Boom!
A single kick sent the ground caving in, forming a massive crater. Orochimaru scrambled back, narrowly avoiding the impact.
"Lord Orochimaru, are you alright!?" Kabuto Yakushi leaped in front of him, shielding the Sannin while staring warily at Tsunade. Despite his confidence in his own skills, facing a legendary Sannin who had overcome her only weakness filled him with dread.
"To think you actually conquered your hemophobia... you truly continue to surprise me, Tsunade!" Orochimaru hissed, his lips curling into a cold sneer as he recovered his composure. "I'm curious. You were so traumatized by watching Nawaki die in your arms that you couldn't even stand the sight of blood. What could possibly have forced you to overcome it?"
Tsunade's gaze was like ice. "I heard you attacked Konoha. Today, I'm going to rid the village of a vile traitor like you."
Though she scoffed at the dream of being Hokage, she still held deep affection for the Hidden Leaf. It was the village her grandfather had built with his own hands; she would not allow anyone to tear it down.
Orochimaru mocked her, "You've been gone for so many years, why still cling to it? Wouldn't it be better to trade with me? I can bring Nawaki and the others back."
"Hmph! Dead men don't return," Tsunade countered coldly. "Even if they could, the price would be too cruel. Nawaki would hate being brought back that way. I refuse to use such vile methods to see the people I miss. Orochimaru, you've been free for far too long. Today, I'm doing the world a favor by erasing you."
With that, Tsunade lunged forward, her fist whistling through the air.
"Dodge! Do not try to block her! A direct hit is certain death!" Orochimaru barked at Kabuto.
He was deathly afraid of a full-power punch from Tsunade. Years ago, Jiraiya had nearly met his end after taking just one strike from her. In his current state—with his arms sealed and necrotic—a direct hit would mean immediate execution. Even Kabuto, despite his medical expertise, would be pulverized.
Boom!
Another heavy punch struck a stone wall, which collapsed into dust instantly. Orochimaru and Kabuto leaped onto a nearby rooftop, looking increasingly disheveled as Tsunade pursued them relentlessly.
Elsewhere in the town, Jiraiya finally groaned as he regained consciousness. His head was spinning, and he immediately realized Tsunade had drugged his sake. "Dammit... I have a bad feeling about this." He grabbed Naruto and rushed toward the sound of explosions.
When they arrived, Jiraiya saw Tsunade chasing Orochimaru and Kabuto. Seeing that Orochimaru's arms were still useless, Jiraiya felt a massive weight lift from his shoulders. At the very least, Tsunade hadn't agreed to the trade. He wouldn't have to fight the woman he once loved.
Jiraiya tried to jump into the fray to help, but his legs gave out and he slipped, face-planting into the dirt.
Orochimaru, even while dodging Tsunade, didn't miss the chance to jeer. "Jiraiya, you're here too? Look at you... only a fool like you would let Tsunade drug him."
His golden eyes flickered toward Naruto, standing behind the shaky Jiraiya. He wondered if he could snatch the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki to use as leverage against both Sannin.
Tsunade was powerful, but her raw speed was her one disadvantage compared to the serpentine Sannin. Even without his arms, Orochimaru used his agility to stay one step ahead. Seizing a momentary gap, he suddenly pivoted and lunged straight for Naruto.
"Naruto, look out!" Jiraiya roared, throwing himself in the way. "Orochimaru, you won't touch him while I'm breathing!"
"Hmph! Drugged as you are, you're just a weakling, Jiraiya!" Orochimaru sneered. He delivered a sharp kick that sent the Sage tumbling back, then extended his neck to a grotesque length, intending to coil around the startled Naruto.
At the critical moment, a flurry of senbon needles hissed through the air, forcing Orochimaru to pull back. Shizune moved instantly to shield Naruto.
Tsunade punched Kabuto aside and leaped into the space between them, her eyes burning with fury as she glared at Orochimaru.
Kabuto panted, his breath ragged. "Lord Orochimaru, the situation is turning against us. Tsunade is at her peak with no weaknesses, and while Jiraiya is drugged now, the effect will wear off. If we get caught between two Sannin, we're finished. We should slip away while we can."
Orochimaru nodded. "Tsunade... since you won't heal me, I'll find another way. And then, I will crush Konoha once and for all. Just you wait!!!"
