Chapter 411: Then I'll Have to Try Hard to Stay Alive
In Konoha, inside a quiet izakaya, the looming war had dampened the usual lively atmosphere.
Most ninjas were busy preparing for the coming conflict, leaving the izakaya with only a few patrons tonight.
However, two special guests walked in—Tsunade and Jiraiya.
The two sat down in silence, ordering drinks.
It wasn't until the server brought their drinks that they began to talk.
Tsunade twisted the cap off her beer with ease. Noticing Jiraiya eyeing her bottle, she smirked.
"Even with a war about to start, you're still eyeing my drink."
Jiraiya chuckled, "Drinks always taste better when they belong to someone else. Speaking of which, you're stationed at the rear with the hospital, right?"
Tsunade handed him the beer and opened another for herself. After taking a sip, she wiped her mouth and replied:
"Obviously. Only an idiot wouldn't see that coming. Jiraiya..."
She looked directly into Jiraiya's eyes.
"You should worry about yourself. You're in charge of the third battlefield with only 3,000 troops against Iwagakure's forces. They have two Jinchūriki. You…"
Jiraiya interrupted with a smile, "One of their Jinchūriki was already crippled by that kid Haneda, wasn't he? Besides, the Akatsuki will also target the Jinchūriki. What's there to worry about?"
Tsunade didn't respond. She drank deeply, the alcohol flowing down her throat.
The faint flush on her cheeks, brought on by the alcohol, added a touch of allure.
But Jiraiya was too familiar with Tsunade to feel anything. He continued speaking to himself:
"I visited Mount Myōboku a few days ago. Do you know what the Great Toad Sage prophesied?"
"He said this war would be chaotic and unpredictable, far surpassing the scale of the previous three ninja wars. He also warned it might bring about the end of the world—a true apocalypse where no one can remain unaffected."
Tsunade propped her face on one hand, her elbow on the table, and squinted at him.
"There's always hope, isn't there? He'll make his move eventually. When that happens, who could possibly stop him?"
Jiraiya's expression grew serious. "The Great Toad Sage said the 'Child of Prophecy' has changed. He foretold that someone with golden eyes would save the world, cutting through the darkness with a brilliant golden light to bring peace."
Tsunade chuckled. "Isn't that just Haneda? There's nothing more to say. His third eye is golden—and sometimes blue. It hasn't changed from the start."
She spoke as if the war no longer interested her.
In truth, she hadn't invited Jiraiya here to discuss the war.
She sighed and said, "Let's talk about you instead. Jiraiya, every time, you end up taking on the toughest roles, always smiling like it doesn't matter. I'm really afraid you'll die out there."
Jiraiya grinned. "Who am I? I'm the Toad Sage of Mount Myōboku, Jiraiya the Gallant!"
"I'm one of the Legendary Sannin, and a commander, no less. If even a commander dies on the battlefield, the outcome of this war is already sealed."
Tsunade stared at him quietly, deep in thought, watching as he pretended to be strong as always.
"Jiraiya…"
"What is it, Tsunade?"
"When you're on the battlefield, don't push yourself. Come back alive, even if you're barely breathing. I'll save you…"
Hearing her words, Jiraiya turned to look at her face.
For the first time, he saw an expression unlike her usual brash demeanor—one tinged with the vulnerability of impending separation.
As someone who had spent years peeping on women and writing love stories, Jiraiya suddenly understood something.
For a fleeting moment, he felt an urge to confess his feelings to her. But he hesitated, fearing it would put Tsunade in a difficult position.
His feelings for Tsunade were too complex—she was his classmate, his comrade, and the woman he had admired for years.
If he confessed, he wasn't sure their relationship would remain the same.
Even though Dan, Tsunade's former lover, was long gone…
Jiraiya closed his eyes, refusing to look at her face. He joked instead:
"If I die, will you cry for me?"
Tsunade remained silent, her head lowered.
Jiraiya laughed, keeping the tone light. "If you did, I'd be happy, Tsunade. But I doubt it'd be like how you cried for Dan."
Tsunade suddenly slammed the table, nearly breaking it. The loud thud jolted Jiraiya back to reality.
Watching her return to her familiar, fiery self, Jiraiya felt both disappointed and relieved.
"Well then, why not bet on it—your favorite thing in the world."
"You know you always lose when you gamble, Tsunade."
"Then bet that I'll die."
Jiraiya looked directly at her and, summoning his courage, said:
"But if I make it back alive…"
Tsunade's face was already flushed, but this time, it wasn't just from the alcohol.
She opened her mouth slightly, as if anticipating what he would say next—or perhaps fearing it.
Their eyes met, locking in an intense gaze. Time seemed to stop, and all their thoughts came to a halt.
At that moment, Orochimaru walked in. He paused, taking in Tsunade's flushed face, and immediately understood the situation.
Before he could turn to leave, Tsunade called out:
"Orochimaru, you're here. Did Jiraiya invite you?"
"…" Jiraiya froze, his courage dissolving in an instant.
He burst into laughter, masking his embarrassment, and turned to greet Orochimaru.
"Orochimaru, you really have the best timing!"
Hearing this, Orochimaru fully understood. Feeling awkward, he replied:
"Indeed, what a coincidence. I was just passing by—I'll leave now."
With that, Orochimaru opened the door, closed it with a loud bang, and disappeared.
Jiraiya stared at the door, muttering under his breath.
"He never shows up when you need him, but when you don't—ugh…"
"And to think I trusted him to help me woo Tsunade back then. No wonder it didn't work—he was sabotaging me!"
Suddenly, Tsunade spoke again:
"Fine, let's bet. I'll bet you'll come back alive, to travel the world with me."
"After all, I always lose my bets… so you probably won't make it."
Jiraiya froze, his head turning slowly to look at her.
But Tsunade kept her head down, her expression hidden. Jiraiya couldn't tell if she truly hoped for him to make it back—or if she was afraid to let him know what she wanted.
Though he was a notorious flirt, having joked with countless women, including his own student Konan, Jiraiya had always been self-conscious and hesitant when it came to Tsunade.
This time, though, it was Tsunade who had brought it up first. Yet, caught off guard, he couldn't find the right words to respond. Finally, he defaulted to his usual joking tone:
"Hahaha… Tsunade, you really want me to die out there, huh?"
"Well then, I guess I'll have to try extra hard to stay alive—just to break your losing streak!"
...