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You can now get early access to Chapter 116 of Re: Naruto Uzumaki on my Patreon. You can also read up to Chapter 40 of Satoru Senju: Conquering the Omniverse!
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"Everything's already been said, Jiraiya. You can leave. I won't become the Fifth Hokage."
Jiraiya sighed at Tsunade's refusal and got up from the ground, brushing off his knees with resignation.
"You know I'm not a man who gives up easily, Tsunade," he murmured with a faint smile.
"And you know I'm not a patient woman," she said with a frown, casting him a glare that made her threat perfectly clear.
Jiraiya swallowed and coughed nervously, remembering very well how painful her punches were. His body still ached from the beating she'd given him just minutes ago.
"Goodbye, Jiraiya..." Tsunade turned on her heel firmly, dragging Nawaki, whom she still held in her arms, as Shizune followed her silently.
"W-wait..." Nawaki managed to say, his voice choked and his face purple. "I told you to wait, Tsunadezilla!"
He managed to free himself just enough to breathe normally and stood his ground.
"What is it now, Nawaki?" Tsunade asked, raising an eyebrow at him.
"Aren't we going back to the village? I still have to become Hokage! I'm still a ninja of Konoha, sister!"
Tsunade clenched her fists. A vein throbbed at her temple.
"You still want to be Hokage...? You already gave your life for that village once! How many more times do you have to die to understand that you mean nothing to them?" she burst out, a mix of rage, frustration, and fear in her voice.
She couldn't understand how, after having died for the village, Nawaki still insisted on protecting it. What was the point of risking everything again for a place that had forgotten and cast them aside?
"Because I have a dream, sister!" Nawaki exclaimed with conviction. "I want to be the greatest Hokage there's ever been! Even greater than our grandfather and great-uncle! Only then can I protect peace, and make sure there's never another war..."
Nawaki's words hung in the air.
Tsunade lowered her gaze. Her expression was hard to read. Pain? Pride? Fear?
He was still just as naïve as the day he died… and, at the same time, just as determined.
"If you really want to be Hokage, go back to the village, Nawaki. But I won't be going back."
With that, she let him go, without looking back.
Shizune watched her in silence, frozen in surprise.
"Tsunade-sama..." she murmured, not quite understanding why her master—who had mourned her brother's death for so many years—was now letting him walk away.
Shizune knew better than anyone everything Tsunade had suffered...
Which is why she didn't understand it.
"Mmph. Fine, don't go back if you don't want to, Tsunadezilla!" Nawaki shot back, turning to Jiraiya with a frown.
Tsunade stood still for a long moment, her face hidden beneath her bangs, her body tense... but she didn't say another word.
Then, without looking back, she began walking away with firm steps. Shizune followed her in silence.
Naruto watched them leave, a look of surprise on his face.
Tsunade... leaving her brother behind after having gotten him back?
That wasn't the Tsunade he knew.
...
In a dim corner of a bar, Tsunade held a half-empty glass between her fingers, swaying slightly as she drowned her sorrow in alcohol.
Across from her, Shizune watched in silence, with Tonton sleeping in her lap.
"W-why does that idiot want to go back to the village…?" Tsunade murmured, her voice breaking, slurring her words. Her eyes shone red, on the verge of tears. Clearly, she'd already drunk too much.
Shizune didn't respond right away. She knew her master was talking about Nawaki.
"It's been over twenty years…" Tsunade went on, her throat tight. "Why doesn't he want to stay with me...? Why does he want to go back to that cursed village…?"
Shizune lowered her gaze, lips pressed together. Rage, sorrow, frustration… all mixed on her master's face. Deep down, she understood how she felt.
"Why did you let him go, Tsunade-sama?" she finally asked softly, full of regret. "You're his older sister. You could've made him stay…"
Tsunade didn't respond. She just raised the empty bottle and set it down on the table with a dull thud. She raised her hand to call the waiter and asked for another, this time in a muted voice.
"Do you really... still have to ask?" she murmured, not looking at her. She lowered her head and her fingers instinctively searched for the pendant around her neck. She held it tightly.
Shizune narrowed her eyes. Only then did she understand.
"…Everyone I care about ends up dying, Shizune." Tsunade's voice was barely a whisper, but her sincerity made the younger woman shiver. "If I'd forced Nawaki to stay... how long would it have taken before he died again?"
A heavy silence fell over them, broken only by the sound of the new bottle being set on the table.
Suddenly, Shizune straightened sharply and slammed both hands on the table, making Tsunade lift her head in surprise.
"With all due respect, Tsunade-sama... you're an idiot!" Shizune snapped, her eyes shining with anger.
Tsunade stared at her, bewildered, pointing a shaky finger at her. "W-what did you say…?"
"That damn curse you keep talking about doesn't exist!" Shizune insisted firmly. "Nawaki's death, your fiancé's... my uncle's... none of it was your fault, or because of some curse! It was the war. War kills. War destroys everything. No one can escape it, not even you."
The words hit like a slap, but Tsunade didn't respond. She just stared at the amber liquid swirling in her freshly poured glass.
"It's not war…" she murmured, softly. "It's this world... this damn world that won't let anyone be happy." Tsunade replied before continuing to drink.
...
[Hashirama Senju: My grandson is amazing! Don't you think so, Naruto?!]
[Tobirama Senju: With proper training, he could become a decent Hokage in the future.]
Naruto, walking again through the streets of Tanzaku District with Karin, looking for a place to eat, turned his attention to the group chat.
[Naruto Uzumaki: Honestly, I think Nawaki's an idiot.]
[Madara Uchiha: I couldn't agree more. To think that talentless brat could surpass Hashirama and become the strongest Hokage is absurd. I even doubt he'll become Hokage at all.]
[Indra Ōtsutsuki: That Nawaki won't become powerful. He's just another kid trapped in impossible dreams.]
[Naruto Uzumaki: Woah, I only said he's an idiot. Not that he can't achieve his dreams… no matter how impossible they seem.]
[Mito Uzumaki: I'm sure Nawaki has what it takes to become Hokage! Though, to be honest, I'd prefer he didn't... The reconstruction of Uzushiogakure will begin soon and they need me there.]
[Naruto Uzumaki: Huh? You're going to Uzushiogakure, Mito? I thought you were staying in Konoha.]
[Mito Uzumaki: Of course I'm going! I won't abandon my home a second time! Especially not now, when they need me most!]
[Hashirama Senju: But, Mito… What about Konoha? It's our home too... I didn't say I'm leaving.]
[Mito Uzumaki: Hmph. We'll talk more about that later, husband.]
[Hashirama Senju: Ugh… Mito always wins all our arguments…]
[Madara Uchiha: Since the Uchiha Clan will go to Uzushiogakure, maybe I'll give it a shot too.]
[Tobirama Senju: Oh, so you're leaving Konoha, Madara-chan? I'm crying... tears of joy.]
[Madara Uchiha: You... You'll never change, Tobirama. I'll never understand what my brother saw in you.]
[Hashirama Senju: Madara?! You too?! Just when we were starting to fix things...!]
[Madara Uchiha: Come to Uzushiogakure.]
[Hashirama Senju: Fine... I'll give it a shot.]
[Mito Uzumaki: HASHIRAMA! When I say it, you hesitate! But when Madara says it, you agree immediately?! You're sleeping on the couch tonight!]
[Hashirama Senju: What did I do wrong this time?!]
[Tobirama Senju: Exist.]
[Naruto Uzumaki: x2. I'm with Tobirama.]