Tsunade and Shizune, with Tonton trotting faithfully by their side, arrived at a small town near the border of the Land of Grass. The sight that greeted them was unexpected—vivid decorations lined the streets, and laughter rang through the air as people reveled in merriment. A festival was in full swing. While not unusual, it stood as a stark reminder of the difference between the smaller nations and shinobi villages, which often relied on tourism to sustain themselves, unlike the Great Five, whose economies were fueled by missions.
In her younger, pre-Hokage days, Tsunade wouldn't have hesitated to dive into the festivities (technically that is now but its' hard to track the timeline when you found yourself in the past). By now, she would have been deep into the sake and halfway through gambling her winnings—or her losses—away. But the thought of indulging at a time like this left a bitter taste in her mouth. It wasn't that she had entirely abandoned her vices; as Hokage, she still found herself drinking, often as a way to cope with the stress brought on by the Daimyo or her responsibilities. Yet the idea of joining a celebration while burdened with the knowledge of what lay ahead filled her with a deep unease.
A gnawing guilt clung to her thoughts. If the war was looming, did it mean they had failed in the future? Had her actions been in vain? Worse, were these joyous, oblivious villagers already doomed—just shadows of a time that no longer existed? The weight of the questions hung heavy on her shoulders, making the cheerful scene before her feel distant and cold.
At the same time, she felt a flicker of hope. Because wasn't this a chance? A chance to fight back and win? She didn't know why or how she had traveled back in time, but one thing was clear—there was so much she could do. If she couldn't prevent the war entirely, she could at least shift the odds in their favor. Maybe this time, they could face the battle as allies rather than enemies. After all, the Fourth Shinobi War had been a turning point—a catalyst that united the Five Great Nations – something that was unheard of.
That unity, however, felt like an impossible dream in the present. The villages were still at each other's throats, hostility running deep. And then there was the stubborn old geezer, Onoki. During the war, he'd been tolerable—more than tolerable, even a valuable ally. But the current Onoki? He seriously needed to pull that stick out of his ass. Tsunade didn't know what had caused the man to change so drastically in the future, but she had to admit it had been for the better. Whatever the reason, she was determined to seize this second chance, no matter how daunting it seemed.
Right now, Tsunade and Shizune are traveling here because they heard from the grapevine that the idiot Jiraiya is here. They reached out to one of the contacts more than a week ago and until now they have not heard anything from the man. Of course, she's not worried that the man is compromised or anything. It would take something like a level of Pain (Akatsuki) to kill him. That gave a pang of pain in her chest remembering Jiraiya's death.
At first, Tsunade wasn't sure how to feel knowing that Jiraiya is alive at this time. Relief, guilt, confusion—they all swirled together but guilt cut the deepest. The thought of Jiraiya being alive reopened memories of how she had reluctantly allowed him to venture into Amegakure. She had opposed it, of course, but Jiraiya was bullheadedly stubborn. He had always known how to twist her arm, even when she knew it was a terrible idea. And because of that, Tsunade has forever regretted it.
However, Tsunade is in a time crunch and can't waste any more time. She needs to meet up with Jiraiya first before she contacts anybody else. Many people they didn't want dead or prefer to be alive are here right now. The Akatsuki is a big concern but if she recalls a lot of their members were not yet a part of their group including Deidara, Hidan, and (most importantly) Uchiha Itachi. That's three fewer people in the group (three very powerful people). They also have to deal with Orochimaru and his apprentice, Kabuto. They have to neutralize him before the Edo Tensei can be fully mastered. The Edo Tensei shinobi, after all, caused a lot of damage to them before they could even face Madara. Hell, if they could avoid it, Madara would never be revived at all costs!
Tsunade sighed. How is she going to handle all this? The future isn't something one woman can take on herself. There are so many factors that transcend the boundaries of Konoha, hell the land of fire, as a whole. Onoki and A are already Kage but stubborn and hostile towards Konoha at this time. And if she recalls Kiri is in a middle of a civil war. Ouch. That's going to be one hell of a situation to live through. It's a miracle the Godaime Mizukage stayed sane.
Tsunade sighed. Where is that son of a bitch?! She hissed
Shizune is following her master cautiously. She was confused by the sudden changes Tsunade-sama had been showing since she woke up from a nightmare in Tanzaku Gai. Normally, her master would be running around casinos and the bars but she suddenly stopped doing that. While Shizune is glad she still feels a little wary. Nobody just up and change that much so fast.
Tsunade-sama's demeanor has changed. There is still lingering grief on her but also determination. She is mostly glad that she isn't stressing over the woman's drunken state or gambling debts. The young teen sighed. The amount of debt Tsunade-sama is facing is going to be a nightmare. Overall, she was glad that Tsunade-sama was healing somewhat and that they were returning to Konoha soon. However, they have to find Jiraiya-sama first. Where is that toad sage anyway? Usually, the man would be chasing Tsunade-sama if he wasn't looking around for Orochimaru-sama. Shizune expected the man to come running to them when Tsunade-sama has reached out. Usually, it is Jiraiya who would seek out Tsunade-sama, not the other way around.
