The team looking for Tsunade was unaware of what had happened in Konoha after they left. They had just finished their discussion and decided to search for her based on the First Hokage's intuition.
Where there's a casino, there's Tsunade.
It was a strange line of thought, yet all three of them felt there was nothing wrong with it. One had to wonder if the seat of Konoha's Fifth Hokage would feel sad, knowing a notorious gambler who always lost money was about to sit in it.
Besides searching for Tsunade, Hashirama would often take Naruto to a secluded place to teach him the Wood Style techniques.
After all, only Naruto could inherit his Wood Style.
"Wood Style: Wood Human Jutsu!"
In the barren mountains, a tall wooden human rose from the ground. Naruto sat cross-legged on its head, clasped his hands together, and continued in a low voice, "Wood Style: Wood Dragon Jutsu!"
A huge wooden dragon grew out of the wooden human's arm and coiled around its shoulder, its pupils slowly opening. Compared to other ninjutsu, most Wood Style jutsu possessed a certain life force. As long as there was enough chakra to support them, they could continue to fight.
Hashirama was very satisfied with his teaching. Seeing the Wood Style jutsu Naruto released, he nodded and said, "Good. You practice here. I'll go to the small town to help find little Tsuna..."
"The First Hokage isn't going to a casino, is he?" Naruto looked at Hashirama with suspicion. Since leaving the village, the founder of Konoha had begun to let loose and would go gamble from time to time.
However, his gambling luck didn't seem to be very good, either.
Fortunately, Jiraiya had a large sum of money in his bank account, and Hashirama's desire to gamble wasn't too strong, so it was more than enough to cover their expenses.
"Hahahaha... how could that be..." Hashirama laughed loudly to hide his embarrassment, scratching his head. "Little Jiraiya has been working too hard recently. We have to help him as much as we can!"
"I don't think so at all..." The yellow-haired genin couldn't help but pout. Ever since they left Konoha, Naruto was the only one resting in the inn every night. Hashirama hung out in casinos, and Jiraiya lingered in bars.
The nightlife of adults was so rich. No wonder that before leaving Konoha, Kushina Uzumaki had repeatedly warned him not to go out with Jiraiya late at night, especially not for "research."
They were in no hurry. As long as they caught a trace of Tsunade, they could find her quickly.
The only thing Hashirama couldn't understand was why his granddaughter had become a well-known 'fat sheep' in the ninja world. Could it be that after so many years of practicing, Tsunade's gambling was still at the elementary stage he had taught her?
Unfortunately, the small team had subconsciously forgotten one other thing. A woman known as the strongest medical ninja would, of course, have others eyeing her.
There was another person also looking for Tsunade.
On Tanzaku Street, in a casino of no great size, the air was noisy with the shouts of gamblers.
A black-haired woman holding a small pink pig looked at the gambling machine in front of her in disbelief. "Lady Tsunade... you hit the jackpot! I can't believe you actually won today!"
"Oh." The blonde woman standing next to her collected a pile of coins with a blank expression, frowning slightly. "Shizune, let's go. I have a feeling something bad is about to happen..."
"What could be bad about winning money?" Shizune looked at Tsunade in surprise. Was it better to lose so much every day that they couldn't afford a room, like before?
"I don't know..." The blonde woman shook her head, her twin ponytails swaying. There was a nervous flutter in her heart. She turned to leave. Every time she won at gambling, something bad would happen. Therefore, something that would make her sad was definitely going to happen here.
She absolutely could not stay in this town.
Unfortunately, she was too late to leave.
A man with spiky white hair and wearing leather armor stood at the casino entrance, drawing his ninja sword and blocking Tsunade's path.
"If you keep standing in my way, I'll punch you..." The blonde woman frowned in displeasure, but when she looked up and saw the man who had suddenly appeared, her heart seemed to stop. "Great-Granduncle?"
What kind of joke was this? Why was the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, here?
Tsunade had been cared for by her relatives since she was a child. Whether it was Hashirama or Mito Uzumaki, they all doted on the little girl. Only this serious-faced great-granduncle had the most distant relationship with her because he was impartial. Or rather, he was strict and never exposed his soft side to outsiders.
Now, the Second Hokage was resurrected... Tsunade looked at Tobirama's face in disbelief and involuntarily took a half-step back. In her heart, she suddenly thought of the two other deceased people she longed for day and night.
"Tsunade..." A hoarse, sinister voice came from behind Tobirama. Orochimaru, who had just changed into a new body, lifted his straw hat and stood before her. The female ninja was still bright and charming. Orochimaru sighed faintly, a complex and indescribable emotion flashing across his face. "It's been a long time."
"Orochimaru!" The blonde ninja clenched her fist, her face full of anger. "What is going on? How dare you desecrate the Second Hokage?"
"This is not desecration... but a true resurrection," Orochimaru feigned helplessness as he brushed his hair and chuckled. "Tsunade, don't you want to see Lord Second Hokage again?" Saying that, Orochimaru changed the subject, a playful smile appearing on his lips. "Or... are there others you want to see again?"
"You..." The blonde ninja gritted her teeth but didn't speak again. Her old friend had hit upon her exact thoughts.
As expected of the companions who could once rely on each other... when Orochimaru spoke, he was confident he could move her heart. Even after so many years, nothing had changed. The person who understood her best in the entire ninja world was not that idiot Jiraiya, who shouted about protecting her, but Orochimaru.
Orochimaru looked at Tsunade's suppressed movements and said with a smile, "Tsunade, I need your medical ninjutsu. If the research I'm conducting is successful, perhaps we can pursue eternal life together... As long as you join, whether it's successful or not, I will help you resurrect one of those two people. You'll agree, right?"
"Orochimaru, I won't believe you!" Tsunade finally couldn't bear the oppressive atmosphere anymore. After a sneer, she said with a cold face, "If the resurrected person is your puppet, just a killing machine without a shred of its own will, then what's the use!"
Her fist suddenly clenched. Obviously, her next move was to punch the expressionless Second Hokage before her.
"Don't be ridiculous, Tsunade..." Orochimaru said only one sentence and dispelled her thoughts. "I know you very well. As long as you can see them once, you will pay any price. Am I right?"
-----
Bonus:
Jiraiya: Your hands aren't broken, so why are you looking for Tsunade?
Orochimaru: Sigh, I'm afraid you'll fall...
Jiraiya: What are you talking about?
Orochimaru: Fine. The truth is, my medical reserves are insufficient.
Kabuto Yakushi: Lord Orochimaru, can my medical ninjutsu not be trusted?
Orochimaru: No, I need someone stronger, like Karin... and I want Sasuke.
Kabuto Yakushi: ...I've been diligent and conscientious...
Orochimaru: I still want to pass the leadership of the snake faction to Sasuke.