Tsunade was sitting on her seat in the Hokage room. A crystal gem was hanging around her neck. His grandfather's- the First Hokage's necklace. She seemed quiet. She was not doing anything in particular, though. It seemed like her mind is still entangled in some kind of thoughts.

And then, a knock could be heard on the door, disrupting the silence.

"Come."Tsunade said. The door was opened, and an old man with long white hair entered. He was putting a serious look. Tsunade wondered what he was up to. She watched him walking inside in silence before the two would start conversing.

"Jiraiya," She began. "What is it that brings you here?" She asked the old friend of hers.

"It's about Naruto-kun's death." Jiraiya stated straight away. "You shouldn't take it too personally."

Tsunade fell silent once again. The image of her deceased younger brother and boyfriend came to her mind. Both of them wanted to be a Hokage, just like the whiskered blond. Tsunade closed her eyes and stated, "This necklace really is cursed." She then sighed. "I need to stop giving it away to people."

"…" Jiraiya stared at her in silence. He understood well how Tsunade felt. Jiraiya then called, "Tsunade," He told her. "You should've known. Loss is a daily thing in this ninja world. It's a thing we should've got used to." The two fell into silence again for a moment.

Tsunade signed. "I know." She stated. "It's just…"

"…Reminded you of them, huh?" Jiraiya asked.

"…"

None of them said anything for a while. This time, it was longer than the one before. Both Nawaki and Dan dead in the past. And even Tsunade given up in love because the death of her loved one. Jiraiya spoke out again, "There's no use to keep crying and sulking over some dead person,"

"You are the Hokage." He reminded her. "You have to focus on more important things."

"Hmp," Tsunade smiled a little, but one could notice it looked hurt. "I wouldn't be a Hokage if it wasn't for Naruto." She recalled the time when Jiraiya and the kid came to get her to be the Hokage. Maybe she doesn't really fit for this role. She commented to herself in her mind, but didn't state it. "What about you?" She asked Jiraiya. "Don't you have better things to do than cheering up an old woman about the death of some kid?"

"Well… to be honest I was about to make him my apprentice when he returned." Jiraiya then looked at Tsunade in the eyes, "And, actually… no. I didn't come here for just cheering you up."

Tsunade raised her face a bit, wondered Jiraiya actually came there for.

"I gained some information about Akatsuki," The sannin stated. The line took Tsunade's full attention.

Once she gained her composure, she asked him. "What is it?" She just turned into the serious Hokage persona.

"I got the information when I was investigating Orochimaru's 'Immortality Jutsu'." Jiraiya told her. "They won't be on the move for at least three or four years for now."

"And why that could be?"

"I don't know." Jiraiya stated. "Originally, they were going after Naruto. I was going to tell him that, but you know…" He paused, drove the mood aside. "That's why I wanted to make him his apprentice at first,"

"So he would be able to guard himself against the possible threat in the upcoming three years?" Tsunade guessed. Jiraiya nodded.

"As for the Immortality Justu…" Jiraya brought the other information up. "Orochimaru can't use his 'Immortality Jutsu' more than three years of each use. He can't transfer into a new body."

"So that means…" Tsunade gave a guess again, getting the idea in her head.

"…he can't use Sasuke's body as a container for his soul for at least three years." Jiraiya finished, confirming her guess. "Wihile waiting impatiently for Sasuke, he transferred already. This information might relieve that pink-haired girl on his team."

"…" Tsunade fell quiet again.

"…" Jiraiya didn't bother to comment anything this time.

Just like that, the two stayed in the room. That, until Jiraiya became their ice breaker yet again.

"His body," he began. "They didn't see his body, right?"

Knowing who he referred to, Tsunade shook her head. "No." She answered. "Only me, and the higher-ups." She stopped before adding, "Plus Shikamaru." The ponytailed boy was the only one managed to get the chunin rank between his same-aged comrades, anyway. It would be a huge hit on his chest to see Naruto's body, Tsunade thought. After all, that was the first death on mission he has seen right on his very eyes.

Jiraiya closed his eyes, understanding Tsunade's action. It was a huge shock for the genins already. It would be better if they didn't see that hole on Naruto's chest created by Sasuke's chidori. When they heard about it, they couldn't believe what happened. Some of them got mad on Sasuke for doing so, and some broke into tears right away. Especially the Hyuuga girl who seemed to be so attached to Naruto. Sakura was quieter these days, many wondered if she would be able to take it personally.