"Oh yeah, baby that's what I'm talking about!"
Tsunade-sama froze. Oh, kami. That voice. Shizune could recognize that voice everywhere and she could have sworn she saw a tick mark on her master's head. Shizune clung to Ton-ton and watched as Tsunade-sama gave that terrifying grin as she marched toward what looked like a host club. She didn't know small towns like these have host clubs. Oh well.
BANG!
"Huh? Hime?!"
I pray for you Jiraya-sama!
"Wait, wait. Hime!"
Debri started flying around and the sound of screams, usually coming from the old man, can be heard all over the village.
Jiraiya, his face swollen and bruised, knelt before Tsunade at the square chabudai table, looking every bit like a chastised schoolboy. Tsunade sat calmly across from him, sipping her tea with the serene composure of someone who hadn't just unleashed chaos. Shizune, seated on the opposite side, watched the tension unfold, her gaze darting between the two legendary masters. Tonton snorted softly at her side, breaking the silence with an oddly fitting commentary.
The private room within the host club was eerily quiet, save for the faint creaking of the establishment's battered furniture. The owner, relieved that Tsunade had finally stopped wreaking havoc, had graciously offered the room—a desperate attempt to placate her. Any thought of asking for compensation had quickly evaporated when Tsunade shot him a glare, the kind that could curdle milk and send hardened warriors running.
Tsunade cast a withering side-eye toward the Toad Sage, who sat unmoving, head bowed in defeat. He resembled a scolded child awaiting his punishment, and Shizune, busy preparing tea, couldn't help but marvel at how effortlessly Tsunade could reduce even the strongest men to blubbering wrecks.
"So," Tsunade began, her voice sharp enough to cut through steel. "Do you have anything to say for yourself?"
"To be honest, I didn't know you were—eep!" Jiraiya's words stumbled out as Tsunade slammed her teacup onto the table with a resounding crack, making him flinch like a scolded child.
"Try that again," she growled, her fingers tightening around the cup, daring him to test her patience.
"Alright, alright!" Jiraiya exclaimed, raising his hands defensively. "My toads told me you were looking for me."
"But?" Tsunade's eyes narrowed dangerously.
"But there was... uh... kind of an emergency. I got sidetracked," he muttered, scratching the back of his head sheepishly.
"An emergency, huh?" Tsunade's glare could have melted steel. "You don't sound like you were dealing with an emergency."
Jiraiya coughed nervously, avoiding her piercing gaze. "Well... it wasn't exactly life or death, but—"
"But what?" Tsunade snapped, leaning forward, her aura practically radiating fury.
"I can't exactly say that here!" Jiraiya hissed, throwing his arms up in exasperation. "It's too public!"
Tsunade's eyebrow twitched dangerously. "Fine," she muttered, her voice icy. Without another word, her fingers flew into a series of hand signs.
Jiraiya froze for half a second before his instincts screamed at him. "Oh no, you don't!" he yelped, scrambling toward the door like a man trying to outrun fate.
Too late.
A surge of chakra lit up the room, and intricate sigils spread out across the walls and floor like ripples on water. The glowing patterns locked into place, forming a powerful privacy seal that hummed with energy. Jiraiya stumbled to a stop, wide-eyed.
"What the—?!" He spun around, taking in the seal's complexity. It wasn't the standard version he'd seen used by Hokage—it was something more. Stronger. More secure. His jaw dropped. "Tsune! Since when did you get this good with seals?!"
Tsunade folded her arms, exuding confidence. "Since becoming the Godaime Hokage."
"The what?" Jiraiya and Shizune exclaimed in unison, their heads snapping toward her in disbelief.
"Since when?!" Jiraiya practically shouted, his voice a mix of shock and outrage.
Tsunade smirked, a glint of mischief in her eyes. "Sit down," she said, gesturing to the table with an air of authority. "I have a lot to say."
Hours had passed, but the shock still lingered in the room. Shizune and Jiraiya—along with Tonton, who gave a faint snort—stared at Tsunade, their expressions frozen in disbelief.
"Time travel?" Jiraiya sputtered, his voice tinged with both amazement and confusion.
"That... actually explains a lot," Shizune murmured, her brow furrowing as she tried to piece things together.
"Yes. And I need your help…" Tsunade began, her voice steady but urgent.
"Wait, wait, wait!" Jiraiya interrupted, throwing his hands up dramatically to halt her. "Hold on! I'm still processing the whole 'I'm from 12 years in the future, battling in the Fourth Shinobi War' thing! I mean, why are you here? And seriously—this Akatsuki group? The same group that Orochimaru was a part of? They're spearheading the war?!" His voice grew louder, disbelief written all over his face.
Jiraiya shook his head and continued, his frustration spilling out in waves. "And the Five Great Shinobi Villages working together? That's insane! Far-fetched doesn't even cover it. There's no way Onoki would agree to something like that!"
