The Bet with Tsunade

"Both of you, follow me. We'll handle the training on the way."

With that, we followed Jiraiya to the place where we expected to find Tsunade.

"Isn't this a gambling den?"

"That woman has a serious gambling addiction."

After saying that, Jiraiya stepped inside the gambling house. We learned she had been there moments ago but had stepped out briefly.

After waiting outside for a while, we decided to head to higher ground to search for her.

That was when Jiraiya spotted someone fleeing in panic. He approached the man and asked what had happened.

"You two should run too!! There's a monster over there!!"

"A monster?"

"A... a massive snake! It destroyed the entire castle in seconds!"

The moment he heard "huge snake," Jiraiya's eyes sharpened. He sprinted toward the castle, and we chased after him.

When we reached the spot, no one was there—only the shattered remains of the walls.

With nothing gained, we headed back and decided to gather information at a tavern.

"This is exactly where information gathers!"

"You're ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠not just here to drink, right?"

Chatting away, the two of them entered the tavern. I followed and immediately noticed a beautiful, clearly drunk woman on one side being gently restrained by another woman.

"Tsunade!!"

"Jiraiya? How did you...?"

Blonde hair, skin like flawless white jade, and a faint blush from the alcohol—Tsunade was stunning. My gaze slowly drifted downward, stealing a glance at her chest.

"Whoa~ At least an E-cup."

While Jiraiya and Tsunade talked, I secretly appraised her figure. Our eyes suddenly met.

"Heh, the kid's got good taste."

I didn't flinch. Instead I looked her straight in the eye and declared confidently.

"Lady Tsunade, I love you."

Crash!!

My bombshell made Jiraiya and Naruto jump, spilling their drinks. Tsunade burst into laughter.

"Hahahahaha! What an amusing little brat... Do you even know how old I am?"

"Of course I do. But love doesn't care about age."

"Hey! Jin! This guy's calling her an old—"

Crack!!

The chopsticks in Tsunade's grip snapped. Jiraiya broke into a cold sweat and shut his mouth.

After swallowing hard, Jiraiya told her that the Third Hokage had died and asked her to take the vacant position. Her response was blunt.

"Risking your life for the village? Only idiots do crap like that... Same goes for old man Sarutobi. The geezer poked his nose where it didn't belong and got himself killed... Hokage? Tell them to shove it. Only fools take that job."

Smash!!

At her words Naruto charged, throwing a punch, but Jiraiya caught him and forced him back into his seat.

"Let me go!!"

"Stop it, Naruto. This is a bar. Calm down."

Tsunade stared at me. I winked and flashed her a smile.

"Hahahahaha! You're traveling with some truly entertaining brats, Jiraiya! You two little ones, follow me outside!"

Once we were out, Tsunade and Naruto faced off.

She jerked her chin toward Naruto while looking at me, but I simply shrugged and grinned.

"Insulting both the Fourth and Grandpa Hokage right in front of me! I won't go easy on you just because you're a woman!!"

"Hmph! I may not look it, but I was one of the Legendary Sannin. This is more than enough against a lowly ninja."

She raised her index finger.

Naruto, furious at being dismissed, rushed forward, drew a kunai, and thrust it at her face.

Tsunade ducked, snatched the kunai from his hand, flicked off his headband, and delivered a sharp flick to his forehead.

Thwack!!

Whoosh!

"Before you pass out, brat, let me ask you one thing. Why are you so obsessed with the title of Hokage?"

"Unlike you, becoming Hokage is my dream!"

After looking at Naruto, she turned to me.

"And you, little brat? What's your dream...?"

"Dating Lady Tsunade? Plus Hinata and Ino too."

Tsunade's face twisted in utter disbelief. In that brief opening, Naruto formed a Rasengan and charged.

Surprised by the Rasengan, Tsunade slammed her finger into the ground, splitting the earth. Naruto lost his balance and slammed the Rasengan into the dirt. It left a radial scar but ultimately failed.

"Did you teach him the Rasengan? Teaching a technique he can't even handle... how pathetic. No wonder he spouts nonsense about becoming Hokage when you keep inflating his ego like this."

"It's not nonsense! You old hag!! Give me three days and I'll master this stupid jutsu!"

