On the hillside, Orochimaru and Kabuto stood before a massive torii gate.
"Is this Bamboo Street?" Orochimaru narrowed his eyes. "Are you sure Tsunade is still here?"
"Yes, Lord Orochimaru," Kabuto confirmed with a respectful bow.
A wicked grin spread across Orochimaru's face. "Then my hands shall be saved."
Kabuto adjusted his glasses. "Are you certain she'll heal you? Tsunade-sama isn't just some traveling medic."
"It doesn't matter," Orochimaru said, stepping forward. "I have an offer she can't refuse."
Meanwhile, Tsunade sat at a gambling table, the pile of chips beneath her growing by the second. Yet, her frown deepened.
"Let's go, Shizune." Tsunade stood abruptly.
"Huh? But Lady Tsunade, you just hit the jackpot! Shouldn't you be celebrating?" Shizune asked, confused.
"This town gives me a bad feeling," Tsunade muttered. "Something's off. We're leaving. Now."
"Wait! Lady Tsunade!" Shizune hurried after her.
BOOM!
A massive explosion shook the central tower of Booklet Street. A colossal serpent crashed through the structure, its enormous body reducing it to rubble. Perched atop its head, Orochimaru and Kabuto smirked down at Tsunade.
"Hmph. Long time no see, Tsunade!" Orochimaru called out.
Tsunade's eyes darkened. "What do you want, Orochimaru?"
"I need a favor from you, Tsunade," he said smoothly.
Tsunade scoffed. "Go find someone else. I don't heal people anymore."
"Come now, Lady Tsunade," Kabuto interjected with mock politeness. "You're the only one capable of treating Lord Orochimaru's hands. A medical expert of your caliber is unparalleled."
Her gaze flickered to Orochimaru's lifeless hands. "A curse seal injury? Who could have done this to you? One of the legendary Sannin brought so low?"
Orochimaru chuckled darkly. "Nothing major. Just a parting gift from the Third Hokage before I killed him."
Tsunade and Shizune's eyes widened in horror.
"You bastard…!" Tsunade clenched her fists.
"Don't be so dramatic," Orochimaru sneered. "He was the one who drove you away, wasn't he? Or do you want to admit it was you, Tsunade, who truly killed your brother? The one who broke you?"
CRACK!
Tsunade's fist slammed into the nearby wall, shattering it instantly. She turned to Orochimaru, eyes burning with fury.
"Say another word, and I'll kill you right here."
Kabuto whistled, eyeing the destruction. "Incredible strength. No wonder she's still single."
Elsewhere, Jiraiya and Naruto finally reached the entrance of Booklet Street.
"This is all your fault, you little brat!" Jiraiya barked. "If it weren't for you, we'd have been here ages ago!"
Naruto picked his ear lazily. "Weren't you the one insisting we stop at the teahouse to 'gather intel'? Not my problem."
"Damn it!" Jiraiya smacked Naruto's head.
Naruto smirked. "I heard the entertainment scene here is top-notch. Wanna check it out?"
Jiraiya's eyes gleamed. "Yosh! Let's go!"
Naruto: "..."
Back at the ruins of the tower, Tsunade took a step forward, voice cold. "I'll give you five seconds to disappear from my sight."
Orochimaru smirked. "I can—"
BAM!
Tsunade's punch sent him flying.
"??" Orochimaru was dazed. "Where the hell is 5, 4, 3, 2?!"
"Wait, Tsunade! Just hear me out!" Orochimaru coughed, but Tsunade was already throwing another punch.
Shizune fired senbon at Kabuto before lunging at him with a scalpel. Kabuto barely dodged, his eyes narrowing.
"She's fast… Strong too. This isn't going to be easy."
Finally, Orochimaru managed to blurt out, "I can bring back your brother. And… him."
Tsunade froze mid-strike, panting. Her hands trembled.
"With the forbidden technique I developed," Orochimaru continued, sweat trickling down his temple.
"Impossible! He's not dead!" Tsunade roared. "He swore—he promised me! He said the day I become Hokage, he'd appear before me!"
Orochimaru's expression turned cold. "Stop lying to yourself, Tsunade. That man hasn't appeared in over a decade. He's dead. But I can pull them both from the underworld. I can bring them back."
Tsunade stared at him, the image of a man flashing in her mind.
"Hey, Tsunade-chan," the voice echoed. "When you become Hokage, I'll be there. After all, I'm destined to be Hokage man !"
Tsunade gritted her teeth, her fist trembling. "You bastard…" Her voice cracked. "You didn't come back just because I didn't become Hokage? Or did you already tell Orochimaru the same damn thing?!"
Orochimaru's lips curled. "I'll give you a week to decide. But the Edo Tensei requires two living sacrifices. Make the preparations."
Tsunade was silent.
"Lady Tsunade!" Shizune called, voice desperate.
Orochimaru lifted his crippled hands and bit down, blood spilling onto Tsunade.
She recoiled, her entire body shaking.
Kabuto smirked. "I never expected the great Tsunade-sama to have hemophobia. What a surprise."
Orochimaru turned. "Let's go. I'll await your answer, Tsunade."
They disappeared in an instant.
Later that night, inside a tavern—
"Boss! More sake!" Tsunade slammed her cup down, completely drunk.
"Lady Tsunade, you've had enough…" Shizune sighed, trying to take the bottle away.
Tsunade swatted her hand aside, muttering, "You bastard… where the hell are you…"
At that moment, Naruto and Jiraiya stepped inside.
"You're an idiot! We couldn't even find a damn hotel!" Naruto snapped.
"You were the one walking in circles, you little moron!" Jiraiya shot back.
Their argument halted as they spotted Tsunade and Shizune in the corner.
Jiraiya's jaw dropped. "Tsunade!"
Tsunade's drunken eyes blinked. "Jiraiya?"
Her gaze shifted to Naruto, and suddenly, her expression sharpened.
"You bastard!"
In a flash, she punched Naruto square in the face, sending him crashing through the tavern doors.
"NANI?!" Jiraiya screamed. "Tsunade, are you trying to kill him?!"
As the dust settled, Naruto's voice rang out: "Oi, lady! What the hell?! I don't even know you!"
Jiraiya gawked. "He took her punch and survived?!"
Tsunade staggered toward Naruto, tears spilling down her face. "I knew it… You bastard… you wouldn't die that easily…"
She collapsed into Naruto's arms, sobbing, before passing out.
Jiraiya and Shizune exchanged a look of absolute bewilderment.
"Wait… what the hell just happened?" Jiraiya muttered. "Is this some cougar romance?!"
Naruto shrugged. "Not my fault."
Jiraiya felt a strange sense of betrayal, as if a thick field of grass had just grown over his head…
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