PROLOGUE
"Naruto…" Jiraiya whispered, as he watched his godson fighting to not close his eyes. He was tired but was afraid to go to sleep. "It's alright… Everything will be fine. I promise, okay. So, just sleep."
"But–" Naruto coughed his voice was hoarse and dry. He was scared. Afraid that if he closed his eyes he'll never be able to open them again.
"Shh, sleep. You'll be able to wake up in the morning, I promise." Jiraiya said as he stroked the blond hair gently, his eyes full of assurance and hope. "Tsunade, is the best doctor around, heck, she's the best doctor in the whole country. She and I go way back in the day and she's a very good friend of mine. So, there's no need to worry." He finished with a reassuring smile.
"Alright…" Naruto managed to smile before sleep has finally taken its toll.
Jiraiya eyes changed from hopeful to worry as his godson was finally asleep from the anesthetic. "He's all yours now." He whispered his eyes now dead serious as he looked at his former classmate in the eyes. "Please, do everything you can to cure him. Promise, that you'll do everything you can to cure him, please, promise me you won't give up. I beg you, please, help Naruto."
At this, it made Tsunade shiver down her spine because she wasn't used to seeing her former carefree, cheerful and perverted old friend look so serious. It almost broke her heart as she saw the pained look in his tired eyes.
'The kid must be very precious to him for him to look the way he is.' Tsunade thought. "Don't worry ya old sage, I'll do everything I can for the kid. You have my word." She said to her former teammate with affirmation and confidence in her eyes and smile. "Now be a good boy and get lost, we can't start the operation with you mopping up the place." She made a hand gesture with her thumb pointing out the door behind her.
Jiraiya was about to step out of the room when Tsunade said, "Naruto will be fine. I swear… I won't let anything happen while I'm here. So, cheer up, this doesn't suit you."
"Heh, aw, I'm touched. Thank you." His grinned widely then started at the door, "Oh, and Tsunade, when this is over, maybe, you and I–"
"Don't count on it." Tsunade quickly cut him off.
"Aww, and I was beginning to think you saw me in a better light." The man snickered.
"Out!" the blond woman barked.
"Fine, fine…" he opened the door and stepped out, "Thank you." Jiraiya said with sincerity in his tone then closed the door gently behind him.
Tsunade let out a loud sigh then squeezed the tension in between her eyes. 'Idiot.' She thought then stepped closer to the sleeping blond and parted the boy's hair gently to have a clear picture of him. It was a wonder how the boy resembled greatly of her dead younger brother it made her more determined to fully cure the young pre-teen.
"Yosh, let's do the best we can everyone. God forbid, I will kill each and every one of you if we will fail in this, and I promise it will not be a pleasant one, mark my words." The doctor announced as she prep herself for the operation.
Everyone gulp they all know that the woman wasn't kidding when she said it, she would really kill them all in an instant, they all know that the woman was not only known for her medical techniques and procedures, they also know how monstrous her brutal strength is so it would be suicide if they didn't, as they all heard this they all were focused and ready for everything that will and might happen during the operation.
"Everyone lets begin the operation!" the senior doctor announced for everyone's cooperation. "Let's save a precious life now, shall we."