Naruto: Starting with Tsunade-san

"Old cow eating young grass—man, you've got some nerve to say that."

Big Tsunade's smiling face instantly turned icy cold, and the surrounding atmosphere seemed to freeze along with it.

Jiraiya, remembering the nightmares of being dominated by Big Tsunade in the past—days spent in the ICU vividly flashing through his mind—turned pale with fear. Desperate to change the subject, he said, "Tsunade, you've ordered so much food. Can you even finish it all?" He glanced at the table full of dishes and casually sat down on the long bench next to Tsunade.

He waved at the blond-haired, blue-eyed boy nearby and called out, "Naruto, come sit here too."

The boy, named Naruto, walked over without hesitation and plopped down next to Tōshirō with a carefree attitude.

Two long benches—one filled with adults, the other with kids.

Tōshirō, surprised, turned to examine the "The hero of the story." Naruto had spiky blond hair, deep blue eyes reminiscent of the ocean, and prominent eyebrows. However, his most distinctive feature was the six whisker-like marks on his cheeks.

In anime, those whisker marks were highly noticeable, but in reality, they weren't as pronounced.

He was dressed in an orange jacket with blue shoulder pads and a white collar. The back and left arm of his outfit bore the Uzumaki clan symbol, and he wore a Konoha headband on his forehead.

This was undoubtedly the protagonist of this world—Uzumaki Naruto—even his outfit was identical to the one from the series.

While Tōshirō was intrigued by Naruto, Young Tsunade seemed more interested in this older version of Jiraiya. She kept glancing at him curiously until their eyes met.

"Why are you staring at me?" Young Tsunade snapped.

Jiraiya smiled at Big Tsunade and said, "She looks just like you—both in appearance and temperament."

"Of course she does," Big Tsunade replied cheerfully.

Young Tsunade was her past self, after all—it would be strange if they didn't resemble each other.

But Jiraiya interpreted it differently.

The more Young Tsunade resembled Big Tsunade, the more it confirmed in Jiraiya's mind that she must be Tsunade's biological daughter.

For a moment, a pang of jealousy welled up in Jiraiya's heart. The woman he'd pursued for so many years had, unbeknownst to him, ended up with some other guy.

"Who's her father?" Jiraiya asked. "Do I know him?"

"You don't," Big Tsunade replied flatly. "And he's dead."

Sometimes, a dead person is more convenient than a living one. Big Tsunade didn't want to discuss this topic further.

"Sorry for bringing up something painful," Jiraiya said apologetically.

"Don't worry about it."

Tsunade took a sip of sake, inwardly relieved at her quick fabrication.

"Well, if you don't mind…" Jiraiya suddenly seemed bashful, leaving Big Tsunade puzzled.

"What is it?"

"I wouldn't mind taking the kid's surname," Jiraiya said with a grin, flashing a goofy smile.

"Huh?" Big Tsunade was momentarily stunned, rubbing her forehead in disbelief.

Young Tsunade and Tōshirō exchanged a glance, seeing the same exasperation mirrored in each other's eyes. Whether it was in the past or the present, Jiraiya hadn't changed one bit.

Young Tsunade then noticed the faint lipstick mark still on Tōshirō's forehead and frowned.

"What's wrong?" Tōshirō asked.

"How long are you planning to keep that lipstick mark on your face? If you don't know how to wipe it off, I won't hesitate to use a Water Release technique to clean it for you."

Tōshirō quickly wiped it off.

Satisfied, Young Tsunade smiled.

Tōshirō hesitated for a moment, then playfully said, "Rangiku, if you're really that bothered by it, you could kiss my forehead and cover it up."

"Dream on!" Young Tsunade retorted.

Tōshirō chuckled. "Alright, alright."

"???" Young Tsunade felt like she couldn't keep up with his strange logic.

As the two bantered, Jiraiya turned to Big Tsunade and asked, "Seriously, Tsunade, who is this kid to you?"

"I already told you—he's my new boyfriend," Big Tsunade replied nonchalantly. In a way, she wasn't lying.

"Tsunade, quit joking around. I know you're not the type to mess around like that," Jiraiya said, refusing to believe she'd fall so far as to date a much younger man—or entertain something as wild as a mother-daughter dynamic.

"He's actually my son," Big Tsunade thought, sighing internally. She was telling the truth, but it sounded too absurd to be believed.

Jiraiya exhaled in relief, his expression softening slightly. But a second later, something felt off.

"Wait… siblings?!"

No, that wasn't acceptable either.

"Adopted son," Big Tsunade clarified.

Jiraiya took a deep breath and reluctantly accepted the explanation.

"Still," he said, looking around, "it's been a while since I've seen so many familiar faces."

Big Tsunade had drunk too much sake, her face flushed red as she sighed in reflection.

Jiraiya noticed the change in her tone, gazed into her eyes, and asked in a deep voice, "What's wrong? Did something happen?"

"It's nothing…" Big Tsunade dismissed it with a wave. "But you've been lingering here for quite a while. Besides freeloading food and drinks and prying into my personal matters, you must have another reason, right?"

