At Konoha Hospital.
Since it wasn't wartime, the hospital's work was relatively relaxed. People who came here usually had minor injuries or common illnesses. After finishing her duties, Rin Nohara was about to leave for the day.
She had promised to meet Kakashi and Obito for dinner tonight—she mustn't be late.
Taking off the standard white medical robe of a Medical Ninja, Rin revealed her figure since she wore a black tight-fitting bodysuit underneath.
Though petite in appearance, she had fully developed in all the right places.
From her closet, Rin retrieved her daily outfit—a dark-colored, loose two-layered jacket—and slowly dressed herself, pulling her hair back into a ponytail as she did.
She had abandoned her previous short hairstyle long ago and begun growing her hair out, giving her an elegant, intellectual charm typical of young women her age.
As Tsunade's apprentice—with solid foundational skills in Medical Ninjutsu—Rin had her own private rest room at Konoha Hospital.
Directly across from her was Shizune's resting room; recently, Shizune had also begun assisting at the hospital.
Although they were nearly the same age, there was seniority to consider, and Rin sincerely acknowledged Shizune as her senior.
Yet recently, Rin had noticed changes in her. Smiles began disappearing from Shizune's face.
Once gentle and kind-hearted, Shizune had now become consumed by her work—almost as if she were running from something.
As both a companion to Kakashi and Obito, and a disciple of Tsunade, Rin understood the reason behind this change.
But...
She couldn't find the right words to comfort Shizune. Though she deeply sympathized, she had never experienced that pain herself—and so felt powerless to help.
Shizune's resting room lay directly opposite Rin's. As seniors, the hospital had arranged their rooms together for convenience.
It was a very considerate setup with many advantages—one only needed to open the doors to see each other's rooms.
Having finished dressing, Rin pushed open her door and stepped outside.
As soon as she opened her door, she saw Shizune standing by her half-closed door, sitting there blankly, completely lost in thought.
This vacant expression had become common for Shizune lately—it began after she returned from the Third's funeral.
Rin initially intended to just leave, but after taking several steps forward, she paused and turned back toward Shizune's room.
Creak!
Opening the slightly ajar wooden door produced an unpleasant groaning sound.
The room was small—it held only a single bed, a wardrobe, a table, and a few chairs.
There, Shizune sat upright on a chair, her eyes vacant, staring unblinkingly at the wall before her.
Even as Rin stepped in, Shizune showed no reaction whatsoever—as if she'd locked herself away in her own isolated world.
"Shizune? Shizune!"
Seeing no response from her senior, Rin called out while walking closer, waving her hand repeatedly in front of Shizune's face trying to regain her attention.
"Ah? Huh? Yes? Is that you, Rin?"
Shizune took a step back, her gaze shifting abruptly as she noticed Rin entering her private room. Her expression flickered with surprise, sorrow, and hesitation before settling into an awkward smile.
"Is there something you need, Rin?"
Shizune lightly slapped her cheeks to regain some alertness before asking.
It should have been the end of the workday, and judging from Rin's casual outfit, she had already changed clothes.
"Not really. I just saw you were sitting here alone, so I came by to check in on you. Are you okay?"
Leaning against the table, Rin looked at Shizune with concern in her eyes.
"I'm fine. What could possibly be wrong with me?"
Shizune's eyes dimmed briefly before deliberately avoiding Rin's worried gaze by turning her head away.
Rin didn't respond immediately; instead, she kept her lips pressed together, staring fixedly at Shizune's face.
Everyone around them understood Shizune's situation well—especially those like Rin, who were also disciples of Tsunade-sama.
Slowly approaching Shizune, Rin reached for her hand.
"Stop torturing yourself over Saitama. You know what he's become now, don't you? He's not the same comrade we once knew."
As she felt Rin's warm hands, Shizune's face gradually turned pale.
She understood this logic better than anyone else—even earlier than others did. Yet truly accepting it seemed difficult.