Come to think of it, the three of team seven has come to a similar fate just like theirs, with one of their member left the team pursuing some goal of theirs. The only difference is that the three of them are alive and well. We don't talk about the people they lost outside of the trio. Of course it still hurt like hell.

Bearing the Legendary Sannin title, sometimes one might wonder if it was just how it go; Being known as Legendary Sannin and having to witness all kind of loss and death in the payment for it? Sometimes they just wished they shouldn't be the ones to walk in this kind of path. But fate is very interesting. Coming from three kids who were nothing to start with,… one could change into anything.

When thinking that the line has been drawn, it just hurt to think about that. That there was no way to escape the faith, to change the destiny… They had believed they could, once.

To walk in this kind of path, losing friends and turning swords on each other(or kunais?). Making new friends and enemies, having apprentices, losing them. Aah, what a way to live your life.

To think about it, Konoha would need a medic ninja in the upcoming missions. Maybe with that there would be less injury and death chances. But Tsunade recalled there was no one having the full requirements yet.

Jiraiya looked at Tsunade, noticing her face was no longer the same sulky face he saw when he was first entering the room. Sure, her face was still off- not as off as the one in the morning she woke up with, he would've bet. Kind of glad he could manage to cheer up the old friend of his a bit, he smiled. Maybe the thing she needed was a company, after all.

"I see your water is no longer the same bulky one like the other day," He then said. "I have to go now."

"Again?" Tsunade asked.

"I have to find more information occupied to Akatsuki. I have no time to waste." He said. "Three years would be over before we knew it."

"…" Tsunade didn't comment anything.

"As we've known," Jiraiya reminded, "They were after the thing inside of Naruto. Now that the container has gone, Kyuubi's chakra has scattered and that only means they would need a change in plans, whatever they're planning to use the Kyuubi for."

Tsunade absorbed the deduction, and nodded.

"They would go into another plan. Far as I know, there was another jinchuuriki who was killed years ago. And until now, the bijuu hasn't been resurrected." Jiraiya said. "Three years would be too fast for Kyuubi to be resurrected back. The Akatsuki would think of something." He said with his serious face. And I am going to stop whatever bad things will be caused by that group.

You are still looking for the truth of the prophecy you kept talking about, huh, Jiraiya? Tsunade smiled. "Sure, go."

Jiraiya nodded."I'm off." He said as he walked away. Once the man left and the door was closed, Tsunade stayed still in her thought.

Akatsuki, huh? They have plan connected with the bijuus… whatever it is, Tsunade was sure she would stop them if it was up to no good- in order to protect the village. And the whole fire country.

It was the job of the Hokage anyway.

Don't you three agree? Nawaki,… Dan,… Naruto.

Tsunade smiled, this time with strength filling in her. A few moments after, Tsunade heard a knock from her room's door.

"Come in."

In front of her, a certain pink haired girl entered her room with an assured look on her eyes. Wasn't that the girl in Sasuke and Naruto's team? She recalled. Tsunade herself was a bit surprised to see her entering the room with this kind of face. Her eyes were full of determination, even though they were swelling up and red from crying. Oh well… she was no one to be blamed for. After all, she just lost a team member and the other one was the one who killed them, who already ran off to Kami-knows-where the fuck Orochimaru currently is.

After all things that happened to her team recently, who wouldn't have surprised to see her standing strong like that? Moreover: in the Hokage's very room. She was up to something serious. And whatever it is she wanted, she is going to get it; whatever she came there for.

"I have a request." Sakura stated, short and clear.

"What is it?" Tsunade asked, still focused on Sakura's serious gaze.

"Please… make me your apprentice!" Sakura stated out clearly. Her determination was very clear. With the image of her two teammates in her mind, Sakura chose to be a healer. The recent event sure had made her making up that kind of mind. With her knowledge and good marks back in the academy days, she was smart enough to know how hard the training to be a medic is.

Tsunade stayed silent, making sure she does not waver. Sakura doesn't waver at all. She stayed there. An important thing…? Tsunade could feel relatable to the girl. You are also troubled, aren't you? "Haruno Sakura,…" She called.

"I've heard from Kakashi that you're intelligent and that you have a strong spirit." Tsunade raised her head, and gave Sakura her answer. "Alright… from now on I won't go easy on you!"

Hearing her request's acceptance of the Hokage, it lit Sakura's heart up a bit. "O… Ok!" She replied.

.

.

Walking the path, from now on

I won't let any blood the friends of mine to be shred