Naruto Uzumaki, disguised as Tsunade, strolled along the quiet paths of Konoha Village with Dan Katō.
Although Naruto had experienced much in life, this was his first time going on a late-night "date" with a man. He had no idea what to do or expect. Amidst his nervousness and unease, a faint sense of curiosity and anticipation stirred within him.
The silence lingered until Dan broke it. "Tsunade, how long has it been since we last saw each other?"
Without hesitation, Naruto replied, "Probably decades."
Dan sighed wistfully. "To me, it feels like just yesterday. When I opened my eyes, not only had the village changed, but the younger generation of shinobi had grown up. It's a feeling that's hard to put into words."
However, Dan took "Tsunade's" hand, gazing at her affectionately. "What surprised me the most was that you became Hokage."
A gentle breeze swept by, causing Tsunade's shoulders to tremble slightly.
It was the deep winter of Konoha Year 64, the coldest time of the year.
Dan suddenly realized, "Ah! Look at me. This Edo Tensei body doesn't feel the cold, but I forgot you're a living person."
As he spoke, he let go of Tsunade's hand and attempted to remove his ninja cloak. But as soon as the cloak left his body, it turned to dust and reappeared on him as if it had never been removed!
It turned out that the clothing created by Edo Tensei was part of the reanimated body, making it impossible even to shed a layer.
A hint of sadness flashed in Dan's eyes.
Naruto, understanding the situation, reassured him, "It's alright. I just soaked in the hot springs, so I'm not cold."
Being a Wood Clone, Naruto truly didn't feel the chill.
Dan chuckled softly and held Tsunade's hand again, interlocking their fingers as they continued walking.
Though their hands were tightly clasped, there was no warmth.
Dan deeply felt the boundary that separated life and death.
He sighed, "I've heard some things about the past from Shizune. It seems you've had a tough time."
Naruto lowered his head and remained silent.
Dan smiled. "Shizune mentioned a boy named Naruto who had a profound impact on you. Whether it was helping you overcome your psychological barriers or supporting your ascension to Hokage, that boy played a pivotal role, didn't he?"
He added, "I've heard that you described him as someone like Nawaki, who is still alive in your memories."
"If possible, I wish I could meet that boy named Naruto."
Naruto, expressionless, replied, "Then you should know that boy, Naruto, betrayed Konoha."
Dan's gaze softened. "I know, but I believe he must have had his reasons."
Naruto looked at Dan's side profile and asked seriously, "Why do you think so?"
Without hesitation, Dan replied, "Because I trust you. Any shinobi you value wouldn't lose their way."
Naruto murmured, "I see..."
On the stone steps, the two stopped and looked up at the sky simultaneously.
"It's snowing," Naruto observed.
He gazed upward, lost in thought. "I remember that in the winter of Konoha Year 64, there was no snow because the Fourth Shinobi World War altered the climate."
"In times of peace, snow symbolizes romance and is said to bring a bountiful harvest."
"If only there were no wars in this world, how wonderful it would be."
While Tsunade admired the snow, Dan's eyes were fixed on her face.
Naruto instinctively reached out to brush the snowflakes from his hair, adjusting his bangs to reveal his forehead. A flicker of surprise crossed Dan's eyes.
After a long pause, Dan asked, "Can you come with me to a place?"
Naruto inquired, "Where?"
"You'll know when we get there," Dan replied with a mysterious smile before running through the snow, his silver hair flowing behind him.
Naruto watched Dan's retreating figure and followed.
The snow grew heavier, blurring their vision.
Dan stopped at a frozen lake, glancing at "Tsunade" from the corner of his eye. "Do you remember this lake? It's where we had our first date."
Naruto nodded. "Of course, I remember."
"I see," Dan said calmly, turning his gaze back to the lake. "Would you dance with me?"
"Huh?" Naruto was taken aback. "But I don't know how to dance."
Dan turned to him with a smile. "That's alright. I can teach you step by step."
Naruto hesitated.
Dan pleaded sincerely, "Please? Just think of it as fulfilling my last wish."
Naruto couldn't refuse. "Alright."
They walked to the center of the lake. Dan took Tsunade's hand and began guiding the rhythm, swaying gently.
At first, "Tsunade's" steps were clumsy, but under Dan's patient guidance, they gradually became more graceful.
The wind howled, the snow intensified, and the rhythm of their dance grew wilder.
Suddenly, Dan threw "Tsunade" into the air!
As she spun like a top in mid-air, Dan caught her waist as she descended, leaning forward until their bodies formed a 45-degree angle, their faces so close they could almost touch eyelashes.
Naruto exclaimed, "You're amazing!"
Dan smiled. "You're not bad yourself."
At that moment, a sharp kunai pressed against "Tsunade's" lower back.
Naruto asked, "When did you realize?"
Dan replied, "Our first date wasn't at this lake."
"I see," Naruto said calmly.
"Where is Tsunade?" Dan asked.
Naruto answered truthfully, "She was ambushed by Madara and is currently training in Sage Mode with the Slug Sage at Shikkotsu Forest. Without a Hokage, the village would fall into chaos. That's why I had no choice but to take this approach. Believe it or not, that's the truth."
Dan responded, "I believe you."
"Really?" Naruto was surprised. "Why?"
Dan gazed into his eyes earnestly. "Because a person's eyes don't lie. And to mimic Tsunade so perfectly, you must know her deeply."
Naruto smiled wryly. "But you still saw through me. It seems I'm not skilled enough."
"It's not about skill. Do you know where the problem lies?"
With a clang, Dan dropped the kunai. Supporting "Tsunade's" waist with one hand, he raised the other to brush aside her bangs. Smiling, he said, "This mark has faded."
Naruto suddenly understood.
Indeed, everything else could be imitated, but the Yin Seal was irreplaceable. Naruto had only drawn it on with a pen!
He laughed wryly. "I should've used a permanent marker!"
"There's no need. I'll make it real," Dan said.
With that, he kissed the mark.
The fake seal vanished, replaced by a genuine Yin Seal!
"Transferring chakra to others is my specialty," Dan explained.
A radiant light enveloped Dan's body—a sign that he was about to break free from Edo Tensei.
Naruto asked, "Are you sure about this?"
"To love someone doesn't mean possessing them. It means wishing for their happiness. I'm already someone of the past. There's surely someone better waiting for her in the future."
Dan looked directly at Naruto. "May I know your name?"
Naruto replied solemnly, "Uzumaki Naruto."
"I see," Dan said with a knowing smile. "Here's my parting advice: since you've already betrayed the village, you shouldn't aim to become Hokage. Instead, strive to be greater than a Hokage. Perhaps that's too far-fetched. Someone greater than a Hokage might be a savior."
Naruto declared firmly, "I promise you!"
Dan was momentarily stunned before smiling in relief. "You're a remarkable child. Meeting you in the end was truly wonderful!"
With a flash, Dan's soul ascended into the snowy sky.
Naruto gazed at the sacrificial body on the ice and sighed. "Dan, in every sense, you were a perfect man. I, Uzumaki Naruto, will remember you forever."
Snow fell heavily.
In the forest by the lake, Shizune stood lost in thought.
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