Her hands glowed a soft green and she slowly wrapped them around his.
It was not normal for shinobi to grow as old as they were. Especially without retiring. They were well over thirty years over the average life expectancy. And in this largely un-ventured territory of old age they faced challenges largely unknown in the shinobi world. Like arthritis.
Jiraiya was not one to complain or show weakness. However, Tsunade was the best medical specialist in the world and had known him long enough to know that he was in pain. For her it was obvious in the way his hand signs moved just fractionally slower than their usual blurring speed and how his face stayed determinedly neutral the whole battle.
Of course when she approached him about it, he denied everything, smiling in that insane way of his and flashing a pose. But there were few people in the whole world more stubborn than Tsunade so eventually, despite his protests, Jiraiya found himself sitting in front of a fire, hands wrapped in a gentle green glow and somehow even gentler hands.
As she eased the inflamed tissue and restored the strength of the little remaining cartilage, Tsunade was surprised by how much damage there really was hiding beneath his skin.
It was unmistakable-the mark of fingers broken too many times and dislocated joints forced through hands signs. It was several times the damage of the normal arthritis of old age and Tsunade cringed inwardly at the amount of pain he must have been enduring every day.
"Baka, why didn't you tell me your hands were this bad? I could have been helping you."
"Aw it's nothing, hime. Don't worry about it. I'm fine."
"Drop the macho routine Jiraiya. We're too old for that shit. I can feel how damaged your hands are and I know how much it must hurt."
"You know? But...how? I mean..." He lost his words and gestured vaguely at her body. He was referring to the beautiful young appearance she still maintained after all these years. Approaching sixty, she still looked the same as she did on her 25th birthday.
"Baka, you know its an illusion. I may look in my twenties, but inside my body is just as old as yours is." She lowered her head slightly as if embarrassed. "It hurts the same way yours does."
It was clear to the whole village how much Tsunade treasured her youth. Jiraiya knew that it must hurt for her to admit her age and all the things that came with it. Her jutsu was proof enough of how she longed to hide it. But it had never crossed Jiraiya's mind that her jutsu only changed her outward appearance. Their bones were the same, tired and cracking and almost, almost, too painful to continue with missions.
Slowly she raised her head again, looking him directly in the eyes and offering a small smile.
"I've been easing the pain in my own hands for years. From now on you'll let me help you."
It sounded like an order. But underneath her demand, his experienced ears could make out the pleading notes in her voice.
He nodded slightly, just enough for her to feel if not to see.