Tsunade stared at the scene before her, utterly surprised, her golden-brown eyes widening slightly. For a brief moment, she could hardly believe what she was seeing. It wasn't often that Tsunade Senju, the Godaime Hokage, was caught off guard—but this time, she was.
"Jiraiya… what are you trying to do?" she asked, her voice carrying both confusion and suspicion.
Jiraiya only smiled, that mischievous, boyish grin of his that he hadn't lost even after decades of battle and hardship. He had expected Tsunade to be shocked—that was the entire point. If she wasn't flustered, then all his efforts would have been wasted.
"Tsunade," Jiraiya began, his voice dropping into rare seriousness, "there's something I've been holding in my heart for a long time… something I want to finally say to you."
As his words left his mouth, Aburame Shino quietly directed his kikaichū insects to release a cloud of glowing fireflies into the air. They swirled around the clearing like living lanterns, illuminating the night with a soft, golden-green glow.
Tsunade's sharp eyes caught the subtle movements. She wasn't a fool—she could tell this entire scene had been meticulously arranged by Jiraiya and, judging by the coordination, with the help of half the village. The glowing fireflies, the atmosphere, the sudden shift of tone…
Her heart skipped. What is he planning?
Jiraiya walked forward slowly, his tall frame drawing closer with each step. His usual lazy posture was gone—tonight, his every movement carried weight.
"Do you remember," Jiraiya said softly, "back when the three of us—me, you, and Orochimaru—were fighting Iwagakure during the Second Shinobi War? You asked us what our dreams were."
Tsunade froze. Of course, she remembered. That battlefield had been burned into her memory.
"At the time," Jiraiya continued, "I told you… my dream was to protect you, Tsunade. To protect you, the woman who once said she wanted to see every corner of this world."
Tsunade's chest tightened. She remembered laughing off his words back then, brushing them aside. She had never taken him seriously—at least, not outwardly.
"I know your heart has always carried the shadow of Kato Dan," Jiraiya admitted, his tone unwavering. "I know he's someone you could never forget. But that never mattered to me. I've waited all these years… and finally, not long ago, I felt it—you opened your heart to me."
His words were like senbon to her heart, sharp and precise. She wanted to deny it, but deep down, she knew it was true.
"Tsunade," he said, "we're not kids anymore. The past… it's behind us. And besides," Jiraiya smirked, "you bet that I'd die someday. But you always lose your bets, don't you? You lost last time… so this time, I've decided to win."
By the time he finished, he was standing right before her. He looked directly into her eyes.
"Tsunade… let me be your companion for the rest of your life. Let me walk with you to every corner of the world. And while we're at it, let's lose money at every casino we find."
Tsunade's lips twitched. She pouted, then burst into laughter, even as tears welled in her eyes.
"Gambling, huh? Do you even have any money?" she teased.
Jiraiya puffed his chest and patted it confidently. "I've got plenty of ways to make money, if it means making you happy."
Hidden among the trees, Naruto Uzumaki clenched his fists. Don't worry, Pervy Sage… if you run out of cash, I'll cover for you. After all, Kakuzu hoarded so much money before we beat him that I've got more than enough saved.
Tsunade laughed again before throwing herself into Jiraiya's arms. He caught her tightly, his heart pounding. Inside, he knew—he had finally broken through the walls she had spent decades building.
High above, Jūgo used his control over nature to command a flock of birds, each carrying flower petals in their beaks. The birds released them in a cascade, showering the two Sannin with petals that fell like a crimson and white rain.
Tsunade opened her hands, catching a petal as it drifted down. She gazed at it before turning her eyes back to Jiraiya with a smile. "Since when did you become so romantic?"
Jiraiya chuckled and spread his arms wide. "Since you finally decided to notice me. Before, you never gave me the chance to show my talent."
"Hmph," Tsunade snorted, though her lips curled upward. She looked at the glowing petals filling the air and whispered, "It's… beautiful."
Jiraiya grinned. "This is just the beginning. There's more."
