Master, Please Become a Hokage

Although it's impossible to tell from her appearance, she is actually already an old woman.

She doesn't have many good years left.

It's only through constantly practicing the Mitotic Regeneration Jutsu that she can maintain her appearance, making her look no different from how she did in the past.

But Tsunade is very afraid. She fears that on the day the Mitotic Regeneration Jutsu is dispelled, she might feel extreme terror upon seeing her aged self.

She picked up her sake cup and downed it in one gulp with a hearty air.

But the worry in her eyes betrayed her true thoughts.

"Heh heh... everyone has their own concerns..."

Orochimaru noticed Tsunade's recent anxiety and spoke up.

Even Jiraiya, who seemed carefree, actually had his own anxieties.

That anxiety... was about the Child of Prophecy.

At first, Jiraiya thought Minato Namikaze was the Child of Prophecy.

Later, after seeing Nagato's Rinnegan, he changed his mind.

Minato Namikaze's failure to become the Fourth Hokage deepened his belief.

It even needs to unite with Amegakure and Sunagakure to stand against Iwagakure.

The visible decline contrasts sharply with the rise of Amegakure.

If this continues, what will the situation become?

Jiraiya is worried about the Child of Prophecy.

Tsunade is worried about youthful romance.

And himself...

Orochimaru looked at the tea in his hand.

What is he worried about?

Immortality.

Multiple laboratories and secret bases established in foreign countries are still conducting research in an orderly manner.

After slowly completing the separation from Danzo, the progress of the experiments was not affected, thus preserving himself.

The remaining task is to continuously improve and complete the research on immortality.

When that time comes, nothing will be able to stop his pursuit of truth.

So, immortality is not his worry. Then where does his worry lie?

Failing to become Hokage is indeed regrettable.

But if he has immortality, he just needs to wait.

Ten years, twenty years, thirty years... eventually, it will be his turn to become Hokage.

So the position of Hokage is not a problem either.

Then the only problem... is whether there is an end to the truth.

This is a very big issue.

"A man who does not think far ahead will find trouble at his doorstep," Tsunade replied to Orochimaru's concern. "Who doesn't have some worries?"

"Indeed."

The three chatted for a while.

Orochimaru got up and took his leave first.

Sarutobi Ryo lifted the curtain and nodded to Orochimaru. The latter left, and Sarutobi Ryo refocused his gaze.

This time, he still didn't see any madness or other thoughts in Orochimaru's eyes.

This indicates that Orochimaru probably shouldn't really walk down the path of the original story.

He came to his seat and sat down.

Sarutobi Ryo began to discuss the details of official business.

These matters can only be discussed with Tsunade herself, after all, these matters are all under Tsunade's jurisdiction.

Jiraiya felt a little bored listening to these official matters.

So he asked, "Sarutobi Ryo, how is your marriage going? When are you going to marry Haiichi's cousin?"

Speaking of marriage.

Sarutobi Ryo has reached the same age as Minato.

Everyone knows that Sarutobi Ryo and Yamanaka Haiichi's cousin, Yamanaka Kei, are childhood sweethearts.

Then, the two of them should soon embark on the path of marriage.

"Kei doesn't want to have children for the time being, so she decided to marry later..."

Sarutobi Ryo replied.

Just like in the original story, Konohamaru will only be born 5 or 6 years later.

Yamanaka Kei's thoughts determined that she would not give birth early.

"I see... a good youth cannot be wasted... the matter of having children can indeed be put off..."

Jiraiya nodded in agreement.

After all, he is also the kind of person who is willing to marry later.

So he can understand Yamanaka Kei's thoughts very well.

But the problem is, the little girl has already decided to marry Sarutobi Ryo.

The matter has already been settled.

How can something that has been decided be the same as something that doesn't even have a chance?

Obviously different.

People can play all the way to 30 years old before having children. They still get married when they should...

The old man [Sarutobi Hiruzen] is also very open-minded.

Sarutobi Ryo is not a rigid person either.

It seems that little girl's fate is really good.

Jiraiya felt that Yamanaka Kei was the most blessed person.

"Tsunade, we two..." Jiraiya looked at Tsunade, emboldened by the alcohol.

"No way."

Tsunade didn't even look up and refused Jiraiya again.

Shizune sweated and smiled apologetically beside her.

Jiraiya shrugged, then left.

Before leaving, he said affectionately, "Tsunade... I will always be waiting for you..."

After saying that, he lifted the curtain, feeling very handsome, and disappeared.

"Tch..."

Tsunade didn't think much of Jiraiya's behavior.

But she couldn't help but think that the person who liked her and was willing to be with her was probably... only Jiraiya.

Only... Jiraiya?

Tsunade inadvertently looked at Sarutobi Ryo and found that this kid was staring at her.

That scorching gaze made her feel a burst of... shudder for no reason.

"Shizune, help me get some sake..." Tsunade said casually.

"Uh... Tsunade-sama, the sake is here." Shizune didn't understand and was about to get the sake bottle on the table.

"I told you to go, so go!"

Tsunade became angry, and Shizune was so scared that she quickly agreed.

How could she not know Princess Tsunade's temper?

So she hurriedly went out to call the waiter.

With only the two of them left in the small private room, Sarutobi Ryo said expressionlessly, once again suggesting to Tsunade: "Tsunade-sama, my previous suggestion is still valid..."

Chapter 123. Another Negotiation

Sarutobi Ryo's words, coupled with his gaze, brought a sense of oppression for no reason.

Tsunade also didn't know where this sense of oppression came from.

However, it truly existed.

He was clearly a junior, and used to be Nawaki's follower, but now he has become like this.

Looking at that stern face, Tsunade retorted, puffing out her ample chest: "Hmph... you still want to flirt with this old lady?"

To her, Sarutobi Ryo is a junior, a child.

It was a bit presumptuous to say such big words.

Sarutobi Ryo slowly drank a cup of tea, unhurried: "People will change with time... Tsunade-sama, the current me is completely different from the past. My experience in the Anbu has allowed me to witness a world that even Tsunade-sama has not witnessed..."

Sarutobi Ryo intentionally led her on, using this to explain that his world was unknown to Tsunade.

If she was willing, he could take her to experience it.

"Just as Jiraiya-sama said, youth waits for no one. Some things, even if the appearance remains young, if the age is reached, looking back on the past will be like adults looking back on their childhood, losing the fun of the past..."

The past is the past.

Time waits for no one.

Suitable things must be experienced at the appropriate age.

This has nothing to do with whether the appearance is young.

It only has to do with actual age and psychological age.

Of course, Tsunade understood what Sarutobi Ryo was saying.

She only has these few years left to experience some things.

Maybe after a few more years, she will fall into nothingness, thereby losing some of the emotions and sensations that she should have in her youth.

At that time, regretting it again would probably only increase her troubles.

Just like the deaths of Nawaki and Dan in the past.

"The times are different now, Tsunade-sama."

Sarutobi Ryo put down his teacup and stood up.