From the moment she learned that it was Saitama who personally killed The Third, she realized Saitama was no longer the familiar person they once knew.
That young man who once dedicated himself completely to his village and peace had now entirely fallen into darkness, starting to destroy the hard-earned balance.
Shizune wished this was just a dream—one from which she'd awaken to find Saitama still in Konoha (the Hidden Leaf Village), still being that admirable Uchiha ninja.
"I understand, yet I still struggle to accept such drastic change."
Gradually lifting her head to meet Rin's gaze, Shizune showed a fragile softness that made her look pitiful.
Someone who had spent her childhood caring for Tsunade-sama—who could be quite childish at times—rarely showed such softness.
"There might come a time when you see Saitama again and ask him your questions directly, but until then, you must take good care of yourself. Don't let this issue damage your health."
Holding Shizune's hand tightly in one of hers, Rin gently patted it repeatedly, conveying her comfort through touch.
This wasn't the first time Shizune had received such reassurance, nor would it be the last.
After all, these comforts usually provided only temporary relief. Only when Shizune herself found clarity and broke free from this endless loop of grief would her turmoil finally cease.
"You changed quickly! Do you have plans tonight? Is it with that Uchiha ninja?"
Lightening the mood, Shizune gave Rin a teasing grin as she eyed her outfit.
"No, just a small gathering with Obito and Kakashi tonight. We've all been too busy lately; it's been quite some time since we last met up."
Seeing Shizune recover somewhat and joke with her, Rin also became noticeably more cheerful, giving Shizune a gentle push on her shoulder.
"In that case, go ahead and enjoy yourself. I won't keep you any longer. I'm planning to head home soon too—Tsunade-sama (Lady Tsunade) is probably waiting for me at home."
Shizune nodded, then stood up and made her way toward the wardrobe.
"Well then, I'll be off. Give my regards to the teacher. It's been a few days since I last saw her—I should visit this weekend."
Rin tightened her coat while heading toward the door, speaking over her shoulder to Shizune.
"Sure thing. Feel free anytime."
Shizune nodded with a smile spreading across her face.
Soon, the private room was all hers—everyone else had gone. Her pace gradually slowed as she reached for casual clothes from the wardrobe.
"Ahh!"
After a long silence, she released a long, weary sigh laced with quiet sadness.
"I really need to choose change. Continuing like this won't just make myself miserable—it worries others too."
She mumbled to herself, then slipped off her robe and pulled on her jacket.
People need to keep moving forward. Stagnation gets you nowhere. Whatever comes next, facing it head-on is the best way to go.
...
"Hey, it's already time for dinner. Aren't you leaving yet?"
Tsunade leaned against the wall behind her, holding a small wine glass and addressing Jiraiya across from her.
"Tch! Exactly because it's dinnertime that I can't leave!"
Jiraiya's face appeared slightly flushed. The table between them was littered with emptied bottles.
This was what they had accomplished together in the afternoon. Since the Third's funeral, the two of them, with no pressing matters to attend to, had been getting together for drinks quite often.
They were the only ones left from their generation among Konoha's high-ranking ninjas—a natural pairing through mutual support.
"Then do whatever you like. Don't count on Shizune covering your tab when she gets back."
Tsunade casually placed her wine glass on the table, then boldly crossed her arms under her chest, pushing forward an exaggerated curve.
"You're kidding me! Tsunade, are you really turning into such a tightwad now?"
Upon hearing Jiraiya's words, Tsunade leaned forward, bracing herself on the table with both hands under her chest as she locked eyes with him.
"Tsk tsk! Never imagined the mighty Tsunade-hime would sink this low!"
Seeing Tsunade's aggressively leaning posture, Jiraiya instinctively leaned back in his chair, though with alcohol loosening his tongue, his words wouldn't hold back.
"What? You wanna push your luck, Jiraiya?"