"Then let's make a bet. If you perfect that technique within a week, I'll acknowledge you can become Hokage and give you this necklace."

"Who cares about some necklace."

"It's not just any necklace, Naruto. That's the First Hokage's legacy... Sell it and you could buy three mountains."

Naruto's jaw dropped at Jiraiya's explanation.

Tsunade held up Naruto's coin pouch.

"But! ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠If you fail, this becomes mine."

"Excuse me."

I raised my hand.

"Hmm?"

Tsunade turned to me.

"Can I join this bet too?"

"Are you learning the Rasengan as well? Then if you master it, I'll give you this necklace too."

"If I complete the Rasengan, grant me one wish on top of that."

"Ha! I thought the little brat was cute so I played along, but now you're getting cocky... Fine. But if you fail?"

"You can kill me."

Tsunade stared into my eyes for a long moment, then smirked and turned away.

"I'll take back the 'little brat' comment. Those are a man's eyes... All right. I'll bet with you too."

Tsunade left. That evening, her assistant Shizune found me and Naruto and told us about Tsunade's past. After hearing the story, Naruto went off to train. I glanced at Jiraiya once before following him.

Whoosh!

The perfectly compressed Rasengan spun violently like a miniature typhoon.

I dispelled the Rasengan and checked the rewards.

Options one and two were safe choices. I checked the third—Skill Modification Ticket.

"Nice. I'll take number three—the Skill Modification Ticket."

I used it immediately.

None of the other skills needed changes, so I selected Rasengan.

I added the throwing property as suggested.

"Perfect! I'll go with this."

Feeling great about the new skill, I walked over to Naruto.

"Naruto, want to see something?"

Whoosh! Crackle!

Flames mixed into the violently spinning Rasengan in my palm, forming a blazing red vortex.

"Uwaaaah! What the hell is that?! You actually completed it? And with fire?!"

Whoosh!

BOOM!!!

I hurled it at a tree. The Flame Rasengan smashed through the trunk and set it ablaze.

I laughed at his shocked face.

"I can't teach you the trick, but I can tell you a way to master it quickly."

"Huh? What is it?!"

"Use Shadow Clone Jutsu. Have all your clones train together."

"You mean I'll complete the Rasengan faster that way?"

"Yeah. Just try it. It's a method only you can use, but the results will be solid."

"Got it! So can I make a flaming Rasengan like you, Jin?"

"That'll be tough since you don't have a fire affinity. But later you can develop your own unique version."

Encouraged, Naruto created clones and began training in earnest.

A week later.

Knowing the fight with Orochimaru was approaching, I made my preparations ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and waited for the next day.

Jiraiya didn't return to the lodging that night. The following day he showed up late, and together with Naruto and Shizune we rushed to the battlefield where Tsunade and Orochimaru were fighting—just like in the original story.

Soon after, I spotted Kabuto swinging a kunai at Tsunade. I dashed forward and positioned myself between them while Jiraiya faced Orochimaru.

"It's been a while, Jiraiya."

"Those cruel eyes of yours haven't changed at all, Orochimaru."

"Kabuto...?"

Naruto shouted in shock. Kabuto simply smiled back.

Tsunade tried to rush past me toward Kabuto, but—

Slash!

Tremble!

Kabuto sliced his own arm, spraying blood everywhere.

Tsunade, who suffered from hemophobia, began shaking violently. Kabuto moved to kick her while she was vulnerable.

Death God Martial Arts: White Tiger Mountain Thunder

BOOM!!!

My fist slammed down toward Kabuto, cracking the earth. As he lost balance I kicked him square in the chest.

Thud!

"Ugh!"

Orochimaru stared at me, then smiled.

"Heh! That unique taijutsu... So it's you from back then."

"Nice to meet you, Orochimaru."

"You've grown quite strong in a short time."

"Yeah... well... you've gotten a lot weaker in a short time, Orochimaru."

My provocation made Orochimaru laugh while Kabuto seethed with rage. Ignoring him, I walked over to Tsunade, patted her back, and spoke gently.

"Today's the day we promised for our bet. You won't be able to see it if you stay like this, you know?"

"Huh?"

Tsunade looked up at me, seemingly calmer.