Orochimaru and Kabuto activated an Earth Style: Hiding Like a Mole technique, slowly sinking into the ground.
"You aren't escaping, Orochimaru!" Tsunade screamed, leaping into the air. She slammed her fist into the earth where they had just been.
The ground shattered, a deep tremor shaking the street as a massive crater formed, but the serpent was gone.
"Dammit! He got away!" Tsunade hissed through gritted teeth.
The Price of Freedom
A short while later, the four of them (and Tonton) were back at the tavern.
"Tsunade, you heard him," Jiraiya urged, his voice grave. "Once he heals his hands, he'll attack again. Can you really stand by and watch Konoha suffer? Come back. The village needs you to be the Fifth Hokage. It was your dream once, too!"
Tsunade sat in silence, nursing a bottle of shochu.
"Jiraiya-sensei, why are you begging her?" Naruto burst out, glare fixed on Tsunade. "We have plenty of strong ninja in the Leaf. Why do we need some lady who doesn't even want the job? I don't think she's even good enough to be Hokage anyway!"
"Naruto, shut it! Get out of here!" Jiraiya hissed. If Naruto provoked her further, the deal was dead. He needed to get her back to the village so he could get back to his "research"!
"I'm not wrong! She's not worthy!" Naruto shouted back.
"Brat, what did you say?" Tsunade's brow twitched as she stared at Naruto with palpable annoyance.
"I said you aren't qualified. You couldn't even beat me!" Naruto challenged, completely fearless.
"Oh? Kid, you want to fight?" Tsunade's face darkened. "I'll show you exactly how qualified I am."
They stepped out into the street. Tsunade held up a single index finger. "One finger is all I need to beat you."
"Don't look down on me! See my new jutsu!!" Naruto summoned two Shadow Clones and began frantically "grinding" a ball of chakra.
Jiraiya's eyes widened. He found the trick to it already?
Tsunade was also surprised to see the Rasengan forming, but she didn't flinch. "That won't hit me."
Naruto lunged, thrusting the swirling sphere toward her. Tsunade calmly drove her finger into the ground. A massive fissure ripped through the street, throwing Naruto off balance. As he stumbled, his Rasengan slammed into the dirt, carving a perfect semi-circle into the earth.
Tsunade moved in a blur, her finger poised at Naruto's forehead. "You lose, brat."
With a simple flick, Naruto was sent tumbling backward, yelping in pain. Tsunade appeared before him again, her finger still pointed at his brow. "So? Do I have the 'qualifications' now?"
Naruto swallowed hard. "I... I'll still beat you one day!"
"Hmph. I'll be waiting." Tsunade turned and walked back into the hotel, Jiraiya following close behind.
Shizune knelt by Naruto. "Are you okay? Tsunade-sama is a Sannin; losing to her finger isn't something to be ashamed of. She's actually very kind if you get to know her. Just try asking her nicely."
Inside, Jiraiya looked at Tsunade. "What will it take for you to agree?"
Tsunade took a long pull from her bottle and looked him in the eye. "Do you have any money?"
"Money?" Jiraiya blinked, confused. Naruto and Shizune also looked lost.
"Are you asking for a gambling loan?" was the first thing that crossed Jiraiya's mind.
Tsunade shook her head. "I don't need your money to gamble. But if you want me to return and take that seat... you have to pay me two hundred million Ryō upfront."
"What!?"
"Two hundred million!?"
Jiraiya's eyes nearly popped out. Naruto's jaw hit the floor—he couldn't even count that high on ten fingers.
Tsunade offered a small, calculating smile. "That's the price. You give me two hundred million, and I'll go back and be your Fifth Hokage."
After a long, painful silence, Jiraiya slumped his shoulders. "Deal." It was a massive hit to the "slush fund" he'd built up from his book royalties, but the village's safety was worth it.
Tsunade raised her bottle in a toast, looking satisfied. "To a beautiful arrangement, Jiraiya!"
Jiraiya felt like weeping. Beautiful for you, maybe! I just lost two hundred million! Ever since Uchiha Raizen's "Overbearing CEO" books hit the market, Jiraiya's sales had tanked. Now he was nearly bankrupt.
My hard-earned money... Raizen, you really ruined me!
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