Hearing Jiraiya's somewhat mocking tone, Tsunade instantly thrust one fist forward with a swish, forcefully slamming her chest onto the table, knocking over many empty bottles upon it.
"Calm down! Calm down! I was just kidding!"
Jiraiya hurriedly raised both hands high in surrender, adopting an innocent posture.
He had no intention of ticking off that punch-happy woman. Sure, she looked gorgeous, but her fists packed zero charm—whenever things got heated, she skipped the tears and went straight for the punches.
"Never mind, Shizune should be back soon anyway. Why don't you stay for dinner? It's not like you'd be eating at home otherwise."
Tsunade slumped her whole body onto the table, her clenched fist relaxing into an open palm waving dismissively.
This idiot Jiraiya was still as careless as ever even at his age. He hadn't even learned how to properly take care of himself after all these years of being single. Well then, she might as well be generous and treat him to a simple meal.
"Tsunade, I need to talk to you about something."
How much time had passed? Tsunade was just dozing off when Jiraiya finally broke the silence.
Slowly pushing herself up, Tsunade sat straight and looked at Jiraiya, waiting to hear whatever he wanted to say.
Jiraiya's voice no longer carried its usual frivolity; instead, it became deeply resonant and steady.
What could this guy possibly want to say that made him so serious all of a sudden? Could it be...?
Tsunade narrowed her eyes at Jiraiya's face. Although his cheeks were slightly flushed, his entire demeanor had completely changed from before.
"Alright, what is it?"
Tsunade caught herself trembling just a little — she wasn't sure if what Jiraiya was about to say would be exactly what she secretly hoped for.
Meanwhile, watching Tsunade lift her head and stare at that familiar face, Jiraiya's Adam's apple bobbed several times as he seemed to still be gathering his thoughts.
"I... I'm planning to... um, I'm planning to leave the village in a few days."
Looking at Tsunade, Jiraiya noticed her frown deepening with every word, as if she found his explanation somewhat unsatisfactory.
Had he not made himself clear enough?
Realizing this, Jiraiya cleared his throat again and continued:
"I've received intel through my intelligence network, so I'm preparing to go on a mission outside the village. I'll probably set out the day after tomorrow."
Jiraiya repeated his explanation, this time speaking more clearly and specifically.
An old rogue with decades of experience navigating the Shinobi world, Jiraiya had built an intelligence network that commanded respect.
He had been considering leaving the village for quite some time already, but due to various reasons kept getting delayed — until recently when the Third's death finally solidified his determination.
Some things were simply tasks only he could accomplish!
This was about passing down a legacy, about the spirit and integrity of a Shinobi.
"That's all?"
After hearing Jiraiya out again, Tsunade realized there truly wasn't anything more. Her gaze toward Jiraiya carried subtle undertones of "what exactly are you doing?"
"Yeah, that's all. Got a problem with it?"
Jiraiya looked at Tsunade's blushing face, a warm tenderness spreading through his heart.
"Where to?"
Without dwelling further on that point, Tsunade quickly followed up with another question.
If Jiraiya was leaving the village at such a critical moment, it must be something significant.
"Do you remember that Jonin leader from Amegakure during the previous Chunin Joint Exams?"
"I saw him, but I didn't bother getting to know him personally. What about him?"
Tsunade recalled vaguely, yet couldn't quite place the details.
"He must be an impostor — Saitama Uchiha in disguise."
"What?! No way! Although I didn't interact with him directly, the Chakra signature wouldn't lie."
Tsunade's expression froze momentarily, finding it difficult to believe.
"If it's truly Saitama Uchiha, then how could that man have walked right into the village last time without anyone noticing?"
"Are you sure about this?"
Tsunade asked again.
"Eight or nine out of ten! Although I also found it strange that his chakra signature had changed, his eyes and manner of speaking convinced me—it should be him."
Jiraiya sat upright, speaking firmly.
"At that time, none of this had happened yet, so I didn't confront him. Later though, I ordered my spies to follow him into Amegakure Village for further investigation."
