"Naruto, don't be rude," Kakashi whispered, pulling the boy aside. "Lady Tsunade is a ninja from the same generation as the Third Hokage."
"She looks young because of her unparalleled Medical Ninjutsu!"
"Unparalleled Medical Ninjutsu!" Naruto's eyes went wide, and he took a second look at the woman. Hmm, she still didn't look like the Perverted Sage, though. She's got to be in her fifties.
"Good afternoon, little Naruto," Hashirama said, completely ignoring Kakashi to greet the boy warmly.
On the other side, Yamato bowed slightly. "Lady Tsunade."
Jiraiya, seeing Tsunade, immediately broke into a lecherous grin. "Long time no see, Shizune. And Tsunade, you've gotten even more beautiful~"
Tsunade gave Yamato a slight nod before turning her sharp gaze on Jiraiya. "You've changed quite a bit! I never expected you to actually agree to become Hokage."
"Back when the old man wanted you for the job, you were so scared you ran away from the village in the middle of the night."
Hearing that, Jiraiya glanced at Hashirama and gave a helpless shrug. "I didn't want to either, but what could I do? I have no one to back me up…"
"No one to back you up?" Tsunade looked at Hashirama suspiciously. She could guess what was happening, but it didn't make sense. With his personality, he should have called her back to the village to help out.
Jiraiya's words implied Hashirama was letting her roam free while dumping the responsibility on him?
Realizing Jiraiya had said too much, Hashirama coughed loudly to interrupt them. "Ahem! Ahem! Tsunade, why did you come back so suddenly?"
"I heard from the villagers that you developed hemophobia after the wars," he continued. "I figured you were away to clear your head."
So, he knew about the hemophobia. That's why he let me stay away.
That explanation made sense to Tsunade, and she nodded immediately. "Originally, I was away to clear my head because of my hemophobia, but hearing news that you were alive, Grandfather, I had to come back."
As she spoke, her mind drifted to a recent jackpot win at the slots. She looked casually at Hashirama. "So, Grandfather, what are you and Grand-uncle planning to do now that you're back?"
"Me and Tobirama?" Hashirama paused to think. "Tobirama's idea is that after we assist the Fifth Hokage in becoming a qualified leader, we'll return to the Pure Land."
"This is the world of the living, after all. We're dead—we shouldn't interfere too much."
Hearing this, Tsunade frowned and looked back at Jiraiya. Something's going to go wrong while they're helping him. I can feel it.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Jiraiya protested under her glare. "I'll work hard to pass the test and get the First and Second Hokages back home as fast as possible!"
At the same time, he was worrying about who would investigate the Akatsuki if he got bogged down in Hokage duties.
"Tch." Tsunade turned away with a disbelieving look.
She asked Hashirama again, "Grandfather, what are you and Grand-uncle planning to do lately? Is training Jiraiya the only thing on your schedule?"
Hashirama shook his head, not bothering to hide anything from his eldest granddaughter. "Of course not. Tobirama and I plan to take a few men and teach that brat Orochimaru a lesson."
"We'll probably leave tomorrow for the Hidden Sound in the Land of Rice Fields."
"Orochimaru's Hidden Sound!" Tsunade's stomach dropped. That confirmed her bad feeling.
Seeing her worried expression, Hashirama smiled and reached out to ruffle her hair. "Don't worry. We've already broken the Impure World Reincarnation on our own. We won't be controlled by anyone else."
"Besides, we're already dead. We can't be killed unless we release the jutsu ourselves, in which case our souls just return to the Pure Land."
"What about the seal?" Tsunade pressed. "Even if you can't kill him, a seal will definitely work!"
Tsunade had a terrible premonition. If Orochimaru sealed them, their souls wouldn't be able to return to the Pure Land like Hashirama said.
Thinking fast, she pulled the necklace from around her neck. "Grandfather, this is your necklace. It still holds your chakra. I'm returning it to its rightful owner."
Hearing the implication that she thought she'd be sealed, Hashirama laughed. "Hahaha! Tsunade, even if Tobirama and I aren't at our peak, that young Orochimaru doesn't have the skill to seal us away."
Despite saying that, he took the necklace from her. It did contain some of his peak chakra—enough to let him use a weakened version of the True Several Thousand Hands.
"Since you're worried, I'll keep it for now," he said, slipping it around his neck.
Before she could ask more questions, Hashirama turned to Jiraiya. "Fifth Hokage, please take Tsunade to catch up on the recent changes in the village."
"Captain Yamato's Wood Release seems a bit different from mine. I need to take a closer look."
Hashirama had already noticed the problem. Yamato's Wood Release was hollow—just a shell without the true essence of the original. It was like comparing a living tree to a dead log.
"No problem," Jiraiya said. "Though I'm a little afraid Tsunade will beat me to death if she finds out about this…"
Remembering how Tsunade used to yell at Hiruzen Sarutobi, Jiraiya had no doubt she would.
Across the Land of Rain...
Akatsuki Base.
A pitcher plant suddenly burst from the ground, revealing a half-black, half-white Zetsu. He looked at Menma and Zabuza sitting in the room.
"Huh? So these are the two new recruits?" the white half said in a shrill voice. "They look pretty intimidating."
Whoosh!
Before the white half could finish, the Executioner's Blade whistled through the air and planted itself in the ground right in front of him.
"A black and white mole that infiltrated this place?" Zabuza's icy voice cut through the room. "Fine. I'll give you five seconds to explain."
Seeing Zabuza about to attack, the black half spoke in a low voice. "Zetsu, codename Gen. Just came to check on the newcomers. And incidentally, to offer you some nail polish as a farewell to the past."
Black Zetsu pulled out about ten bottles of polish in various colors and set them on the table. "This is an Akatsuki tradition. Each member chooses a color."
In reality, it was just Nagato's way of hiding the blood under Pain's nails.
Zabuza sheathed his sword, frowning slightly at the polish.
Before he could speak, Black Zetsu continued. "Your partners have returned to the base and are resting in the conference room. After you pick your colors, head over there. Tomorrow you start your first mission."
Zabuza's partner was Kakuzu. Their mission was to track down the scattered Jinchuriki.
Meanwhile, Menma was temporarily teaming up with Sasori and Deidara to head for the Hidden Sound—which Orochimaru had recently exposed.
Their mission was simple: if they couldn't get the ring, they would destroy the Hidden Sound and everything connected to Orochimaru.
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