The Losing Bet
"You're dealing with someone who's strong enough to keep Akatsuki in line. We have no idea of his power... And now you're gonna waltz right onto his turf."
"Yep... I guess I should get moving."
"Come back alive... If I lose you, too... I..."
"Are you gonna cry for me?! Haha, I'm honored! I don't suppose I'll get as many tears as Dan did, though, haha!"
"Asshole..."
"Alright, how about we put your gambling skills to use? Put everything you've got on me dying. You always pick the losing bet. And in return, I'll come back alive and well."
Tsunade remembered that conversation well. She watched him walk away, off on his journey. She had the hope, the prayer that he would return, and put faith on his return. However, as the hermit told her, she placed some of that faith on his death, in hopes that she would lose the bet like always.
Sadly, that wasn't the case. Soon the news came back of Jiraiya's death, leaving Tsunade's heart torn into pieces. However, for the sake of the village and the people, she kept it in for a little bit, at least until the return of the Sasuke Retrieval Team. Inwardly, however, her mourning had begun.
She lifted her cup of sake, a tear falling into the liquid before lifting the cup to her lips. Images of Jiraiya flashed through her mind, from their childhood to their last moments.
"Shut up you flat-chested bitch!"
"I'll bring them back even if it cost me my life!"
"Alright, how about we put your gambling skills to use? Put everything you've got on me dying. You always pick the losing bet. And in return, I'll come back alive and well."
Tsunade chuckled sadly, another tear falling into her sake cup, "Looks like I won the bet Jiraiya...figures that luck was finally on my side when I didn't want it to be."