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Chapter 37 - Chapter 37: A Farewell True to Canon (Skip If You want, not related to the story)

(This chapter isn't a continuation of the story, but a separate one.)

If someone asked me what the greatest failure of my life was…

Then perhaps it would be these three things:

Being constantly rejected by Tsunade,

Watching my best friend defect right before my eyes and being powerless to stop it,

And failing to save the lives of my student.

The last two… they were things I had no way of predicting, no power to change.

But the top regret… falling in love with Tsunade…

Even now, after growing from a green, naïve boy to the old man I am today—

Never once receiving a proper response—

I still have no complaints, no regrets.

"My name's Jiraiya, nice to meet you… As for the love letter, hand it over later, okay~ Yihihihihi."

I still clearly remember the first time I saw her adorable face—

And how I greeted her with that overly confident, cheeky line…

Of course, it ended with me getting pounded into the dirt like a human punching bag.

That was my very first memory with her—

Utterly embarrassing, but also something I deeply cherish.

That easygoing, carefree childhood with no worries to speak of…

Even if every confession I made ended in a punch full of monstrous strength

And the pain of broken bones—

I never got tired of it. I kept trying, again and again.

Sometimes I would even jokingly ask myself:

'If I had been a bit more reserved and serious back then,

Would Tsunade have changed her surname to Kyōki and married me?'

(T/N: Here Jiraiya is making up a surname for himself, since the one he had wasn't ever mentioned and he is an orphan, maybe he doesn't have one.)

Though honestly, 'Kyōki Tsunade' doesn't sound great…

Hmm… After we married, I guess I could've let her keep her own name.

"So, you're saying the Akatsuki leader is in the Hidden Rain Village?"

Just as I was lost in nostalgia, her voice pulled me back to reality.

Blinking slightly as my mind returned to the present,

I chuckled at myself for spacing out at such a serious moment.

'Guess I really am getting old—can't even keep my focus.'

I quickly gave her a full report of the intel I'd gathered—

To her, Tsunade, the Fifth Hokage of the Hidden Leaf Village.

"Going alone is way too dangerous!"

When I proposed infiltrating the village to gather more detailed information,

She unexpectedly objected.

Her face was slightly flushed from drinking,

But her eyes were filled with concern.

She seemed to forget that, as Hokage, she was supposed to put the village first.

Her reaction warmed my heart.

I nearly agreed on the spot.

"I'm one of the Three Legendary Sannin…

You should understand what that means, right?"

But I had to rein myself in.

Frowning slightly, I gently reminded her.

This was a moment where every second counted.

For the safety of the village,

Someone had to take on this dangerous mission.

And as one of the Sannin, I was the most suitable—

The obvious choice.

As the Fifth Hokage, she couldn't afford to act emotionally.

If even she became hesitant to make sacrifices,

Who could the village rely on to lead?

Realizing how unreasonable her objection was,

She gave me a helpless apology.

Then, half-joking, she said I was the one who should've become Hokage instead.

"I'm really not cut out for that."

Before she could finish, I casually cut in, brushing away her guilt.

"I prefer living free and easy.

Only with freedom can I truly move and pursue Orochimaru's trail."

Though honestly, that wasn't needed anymore…

Who would've thought that bastard would die at the hands of the very student he once tempted into betrayal?

Pretty ironic.

When we left the izakaya, the sun was already setting.

Since I planned to depart for the Hidden Rain Village that very night,

I didn't accompany her back to the Hokage Residence.

Instead, I sat on a nearby bench and quietly watched the peaceful sunset scene of the Hidden Leaf Village—

The village I'd spent most of my life protecting.

"Akatsuki… the one leading them…

We can't even begin to imagine how powerful they are…

And this whole plan of yours, it's like walking straight into a trap…"

After a long silence, she still couldn't hold it in.

She pretended to bring up how reckless and unrealistic my plan was,

Just to mask her real worry for me.

That made me feel deeply happy…

But it also reminded me—

It was time to go.

'If I stay any longer and let her say a few more words…

I might not be able to walk away.'

"…Come back alive, okay?

If even you die… I…"

"Oh? Would you cry for me?

Now that would really make me happy~"

Her words made my body tremble slightly.

I turned around and stared at her for a moment,

Then forced myself to act casual and cracked a joke like always.

"But… not as heartbroken as you were when Dan died, right?"

Though I asked it with a teasing smile,

I couldn't deny I had a sliver of hope in my heart.

As expected, her reply was a loud, "Idiot!"

But even that was tinged with a kind of unease and stubbornness she couldn't hide.

"Then… how about a bet?"

I turned my gaze toward her, smiled, and offered a suggestion to snap her out of her mood.

"Let's gamble on it… with your favorite game.

Bet that I'll die."

"After all, you always lose your bets."

 

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