"…And that's how it is. Lord Hiruzen hopes you will return to Konoha and take up the position of Hokage. Right now, there is no one in the village more suitable than you."
Jiraiya finished speaking, looking at her with complete sincerity.
But they had known each other for far too long, and understood each other too well.
Tsunade immediately sensed something was wrong.
"Are you absolutely certain that is what Lord Hiruzen wrote in his letter?"
"Of course. Why would I lie to you?"
Jiraiya's heart skipped a beat, but he kept his expression calm, continuing to try and convince her.
Suddenly, Tsunade let out a cold laugh. "Show me the letter."
"Uh… well… about that…"
"What's the matter? Can't produce it?"
"I… I destroyed it after reading it."
"Cut the nonsense, Jiraiya. Just as you know me inside and out, I know you just as well. First of all, why would the old man write you a letter specifically ordering you to come find me? And even if he did, you would definitely have kept that letter. You would have pulled it out the very moment you saw me and shown it to me. That way, no matter what happened in the end, you could wash your hands of all responsibility and stay completely out of it."
Tsunade's words left Jiraiya completely speechless.
Just like Naruto earlier — truly, they were master and disciple through and through!
"Still not telling the truth? If you don't speak up now, I'm leaving."
"Alright, alright! You win. You're still just as sharp as you were back then. I admit I wasn't entirely honest just now… but not everything I said was a lie. Anyway… you'll understand once you see this."
Jiraiya gave a bitter smile and handed over all the letters Hiruzen had given him.
Tsunade took them and read through. First, her face darkened, then she let out a long sigh of relief.
"Look at you, Jiraiya! You've actually grown bold enough to use me as a bargaining chip just to buy your own freedom!"
As she spoke, Tsunade clenched her fist threateningly.
Jiraiya's face turned pale with fright. He backed away quickly, waving his hands frantically to calm her down.
"I had no other choice! I am simply not suited for that position! You know that better than anyone. Can you honestly imagine the official portrait of the Hokage being a lecher who spends his free time 'gathering research material' in the women's bathhouse?!"
Pfft!
Tsunade couldn't hold it in any longer and burst out laughing.
Jiraiya was truly desperate to avoid becoming Hokage — he was even willing to mock himself like that!
Just picturing it in her mind sent a shiver down her spine. She couldn't help but nod in agreement.
Seeing her reaction, Jiraiya pressed his advantage immediately.
"See? Even you can't accept the idea of me being Hokage! That leaves only you. If you refuse too, the title will almost certainly end up in Danzō's hands. And that man is far too radical. His hands are stained with so much dirty blood. Honestly… I don't like him at all. If Danzō becomes Hokage, I dread to think what he will turn Konoha into."
Tsunade's expression turned serious. She could clearly imagine the disaster that would bring.
It would be terrible!
After all, Danzō was partly responsible for the reasons she left the village in the first place.
But just as she was beginning to be persuaded, she suddenly snapped out of it.
Wait a minute… Everything she had just imagined was exactly what Jiraiya had described to her.
But it didn't have to be that way at all!
True, a Hokage who peeps in women's baths was unacceptable… but would he really keep doing that if he took the role?
Obviously not!
In fact, knowing Jiraiya as she did, she was certain that if he did become Hokage, he would abandon all those bad habits instantly.
Because his own pride would never allow him to tarnish the title of Hokage!
Phew… She had almost been tricked by him. Almost walked right into his trap.
Tsunade looked at Jiraiya with a distinctly unfriendly gaze.
"What is it now?"
Jiraiya had no idea where he went wrong and tried to look innocent.
Tsunade gave a cold smirk.
"Even if everything you said is true… what does it have to do with me? I'm not part of Konoha anymore. Let the village rot into whatever it wants. Can it really get any worse than it already is?"
"Huh? Are you really willing to let someone like Danzō become Hokage?"
"Whether I'm willing or not changes nothing. I'm not going back. If you don't want Danzō in charge, then you take the position. Don't try to drag me down with you."
"Me? I can't! A Hokage who spies on women everywhere?!"
"Cut the act, Jiraiya! I've seen right through your little plan. I would stake my life on this: the moment you sit in the Hokage's seat, you would never do anything to disgrace that name. And don't think I don't know exactly what the old man spends his days doing, hiding in his office staring into that crystal ball… You and your teacher are exactly the same kind of people!"
Exactly the same kind…
Pfft!
Her words struck Jiraiya right in the heart like a sharp arrow.
Fine… he had to admit she had him completely figured out.
"Sigh… I'm begging you… is there really no way?"
Jiraiya sighed in defeat, making one last desperate attempt.
Seeing him looking so miserable, Tsunade's resolve almost crumbled. But just as Jiraiya believed she was the best choice for Hokage, she believed he was the only truly suitable candidate.
On this point, she agreed completely with the Third Hokage.
So she had to bring out her trump card. She raised one finger and tapped lightly on the mark on her chest.
"At this point, I won't keep it from you. The truth is… I have already joined Akagi Shinji's Cult of the Evil God. That means I am no longer qualified to take the position of Hokage."
"How could this happen?!"
Jiraiya was stunned.
Then he finally recognized it — that mark was indeed the symbol of the Cult of the Evil God.
If Tsunade had joined them, there was no way she could become Hokage. She would never even pass the examination by the village elders and high‑ranking ninja.
They would never allow someone affiliated with another religion to rule the village!
Otherwise, wouldn't Konoha effectively become a branch of the Cult?
Even if Jiraiya swore on his life that Tsunade would never do anything to harm Konoha… no one else would believe him.
Even the slightest risk was something no one dared to gamble on.
This was a killing blow. It completely shattered Jiraiya's hopes.
Seeing Tsunade fall silent, Jiraiya's heart sank. He forced a weak smile.
"Alright… let's drop this subject for today. After all, it's been such a long time since we met as old friends. Let's go find somewhere to drink later. I'm actually very curious… how did you end up mixed up with Akagi Shinji and his group? And… how could you join an organization like the Cult of the Evil God?"
"Fine. There's no reason to hide it. Later, I'll tell you everything you want to know. But… there's one condition. You keep the sake coming — and plenty of it."
Jiraiya looked at her, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. Clearly, things weren't as bad or sinister as he had imagined. There must have been some misunderstanding somewhere along the way.
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