat sheep" was indeed exactly as Jiraiya described.And a very big fat sheep at that—far bigger than any other girl Naruto had ever seen.Jiraiya smirked, unable to hold back his comment."Every time I see Tsunade at that size, my heart skips a beat!"Shoubi agreed enthusiastically, "That's right!"Haruno Sakura scoffed, "Tsk. That's men for you…"Tsunade flipped her hair. "As expected. Not even Kuronami can resist my amazing figure!"Terumi Mei chimed in, "Told you—age isn't a problem at all!"Tsunade, taken aback, blinked in confusion. "???"Later, in a local tavern, Jiraiya, Naruto, Tsunade, and Shizune sat together around a low table, sipping drinks.Naruto's gaze drifted toward Shizune, who sat beside her master.He had heard that she was Tsunade's trusted assistant and a skilled medical ninja.She was cute and had a gentle presence. But Naruto's eyes soon wandered downward."There's no comparison," he muttered to himself."She's her student and assistant… but didn't inherit any of her master's strong points!"Meanwhile, Tsunade seemed intrigued by Naruto. After just one glance, she noticed something strange—this boy resembled someone she had lost long ago."Hey Jiraiya," she slurred, taking a big gulp of sake, her cheeks already flushed with alcohol, "Who's this kid?"Naruto frowned, slightly annoyed. Who's she calling a kid?!Given the chance, he wouldn't mind letting her experience the full extent of his monstrous Chakra!Jiraiya stepped in to explain."This is my apprentice, Uzumaki Naruto! He's also the son of the late Fourth Hokage, Namikaze Minato!"Tsunade's eyes narrowed. "Oh? That blond boy?"Looking closely, she realized it was true—Naruto's facial features were strikingly similar to Minato's."I see…" she muttered, pouring herself another glass and downing it all in one go.Then she ordered more drinks—expensive ones.Truthfully, Tsunade couldn't afford this kind of drinking. She had long gambled away her money.If not for her immense strength and status, she would've had to find… other ways to pay off her debts.Jiraiya looked over at her and sighed."Tsunade," he began seriously after a while, "The village wants you to return and take up the position of Fifth Hokage."Tsunade, halfway through another gulp of sake, froze."…Fifth Hokage? So, that old man, the Third Hokage…"She didn't finish the sentence, but the implication was clear.If Hiruzen Sarutobi were still alive, they wouldn't be offering her the position.She exhaled. Konoha must be in crisis—desperate enough to call on her.Though she had resented the Third Hokage's decisions at times, he had once been her beloved teacher."Who killed him?" she asked quietly."Orochimaru," Jiraiya replied with a dark look.Tsunade said nothing more. That name alone told her everything she needed to know.Orochimaru was capable of anything, and his twisted love and hatred for the Third Hokage were no secret."So, Tsunade… will you accept the position?" Jiraiya asked again.Tsunade didn't answer immediately. She simply smiled, then raised her glass and drained it in one shot.While Jiraiya worried about the cost of the next drink, Tsunade collapsed onto the table—apparently drunk."…This woman," Jiraiya muttered in disbelief.He had already burned through most of the money he'd earned from his novels, and he hadn't even convinced her yet!No wonder Tsunade relied on gambling. Normal people couldn't sustain such extravagant habits."Forget it. We'll talk about it again tomorrow," Jiraiya sighed.He knew this wasn't something Tsunade would agree to overnight.But he had at least found her—step one complete.With Shizune's help, they brought Tsunade back to her residence.But once inside, the moment the door closed, Tsunade's eyes opened.She wasn't drunk at all.Silently, she walked over to the windowsill. The night wind blew gently through her hair.She looked stunning under the moonlight, but there was a sadness in her expression."Tsunade-sama?" Shizune asked hesitantly.But Tsunade vanished without a word.Shizune wasn't surprised. She knew her master well.Tsunade was the last remaining member of the once-great Senju Clan, burdened with the legacy of protecting Konoha.But the village that had taken away her loved ones—her brother Nawaki, her lover Dan—was also the source of her deepest pain.If it were up to her, she'd never set foot in that village again.---On a nearby rooftop, Tsunade suddenly appeared.She had come here seeking solitude, somewhere quiet and empty.But to her surprise, there was already someone else sitting there.Blond hair shimmered under the moonlight."…You're Naruto, aren't you?" Tsunade asked.Naruto slowly opened his eyes.Of all places… why did this fat sheep show up here?He had just been trying to practice sensing natural Chakra for Sage Mode and happened to pick this spot.Tsunade recognized him instantly. He was the same boy who had followed Jiraiya earlier.Down below, commentary from the viewing crowd of the parallel world poured in:---Tsunade: "This Kuronami brat is getting on my nerves. Why does he keep calling me a fat sheep? Does he have any idea who I am?"Shoubi: "But Tsunade-sama… you really are… you know… big."Jiraiya: "Why do I have such a bad feeling? This situation feels… too coincidental."Shizune: "Master Jiraiya… you're not thinking what I'm thinking, are you?"Jiraiya: "It's possible. That Naruto from another world is a chick magnet. And he does look like Tsunade's brother…"Tsunade: "Wait, what?! Jiraiya, are you seriously implying I'd be interested in a little brat like Naruto?!"Orochimaru (chuckling): "Naruto-kun is not small at all."Tsunade: "???"---Back on the rooftop, Naruto turned to Tsunade with a calm look in his eyes."You don't seem drunk at all," he said bluntly.Tsunade raised an eyebrow. "You're quite sharp.""I just came here to train," Naruto added. "Didn't think you'd show up.""…You remind me of someone," Tsunade muttered, turning her gaze to the horizon.Naruto remained quiet for a moment before replying, "Your brother, right? Nawaki?"That surprised her."You knew about him?"Naruto nodded. "Jiraiya told me some things. About you. About him. About what you lost."Tsunade didn't reply immediately. Instead, she looked up at the stars and sighed."I swore I'd never return to Konoha.""Then why haven't you said no yet?" Naruto asked, staring directly at her.Tsunade flinched.He had a point. She could've flatly rejected the offer. But she hadn't.Naruto stood up and took a step forward."I don't know everything you've been through. But if there's one thing I do know…"He extended his hand."Konoha needs you. And no one else can fill that role."Tsunade stared at him.For a moment, in the silver light of the moon, he didn't look like a boy.He looked like a Hokage.Just like her brother had once dreamed.Just like Minato.And somehow… even though she didn't want to admit it…A small part of her heart wavered.---To Be Continued…
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