Jiraiya scratched his head and admitted, "As expected, there's no fooling you."

"What's the matter?"

"Tsunade, the village plans to invite you back to become the Fifth Hokage."

Big Tsunade froze momentarily, her pupils trembling slightly.

Hearing this, Young Tsunade glanced at her future self.

Naruto, who had been busy eating, was so shocked by this revelation that his eyes rolled back, and he nearly choked.

Jiraiya explained the circumstances behind the invitation.

Big Tsunade responded indifferently, "Oh, I heard. It's Orochimaru's doing, isn't it?"

Naruto, shocked to learn that Orochimaru had killed the Third Hokage, bombarded Jiraiya with questions about Orochimaru.

Jiraiya's expression darkened as he shared the details.

Naruto, stunned by the complicated relationships among the Legendary Sannin, shouted and asked countless questions.

Feeling annoyed by the noise, Big Tsunade shot him a cold glance. "Who's this brat? Your son?"

Her indifferent attitude irked Naruto, who clicked his tongue in displeasure.

"Of course not. He's my student…" Jiraiya replied sternly before adding, "Uzumaki Naruto."

Big Tsunade squinted her eyes, studying the blond-haired, blue-eyed boy in front of her. So, this was the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki.

"Wait, I'm not done talking!"

Naruto stood up, slamming the table in frustration. The table shook three times with a loud "thud."

Jiraiya tried to calm him down. "Naruto, keep it down."

Naruto, clearly unhappy, hesitated before saying, "But…"

Jiraiya's gaze hardened, and his tone grew firmer. "No buts. Be quiet."

Naruto's eyes wavered. He had never seen Jiraiya this serious before. His voice faltered, and he reluctantly sat back down.

The atmosphere grew tense as Big Tsunade and Jiraiya reminisced about the past.

After a long silence, Jiraiya broke it, renewing his invitation for her to return to the village as Hokage.

Big Tsunade closed her eyes. If everything went smoothly, Young Tsunade and Tōshirō would return to the past, and this timeline would change entirely.

The world as they knew it would be turned upside down.

Having placed all her hopes on those two, Big Tsunade had no intention of becoming Hokage. She'd rather spend her time living freely.

"I refuse."

Her rejection was firm and decisive.

Jiraiya wasn't surprised by her answer. In fact, he even joked to lighten the heavy atmosphere.

Shizune glanced at Big Tsunade, then at Young Tsunade and Tōshirō. She understood why Tsunade-sama was so resolute.

Once those two returned to the past, this world would no longer be the same. Naturally, there was no interest in becoming Hokage.

Naruto, however, was deeply disappointed in Big Tsunade. Holding his head, he shouted, questioning how someone like her could be considered for Hokage.

Jiraiya tried to reassure him, explaining Tsunade's unique background.

But Naruto kept ranting from the beginning, irritating Big Tsunade. She glanced at him coldly and smirked. "This kid is just like that other student of yours. Whether it's wit, intelligence, or appearance, he's leagues behind."

Being belittled so openly, Naruto clenched his fists, his teeth grinding in anger. "What did you just say?!"

Instead of defending his student, Jiraiya sided with her. "Compared to the Fourth Hokage, anyone would fall short. He was a prodigy in every sense—brilliant as a ninja, sharp-minded, and deeply loved by everyone."

He sang the Fourth Hokage's praises, painting him as unparalleled. Then, as if to boost his own ego, he added, "Well, kind of like me, you know."

Big Tsunade, recalling how even someone as extraordinary as the Fourth Hokage had died young, sneered. She listed the causes of death of each Hokage from the First to the Fourth.

Seeing how Tsunade had changed from her younger self, Jiraiya felt a wave of sadness. Orochimaru had changed, and so had Tsunade. It left him heavy-hearted. "Tsunade, you've changed."

"The only constant in this world is change."

Big Tsunade's gaze fell on Tōshirō and Young Tsunade. With a self-deprecating smile, she said, "When you're alive, you have everything. When you're dead, you have nothing. Only a fool would chase after a meaningless title like Hokage."

These words were meant for her younger self—to treasure what you have before it's gone.

But to Naruto, they carried a completely different meaning. He couldn't tolerate anyone insulting his dream or the Hokage predecessors.

He jumped up, standing on the table, his face twisted with anger. "Anyone who belittles the Third Hokage or the Fourth Hokage in front of me, even if they're a woman, I'll use all my strength to knock them down!"

He clenched his fists tightly, the sound of his grip echoing loudly, conveying his seriousness and resolve.

Young Tsunade and Tōshirō exchanged glances, both thinking how impulsive this guy was.

Jiraiya let out a helpless sigh.

Big Tsunade narrowed her eyes, staring at Naruto with interest. She stood up, a faint smirk forming on her lips. "You've got guts to speak to me like that, kid."

Facing one of the Legendary Sannin, Naruto didn't back down and met her gaze head-on.

Tōshirō glanced at Big Tsunade, wondering if this was going to lead to a one-on-one fight like in the original story.

But he was wrong. A fight was indeed coming, but it wasn't between Tsunade and Naruto—it was with someone else entirely.

(End of Chapter)

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