Tsunade's expression didn't change when she heard him.
She simply looked at Jiraiya in front of her, memories of their lives together flashing through her mind, and felt an overwhelming sadness.
However—
after draining a cup of tea she finally spoke. "Have you heard the rumors circulating in the Village about the Senju Clan, Dan, and Nawaki?"
"Those are lies, Tsunade!" Jiraiya's scalp tingled, yet he forced an explanation. "They're nothing but fabrications the Uchiha spread to undermine the Village."
"Can the Uchiha produce proof? How could you believe those stories?"
"Don't be fooled!"
Jiraiya hurriedly argued; he'd heard the rumors too.
But he didn't believe them. The accusations sounded too extreme. Hiruzen Sarutobi was his teacher; he knew the Old Man well. Though Hiruzen often acted inhumanely, he couldn't accept the Uchiha's allegations.
Therefore—
seeing Tsunade voice the same things, he couldn't help but start defending the Village.
Inwardly, he even felt a faint relief.
If Tsunade were truly about to defect to the Uchiha over these minor issues, he was confident he could persuade her back.
Unfortunately—
Tsunade's gaze remained calm. Once Jiraiya finally quieted, she spoke in an utterly level tone, "The Uchiha indeed can't present evidence, but if you want proof… I can provide it."
"What?" Jiraiya exclaimed.
His face turned deathly pale, his body trembling slightly.
Meanwhile—
Tsunade ignored him and poured herself another cup of tea.
After collecting her thoughts, she continued calmly,
"During the years when the Senju fell, when Dan and Nawaki died, I secretly investigated—and uncovered some truths."
"Back then I considered revenge, but in the end I gave up."
"I couldn't find anyone I could trust, and while I was still debating how to strike, Sakumo Hatake's suicide happened."
"That incident terrified me and made me realize how completely the Old Man controlled the Village."
"Losing all hope for revenge—and chilled to the bone by the Old Man and his circle—I finally used my blood-phobia as an excuse and left Konoha with Shizune."
"I was afraid that if I left Shizune behind, the Old Man would have her killed."
"After all, she doesn't have the Senju name to protect her; who knows whether the old bastard would really snuff out Dan's last bloodline."
Finished speaking,
Tsunade ignored Jiraiya's ashen face and calmly sipped her tea.
She used to drink often, but since joining the Uchiwa and making her choice, she'd lost her taste for alcohol.
Instead—
after Uchiha Jin treated her to some tea, she discovered it was actually rather good!
Jiraiya fell silent, lost in thought.
His mind went blank; he didn't know how to face Tsunade.
After a long silence he asked, "Why didn't you mention any of this over the years?"
"You weren't worth trusting," Tsunade answered flatly. "Orochimaru knew."
"But back then the three of us lacked the power and reputation. Why do you think Orochimaru turned into a cold-blooded snake after Nawaki died? He and I discussed it; revenge meant nothing."
"Later I agreed—killing the Old Man wouldn't bring Nawaki or Dan back."
"So Orochimaru entered Root, and I simply left the Village."
"In truth I'd let it go; I just didn't want to see the Old Man again. Had you not dragged me back, I'd never have returned unless he died."
"But unfortunately—
you still dragged me back. Seeing the Old Man's face again stoked the fire in my chest."
"Then tonight, after a few drinks and watching the Village's farce, I felt sick at heart. The Village shouldn't be like this!"
"It's rife with scheming and conspiracy…"
"My grandfathers gave their lives to build a peaceful place where children wouldn't be sent to war."
"Look at Konoha now?"
"The old bastard sits in the Village while batches of children are thrown onto the battlefield."
"I've had enough!"
"So save your breath—I'm never returning to the Village."
"If I weren't here when this mess started, I could pretend I didn't know and let the villagers fight it out among themselves. But since you forced me back—
I don't mind settling every old score at once!"
"Now go!"
Tsunade's face was full of disdain, all her pent-up grievances released in a single breath.
Yes!
She bore grudges against the Village higher-ups, and even without the Uchiha's revelations she had long known the truth.
For her own reasons she had chosen to let it go—
but now was different!
Even if this choice came while she was drunk, she still sided with the Uchiha.
Meanwhile—
after hearing everything, Jiraiya was completely dumbstruck.
What?
Tsunade had investigated the truth long ago, and even Orochimaru knew—yet neither had confided in him?
He couldn't accept it; in his heart, Tsunade and Orochimaru were his true friends.
"This…"
"Tsunade, why?"
"Am I really so untrustworthy?"
Jiraiya fumed, his eyes blazing.
He felt betrayed, no longer caring about persuading her—he only wanted to know why they had excluded him.
To that,
Tsunade replied calmly, "Because the toads of Mount Myōboku have brainwashed you. Look at the forehead protector you're wearing—you traded your Ninja headband for that Myoboku oil symbol."
"And whenever trouble comes, you run instead of making a real decision."
"You avoided the matter of Minato and Kushina, and now you're avoiding your grand-student Uzumaki Naruto as well."
"With a personality like yours, who could ever trust you?"