Chapter 47 – Reunion
After leaving the casino, Jiraiya followed the trail of rumors. Two days later, in a small border town of the Land of Hot Water, he finally found Tsunade and her apprentice.
"Tsunade… why are you here?" he asked.
Her eyes were hazy from drink, cheeks flushed red like a ripe apple.
Shizune quickly stood, bowing politely. "Jiraiya-sama, Lady Tsunade is drunk. Perhaps you could speak with her tomorrow."
Jiraiya ignored Shizune and fixed his gaze on Tsunade. After a long pause, he said quietly, "You already know… about our teacher's death, don't you?"
For a moment Tsunade's drunken mask cracked, and her eyes sharpened.
Of course she wasn't truly intoxicated. As one of the Legendary Sannin, a so-called "Medical Saint," her tolerance was far too high. She drank when she wanted to forget — not because she couldn't handle it.
Knowing Jiraiya saw through her act, she sighed, straightened her back, and asked flatly: "What do you want?"
"You came to ask me to fight? To avenge Sensei?" she continued before he could answer. A fleeting sadness passed through her eyes. "But you know… my hemophobia cripples me. I can't even muster a tenth of my strength. I can't help you."
Jiraiya faltered. He had acted on impulse, forgetting how deeply that fear still chained her.
"Tsunade, after all these years…" he muttered. "Your hemophobia still hasn't healed."
In truth, it had turned one of the greatest kunoichi of the age into a shadow of her potential.
Jiraiya's thoughts shifted. If Tsunade can't… then perhaps Orochimaru.
Yes. Orochimaru would not refuse him.
Tsunade, reading his expression, exhaled heavily. "Stay. Have a drink with me?"
But Jiraiya shook his head. "I can't. I have to go."
Without waiting for a reply, he vanished into the night.
Time to find Orochimaru.
Tsunade stood on the balcony, watching his back disappear into the distance, her heart unsettled.
When Shizune returned with a late-night snack, she blinked in surprise. "Oh? Where's Jiraiya?"
"He's gone," Tsunade murmured, tasting the food. But the flavor, usually comforting, felt strangely dull.
Shizune, seeing her mentor's mood, stayed quiet and simply poured her another drink.
---
The next morning, Tsunade and Shizune boarded a ship to continue their journey.
As the sea breeze brushed against her, Shizune finally asked the question weighing on her. "Lady Tsunade… are we heading back to the Land of Fire?"
Tsunade leaned against the railing, watching gulls wheel across the horizon.
"…Yes," she said softly. "It's been a long time. I'll go back and see it again."
---
Meanwhile, in Konoha.
Yakushi Nōnō left the Uchiha compound and hurried toward the orphanage. She carried with her a worn photograph, Kabuto's young face smiling back at her. The thought of seeing him after so many years filled her with nervous anticipation.
Passing by a dango stall, she stopped. It's been so long since I brought something back for the children…
"Boss, thirty skewers of sanshoku dango. And thirty of those, too." She smiled warmly.
But when she reached into her pouch, her smile froze.
Her money was almost gone. Only a few coins remained — she had spent nearly everything during her journey to and from the Land of Water.
"Wait—actually, cancel it," she said quickly, embarrassed.
"What? Do you want it or not?" the vendor grumbled.
"I'm sorry," Nōnō bowed hastily. "I didn't bring enough. I'll come back next time."
She turned to leave, but a gentle voice stopped her.
"Yakushi Nōnō?"
Startled, she turned. Before her stood a graceful woman with kind, familiar features.
"You are…?" Nōnō blinked, struggling to place her. Then memory stirred — the Academy classroom, a girl who had always been kind despite her Uchiha heritage.
"You're… Mikoto?"
Uchiha Mikoto smiled warmly. "Long time no see, Nōnō."
"Yes… it has been," Nōnō replied softly, her smile touched with nostalgia. Back then, Mikoto had been her closest friend, never once looking down on her despite their different backgrounds.
But after the war began, Nōnō was taken by Danzō into Root. And once one entered Root, they disappeared from the surface of the world.
Now, after so many years, here Mikoto stood — not only her old friend, but the Hokage's wife.
Feeling awkward, Nōnō straightened and bowed stiffly. "Greetings, Lady Mikoto."
But Mikoto waved off the formality with her usual gentleness. She stepped to the stall and said, "Boss, I'll take everything she ordered. I'll pay."
Pulling money from her pouch, she handed it over without hesitation.
Nōnō lowered her head, her heart stirred. Even now, Mikoto hadn't changed. She was still the same warm, kind friend.
"…Thank you, Mikoto. I'll repay you when I can," she whispered.
"There's no need," Mikoto said gently. "Between us, such things don't matter."
Then, looking at her seriously, Mikoto asked the question that had troubled her for years.
"Back then… you left the Academy without a word. Where did you go? Why did you disappear?"
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