Tsunade's playful expression faded the instant she saw Jiraiya's serious face. Without another word, she reached out, took the scroll he offered, and unfurled it across the table.
Her golden eyes scanned the contents and then widened in disbelief.
"Hiss… this can't be right!" she gasped. "How could that kid have such terrifying power?!"
The shock on her face made her look even younger, her features refined and clear as if she were eighteen again.
Jiraiya took a slow sip of sake, his voice steady but grave. "I was just as stunned when the old man's message reached me. I don't know everything about the Mangekyō Sharingan, but I'm certain what he's using surpasses it."
Tsunade's brows furrowed. She set the scroll down and said, "According to the notes left by my granduncle, that description matches the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, the final evolution of the Sharingan."
She paused, frowning deeper. "But that kind of eye requires fusing two Mangekyō Sharingan to even have a chance of forming… and the success rate is nearly nonexistent. Even among the Uchiha, almost no one has achieved it."
She wasn't exaggerating. In all of history, only three known pairs had truly existed, Indra's, Madara's, and Sasuke's. Kakashi's borrowed pair had been temporary, fleeting.
Back in the Warring States Era, when the clan drowned itself in endless bloodshed, Mangekyō eyes had appeared more than once. Many tried to merge them, but all failed, until Madara.
Jiraiya's gaze remained fixed on her. "Then how did that boy do it? There's no record of anyone else in the Uchiha awakening Mangekyō lately."
Tsunade tilted her head, thoughtful. "Perhaps the clan kept a pair hidden. Or maybe his eyes are… different. It's also possible he discovered a new evolution path. He is Orochimaru's student, after all."
She exhaled softly, setting her cup down. "But speculation aside, what matters is that he succeeded."
"Exactly," Jiraiya agreed. "And that's what worries me." His tone dropped. "You know better than anyone how Mangekyō power twists a person's mind. Combine that with Orochimaru's influence… his disregard for Konoha's laws… forcing the old man to yield by strength alone, that's not a good sign."
Tsunade stayed quiet for a long moment, studying him. Jiraiya's face was calm, but his eyes were shadowed with concern.
When Uchiha Gen had first become Hokage, Jiraiya hadn't thought much of it. He'd assumed the old man had simply chosen another talented student, a prodigy carrying the Will of Fire. It wasn't until Sarutobi's private letter reached him that he understood the truth.
Approval? Hardly.
The Third hadn't chosen Gen; he had been cornered into accepting him, for the sake of Konoha's survival.
"So that's why you're here," Tsunade said at last. "You want me to go back with you, help restrain him. Keep him from doing as he pleases."
"Exactly," Jiraiya confirmed, his voice firm. "He's strong, yes, but if you, I, the old man, and Kushina work together, we can still keep him in check. And if we can somehow mend Orochimaru's relationship with the Third, even better. Between his power and influence over Gen, he could make a difference."
He leaned forward, earnest. "But listen, this isn't about confrontation. The last thing we want is a direct clash. The goal is to anchor him. Keep his ties to Konoha strong enough that he never turns against it."
Jiraiya, however, didn't realize how deep those ties already ran, or how different their loyalties had become. Orochimaru's relationship with both Hiruzen and Gen wasn't one that could be "mended." If anything, it tilted toward Gen.
And Kushina… unless Gen threatened Konoha or Naruto directly, she'd never move against him. One side was her former teacher's legacy, the other her current lover, how could she choose?
Tsunade gave a soft, humorless laugh. "Heh. You're including me in this?" She poured herself another drink, her eyes lowering. "You haven't forgotten my condition, have you? My hemophobia hasn't improved... it's worse. Before, I could suppress it with Medical Ninjutsu, but not anymore."
Her tone turned bitter. "Even if I went back with you, what could I possibly do in this state? He already knows about my phobia."
Jiraiya froze, startled. He hadn't realized it was still that severe, not in her, the world's greatest medic-nin. For a long time, he said nothing, just drank silently beside her.
Then the tavern door opened, and two imposing figures walked in.
Kisame and Jūzō disguised, but only barely. Their chosen forms looked rough and dangerous, clearly meant to discourage interaction. Samehada was wrapped and slung over one back, Kubikiribōchō over the other. Even covered, their presence drew stares.
The hum of conversation died. The room grew uneasy. Waiters glanced their way, hesitant to approach.
Both Tsunade and Jiraiya turned instinctively. Their senses, honed over decades, immediately picked up the incongruity.
"These two aren't ordinary mercenaries," Jiraiya murmured.
"Let's ignore them," Tsunade replied softly.
Their voices were low, but in the tense quiet of the tavern, the words still carried. Kisame's sharp hearing caught it; he exchanged a glance with Jūzō, then both deliberately looked away and sat down.
The moment they did, the tavern noise slowly resumed.
Jiraiya exhaled and turned back to his drink. "Anyway… I think I've got an idea." His eyes flicked toward Tsunade. "That boy may know you have hemophobia, but he doesn't know if you've recovered. Just your name alone still holds weight. Your presence could be deterrent enough."
Tsunade's brow furrowed slightly as he continued, "If you return, we can find a way to help, mentally, medically. Once you overcome it here.." he tapped his temple, "you'll be free of it."
She sighed, torn. "I'll… think about it."