"We suffered heavy losses, but still managed to gather some valuable intel."
"Amegakure Village shows signs of unusual activity. Its former ruler, Hanzo, was overthrown by a group long ago."
"However, since the newly risen leader has kept himself highly secretive and enforced a policy of isolationism, very little information regarding that area has surfaced."
"This time, my goal in leaving the village is to go deep into that isolated place and investigate!"
As Jiraiya spoke, he grew serious and leaned forward slowly, resting his hands on the table where Tsunade sat.
"Amegakure Village?!"
Tsunade frowned but showed no discomfort at Jiraiya's closeness, lost instead in deep thought.
"Will you be alright going alone? And are you certain that's the place we're looking for?"
"Based on the intelligence I've gathered, there's a high possibility."
"I'll confirm it first and bring back the details—then we can be certain."
"You're not actually worrying about me, are you? Don't forget—I'm Sage Jiraiya. In this whole Shinobi World, who else could possibly keep me from walking away?"
Jiraiya said dismissively, though a brief shadow of seriousness flickered across his eyes.
This journey wouldn't be anywhere near as easy as he made it seem. He was only saying this to put Tsunade's mind at ease.
"In that case, good. I was just worried—who would I drink with if you left? It'd be too boring being alone."
Tsunade naturally didn't believe everything he said, yet she still held immense confidence in him—and besides…
"Haha, enough talk about that. I think I heard Shizune's voice. She must've returned. Wonder what dishes we'll have tonight?"
Jiraiya resumed his usual carefree expression, quickly changing the subject.
Right after he finished speaking, Shizune walked in through the door carrying several bags.
"Lord Jiraiya, Lady Tsunade—you're both here? Why did you drink so much again?"
Seeing the two of them, Shizune looked surprised. She had expected the house to be empty when she got back. Then her gaze fell on the scattered sake bottles around the table, and her expression started shifting.
"Pfft! We were just bored! Most of these were Jiraiya's doing!"
Tsunade looked slightly embarrassed, having previously promised Shizune she wouldn't drink anymore. She denied any responsibility and pointed her finger at Jiraiya.
"Alright then…!"
Shizune shook her head, took the things she was holding into the kitchen, then came back out to start cleaning up the bottles.
"Shizune really is thoughtful and dutiful—unlike certain other women, pfft!"
Jiraiya grinned while watching Shizune, making his comment with clear intention behind it.
"Jiraiya!!!"
Tsunade's voice suddenly shot upward in pitch, followed by a fist flying from across the table and slamming straight into Jiraiya's face.
Jiraiya's face twisted in an instant, his head snapping sideways as he tumbled backward several times — slamming into the wall like a cannonball with a thunderous crash and leaving a spiderweb-shaped crack behind.
That punch was light — *really* light. At least Jiraiya didn't feel any real pain. Compared to her previous hits, it was like a mosquito bite.
"Don't push your luck!"
After tossing out those words, Tsunade started picking up the scattered wine bottles, as if trying to prove something.
"Come on!"
Jiraiya slowly sat up, one hand cupping his cheek while watching Tsunade get busy.
"Shizune, go prepare dinner. I'll handle this here."
Tsunade said to Shizune.
"Eh... really?"
Shizune paused mid-motion. This was the first time Tsunade had ever volunteered for such chores, which felt a bit strange to her.
"Of course!"
Tsunade's face was already flushed, so it wasn't obvious whether she felt embarrassed about doing this or not.
"Then okay!"
Shizune stood up to leave, casting meaningful glances between Tsunade and Jiraiya.
As for Tsunade-sama punching Jiraiya-sama just now? That was no big deal.
"Tsk tsk!"
Jiraiya's annoying voice rang in her ears again. Tsunade lowered her head, her brows furrowed, her smile stiffening slightly.
Crack!
The wine bottle in her hand suddenly shattered, instantly silencing Jiraiya's voice.
"Hmph!"
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