"Well, it did—and he did," Tsunade said, her voice steady despite the weight of her words. "Honestly, I'm still not entirely sure how or why I ended up here. At first, I was terrified that Madara had trapped us in the Tsukuyomi and this was all just one massive genjutsu. But it doesn't seem to be the case."
"I can't believe Madara is alive," Jiraiya muttered, his shock evident.
"Oh, he's dead," Tsunade replied casually, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "We'll just have to make sure no one revives the bastard. Which reminds me—we've got more pressing matters to deal with: Orochimaru, his dim-witted apprentice, and, of course, Danzo."
Jiraiya frowned. "Shouldn't we focus on the Akatsuki first if they're such a crucial threat? And why Danzo?"
"We already know most of the Akatsuki," Tsunade explained. "They're not at their peak yet, and they're incredibly elusive right now. Also fighting them with just us two is still a suicide mission. And if we die, how is the world going to fight back? Even now, it's nearly impossible to track them down for the time being. Danzo, however, is a different story. He's already done plenty of damage, and if we don't handle him now, it's only going to get worse. Trust me—he's going to be a pain in the ass when I become Hokage. Best to deal with him sooner rather than later."
"What the hell has that guy done?" Jiraiya asked, his expression darkening.
Tsunade hesitated, her gaze flickering as if searching for the right words. "We didn't finish the investigations in the future... the war consumed us. But let's just say—he orchestrated Sakumo's downfall during that failed mission."
"What?" Jiraiya's eyes hardened, shadows darkening his face. The memory of Sakumo was like an open wound. He had been a close friend, someone Jiraiya had trusted deeply. And the day Sakumo took his life... Jiraiya had thought he was finally healing. He had been wrong.
"Sakumo was one of the choices to become the Yondaime Hokage," Tsunade revealed, surprising Jiraiya further. "And Danzo took him down by sending him on that doomed mission, ensuring the village would turn against him. It was the same with the Uchiha clan. He even tried to eliminate Minato, but failed. It's hard to catch the Yellow Flash, after all."
"Dammit!" Jiraiya slammed a fist on the table, his frustration boiling over. "What the hell is going on in this village?"
"See?" Tsunade sighed, her tone heavy with emotion. "It's hard to save the world when the village itself is falling apart. To tackle the Fourth Shinobi War, we have to address this chaos first."
"Still, Tsunade, this is one hell of a mission," Jiraiya muttered, shaking his head. "I don't think we can pull this off alone."
"I know," Tsunade admitted, her voice softening. "That's why I need you. Unlike the others, I trust you to believe me. Even now, I know you trust what I've told you about time traveling, despite how absurd it sounds. We need allies, people we can rely on—because the Fourth Shinobi War isn't a battle one village can tackle alone. It's going to take all the villages."
"I mean, that's a big ask," Jiraiya said, leaning back thoughtfully. "But how do you know the other villages will agree to work with us? Most of them hate us. The Fourth Shinobi War probably only happened because they had no choice. Fighting Madara and the Ten-Tails? That's a battle for gods, not mortals."
Tsunade's lips curled into a faint smile, though her eyes remained serious. He was right—they weren't facing an ordinary foe. But that didn't mean they shouldn't try.
"I'll try, Tsuna. I'll help you," Jiraiya said with quiet determination. "We just need to figure out our next move."
Tsunade nodded, her expression softening ever so slightly, as the weight of their conversation settled over the room. Silence enveloped them, heavy but resolute.
"Oh yeah, what was that emergency you were dealing with?" Tsunade asked, her tone sharp and demanding.
"Oh... Iwa and Kumo are in lockdown," Jiraiya began, scratching the back of his head nervously. "And there are rumors swirling around Kiri that the Fourth Mizukage is under genjutsu. I haven't confirmed it yet, though."
"Iwa and Kumo are in lockdown?" Tsunade's eyes widened in shock. "That's never happened before."
"Yeah." Jiraiya paused, processing her reaction. "Wait—this has never happened before?!" His voice rose, his surprise evident. After all, Tsunade was from the future, so surely she'd know.
"No," Tsunade muttered, her brows furrowing in thought. "That is... alarming." She paused, contemplating. "Oh, and the whole Mizukage-under-genjutsu thing? That's true."
"What?" Jiraiya blurted, his confusion growing.
"The person who trapped him in the genjutsu has the Sharingan," Tsunade explained, her tone matter-of-fact. "Which makes sense, since the Mizukage is the Sanbi Jinchuuriki."
"What?!" Jiraiya repeated, his jaw dropping further.
Tsunade continued without missing a beat. "He's also the one who unleashed Kurama on Konoha and killed the Yondaime Hokage."
"Who the hell is Kurama?!" Jiraiya's voice cracked. "Wait, what?!"
"Oh, Kurama's the Kyuubi," Tsunade replied casually.
"The Kyuubi has a name?!" Jiraiya exclaimed, his disbelief reaching its peak.
At this point, the Toad Sage looked as though he might keel over from a heart attach before the day was through. Shizune and Tonton, on the other hand, were still reeling from the revelation.
