Jiraiya, Naruto, and Tsunade moved with unusual speed, driven by the urgency of Shizune's kidnapping. The cave Orochimaru had mentioned was not far away, a rocky outcrop barely visible among the dense vegetation.
The tension was palpable, especially on Tsunade's, whose face, for the first time, showed neither the gambler's anger nor the hermit's cynicism, but rather a deep anxiety.
"Shizune!" Tsunade shouted as she entered the cave, her voice echoing in the dark hallway.
At the back of the cave, tied to a rock pillar, was Shizune. She was unconscious, but breathing. A complex, glowing seal held her immobilized, glowing with an energy Tsunade recognized as Orochimaru's work.
"A seal!" Naruto exclaimed, ready to pounce.
"Wait, Naruto," Jiraiya said, stopping him. "It's a complex seal. If you break it carelessly, you could harm her."
Tsunade was already there, examining the seal with medical concentration. Her fury had transformed into cold determination. "Damn Orochimaru... always up to his disgusting tricks."
With a controlled burst of chakra, Tsunade began analyzing the seal's sequence. Her hands, skilled in healing and breaking jutsus, moved with pinpoint precision. Within minutes, the seal's glow flickered and faded, freeing Shizune.
Tsunade rushed to check on her assistant, concern evident in her eyes. "Shizune, are you okay?"
Shizune began to wake up, coughing weakly. "Master Tsunade... what...? Orochimaru..." Her eyes shot open at the sight of Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Naruto.
"You're safe now, Shizune," Jiraiya reassured her. "Gojo Satoru took care of Orochimaru."
"Gojo-san?" Shizune asked, still dazed.
As Shizune regained her composure and Tsunade administered some healing chakra, Naruto approached Tsunade, his face still marked by pain, but with new hope.
"Tsunade-obachan..." Naruto began, using the informal term "aunt" he had already used with the Third Hokage.
Tsnade looked at him, and for the first time, she saw something beyond the loud, insolent boy. She saw a spark of resilience, of unspoken pain, and a strange connection with Hiruzen.
"Look," Naruto continued, holding out his hand to show her the First Hokage's crystal necklace, which Hiruzen had given him and Gojo had mysteriously "returned" to him as part of the 'Plot Artifact'.
"This necklace belonged to the First Hokage. The Third Hokage gave it to me. And... and he believed in me. He believed in Konoha. If he gave his life, why can't you step forward?"
Tsunade looked at the necklace, her eyes fixed on the gem. It was the same necklace her brother, Nawaki, and her lover, Dan, had worn, and both had died shortly after. The necklace's curse, the fear of loss, had haunted her for years. Seeing it in Naruto's hands, a boy who reminded her of Nawaki with his dream of becoming Hokage, touched her deeply.
Jiraiya leaned closer, his voice soft. "Tsunade, Hiruzen always said the Will of Fire lived on in the young. This brat... he has that will. He needs guidance. Konoha needs you."
A silence fell over the cave. Tsunade closed her eyes, the weight of her memories and the burden of Konoha's future crashing into her mind. She thought of Nawaki, of Dan, of Hiruzen. All of them had sacrificed their lives for the village. And now, this boy, Naruto, reminded her of the purity of her dreams. Shizune's kidnapping, Orochimaru's humiliation at Gojo's hands, and Naruto's words... it all came together.
When she opened her eyes, her determination was evident. "Okay," she said, her voice firm, if a little hoarse. "I will."
Naruto opened his eyes in awe, a radiant smile, though still laced with tears, spreading across his face. "Really?! Dattebayo!"
"Yes, you noisy brat," Tsunade said, a small smile playing on her lips. "But on my terms. First, we're going to heal Shizune. And second... we'll have to deal with the hangover I'll get from returning to Konoha."
Meanwhile, Gojo Satoru was already back in the casino, doing some peculiar "score-settling." A man in a suit approached timidly.
"Lord... Satoru," he said, trembling. "About the damage... the casino..."
"Oh, don't worry about that," Gojo interrupted with a smile. "I have 'Infinity' to deal with space, but I also have 'Infinity' to deal with finances. Here you go."
He pulled out a bag full of gold from nowhere, which was absurd for the time, but Gojo didn't care about modern coins.
"This should cover it. And tell everyone that the Sannin Orochimaru just had a bad night. And not to show up here again if he values his unlife."
With the situation under control, Gojo felt a slight tug in his mind. It was the system's confirmation that the main mission was nearly complete. The Sannin had been convinced.
[Critical Plot Mission Completed!]
[Objective: Find and convince the Legendary Sannin, Tsunade Senju, to return to Konoha to assume the mantle of Fifth Hokage.]
[Success Reward: 30,000 Dimension Points (DP) and a 'Plot Artifact: Tobi Mask'.]
Gojo smiled to himself. Thirty thousand points. Not bad. The Dimension Points would be useful for future purchases or upgrades.
A few moments later, Gojo felt the chakra signatures of Jiraiya, Tsunade, Naruto, and Shizune approaching again. He turned to face them, a smug smile on his face.
"So, the 'old lady' finally caved, huh?" Gojo teased, causing Tsunade to glare at him.
"You're holding your own, Gojo," Tsunade retorted, though there was a hint of relief in her voice. "Don't underestimate the power of a loud-mouthed kid with big dreams."
"I never would," Gojo assured, raising his hands in surrender. "It seems Konoha's future is secure, at least for now. And your training, Blondie, will continue, but with a new perspective."
The shadow of tragedy still loomed over Konoha, but with Tsunade's return and Gojo's enigmatic presence, the village had new hope. Naruto, with the First Hokage's necklace around his neck, felt the weight of the legacy, not only of Hiruzen, but of the Hokage who came before him. His path to strength and leadership was just beginning.
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I have a fanfic saved, so I don't know if I'll publish it. If you vote and get over 10 stone, I'll publish the fanfic with 5 chapters. I hope for your support.