Jiraiya, emboldened, pressed on. "What's there to think about, Tsunade? Konoha was built by your grandfather and granduncle. It's their life's work! It's also why Dan and Nawaki gave their lives. Are you really willing to let that legacy fall apart?"
He leaned forward, intensity creeping into his voice. "Besides, it's been years since we've gone back. Don't you want to see the village again? Shizune too, it's been a long time, hasn't it?"
Shizune blinked, startled to be pulled into the conversation. "I… I do miss it," she admitted after a pause.
"See?" Jiraiya grinned. "Even Shizune misses home. I don't believe you don't."
Tsunade met his gaze for a long, tense moment before sighing. "Fine. I'll give you some face, Jiraiya. I'll go back for a while."
Jiraiya's face split into a grin. "Ha! I knew you would. Come on... let's drink to that!"
The heavy atmosphere broke. The two old comrades clinked cups, their laughter returning, and drank until the night blurred softly around them. When they finally left the tavern, they walked side by side into the inn's lamplight, their steps a little unsteady but their bond restored.
The Next Morning.
After breakfast, Uchiha Gen called Kisame and Jūzō into his room. Mei Terumī stood quietly by the window.
"We'll part ways here," Gen said evenly. "You two escort Mei back to Akatsuki headquarters."
"Yes, Lord," they replied together.
"I'll visit when I can," Gen continued. "The Flying Thunder God makes travel easy enough."
He turned toward Mei. She met his gaze and smiled softly. "Be careful," she said.
"You too," he answered, a faint warmth in his eyes. "A new era's coming. Don't miss it."
The three bowed and departed. When they were gone, Gen gathered his things, checked out of the hotel, and walked aimlessly through the busy morning streets.
By coincidence or perhaps inevitability, he met Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Shizune as they were leaving their inn. Their eyes widened at once. The very man who had dominated their conversation last night was suddenly standing before them.
"Well, if it isn't Jiraiya-senpai, Tsunade-senpai, and Shizune," Gen greeted with an easy smile. "I didn't expect to see you all here."
Shizune nodded politely. "It's been a while."
"What are you doing here, kid?" Tsunade and Jiraiya asked almost in unison.
Gen chuckled. "On vacation. I thought I'd relax a bit. And you three? Heading somewhere with all that luggage?"
Jiraiya grinned. "We're planning to return to Konoha. Been a long time."
"That's wonderful," Gen said. "With you two back, Konoha will be even stronger."
He tilted his head slightly. "How about we travel together? I was hoping to also have a talk with Tsunade-senpai."
"Fine by me," Jiraiya said. "But before that, what did you want to talk to Tsunade about?"
Gen smiled faintly. "Just something personal. Would Tsunade-senpai have a moment?"
Tsunade blinked, surprised. "Me?"
"Of course," Gen said. "If it's inconvenient, we can speak later."
"No need," she replied with a shrug. "Go on then."
Jiraiya smirked. "Mind if we listen in?"
Gen met his eyes with amused calm. "I don't mind. Tsunade-senpai?"
"Suit yourself," she said, waving a hand.
"Then let's walk while we talk," Gen suggested. "The street's a bit crowded."
A short while later, the four left the town behind, following a forest path framed in morning light. The air was clear, the leaves stirring gently.
"This place will do," Tsunade said, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "So, what's this about?"
Gen clasped his hands behind his back and smiled. "In the Uchiha clan's Nanga Shrine, there's a stone monument. Its words can only be read by the Sharingan and the stronger the eyes, the more is revealed. When I deciphered it, I found something interesting."
Both Sannin turned to him. "What did it say?" Tsunade asked.
"In its later passages," Gen continued evenly, "it says the union of Uchiha and Senju will give rise to the Power of Creation. I've been curious what that means."
He paused, eyes gleaming with faint amusement. "So, Tsunade-senpai… would you be my girlfriend?"
For a heartbeat, silence. Then....
"HUH?!"
Three voices, Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Shizune, rang out in perfect unison. They froze, dumbfounded.
Of course, Gen knew the truth. The "Power of Creation" was the Rinnegan, and it wasn't born from ordinary love or lineage alone. It required reincarnations of Indra and Asura, the union of chakra itself, not romance. But none of that mattered. The line was simply his excuse, wrapped in myth and mystique.
He hid his true intent behind a playful smile, knowing exactly how to make the proposition sound both absurd and oddly profound.
Jiraiya coughed violently, trying to recover first. "Cough, cough—Gen, that's… that's a big age gap, don't you think? Not to mention, Tsunade's your teacher's peer, your senior! Hardly appropriate."
He flailed slightly, half reasoning, half panicking. "And this 'combination' you mentioned—it's about power, not, uh, people. Otherwise, what about male-male or female-female combinations, huh?"
He forced a laugh, but his eyes betrayed something else, discomfort, maybe jealousy. He'd always loved Tsunade, silently, painfully, even when Dan had her heart. And now, to hear a younger man, a frighteningly strong one, confess to her so brazenly…
He couldn't just stand by.
Even if Gen's interpretation was wrong, what if it wasn't? The boy already wielded impossible power. If he somehow gained this so-called Power of Creation, would Konoha, or anyone, be able to stop him?
For both public and private reasons, Jiraiya's instincts screamed the same truth.
He couldn't let this one slide.