Hello. This is my first attempt in writing a fanfiction of what would probably be my all-time favorite pairing: JiraTsu. Set on AU.
I don't own any of the characters in this story.
Reviews will be greatly appreciated.
Happy Holidays! :)
Tsunade Senju closed her eyes as she felt the cool and gentle breeze brush against her face, her blonde hair, which she let down, being blown away. Aside from the sound of crickets chirping and the wind blowing, it is pretty quiet in the Hidden Leaf Village, it is after all, just barely past midnight. Slowly, Tsunade's eyelids fluttered open, her amber eyes marveling at the sight before her -the village sleeping peacefully, illuminated by a few lampposts here and there and the stars shining down from the night skies can be seen from where she stood on her balcony in the Senju mansion. She's seen it before on rare occasions when there are no threats of invasion or war looming over the village which means she gets the luxury to take a break from Hokage duties even if just for a few minutes. She's seen it before, but that doesn't make it any less beautiful each time she looks. She then sets her sights on the Hokage monument. Even after all these years, she still gets a funny feeling whenever she sees her face carved on that mountain for the entire village to see. Especially when she looks at the rest of the faces on the monument; the faces of all the Hokage who came before her.
Being credited for Konoha's victory during the Second Great Ninja War because of her fighting prowess and unparalleled skills in medical ninjutsu, not to mention being the granddaughter of the founder of the Hidden Leaf Village and the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, the niece of the Second Hokage, and a student of the Third Hokage, many believed that she would eventually take on the Hokage mantle as well. Tsunade however, thought otherwise. She was fine being the head of the village's Medical Corps, training and mentoring those who aspire to be a medical ninja like her. She would rather pore over medical books than to sit at a desk in the Hokage tower doing paperwork which she despised a lot. Besides, she didn't think her infamous temperament would make her suitable for the post.
That is, of course, before she decided to turn her back on the village and leave. At that moment, she remembered everyone she lost: her grandfather, her parents who died on a mission, her little brother Nawaki who died in the war at age 12, and Dan, her former lover who she thought she would spend the rest of her life with who also died in the war. Dan was the last straw, she thought that so much has been taken from her, so much that the village no longer felt like home. She thought it was pointless to be recognized as a legendary shinobi and the world's greatest medical ninja if she couldn't save those she loved. With that, she renounced her profession as a shinobi and walked away from the village with a young Shizune, Dan's niece and only living relative, in tow. She recalled how she was convinced at that time that there was no more reason to stay. Well, she still has her team but Orochimaru has completely been driven insane by his hunger for power and there's Jiraiya.
Jiraiya.
Jiraiya and his shock of white hair sticking out from every direction and those onyx eyes which always seem to be gentle and stern at the same time.
Jiraiya and his goofy grin and booming laugh which she found annoying yet contagious in a good way.
Jiraiya and his optimism that lifts the spirits of those around him.
Jiraiya and his determination that inspires the people around him.
Jiraiya who was there for her when Nawaki and Dan died despite her constantly rejecting his feelings for her.
Even then, in a little corner in her heart, she knew he was a reason for her to stay. But she was in too deep in believing that she was cursed and anyone that she would love will also perish like the others.
So, despite Jiraiya's effort to run after her to convince her to stay, she steeled her resolve. She continued to walk away with the image of Jiraiya's onyx eyes brimming with tears etched painfully in her memory.
About twenty years later, they meet again one night in a tavern in the outskirts of the Land of Fire where she was busy getting dunk, like she does every single night. She was very happy to see him again though she doesn't say it. She just wished that he didn't have to see what has become of her. Jiraiya was as exuberant as ever. Aside from being a world-renowned shinobi, he is also a successful writer, with Make Out Paradise series as his biggest hit. She on the other hand, is a depressed drunken gambler with a lot of debt since she has terrible luck in gambling, earning her the nickname "The Legendary Sucker". He goes down to business right away. Jiraiya confirms the news that Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage and their team's mentor is dead. Killed by his own student and their former teammate, Orochimaru. "Another person to add to my list of people I failed to save", Tsunade thought to herself. Jiraiya and his new student, Naruto Uzumaki, had come to find her to tell her that she had been chosen to be the Fifth Hokage. She immediately declines the offer of what she considers to be "a fool's job", stating how the First down to the Fourth Hokage all threw their lives away to protect the village.
"I can't forgive anyone who says bad things about our Hokage and the Fourth!" In a split second, Naruto was standing on the table clenching both of his fists, his cerulean eyes glaring at her. "I don't care if she is a woman! I'm going to kick her ass!"
Tsunade smiled at the memory as she watched the crescent moon emerge from behind the clouds.
"Hey kid! I'll ask you one thing before you pass out." She shouted at Naruto who was still lying on the ground after she flicked him on the forehead. "Tell me, what makes you so touchy about Hokage?"
"It's because unlike you, that's my goal. Remember this: to be Hokage, that is my dream! Naruto replied, full of conviction.
At that moment, Tsunade saw a little glimmer of hope after so many years. She was reminded of her late loved ones who shared the same dream as Naruto and she wondered if maybe, just maybe, she can allow herself to have something and someone to believe in once again.