"C-cute..."

She let out a small laugh, now much calmer. I smiled back at her and turned to Naruto.

"Naruto, do you want to fight Kabuto? Or help Lord Jiraiya against Orochimaru?"

"I'll fight Kabuto!"

"Heh!"

"Ha! These bastards dare!!"

Orochimaru smiled with interest while Kabuto charged at me in fury, chakra coating his hand blade.

Body

Swish.

The attack sliced through empty air as I vanished instantly. From behind him I gathered mana in my palm and spun it rapidly.

Whoosh! Crackle!

Flame Rasengan

Thud!! Roar!!

"AAAAAARGH!!"

The crimson flames raged like a storm and slammed straight into Kabuto's body. He flew backward, back burning. He rolled desperately on the ground to extinguish the flames but suffered severe burns.

"How about that? I won the bet, right? Since I'm not dead, the necklace is mine. And I still have my wish."

I turned and grinned at the stunned Tsunade. She placed the necklace around my neck.

"You... heh! You really are... Yes, the bet is your victory."

"Jin!!! What the hell was that jutsu?! A Rasengan mixed with Fire Style...? Was that even possible?"

Jiraiya couldn't close his mouth either.

I told the excited Jiraiya I'd explain later and looked at Naruto.

"Sorry. It was supposed to be your fight but I ended up taking him."

"I-it's fine!"

After a brief talk with Naruto I turned my gaze to Orochimaru. He licked his lips while staring at me.

"Don't lick your tongue at me like some pervert. It gives me chills—I might just kill you."

Kabuto, partially recovered, retreated to Orochimaru's side. Orochimaru glared at me with a hardened expression. I smiled at Tsunade and asked if she was all right now. She looked at her still-trembling hand, clenched it into a fist, and stared at Orochimaru.

"Yeah! I'm strong enough to beat that bastard to death."

A mark appeared on her forehead.

Ninja Art: Creation Rebirth.

Tsunade fully healed the injuries she had ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠suffered before our arrival and summoned Katsuyu. Panicked, Kabuto helped Orochimaru summon Manda. Jiraiya, driven by desperation, successfully summoned Gamabunta—unlike the original story.

Watching the three Sannin riding their giant slug, snake, and toad, I let out a dry laugh.

"The genre suddenly turned into a kaiju film."

I watched the Sannin battle alongside Naruto and gave him advice.

"Have you completed the Rasengan yet?"

"Not yet..."

"Then use summoning to multiply your hands. One for rotation, one for compression. It'll raise your chances. Practice the concept in your head for now. When the opportunity comes I'll give you the signal. Land a solid hit then."

"You got it! Leave it to me!"

I observed the legendary Sannin's monster showdown a while longer. Tsunade drove the toad's sword into Manda's mouth. Orochimaru extended his tongue to strangle her neck. That was the moment.

Body

Pop!

Whoosh!

Rasengan

Whoosh! Crackle!

Flame Rasengan

Thump!! BOOM!!!!!

I grabbed Naruto's hand and used the Body technique. Naruto created clones to form a Rasengan for Kabuto while I drove a Flame Rasengan straight into Orochimaru.

Both of them were blasted backward and collapsed.

A short while later Orochimaru coughed blood, glaring at us, and spoke to Tsunade.

"Tsunade, even if you refuse to heal my arm, there are other methods. I will definitely destroy the Leaf Village! And you—I will tear you to pieces!"

Slither!

The pair melted into the ground and vanished. Naruto cheered excitedly. I approached Tsunade and handed her a recovery potion.

"What is this?"

"A recovery potion. It'll reduce the side effects of that technique."

"You noticed? Hehe, thanks."

Her hand wrinkled with rapid aging, but after drinking the potion and resting briefly she regained her youth. Surprised by the potion's effectiveness, she looked at me. I gave her five more for research.

With everything settled, Tsunade decided to become the Fifth Hokage.

On the road back to the Leaf Village...

"So what is your wish?"

"Can I save it for later?"

Tsunade narrowed her eyes at me, then smirked as if she understood everything.

"Sure. Come back after you've grown up a bit more and tell me then."

"We'll see about that."

And so we returned safely to the Leaf Village.

[TsunadeNoona]