Tsunade said, "Even someone as strong as my grandfather, who established Konoha and quelled the chaos of war, eventually lost his life for the sake of the Hokage position."
"My granduncle, the Second Hokage, chose to stay behind alone so that the younger generation could survive."
"They were the strongest in the Ninja World, but they all died in the position of the Hokage. Therefore, only a fool would want to be the Hokage."
Tsunade slammed the cup onto the table, delivering her final conclusion.
"So you're just a coward afraid of losing your life."
Just as Jiraiya was about to say, "Tsunade, you've changed," Naruto, sitting beside him, picked up some food from the plate with his chopsticks and said while chewing.
Tsunade's pupils constricted, and immediately after, a wave of Chakra pressure bore down on Naruto. The sake cup in her hand vibrated with a buzzing sound from this pressure, and Tonton, in Shizune's arms, was so scared that it buried its head into Shizune's arm.
Naruto sat where he was without even changing his posture, his face calm.
"Brat, what did you say?"
"I said you are a coward and a weakling."
Naruto put down his chopsticks and looked straight into Tsunade's eyes. "The First Hokage quelled the chaos of the world to establish the ninja village. The Second Hokage chose to stay behind alone for the younger generation. They were both people who used their lives to legitimize the title of Hokage."
"Yet you think that only a fool would want to be Hokage. Are you denying the choices of the First and Second?"
Tsunade narrowed her eyes.
The way she looked at Naruto this time was different from before. This Jinchuriki brat didn't even twitch an eyebrow under the Chakra pressure she released. This alone was enough to make her re-evaluate Naruto.
"Brat, you seem to know quite a lot about Konoha's history. State your name."
"My name is Uzumaki Naruto, and I am the person who will become the Hokage in the future." Naruto said.
"Hmph, Hokage? A brat like you?" Tsunade let out a cold snort.
She admitted that this Nine-Tails Jinchuriki brat had some guts, but being the Hokage wasn't something you could just do with guts alone.
She had seen countless young ninjas boast at the sake table about becoming Hokage, and the vast majority of them ended up as mere lines on the memorial stone.
"I don't care whether you believe it or not. But compared to someone like you who has been running away for so many years, I have a bit more confidence in myself." Naruto shrugged.
Tsunade's lips twitched.
"Brat, so you're saying you're very confident in your strength?"
"Tsunade, I advise you not to underestimate Naruto, he is stronger than you imagine." Jiraiya sighed and spoke in a weary tone.
"Jiraiya, you rate this brat so highly?" Tsunade's gaze flickered back and forth between Jiraiya and Naruto.
Just then, Naruto spoke up, "I refuse."
Tsunade's gaze turned from curious back to cold. "What, didn't you just say you were very confident in yourself? Are you backing down now?"
Naruto shook his head. "I don't like engaging in pointless battles with cowards. If I accidentally hurt one of the Sannin, and then get criticized for disrespecting my elders or being too heavy-handed, that would be too unfair."
Tsunade stood up. "Brat, you have successfully angered me."
"I've said it before, I don't like fighting meaningless fights with cowards. If you really want to fight, then let's add some stakes and make a bet."
"Hmph, what's the bet?" Tsunade crossed her arms, and looked down at Naruto.
"If I win, you come back to Konoha with us, take up the position of Fifth Hokage, and let me become your direct Jonin."
"Kid, why do you want to be my direct Jonin? Do you know what being a direct Jonin means? Any mission you go on must be signed off by me, any trouble you cause must be cleaned up by me, and if you die in battle, I'll have to personally go and sort through your belongings."
"To prepare to become the next Hokage. After becoming a ninja directly under the Hokage, I can legitimately avoid the hands reaching out from certain people."
Tsunade's brows furrowed slightly. She knew who he was referring to—Danzo.
That old thing had been coveting the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki for a long time. If Hiruzen hadn't been suppressing him while he was alive, he would have already dragged Naruto into Root.
Now that Hiruzen was dead...
She had received intelligence that Danzo had been inexplicably injured in an explosion. But once he recovered, the first target he would go after would be Naruto.
This kid was much more clear-headed than his peers. He didn't just talk about wanting to be the Hokage, he was planning every step of his actions toward that goal.
"Wanting to become my direct subordinate ninja isn't something you can do just by talking."
Tsunade pushed open the wooden door of the izakaya. "Come out, let me see if your strength matches your arrogance."
Naruto stood up from his seat and clapped his hands.
Jiraiya and Shizune followed him out and stood under the eaves on the other side of the alley.
Shizune held Tonton with a worried look, while Jiraiya leaned against the wall with his arms crossed, wearing an expression of watching a good show.
Naruto and Tsunade stood still in the open space of the alley, with a distance of about ten steps between them.
"As one of the Sannin, facing a Genin, I'll give you one hand."
Tsunade put her right hand behind her back and let her left hand hang casually at her side, her eyes filled with undisguised contempt as she looked at Naruto.
In her view, even if this Jinchuriki kid had performed remarkably just now, he was ultimately just a Genin who had graduated only a few months ago. Giving him one hand was already too much, for the sake of not embarrassing Jiraiya.
***
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