"He loves her - enough to go through Hell to try and bring back the one person she cares about most. Even at the cost of his own happiness."
Jiraiya stood behind Tsunade, watching as she peered over the balcony. Her eyes trained intensely on the citizens below as if straining her eyesight might drown out the truth behind his words.
"Puppy love," she noted bitterly, raising a hand to pinch the bridge of her nose in an effort to alleviate a headache which had yet to take form. "He'll get over it, and her, soon enough - the second they both realize that not everyone can be saved."
"You said that about me too once, Hime, remember?"
Neither of them spoke for a moment as the sun began to set. Its tones of red and orange a brilliant contrast against the rich, green leaves of Konoha. Silently he wondered, had she always been as beautiful as she was now.
"You don't love me Jiraiya. What you love is a distant memory."
Her words were meant to be a hurtful blow yet he had known her long enough to see that there was no true malice there. Only a sad, painful longing and the heartache at what could have been.
"True, but even now I catch a glimpse of her from time to time."