She ran her fingers through her long, blonde hair as she thought back to when she returned to the village after agreeing to become Hokage. To say that the village was left in shambles after Orochimaru's attack would be an understatement. This was probably worse compared to the time the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox attacked where the Fourth Hokage met his demise, saving the village by sealing the fox into a newborn baby. They suffered terrible losses in terms of manpower and resources. Majority of the infrastructure would have to be rebuilt from scratch due to the severe damage they sustained. Tsunade had to think very carefully about allocating what little manpower she had left in order to make sure that what remains of the village's defenses will not be compromised while making sure that they generate income by sending out shinobi on missions from different lands. Not only that, if they start declining missions from clients, other shinobi villages would take this as a sign that the village has grown weak and would only encourage the others to stage another attack to annihilate what is left of them. Just as Tsunade began to doubt if she really is the Hokage that the village needs right now, Jiraiya steps in. She didn't even have to say her thoughts out loud.
"You know, Hime, I always thought that you'd make the best Hokage among the three of us; you, me, and Orochimaru." Jiraiya said as he leaned on the railings on the rooftop of the Hokage mansion. To which Tsunade replied with a snort, "Baka. We both know that the Third always wanted you to succeed him." She crossed her arms across her chest, "If you didn't drag my name when the council asked you to be Hokage, I wouldn't have to deal with all this shit in the first place."
Knowing Jiraiya, she was expecting a snarky response accompanied by his loud laughter. But it did not come. Instead, she felt his warm hand gently touching her shoulder. She looked up and saw him smiling down at her warmly as if she were a baby. Jiraiya is about a whole foot taller than her, she probably looked so small in his eyes. Had she been talking to someone else; she would probably have gotten annoyed. She hated when she looks small and weak in someone else's eyes. But this is Jiraiya. They have known each other since they were six. They went on countless missions as inexperienced little genin and were together when they were named the Legendary Sannin of the Hidden Leaf along with Orochimaru. He was the only one to comfort her when she lost Nawaki, and despite his feelings for her, he was also there when she lost Dan. If there is one person who she would allow to see her vulnerable side, that would be Jiraiya and Jiraiya alone. Not that she'd say such thing out loud though.
She sighed. "It's just that I haven't completely wrapped my head around the fact I am now responsible for the lives of every single person in this village."
"Well, you're going to have to come to terms with it fast. This village needs you, Tsunade" Jiraiya replied nonchalantly much to Tsunade's annoyance. Besides, you're not alone. You've raised Shizune well, she can cover for you on hospital work while you're busy. Or you can have her as your assistant to help you with paperwork. You still have a lot of Jounin you can rely on; there's Kakashi, they say he's the best and I affirm for a very good reason. There's the head of the Nara clan, Shikaku and his son Shikamaru, both are geniuses and would definitely make good advisors. Naruto and his fellow genin still have a long way to go but they are learning, and I assure you they are very promising."
Jiraiya then pulled her gently closer to him, surprising Tsunade. "What do you think you're doing, baka?!"
Jiraiya grinned, ignoring her though he'd be lying if he'd say he isn't looking out for her fists which may come flying towards his face any minute. "And do you know the best that you can have out of being Hokage?"
"And what would that be?" Tsunade asked, raising one of her eyebrows.
"My, my Tsunade, do you really have to ask something so obvious?" Jiraiya laughed, testing Tsunade's patience a little further. Upon seeing her eyebrows knitted, he continued, "That would of course be me. You'll always have me, whether you like it or not." His boisterous laugh could be heard echoing throughout the village until it was cut short by a punch to his gut from Tsunade. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have better things to do." She quickly turned around, successfully concealing the light blush on her cheeks.
Tsunade let her hands slide on the cold railings of her balcony. She couldn't help but wonder what would have become of her if Jiraiya and Naruto did not bring her home. She probably would have died in an alley in a faraway nation due to alcohol poisoning or captured and killed by those who she owes money. Looking back, Jiraiya did keep his word. She always had him. Sure, he annoyed her a lot, just like when they were kids, but she honestly couldn't see how she would survive in this world, Hokage or not, without him. His goofy nature drives her crazy, but he also keeps her sane like no other.
Jiraiya's job as the spy master of the Hidden Leaf meant that he spends more time outside the village than he does inside so he could gather information on potential threats on the village's security. Despite being away for long periods of time, he made sure that Tsunade would know and feel that he's there supporting her, not just as his Hokage.
When he and Naruto left the village for 2 1/2 years to train, he regularly sent her letters, photos, and sometimes souvenir items from the different places they visited to remind her that they are well. Jiraiya knew that those gestures are important to her because even if she never said it, she needs assurance that they are alive and well.
When they got back from their training, Naruto stayed in the village, but Jiraiya soon left again to focus on his spy network, not without spending time with her over sake, of course. He'd try his best to come home every month to hand his reports to Tsunade, and to catch up with each other over alcohol, a little bit of gambling, and an endless stream of requests for dates which greatly annoys Tsunade. That's how it was for them. They both had duties to their village, to which they are dedicating a huge chunk of their time.
Jiraiya was cool with it as long as he gets to keep Tsunade, Naruto, and the rest of the village safe by fulfilling his duties.
Tsunade always had him, just as he told her once before. He'd always come home no matter how long he's been gone and that was more than enough for her.
Until he didn't.