With a snap of his fingers, the lanterns strung throughout the area suddenly went dark. Shikamaru Nara, lurking with Chōji Akimichi, had snuffed them out on cue.
Then, in the distance, Kiba Inuzuka and Rock Lee—under the watchful eye of Orochimaru, who oddly enough had agreed to help—ignited a series of fireworks.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The night sky bloomed with color, explosions of red, gold, and violet cascading across the heavens. Jiraiya wrapped his arms around Tsunade as they both looked up. For a fleeting moment, Tsunade felt as if she had been transported back to her teenage years—before war, before grief, before the weight of the Hokage's hat. Just a girl, smiling under the stars.
Jiraiya glanced at her, his heart swelling as he saw the light return to her eyes. Without thinking, his hand tightened around hers.
"Tsunade," he whispered, "I love you."
Her amber eyes softened. She gave a small, relieved smile. "Thank you, Jiraiya. Thank you for staying by my side all these years… for never leaving me, even when I was drowning in grief."
Emotion welled in Jiraiya's chest, threatening to spill over. "No, Tsunade… it's me who should thank you. Because of you, my life has always had meaning—the meaning of protecting someone I love."
The two stared at each other, the weight of decades of unspoken feelings now freed.
Another massive boom echoed across the sky as an enormous firework lit up the entire village. Even the distant Konoha military patrols stopped and stared in awe. Fortunately, Naruto had warned them in advance—otherwise, they would have rushed over to investigate the commotion.
As the light faded, Sai unfurled a scroll and released his Super Beast Imitation Drawing. Dozens of ink birds soared into the sky, each carrying a small firework. One by one, they detonated in sequence, forming luminous words across the heavens:
"Jiraiya will always love Tsunade!"
The words burned brightly against the night, and Tsunade gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. Her eyes trembled in disbelief.
But Jiraiya wasn't finished. From the shadows, Jūgo guided one of his birds, which carried a small velvet box in its beak. It descended gracefully into Jiraiya's hands.
He turned, dropped to one knee, and held the box open. His voice rang out loud and clear:
"Tsunade… marry me!"
The crowd hidden among the trees went silent. Even Ino and Tenten, who had been peeking eagerly, clapped their hands over their mouths. For kunoichi like them, this kind of scene was the ultimate dream—romance in its rawest form.
Tsunade, the strongest kunoichi alive, the Godaime Hokage herself, trembled. Tears streamed freely down her face.
No one truly understood the burden she had carried since taking the Hokage's mantle. She had always put on a mask of strength, hiding her vulnerability. She had endured grief, loneliness, and the crushing expectations of a village.
But now, in this moment, with Jiraiya kneeling before her, offering his heart so openly, she realized she didn't have to carry it all alone anymore.
She had once clung to the memory of Dan, but meeting his spirit again during the war had finally freed her from that shadow. Dan himself had urged her to move forward. Now, there was only one path left—to embrace the future with the man who had always been there.
Her lips trembled before she shouted, her voice echoing into the night:
"I do!!!"
Jiraiya froze, eyes wide. "What… what did you just say?"
Tsunade cupped her hands like a trumpet, put them to her mouth, and yelled even louder:
"I said, I do!!!"
For a moment, silence blanketed everything. Then Jiraiya broke. Tears poured down his cheeks as he sobbed uncontrollably, like a child.
Tsunade walked closer, gently wiping his tears with her thumb. "Honestly… what's wrong with you?"
"I'm fine," Jiraiya stammered, shaking his head furiously. "I'm fine… just… too happy."
He opened the box and revealed the ring inside—a simple, elegant design. Naruto had been the one to sneak it from a jeweler's shop, insisting that Jiraiya needed it. Without Naruto, Jiraiya would've never even thought of something so traditional.
With trembling hands, Jiraiya slid the ring onto Tsunade's finger. She, in turn, took the second band and placed it on his.
The two Sannin—legends of war, survivors of tragedy—looked at each other and smiled. Then, before the fireworks had even faded, they embraced and sealed their bond with a kiss under the illuminated sky.
For once, the world was quiet. No battles. No blood. Just two souls finally finding peace—in each other.
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