Shizune sat to the side, watching Tsunade continuously drinking, causing her face to turn red, and couldn't help but advise her.
"You're really such a nag, Shizune. I'm a medical ninja, so I know my body well enough. It's fine."
Ignoring Shizune's advice, Tsunade picked up the bottle and took a swig, making Shizune sigh repeatedly.
It's precisely because you're a medical ninja that you shouldn't indulge yourself like this.
Just as Shizune was about to advise her again, a voice suddenly reached her and Tsunade's ears:
"Drinking alone here late at night, are you troubled by something, Tsunade?"
Shizune looked up at the newcomer, somewhat surprised.
"Jiraiya-sama?"
The newcomer was indeed Jiraiya; he stood in front of the table, teasing with a smile.
Tsunade sobered up from her drunkenness, but her face remained flushed, and she squinted her eyes, saying, "Today, one troublesome thing after another. Did you all plan this deliberately?"
In Jiraiya's ears, Tsunade's words sounded somewhat inexplicable, but he didn't mind much.
He sat across from Tsunade and said with a smile, "Don't say that. You left the village in a hurry before; I haven't had the chance to drink with you. Today we can make up for that."
Shizune looked at Jiraiya with slight dissatisfaction.
Almost forgot, Jiraiya, one of the Sannin, is also a drunkard, and of the type who does not handle his liquor well.
Not only that, he's a lecher.
And the only one among the Sannin who doesn't indulge in ninja taboos, Orochimaru, turned out to betray the village and become an S-class dangerous renegade ninja.
"Say what you need to and leave if there's nothing else. I have no time for your roundabout nonsense."
Tsunade was very blunt and told Jiraiya without politeness.
Jiraiya was a bit embarrassed but quickly composed himself, saying, "Actually, I'm here not just for myself but also at Teacher Sarutobi's behest."
"Get to the point."
Tsunade's voice lowered.
"Both Teacher Sarutobi and I hope you'll return to take the position of Fifth Hokage."
Seeing Tsunade's straightforwardness, Jiraiya couldn't beat around the bush; he directly stated his intention.
"Why?"
"You know my personality is too carefree and loose, not suitable for managing the village. Besides, Teacher Sarutobi is already old. Now the Uchiha clan has had such incidents, and coupled with the Land of Demons... the current international environment is very unfavorable for Konoha. Only you, as the granddaughter of the First Hokage, can return and turn the tide."
"And then become a puppet like Minato?"
Tsunade held the empty bottle and her mood flared up.
"Teacher Sarutobi was initially worried about the village... Plus, Minato has passed away. The past shouldn't be brought up anymore."
Saying this, a trace of sadness also appeared in Jiraiya's eyes.
"Such nonsense only fools sentimental idiots like you. Don't tell me the Uchiha incident is unrelated to the higher-ups."
Tsunade sneered.
"Precisely because of this, we need you to return to govern. With your prestige, you can become the Fifth Hokage. To be honest, Teacher Sarutobi is now powerless against the Root. From what I know, Root has been conducting some forbidden experiments lately, possibly related to the tailed beasts."
"Isn't that good? It can greatly enhance the village's strength."
"It's different. Danzo's views are too extreme, and his ambition is tremendous. If he leads the village, he might immediately trigger a Ninja Realm war."
Jiraiya's expression was serious.
"Whether Konoha or another village initiates a Ninja Realm war, it makes no difference. Anyway, there will be casualties, there will be battles. It's just that under Danzo's lead, Konoha changes from passive to active."
Tsunade spoke coldly.
Jiraiya stared, surprised at Tsunade; he hadn't expected her to say such a thing.
"Why would you say that?"
As if getting to know Tsunade anew.
"...Nothing, the alcohol muddled my mind a bit."
Tsunade realized she had misspoken; no matter what, her previous words somewhat contradicted her grandfather's ideals.
If she changes, it would first be disrespectful to her grandfather.
However... Tsunade recalled what Hakushi had told her this afternoon.
Negating his grandfather and also negating the daimyo and nobility, aiming to reshape the entire world order and establish a new system, it made her somewhat intrigued.
If followed through with such an idea, would the world really become better?
The ninja village system has many flaws.
Peace shouldn't just be a self-entertaining confinement and it isn't merely the peace of the daimyo and nobles.
If I were a commoner, I'd want to live in the Land of Demons.
If more people knew about the living conditions there in the Land of Demons, would they follow, would they hope for such a life?
If her grandfather in the grave knew, would he support her?
However... this way, Konoha... everything her grandfather left behind, would it still have value?
Thinking this, Tsunade laughed at herself.
Really, as the inheritor of the Will of Fire, she's now questioning her ancestors' ideals because of a renegade's few words.
Peace... what is it after all?
Is it the peace of daimyo, nobles, ninjas, and other privileged classes, or... the peace of more ordinary people, more mortals?
Jiraiya watched Tsunade's hand holding the empty bottle, noticing it slightly tremble, feeling puzzled.