The Sakura Legend

Unnamed Town

In an izakaya, Jiraiya and Tsunade had an unexpected encounter. Fate is a curious thing. The Third Hokage had sent ANBU to search for Tsunade for months without success, yet Jiraiya unexpectedly ran into her in an unnamed town in the Land of Fire. However, it wasn't surprising that the ANBU couldn't find Tsunade. As a fellow Sannin and comrade, Jiraiya naturally understood Tsunade's habits better. Jiraiya had simply narrowed down the search area; he hadn't blindly searched the entire world.

"Jiraiya!" Tsunade looked at Jiraiya in surprise.

"Tsunade!" Finally found her. The mission is almost complete. I can finally get rid of this annoying brat, Jiraiya sighed in relief.

"Don't you mind if I sit here?" Jiraiya asked, though he sat down opposite Tsunade and Shizune without waiting for their permission.

"What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be out gathering 'material'?" Tsunade teased.

"Yeah, I'm out gathering material. I went back to Konoha for 'material' a while ago," Jiraiya said, subtly probing about Konoha.

"Oh? And... you weren't chased out?" Tsunade asked, her eyes slightly narrowed, her gaze hazy with drink.

"I wanted to be chased out, but someone wouldn't let me go. I had to take a mission before I was allowed to leave," Jiraiya continued to probe.

"It's been a while since we last saw each other. We should have a good drink today," Tsunade said, avoiding the topic and picking up her sake cup to pour Jiraiya a drink.

"Tsunade, I'll get straight to the point. The Third Hokage wants you to return to the village," Jiraiya said, seeing that Tsunade was avoiding the issue. He decided to state his purpose directly. Getting Tsunade to return to the village would be best. If that wasn't possible, then he'd have her take on an apprentice. This was what the Third Hokage had instructed Jiraiya to do before he left.

"The reason!" Tsunade didn't avoid it anymore, narrowing her eyes at Jiraiya.

"The village needs you. Because of the Uchiha massacre, neighboring enemy forces are becoming restless. The village is currently short-handed," Jiraiya said.

"What does that have to do with me? You're still there, aren't you?" Tsunade said, pouring herself a cup of sake.

"I have a mission. I can't stay in the village long-term. I only rushed back to the village this time because the old man summoned me," Jiraiya said, pouring himself a cup as well.

"Heh~ The old man really knows how to order people around," Tsunade downed her sake in one gulp and continued, "A few months ago, I noticed ANBU searching for me. I didn't expect the old man to summon you back just to find me. Tell me, what does the old man want from me?"

"The Nine-Tails rampaged," Jiraiya said calmly, making one last effort.

"If you're not going to tell me, then so be it. It's been years since we've met. Since we've run into each other, stay for a couple of days," Tsunade wouldn't believe that this was the only reason she was needed back in the village. If the situation had truly reached an uncontrollable point, Jiraiya wouldn't be here.

"Sigh… You really don't want to go back to the village? The old man is a little anxious this time, but I have noticed some unusual things during my travels in the ninja world these years. Although the situation isn't urgent yet, I still hope you'll return to the village," Jiraiya said with a sigh.

"...." Tsunade looked at the sake cup in front of her, remaining silent.

"The village has discovered a very talented civilian. They hope you'll take her as your disciple. This is the old man's wish," Jiraiya finally gave up on persuading Tsunade to return to the village and stated his main purpose.

"Couldn't you teach her? Why would the old man go to the trouble of summoning you back just to have me take on a disciple?" Tsunade asked, puzzled.

"She... is more suited to you. And she's a genius. The village hopes you'll train her," Jiraiya said.

"A genius? Jiraiya, I remember you've always looked down on geniuses. There aren't many people you'd call a genius," Tsunade recalled the Fourth Hokage.

"So, she is a genius. I have to admit it," Jiraiya thought of his experiences with Sakura over the past month, the things that had amazed him.

"Tch~ The old man really knows how to give me trouble. Impossible. I refuse," Tsunade said, refilling her cup.

"I remember. You said the same thing when I was pursuing you," Jiraiya looked at Tsunade with a smile. "That child has a great talent for learning medical ninjutsu. I'll be frank; the old man hopes you can train a medical talent like yourself for Konoha."

"....." Tsunade lowered her head in silence.

"Ji... Jiraiya-sama, Tsunade-sama s-she has..." Shizune, who was beside Tsunade, heard that the Third Hokage wanted Tsunade to train a medical talent for the village. She immediately wanted to tell Jiraiya that Tsunade suffered from hemophobia.

Jiraiya waved his hand at Shizune to stop her. Jiraiya knew about Tsunade's hemophobia. Tsunade's hemophobia was caused by the deaths of the two people she loved most, so he didn't want Shizune to bring it up, as it would touch upon Tsunade's grief.

"Three years," Jiraiya held up three fingers. "You only need to teach her for three years. After three years, she'll return to Konoha to take the genin exam."

"...." Tsunade was silent for a moment before saying, "I want to see her first. If she doesn't meet my standards, I won't take her. After all, I don't want to teach an idiot."

The requirements for medical ninjas were different from those for ordinary combat ninjas. Tsunade didn't quite believe Jiraiya and the Third Hokage's words. This apprenticeship could be said to be a mission assigned to Tsunade by the Third Hokage. Although she claimed that the village had nothing to do with her, the village was, after all, the place Dan and Nawaki wanted to protect. Tsunade just wanted to escape that place of sorrow; it wasn't that she didn't care about the village at all. The village wasn't in a crisis yet, so Tsunade naturally wanted to stay away as much as possible. But since she was going to take on a disciple, Tsunade didn't want to teach an idiot.

"Where is she?" Tsunade asked.

"She... is probably eating in this town right now," Jiraiya said, recalling Sakura's inability to resist food, a helpless expression on his face.

"Why didn't you bring her with you?" Tsunade asked, puzzled.

"This... she probably... probably thinks I'm in... that kind of place... so she ran off to play on her own. She'll come find me later tonight," Jiraiya replied, a little embarrassed. They were old acquaintances, after all; everyone knew each other's quirks. But with Shizune present, Jiraiya felt a bit awkward.

"Jiraiya-sama?" A voice came from the side. As the saying goes, speak of the devil. Sakura had been traveling with Jiraiya for over half a month, eating countless snacks, but she had never tried alcohol. In Konoha, her parents had kept an eye on her, so she had no opportunity to drink. On the road, she had been too focused on eating. Passing by the izakaya, she suddenly felt the urge to try the alcohol of the Naruto world. She had been here for eight years and had never tasted alcohol. Seeing an izakaya, she couldn't help but feel tempted, so she went inside.

Three pairs of eyes immediately focused on Sakura. Because she wanted to sneak a drink, being stared at by three people made her feel a little nervous. She greeted them weakly, "Hi!"

"Is that her?" Tsunade asked, looking at the pink-haired girl in front of her.

"Yes, that's her," Jiraiya said, holding his forehead. He hadn't noticed that this kid liked to drink; she was just causing trouble for him. He had finally managed to make Tsunade a little receptive, but she had to show up at a place like this.